Scathing Animal Kingdom Article

[ryguy]

Lets not lose sight of the most important thing here. Animal Kingdom's attendance tells the whole story. If it was so great it would be right behind MK in attendance. In the end the only opionions that really matter are those who are shelling out money to enter the park. So far we have heard there response loud and clear, the park just isn't that great. EE is a nice addition but its not a savior in the long run. Most average park guests (those who attend every few years) will probably think that EE is overhyped, a glorified Big Thunder Mountain. Would you go back to Magic Kingdom just for BTMRR?? Personally I wouldn't, not for sixty bucks. I think you will see a spike in attendance for a year or so and than it will flatten out. I know I am not racing back to ride EE. The fact of the matter is you still don't have a lot of bang for your buck compared to the rest of the parks. I think the park needs another animal attraction. (live ones) Frankly, I can see the same animals at the AKL for free, why would I pay $60.00 for the "Animal Kingdom"?

 

[RonAnnArbor]

I think the re-visitability quotient is quite low at AK. I guess if you have kids and want to spend the day there, that is one thing, but as an adult, all i can say is thank goodness for park hoppers, so you can do the three major attractions at AK (EE, KJ, and DINOSAUR) and head to another park by 11:00...I know I don't plan to revisit AK unless something new goes in at some point to make me want to spend a repeat visit there. If I just want to see animals, I have a remarkable zoo less than 30 minutes from my house. "Kingdom" implies something more...and I am not sure Disney has found it yet.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Lets not lose sight of the most important thing here. Animal Kingdom's attendance tells the whole story. ?

Yes its a total disaster, imagine not being able to compete with the worlds top theme park. Time to close it.

 

[peter11435]

Lets not lose sight of the most important thing here. Animal Kingdom's attendance tells the whole story.

That is the most absurd comment I have ever heard. AK's attendance is higher than any non-Disney park in the country. It will soon be the 3rd most visited park in Florida. Just because it has the lowest attendance among WDW parks (for now) does not mean it is a failure. Remember there is always going to be a park with the lowest attendance, but that does not mean it is a failure.

 

[ballewclan]

That is the most absurd comment I have ever heard. AK's attendance is higher than any non-Disney park in the country. It will soon be the 3rd most visited park in Florida. Just because it has the lowest attendance among WDW parks (for now) does not mean it is a failure. Remember there is always going to be a park with the lowest attendance, but that does not mean it is a failure.

I completely agree! I have no idea how that guy could even make that comment about attendance.

Thats like saying during my freshman year that because i came in last during a track meet running the mile, that my place tells it all.

Just so you know i got a 6:06 mile and for my first meet that's not too shabby.

 

[ZHoyt]

Has anyone ever done a comparison to # of attractions at AK vs # of attractions at MGM at the 10 year mark? Seems pretty comparable to me, but I don't have the time to actually sit and figure it out. Not that that is a huge compliment because I generally feel that MGM is somewhat lacking compared to Epcot and MK in terms of # of things to do, especially before RnRC came in, which I believe was either right before or just after the 10 year mark.

On another note, for those upset about Landry's opening a restaraunt in asia, who do you think runs the other table-service restaraunts at Disney? To my knowledge the only full-servce restaraunt at WDW actually operated by Disney is Cap'n Jacks @ DTD. This is not necessarily a bad thing. The reason Rainforest is hated is because it is a large chain. Whereas other restaraunts are generally unique (or mostly unique) to Disney. Couple of examples off the top of my head are Alfredo's (one in rome, nyc, and soon to be vegas) or Big River Brewing @ the boardwalk (a smaller chain with a handful of locations). I'm sure there are many more examples others could come up with.

 

[Simba's Mom]

The article makes a claim that I doubt is true (it may be, but I doubt him)-that "attendance fell every year from its 1998 opening until 2004". And he talks about how EE might bring people through the "once rusty turnstiles". Oh, does that anger me! He makes it sound like DAK is such a failure, yet I think it's a beautiful park. Yes, it may feel a little hotter, but he makes everything there just sound so awful! DAK lovers, unite!

 

[jaredliu]

The article makes a claim that I doubt is true (it may be, but I doubt him)-that "attendance fell every year from its 1998 opening until 2004". And he talks about how EE might bring people through the "once rusty turnstiles". Oh, does that anger me! He makes it sound like DAK is such a failure, yet I think it's a beautiful park. Yes, it may feel a little hotter, but he makes everything there just sound so awful! DAK lovers, unite!

I don't think he makes everything there sound so awful! How come people here only look at the point he criticized AK but overlook he acutally gave Ak lots of credits. Unite for what? bashing an article criticizing AK?

 

[peter11435]

To my knowledge the only full-servce restaraunt at WDW actually operated by Disney is Cap'n Jacks @ DTD.

Actually the vast majorty of full-service restaurants at WDW are owned and operated by Disney. There are exceptions but the majority are operated by Disney.

The following full service restaurants are all operated by Disney.

'50s Prime Time Cafe
Brown Derby
Hollywood & Vine
Mama Melrose's
Sci-Fi Dine-In
Coral Reef
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Biergarten
Cinderella's Royal Table
Crystal Palace
Liberty Tree Tavern
Plaza Restaurant
Tony's Town Square
Boma
Jiko
Beaches and Cream
Cape May Cafe
ESPN Club
Flying Fish
Spoodles
Shutters at Old Port Royale
California Grill
Chef Mickey's
Concourse Steakhouse
1900 Park Fare
Citricos
Narcoossee's
Victoria and Albert's
Olivia's Cafe
Kona Cafe
'Ohana
Boatwright's
Artist Point
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Yacht Club Galley
Yachtsman Steakhouse

 

[ryguy]

Just for the record I never said that Animal Kingdom was a "Failure". Please go back and read my post again. I simply stated a fact. Out of the four Disney Theme parks AK is last in attendance. It might spike this year to third, but in the long term it will be fourth. Why? Because most people feel its a half day park and sixty bucks is a lot of money to shell out for a half day park. AK will have a uphill battle to win over public opionion because a lot of people in the past have left feeling unsatisfied with their experience. Thus explaining AK fourth place finish. Now that doesn't mean you can't like AK, everybody has there likes and dislikes. But don't let your emotions cloud the reality of the situation, AK is Disney's weakest park. The numbers don't lie. I am pretty sure Disney looks at attendance figures rather than the opionions expressed on this website.

For the record last place is last place, I am pretty sure they aren't giving out ribbons for finishing last. Unless of course your Gaylord M. Focker. Let's not take this stuff so seriously.