Unimpressed with Animal Kingdom

[SteveAZee]

As Shania Twain once said...That don't impress me much...

I was very disappointed in AK and the over all time I spent at the park. I am glad it took me 22 years to get here because honestly, it was not at all what I expected. There were not many animals, and not many rides. While Avatar was my favorite land, even the river ride was boring. The food was terrible! Not sure if it was because of covid changes or what but it was bad.

The good's were it was a beautiful park, a lot to visually see, but man, WHERE, ARE, THE, ANIMALS? Like, no where to be found.

I would say its a great park to walk around it and have a nice stroll, but as far as everything else, very boring and not worth the price...

Sorry to be a Debbie downer, but has anyone else had this similar experience? I've been to Disney like 15+ times...

AK is my least favorite of the four parks. That said, I do find it enjoyable to go there... I just prefer the other parks more.

 

[Parker in NYC]

 

[JIMINYCR]

extremely rare........so unusual it's quite hard to believe. How many out there would take 15 WDW trips and presumably see 3 out of the 4 main parks, skipping the same park over and over.......especially in light of the park hopper option that so many do.

I mean we all pretty much have our favorite and least favorites of the 4 but even the "worst" of the 4 gets tapped on some level considering 15 trips.

Statistically this scenario is off the charts.

Yes I questioned the possibility that someone went to WDW and wasnt even interested to visit once in 15 trips. And then trashes the visit after one day there. But we dont know when the trips occurred... I gave him the benefit that those 15 were maybe done before 1988 before AK was built??

 

[Capsin4]

People shouldn't have to "do their research" or "pay attention" to enjoy themselves.

Sorry. This is the perhaps the most bumbling statement I’ve ever read. People should have at least an idea of what they’re getting when they fork down money for entertainment. Entertainment, especially vacations, shouldn’t be accidental. That’s a set up for disappointment.

I’m not e en sure what you mean by people shouldn’t have to pay attention to enjoy themselves. That’s thoroughly odd and confusing.

 

[Tom Morrow]

LOL It doesn't seem fine by the way you're reacting. You're personally offended because someone doesn't like Animal Kingdom.

K

 

[phillip9698]

IMO the park needs one more heavy animal focused area.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

IMO the park needs one more heavy animal focused area.

I think they'd like to do that. The problem is how does a park showcase animals without them being behind cages?

Overall though, I think the land needs another E-ticket (20K Leagues, if wishes were real) definitely more animals and at least one more main stay classic IP (Jungle Book) That should have been a day 1 creation. And something borrowed from the Tokyo park, a Mystic Manor clone maybe. DAK needs more to see and do. Visually Beautiful (cept Dinoland) but as a themepark it's lacking attractions.

 

[HongKongFooy]

Overall though, I think the land needs another E-ticket (20K Leagues, if wishes were real)

What does that have to do with Animal Kingdom??? 20k centers around exploration and ocean fantasy.

And something borrowed from the Tokyo park, a Mystic Manor clone maybe.

Mystic Manor is not based on animals either. A curious monkey is not the theme of the ride.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Sorry. This is the perhaps the most bumbling statement I’ve ever read. People should have at least an idea of what they’re getting when they fork down money for entertainment. Entertainment, especially vacations, shouldn’t be accidental. That’s a set up for disappointment.

I’m not e en sure what you mean by people shouldn’t have to pay attention to enjoy themselves. That’s thoroughly odd and confusing.

People in this thread are scolding others for not knowing about certain attractions, where to see certain details or when to best see animals prior to visiting. On a certain level, people should be able to enjoy the park without knowing everything about it before entering.

Not everyone does extensive research on every minutia of the resort before going to WDW. On one extreme end of the example we've had countless stories about people going to MK, not knowing the rides are indoors, and walking out missing many of them. People may not want to spoil details about the experience, or simply expect there to be sufficient information available when they get there (a fair assumption IMO and one Disney does not always provide).

Good park design will guide people towards certain things and set expectations. Animal Kingdom tried something different and not everyone has responded the way the designers intended. It's been implied many times in this thread that people who don't enjoy AK are idiots who are to be blamed for their own disappointment instead of realizing that simply not everyone likes the park, or would rank it #1.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

What does that have to do with Animal Kingdom??? 20k centers around exploration and ocean fantasy.
Mystic Manor is not based on animals either. A curious monkey is not the theme of the ride.

When the park dedication plaque reads:

"Welcome to a kingdom of animals... real, ancient, and imagined: a kingdom ruled by lions, dinosaurs, and dragons; a kingdom of balance, harmony, and survival; a kingdom we enter to share in the wonder, gaze at the beauty, thrill at the drama, and learn."

Seeing mythical or fantastical sea creatures shouldn't feel out of place. Nowhere does it state land-only animals. If Beastly Kingdom, a world of unicorns and dragons can exist; I don't see why a giant squid or Kraken couldn't. I think Ocean exploration is the next logical step for a thematic land. Something to break up the jungle monotony. With regards to Mystic Manor, if not a direct clone something similar. An S.E.A. explorer with a magical ancient artifact that when opened wrecks havoc on the natural world. And it features a animal that could easily double as the park's unofficial mascot.... Both attractions would fit within the core themes of Animal Kingdom.

 

[HongKongFooy]

When the park dedication plaque reads:

So weak


What does that have to do with placing a NON ANIMAL themed attraction in AK?

Just because an animal appears in a ride doesn't make that attraction based on an animal(s)

You must know this, right?

 

[LastoneOn]

LOL It doesn't seem fine by the way you're reacting. You're personally offended because someone doesn't like Animal Kingdom.

boy you sure missed that point

 

[LastoneOn]

We love the Gorilla trail. The monkeys in Asia are great to watch (can't recall their name off the top of my head). I can't imagine going for the first time though when there were no live shows--Festival of the Lion King is awesome! I know some can't stand it, but Nemo holds a nostalgic place for us. I guess all I can say is that you can't command animals to make appearances.

could stand there for hours watching them
Lion King shifted to a maybe for us as kids grew. We enjoyed Nemo - and it was a place to sit down in nice seats! Always a plus at Disney these days.

 

[LastoneOn]

It has several great points, but I'm getting older, and EPCOT is top of my list, with MK a very close second and Hollywood a close 3rd.

See, I'm in the older group I figure and AK is my favorite and Epcot least. So its not an age thing by any means.

 

[LastoneOn]

It's called "Animal Kingdom". I think expecting to see animals is a fair assumption.

And there are animals there to see.

 

[LastoneOn]

You broke the cardinal rule in here, every aspect of WDW is wonderful, even the restrooms smell like heaven... you even got likes and the famous "Angry" responses... LOL

I was an AP hold for 15 years, I made 2 trips to AK and never lasted even 3 hours.. I do plan to return in 2072..

You're like Disney's perfect AP holder: paid all the money and don't take up too much space.

 

[LastoneOn]

Is there an aversion to walking?? I’ve noticed in several posts that there have been complaints of Rafiki’s train not taking them all over the park. Now they’re complaining about walking. Yet they didn’t like KS where they could RIDE to see animals. Just rent a scooter and call it a day—then you can whip through the crowds at high speed, rolling over feet, kids, elderly to really ensure you don’t see any animals

Its fun to read the complaints about walking. What do these people expect??

 

[LastoneOn]

Yes I questioned the possibility that someone went to WDW and wasnt even interested to visit once in 15 trips. And then trashes the visit after one day there. But we dont know when the trips occurred... I gave him the benefit that those 15 were maybe done before 1988 before AK was built??

I don't think he's been anywhere more than 15 times other than the bathroom. That might be a stretch. In other words, he's full of _________

Just my "hot take" to use the popular lingua franca

 

[LastoneOn]

People in this thread are scolding others for not knowing about certain attractions, where to see certain details or when to best see animals prior to visiting. On a certain level, people should be able to enjoy the park without knowing everything about it before entering.

Not everyone does extensive research on every minutia of the resort before going to WDW. On one extreme end of the example we've had countless stories about people going to MK, not knowing the rides are indoors, and walking out missing many of them. People may not want to spoil details about the experience, or simply expect there to be sufficient information available when they get there (a fair assumption IMO and one Disney does not always provide).

Good park design will guide people towards certain things and set expectations. Animal Kingdom tried something different and not everyone has responded the way the designers intended. It's been implied many times in this thread that people who don't enjoy AK are idiots who are to be blamed for their own disappointment instead of realizing that simply not everyone likes the park, or would rank it #1.

buddy, there are only so many animal based attractions in the place. They're on a map. You think one should b able to just walk in the gate and be right in front of animals. That's called a zoo (and you'll still have to walk a ways to find them). Quit making excuses for people that won't do simple things like get one of the FREE maps that are everywhere, or not asking someone. you must be someone that walks into a Home Depot and expects the greeter to take you by the hand and help you find the lumber. Every time you go.

 

[mergatroid]

Did you explore the whole park, it seems odd you didn't see animals? The monkeys near EE, the tiger area, the aviary, the gorilla falls area or on the safari?