Unimpressed with Animal Kingdom

[larryz]

If I were CEO I'd fast track you to head imagineer on that idea alone.

That approx $250 million would be the best spent attraction money on property.

FTFY

 

[Benjamin_Nicholas]

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...

Just as Shania was a bad lead-in, your assessment of AK is your own, but not correct.

It's one of the most beautiful Disney parks. The design, eye for detail and landscaping are all stunning.

If you're looking at it solely as 'rides, rides, rides,' then you're not the target market for AK.

While you're at it, you better skip Disney Paris too. That'll really you off.

 

[The Mom]

I've gone on the Safari many times with very few animals present. It's just the luck of the draw which is why I personally DISLIKE the Safari. It's an attraction based on hopes and maybes. I don't know if the animals were just hot and needing shade, sleepy or just knew our group was coming and decided against "putting on a show" But they're fickle little bastards with minds of their own. Expecting the safari to wow park guests every time, every day, every hour is not an easy feat, which is why the current Safari needs work. (and possibly more animals.)

There are animals at DAK. But it's Nahtazu! You sometimes have to seek them out. Which for my money, is honestly not worth it. What can I say? Maybe I'm lazy and don't want to walk the trails, etc. We go to DAK for the attractions. The animals are just a nice bonus.

Still a half-day park as far as I'm concerned. Your results may vary.
But I think (hope) we can all agree that DAK could use more rides and animals.

I have spent a lot of time in Oasis looking at animals - while other guests either walk right by, or ask "What are you looking at?" If they have patience, they will actually see the animals that I have spotted. But you can't just walk right up and spot the Anteater, for example. Often he/she is in the back of the enclosure "blending" in with the plants. It is sort of like a "Where's Waldo" game.

So just walking by, or just glancing around (in the case of the aviary) might make you think there are no animals. The time of day will also make a difference - as stated, they are most active in the early morning or towards sunset, depending upon the animal.

 

[HongKongFooy]

Another point to add to the mystique of the creature living in the waterways at AK........ the animal and its lair/physical sets should not be given an official name nor listed as an attraction and cast should not acknowledge it in any way thus taking this whole project 2 steps further than how Disney treats the mysterious Yeti. To Disney the animal does not exist.

Allow the public via word of mouth and internet chat to provide theories and angles about the water creature.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

If you're looking at it solely as 'rides, rides, rides,' then you're not the target market for AK.

I think this the crux of this entire thread debate. DAK isn't for everyone. The same way Epcot doesn't really do it for some folks.
DAK is beautiful park but if one's goal is "rides" then it's probably either park-hopper or bust for those guests/families.

I have spent a lot of time in Oasis looking at animals - while other guests either walk right by, or ask "What are you looking at?" If they have patience, they will actually see the animals that I have spotted. But you can't just walk right up and spot the Anteater, for example. Often he/she is in the back of the enclosure "blending" in with the plants. It is sort of like a "Where's Waldo" game.

So just walking by, or just glancing around (in the case of the aviary) might make you think there are no animals. The time of day will also make a difference - as stated, they are most active in the early morning or towards sunset, depending upon the animal.

Sometimes I think the "stop and smell the roses" mentality is lost, especially on those Once-in-a-lifetime trippers that want to maximize their time doing rides and shows. DAK at it's best is when it's treated more like a leisure park.

 

[NelleBelle]

Not sure if she still makes an appearance but I can’t tell you how many people walked right on by Devine. We were lucky enough to spot her and O was amazed at all the people that just rushed right on through the Oasis, without a clue that they were missing something truly “Disney”. We love taking out time through the Oasis.

 

[Benjamin_Nicholas]

I think this the crux of this entire thread debate. DAK isn't for everyone. The same way Epcot doesn't really do it for some folks.
DAK is beautiful park but if one's goal is "rides" then it's probably either park-hopper or bust for those guests/families.

Sometimes I think the "stop and smell the roses" mentality is lost, especially on those Once-in-a-lifetime trippers that want to maximize their time doing rides and shows. DAK at it's best is when it's treated more like a leisure park.

Bottom line, AK isn't for people with little-to-no attention span.

If people just want thrill rides with no other savvy or detail, why not just shlep to Busch Gardens or any ol' Six Flags park? Better yet, go to Sandusky and hit up Cedar Point.

 

[_caleb]

It was a quiet night here at WDWMagic, so @wdwmagic spun up a new persona to troll everyone into flipping out over a bad take on DAK.

OR

Still bitter that his previous personas here didn‘t ever gain the “insider” treatment, @MouseBrayden gives it another go, this time taking the opposite approach.

OR

Busch Gardens Tampa’s guerrilla marketing team discovers an easy way to convince potential guests to spend day 4 of their Orlando vacation at Islands of Adventure.

OR

New guy joins WDWMagic after a trip during the pandemic to use a country song from before he was born to tag team with a grumpy old man in complaining that there aren’t enough animals at DAK.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

The OP describes DAK as a 'beautiful park', 'a great park to walk around in', but lacking in substance.

This is not trolling, this is very much standard received wisdom about DAK inside and outside the company.

Why, it was only the belated investment round of Pandora and the nighttime entertainment that led TDO finally open DAK for more than half a day.

 

[cjkeating]

I don't really know where to start... everyone has different preferences and I think after not visiting the park for 22 years and 15+ WDW visits I am not sure how I would expect a first visit would go. I guess it will be like my long awaited visit to Tokyo DisneySea... what happens if I don't like it?!

DAK is my favourite WDW park. It wasn't when I visited first in 2011 but after re-visits every couple of years it has worked its way to the top, for me it the most repeatable of the parks because of the animals, entertainment and detailed theming. In fact if it wasn't for DAK I don't think I'd be revisiting WDW very often at all. Epcot has no attraction to me, Futureworld is a state (excluding Living With the Land) and in World Showcase I have visited most of these countries in person. Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris ticks more of my boxes than Magic Kingdom and is just a train ride away and whilst DHS has some of my favourite attractions these alone without DAK wouldn't be enough to get me to visit.

I think in summary, you don't have to like DAK so you keep on revisiting your WDW favourite parks and we'll all do the same.

 

[Gussie Granger]

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...

It’s our least favorite park. My husband and I want to skip each time but my daughter loves it so we go.

 

[The Great Gonzo]

I think a big part of Animal Kingdom is the shows and most of them aren't happening right now.

 

[JohnD]

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...

Animals are mostly in Africa and Asia areas of the park, although you can find some in the Oasis area in the front. Also, now is not a fair time to judge AK. Two big shows, Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo are not running due to COVID. You do actually get a better bird show right now because it's all about the birds and not injected with stupid characters from Up. Regardless, AK is the kind of park you have to roam and let soak in. For me, I find it more relaxing than, say, Magic Kingdom which is all park commando all the time.

 

[JohnD]

IMO the park needs one more heavy animal focused area.

Replace Dinoland with Australia or South America. Find ways to feature those animals there. You don't have to lose DINOSAUR. They were all over the world anyway. But get rid of the carnival.

 

[JohnD]

I've gone on the Safari many times with very few animals present. It's just the luck of the draw which is why I personally DISLIKE the Safari. It's an attraction based on hopes and maybes. I don't know if the animals were just hot and needing shade, sleepy or just knew our group was coming and decided against "putting on a show" But they're fickle little bastards with minds of their own. Expecting the safari to wow park guests every time, every day, every hour is not an easy feat, which is why the current Safari needs work. (and possibly more animals.)

There are animals at DAK. But it's Nahtazu! You sometimes have to seek them out. Which for my money, is honestly not worth it. What can I say? Maybe I'm lazy and don't want to walk the trails, etc. We go to DAK for the attractions. The animals are just a nice bonus.

Still a half-day park as far as I'm concerned. Your results may vary.
But I think (hope) we can all agree that DAK could use more rides and animals.

Yeah, you're lazy. Animals aren't audio animatronics which are guaranteed to be in the same place and move the same way every time. If you want that, go on Jungle Cruise.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

Yeah, you're lazy. Animals aren't audio animatronics which are guaranteed to be in the same place and move the same way every time. If you want that, go on Jungle Cruise.

It's just that I can see most of those animals at my local zoo, so it doesn't interest me as much. (even when I can "find" them) But I'll take your slander in stride. lol Like I said, the park isn't for everyone.

 

[JohnD]

It's just that I can see most of those animals at my local zoo, so it doesn't interest me as much. (even when I can "find" them) But I'll take your slander in stride. lol Like I said, the park isn't for everyone.

Ha ha. You said, "Maybe I'm lazy." Just confirming that you are.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

Ha ha. You said, "Maybe I'm lazy." Just confirming that you are.

My Mom would probably agree with you. Ha!

 

[macefamily]

I would also suggest if you get the chance, do the behind the scenes Disney African Trek. We went early in the morning and the others who were supposed to join us never showed up so we had an exclusive tour with just our family. It's worth the extra cash just to try the experience once. We had breakfast out on the savanah. What a view ! Lots of closeup time with some of your favorite animals.

 

[Parker in NYC]

I would also suggest if you get the chance, do the behind the scenes Disney African Trek. We went early in the morning and the others who were supposed to join us never showed up so we had an exclusive tour with just our family. It's worth the extra cash just to try the experience once. We had breakfast out on the savanah. What a view ! Lots of closeup time with some of your favorite animals.

Seconded. A lovely and memorable experience.