SyracuseDisneyFan
Well-Known Member
I like Animal Kingdom.
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We don't talk about Animal Kingdom enough...
- Thread starter killzab
- Start date
SteamboatJoe
Well-Known Member
1/2 day park? I guess if you don't like animal exhibits or shows but for me, there is more to theme park life than rides.
Derezzed85
New Member
Stayed 10 days on my recent trip, and only went to AK once..... for 4 hours. Still went on Everest multiple times, wandered through Jungle Trek, saw Nemo, went on a late day safari, saw Bugs Life, went shopping and even stuck around to watch some street entertainment. Even then I found myself looking for things to do, and eventually just left before park close. So much detail around the whole park, and it looks even better at night! But I don't think AK will ever have the kind night time crowds that MK gets. Just not enough to keep people there for more than half a day.
Musicman20
Well-Known Member
I think if you chill out, take your time, enjoy the park, it can take a good two days and an evening. Once Pandora and Rivers of Light opens, we are talking 3 days. I like to repeat things though, e.g. EE. I like to take it all in. GREAT park.
In the next 2 years it is going to be a highlight.
In the next 2 years it is going to be a highlight.
SyracuseDisneyFan
Well-Known Member
On my last trip, I did the Jungle Trek. Definitely one of the coolest experiences I've ever had.
Superpocky
Active Member
We love DAK. It's beautiful and relaxing. It's incredibly well themed. Just look at the area near the Expedition Everest with all the details! I mean power lines criss crossing everywhere just like the real thing! There is plenty to do with shows and rides and restaurants. My daughter loves to collect the badges by becoming the Wilderness Explorer. Last time we didn't have enough time to collect all the badges and she's been talking about going back to AK to collect the rest of them. Also it's very educational. There are many stations where where you can learn about different asian and african countries. During the last visit i was educated on Botswana. Before the visit I only knew about Botswana as a country where diamonds are mined. But now I know that they speak English and they are a peaceful country which is represented on their flag. We can't wait to go back and we've already allocated 2 days at DAK for our next trip in March 2017.
Courtney6682
Well-Known Member
Agreed...we are from Philadelphia...home of the nation's first zoo...not to mention no one in my family likes going to the zoo. We've been going to AK since the summer of 1998 and this Jan was the FIRST time we ever did the safari and Rafiki's planet watch. Would I ever do either again...no...BUT...that's just ME. Safari's and animals just don't interest me at all. I have no desire to travel to Africa or Asia. Would I push that opinion on someone else? Never, in fact I would tell a first timer that there is a lot to do there.
KINGLOUIS1993
Well-Known Member
Hopper...
TXDisney
Well-Known Member
I think AK is doing everything great. AK has always been a 1/2-2/3 day park for us in the past, especially with closing earlier and nothing going on at night. That has changed now. The rides stay open in the evening and they've added a nighttime show. Making it a full at park for us now. Avatarland will only add to this. Looks like there will be atleast 2-3 rides that are musts each trip.
Matt_Black
Well-Known Member
LOVE the Jungle Trek. The theming alone makes it a must-do.
Darth Figment
Well-Known Member
AK is fun for a day, get there early ride EE 2 or 3 times .. Hit dinosaur ride, check out the Safari in the morning.. they feed animals close to the road so we can see them better , the affection station, nice lil train ride . Check out the Tigers and apes .. . Great,,, now I wanna go to DW .. Thanks . 
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
I've always found enough to see and do to make AK worthwhile to visit and spend a lengthy day. I dont rush through, I wander, look , experience a lot there that interests me. But I know lots of guests that arent as thrilled with the park because they look for other things that excite them and AK just doesnt do anything for them.
As hard as it is to accept, theres always going to be something down for refurb or shut down for maintenance during a planned trip. Wether something gets up in time depends on the issues they find during the work being done. Maintenance and refurbs can be full of surprises once work begins. Disney does a pretty good job getting things back up but delays are understandable. Many jobs I need having done arent completed on time, thats the way things are. So I'm willing to give Disney the benefit of delayed openings.
AK was a park that began during a time of money shortages and cut backs and never got the necessary funding or imagineering it deserved to begin with. But at least we got another park to visit and although I'm not a fan of Avatarland I'm hoping it does something to help it out.
As hard as it is to accept, theres always going to be something down for refurb or shut down for maintenance during a planned trip. Wether something gets up in time depends on the issues they find during the work being done. Maintenance and refurbs can be full of surprises once work begins. Disney does a pretty good job getting things back up but delays are understandable. Many jobs I need having done arent completed on time, thats the way things are. So I'm willing to give Disney the benefit of delayed openings.
AK was a park that began during a time of money shortages and cut backs and never got the necessary funding or imagineering it deserved to begin with. But at least we got another park to visit and although I'm not a fan of Avatarland I'm hoping it does something to help it out.
Princess Leia
Well-Known Member
I'm really excited too, mostly because my family didn't have great trips to aK when I was growing up. We tried it twice, and it wasn't for us. We'd be done with the park sometime in the early afternoon. We live pretty close to the Toledo Zoo (which has been ranked as one of the best in the country), and for the most part, the animal experiences at AK were somewhat similar to what we already had at home (though the Toledo Zoo unfortunately lost all of their lions recently, so I'm looking forward to see them when I go back to AK).I think when the Avatar boat ride, Avatar flight of passage, and ROL come in board and guests are enjoying the park in the late evening it will change the park experience dramatically. When Avatar is open you will have Everest, Dinosaur, Safaari, both Avatar rides, and for water enthusiasts, the rapids ride as the "must do" rides. Then you have awesome shows like Lion King and Nemo and the 4D show Tough to be a Bug. That makes no mention of the animal trails, tree of life awakenings, and ROL. And, ya gotta eat
For me, I would love to see Chester and Hester get replaced with something of higher quality and a few more characters to meet or a parade.
I cannot wait to experience this new park!!!!!
I love dinosaurs, and would be thrilled if Dinoland was changed to a dinosaur 'meet and greet', or something along those lines. Obviously, they can't do Jurassic Park, but I'm sure Disney could figure something out.
My friends and I rescheduled our trip so we could check out Avatar (fingers crossed it's there by September). We're still only planning a half-day there though (splitting the day with DHS).
ajkraz
Member
I think the problem with Animal Kingdom is that Epcot and Magic Kingdom kinda encourage you to rush so that you can get to do and see everything but on flipside, Animal Kingdom is the park that Disney wants you to take your time with and experience the small things that Disney puts in, I understand both sides to the argument and it just depends on how you want to come to Disney and experience it.
Minnesota disney fan
Well-Known Member
Our family is with you! We love AK and spend 2 days there each trip. Love the atmosphere, food, shows, and rides. We always find something to do. Wandering the animal paths is always fun,and exploring the trails around the Tree of Life.
To each his own. We absolutely love AK and HS, but would not miss Epcot if it were not there. Oh well.......................
wdwfan4ver
Well-Known Member
I disagree about Epcot due to World Showcase.
While you go from Pavilion to Pavilion in World Showcase, They were not designed to be rushed.
The nature of World Showcase is one that you really have to take in the atmosphere. I am saying that because World Showcase has food, Live Entertainment and shops. Not every Pavilion in World Showcase has an attraction matter of fact without Live Entertainment. What I mean by live Entertainment is the live music by multiple pavilions, China having acrobats, and Italy having an interactive Juggler.
World Showcase only has 2 rides, 3 films, and 1 show(American Adventure) for attractions without counting meet and greets. World Showcase has way more eating places, shops than attractions and that is where the live entertainment during the afternoon and parts of the night before Illuminations: Reflections of Earth happens.
ajkraz
Member
Yea but what Disney designed it as is you getting there as the park opens, going on rides like Soarin and Test Track to begin the day, going and eating lunch in one of the pavilions, riding the rest of the rides in the park, going to the World Showcase and exploring that until your dinner reservation comes, exploring the rest of the World Showcase and by that time you'll just want to stay for the fireworks so you re-ride stuff or do stuff that you missed and the next thing you know it's 10:30 and your heading back to your hotel.