Which would you choose?

[MouseearsDeb]

If you had to choose to go to either Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios, which would you pick and why? DS16 REALLY wants to go to Kennedy Space Center, so we're looking at dropping one of the days that we were going to dedicate to one of these parks. I know it really boils down to personal choice but I'd like to hear your thoughts because I might be forgetting about something that would lean us in one direction or the other.

Thanks!
Debbie

 

[Monty]

Normally, I would prefer AK. But with TSMM, DHS has at leat a temporary edge.

 

[SchultzFamily]

Animal Kingdom is our third favorite park (after MK and Epcot). We barely spend a half day at the Studios any more...we feel it needs a major overhaul. After TOT and Rock & Roll Roller Coaster and One Man's Dream (and Fantasmic and Beauty & the Beast shows), we're about done with it.

 

[DisneyGigi]

If I could only do one it would be DHS. As Monty said TSMM is great, it is worth it for that. We have always spent more time there than we have AK though. You also may want to take into consideration that Fantasmic is being cut back.

 

[nepalostparks]

It does come down to a personal choice.

Personally, I'd pick Animal Kingdom... there you have a little bit better selection of rides and shows that a 16 year old boy can appreciate. You get the animals on the two trails, Kilimanjaro Safari ride, Expedition Everest and shows like Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo, plus other attractions.

I'm not a big thrill ride person, so Tower of Terror and RnR Coaster at Studios are out for me. And I don't really want to see Beauty and the Beast, Ariel, or Playhouse Disney... so there isn't a real lot at Studios for me.

You don't mention if you are getting the park hopper or not when you go. If you are, since Animal Kingdom generally closes early (5 p.m.) in the off season, you could tour there until you finish all the major attractions (usually by 3 or so in the afternoon in low-crowd times) and then hop over to Studios to hit some of the shows and attractions and finish with Fantasmic. That way you could hit the best of both parks and not completely miss one. Again, if you have the park hopper.

Either way, I would look at the different attractions at each park and decide which park has more of what you all want to see.

But for my vote, it's Animal Kingdom hands down!

 

[H20Babie]

If you only have the base passes, I would go with Animal Kingdom. It's a different kind of park all together

 

[SAV]

While TSM absolutely ROCKS, I would go to A.K. I just like that park better. And Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade is far better than that worthless Block Party Bash.

And Fantasmic, isn't anything I need to see again.

Either one you are going to have fun, so don't sweat it too much.

 

[DivineMadness7]

I feel that DHS has better variety. It also depends on when your last visit was...because if you've been there since Everest opened, I would say go to DHS for the new Toy Story Mania. Some people say DHS is a half day park and I disagree. Even AK can be a full day park if you take your time and enjoy it. Still, I couldn't imagine taking a trip without going on Tower of Terror or watching Muppets 3D! Good luck choosing! :wave:

 

[NewfieFan]

Well, if it were me... it would be AK hands down, no questions asked! But you do have a 16 year old and the Studios does have the Tower, R&R Coaster, and the new Toy Story Mania (which is so much fun and almost worth the trip to DHS)!

I just love the feel over at AK - it's an amazing park (pure Disney genius, IMHO)! Everest is a pretty amazing coaster too - not to be missed (if you like coasters)!

I guess you're going to have to figure out what you would like more. Ourselves... we spend very little time at DHS! We have young kids and there's just not that much there for them. They love Playhouse Disney (but you're probably not interested in that) and they do love the new TSM attraction but that's about it for them!

Everybody has their favorites and ours would be AK!

Good luck with your choice!:wave:

 

[Philo]

AK without a question.

 

[coltow]

Again it is a personal choice. We have never, ever spent more than 1/2 a day at AK. We only go for Safari, Everest and Kali. We had only planned on 1 DHS day on our last trip and ended up there 3 times. We kept going back for Toy Story and DS's favorite Star Wars. We did love the new parade there too. Plus Fantasmic is our favorite night show.

 

[krankenstein]

This has to be the toughest question anyone could ask me. DAK is my favorite park at WDW, but TOT and TSMM are my top 2 attractions.

That said, I would pick DAK. It barely, and I mean barely, edges out DHS. The reason is the majority of DHS is very dated. Outside of TOT, RNRC and TSMM the park offers me nothing. I enjoy all the attractions at DAK. Plus, it has Flame Tree! :slurp:

 

[StingraySam]

As you stated it really does come to down to personal choice but since you asked I would have to pick DHS. I really like both parks but DHS has more to a full day IMO. Shows such as Light Motors Action, Indiana Jones, Beauty and the Beast can take half of your day alone. Toy Story Mania (though I have only had the chance to ride it once so far) has got to be one of my favorite rides. For thrills there's Tower of Terror, Rock n' Roll Roller Coaster, and for us mild thrill seekers Star Tours. Plus you've got Fantasmic!

 

[Susan Savia]

It's a tossup. At Animal Kingdom we only do Safari, Dinosaur and Kali then leave and go to Hollywood Studios where we enjoy Muppets, Indiana Jones and are 'looking forward' to Toy Story Mania in January. Both parks could be done easily inside of one day.

_____________________

Next Trip - January 2009

It's like coming home again......

 

[mickey&me]

DHS! TSMM, Muppetvision 3D, RNRC, ToT, IJSS, LMA

DAK wasn't worth it to us. Hate Dinoland all the way around, lots and lots of walking...not working for me.

 

[Mystic]

We were faced with the same dilemma for our trip next year (we're already planning things out). We have limited days as we're on a land and sea package and we needed to figure out what parks were more important to us. Animal Kingdom won hands down over DHS. We're lucky if we spend all of 5 hours at DHS whereas we can make a full day out of AK.

 

[WIX]

Hit them both! Get up super early and do AK, this is the best time to be there anyway as the animals are out. Do the Safari 1st, then EE, Kali, PW, ITTBAG and grab fruit to eat on the bus on your way over to DHS. Do RnRC, ToT, TSM, M3D and catch the late Fantasmic. You can do this even better if DHS is having EMH in the evening.

Fixed!

 

[NiarrNDisney]

Couldn't you just get a Park Hopper and start you day at DAK then head over to DHS and ride your favorites, you may get lucky and find that one has EMH while your there.:shrug:

 

[KaliSplash]

I'd go with the Studios. DAK still struggles to fill our day.

 

[MouseearsDeb]

We have magic your way tickets and will not be adding the park hopper option just to be able to go to one or the other. Too, much other stuff going on. Valid points have been made on both choices. At first, I was leaning toward Hollywood Studios. Then I took a piece of paper and wrote down what each offered to the whole family. DS7, not up to RNRC but maybe Everest. He like ToT, so no problem there. DS16 isn't the biggest thrill ride seeker so it doesn't really matter to him. I guess I need to look at all the shows and parades and such. We've never watched the parade at AK and have not seen many of the shows. Decisions, decisions.

Thanks to all that have replied. It has been helpful.