Animal Kingdom

[quack arf squeak]

So there are a total of seven rides {attractions} in the park and two of them are carnival type rides. Even for a half day stopby its not worth the money or time. When will they start making this park more desirable?

[SBETigg]

I really enjoy the Animal Kingdom, though of course I would also enjoy some expansion. But it's not just about rides. It's about the experience. If you take your time and let it all unfold around you, you will get so much more out of the park. It has great theming. I can spend hours looking at the animals around the park and on the trails. If you go just looking for rides, yes, this park might be a bit of a letdown and your time will be better spent at other parks. But if your interests are more diverse and you enjoy nature and animals and you enjoy taking in some shows, the park has more to offer.

[faline]

Have you been to Animal Kingdom?

There are a couple of very good shows there - Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo. Additionally, there are some really nice walking trail where you get to see animals.

Do you consider the Safari a ride and/or attraction or is that something you don't count either?

If all you want to do is go on rides then this definitely not the park for you.

[Pop Centurion]

If all you want to do is go on rides then this definitely not the park for you.

I agree. AK is an experience not an amusement park. Heck this could actually be said for all 4 parks. As mentioned, consider the two walking safari treks, and shows as they are some of the highlights of the park. The walking trails around the Tree Of Life are often overlooked and offer some unique views as well as wildlife that goes unnoticed. There are many hidden gems throughout the park & some great story lines.
I suggest doing some research on all the hidden magic the park offers so when you do go next time, things will be much more interesting.

[MississippiDisneyFreak]

I love the Animal Kingdom and I also like that its only a half day park for us, unlike MK and Epcot where the entire day is so hectic trying to do everything...don't get me wrong those two are my favorites but I like the slower pace of AK, its a more relaxing day more about taking in the atmosphere plus I have half a day to do something else....good day to resort hop

[2MuchWDFun]

AK is a favorite for our family--we usually go twice during a one week visit. We love walking all the trails, animals (especially being able to see the tigers so close), Everest, Dinosaur, eating at Yak & Yeti and the Nemo stage show. What really seals the deal for us are all the details--they are incredible.

I recommend checking out the documentaries on the making of the AK park and the Expedition Everest ride specifically--they will give you an appreciation for the research that is done and then intricately implemented by the Disney imagineers.

I think the expansion will make it even better!

[Itchy]

I agree. I like AK for what it is. I short it is not what you see it is what you don't see that in important.

It is all about the animals and the rides are just the icing on the cake. The animal are the most important part of this park that is why they call it the Animal Kingdom.

I may not be into the rides and I get it done in 4 to 5 hrs but it is Disney World and they have brought one of the best animal exhibits to the area you would hope to find.

Enjoy it for what it is....

[quack arf squeak]

So maybe Ill save myself a couple hundred dollars and take my family to our local zoo.

[Opus X]

So maybe Ill save myself a couple hundred dollars and take my family to our local zoo.

A.K. is nothing like a Zoo or a thrill ride park.
It is Disney at its best with theming and atmosphere..education.
When we first went to A.K. I did not know what to expect...WOW, was I not only impressed....we ALWAYS goto A.K. EVERY visit. The whole park has GREAT theming.
E.E. is a top notch coaster and the Rapids is a great raft ride.
Yes, there are animals..but not in a zoo way. I live near the number one zoo in America...The Columbus, Ohio zoo....and it is nothing like A.K.
Jack Hannah is famous due to what he did to the columbus zoo. But, Folks that compare A.K. to a zoo just simply have either never been there or hasnt a clue. Some folks may not like A.K. and thats ok, but...Again, we have the best zoo around right here in Ohio but A.K. is fantastic in its own right.
P.S. the more I go..the more I love it. Just like the Studios.

[Opus X]

AK is a favorite for our family--we usually go twice during a one week visit. We love walking all the trails, animals (especially being able to see the tigers so close), Everest, Dinosaur, eating at Yak & Yeti and the Nemo stage show. What really seals the deal for us are all the details--they are incredible.

I recommend checking out the documentaries on the making of the AK park and the Expedition Everest ride specifically--they will give you an appreciation for the research that is done and then intricately implemented by the Disney imagineers.

I think the expansion will make it even better!

Agreed

[joanna71985]

I don't have any problems spending a whole day at AK. I love walking the 2 animal trails (especially watching the tigers). Plus Finding Nemo and FotLK are 2 of the best shows on property (and I can easily see both more then once a day).

[Opus X]

So there are a total of seven rides {attractions} in the park and two of them are carnival type rides. Even for a half day stopby its not worth the money or time. When will they start making this park more desirable?

Also, its the 7th most visited park in the WORLD...7th only to other Disney parks...
Id say it is desirable.

[Katzateer]

It is not my favorite park and a half day is enough for me, but it is a great park! The theming, details, shows and food are highlights and of course, the animals. Can't wait for new expansions but for now, I still think it is worth a visit.

[2MuchWDFun]

So maybe Ill save myself a couple hundred dollars and take my family to our local zoo.

Yes--the animals are an important part of the park--but the theming details are a-m-a-z-i-n-g!! We lived in San Diego for 20 years and visited the San Diego Zoo (notably one of the best zoos in the world) many times.

To answer your original question--"When will they start making this park more desirable?",
for our family it is already a desireable park; obviously for you and your family it is not.

AK is not "only a zoo". It has unique features that give a visitor unusual access to animals (the tigers and bat enclosures immediately come to mind)--but Disney also has integrated some incredible rides,attractions & ambience.

Maybe the Avatar area expansion will add the attractions and rides you are looking for.

[kakn7294]

So maybe Ill save myself a couple hundred dollars and take my family to our local zoo.

Stop trying to convince the OP to like Animal Kingdom! If he/she doesn't like it and appreciate it for what it is, then definitely, it's not for him/her. The local zoo would be a far better choice.

My family and I enjoy Animal Kingdom but I would not travel a thousand miles or spend that much money to go only to that particular park. But as part of the whole package including the 3 other parks, it's great! I likely would also not travel for DHS if it was a stand-alone park either. At the very least, they wouldn't be an annual trip.

[Kenny1113]

I really enjoy the Animal Kingdom, though of course I would also enjoy some expansion. But it's not just about rides. It's about the experience. If you take your time and let it all unfold around you, you will get so much more out of the park. It has great theming. I can spend hours looking at the animals around the park and on the trails. If you go just looking for rides, yes, this park might be a bit of a letdown and your time will be better spent at other parks. But if your interests are more diverse and you enjoy nature and animals and you enjoy taking in some shows, the park has more to offer.

I agree with this. I used to hate AK, with the narrow walkways and it was always hot when we went. However several trips ago I was able to stop and look at the details (especially at the area around EE). This really is a perfect display of what it is-a theme park. That being said we are usually able to see it all in alttle over half a day, which does make it hard to justify the $$ for a short time. Like a PP said with hoppers or multiday pass this park is great!

[mgmnut]

We enjoy Animal Kingdom very much, we spend a little more than 1/2 days there. Some trips we end up going a couple of times.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

I'm another one who is "blah" on AK.

I do enjoy the Safari, and we've really enjoyed our time at Conservation Station (two great surgeries to watch), but overall, it just doesn't do it for me.

Now, what Disney has done is awesome, Harambe Village, for example, is amazing. But, overall, I don't love the park and we've sent DH on his own to AK on some trips.

[VacationDisney]

Now that more things are in AK for us to see and do we find we are there for almost an entire day. In the past we would be out by 1 or 2 but not any more

We only spend 1 day at AK but we looking forward to the park and all the things it has to offer.

[Lindsey310]

We love animal kingdom and it may be one of our favorite parks but additions are always good to keep it fresh. However, I feel like Hollywood studios needs more of an expansion than AK.

We love the safari and the whole theming of the resort. I love walking through Africa and Asia and just looking around. All the small details that went into this park is what makes it beautiful. Every time we go to disney, we have to go here. I could in fact, skip Hollywood studios though.


34 days and counting