Get me excited about AK?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2003
Get me excited about AK?
8
Sun, 09-17-2006 - 3:06pm
Can anyone get me excited about Animal Kingdom?

 

Avatar for shelb31
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2006
Sun, 09-17-2006 - 3:39pm

There are several things there that we do every time we go.

Disney 2010
Avatar for cl_ktbugsmom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 09-17-2006 - 5:38pm
AK ranks as one of our favorite parks. It often hits the #1 mark. It is incredibly themed. You simply don't find all over park theming on the caliber of AK at any of the other parks. There is no detail overlooked. The Festival of the Lion King show is AMAZING we love it, we'll see it multiple times on a trip if we have time, it never gets old.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 09-17-2006 - 8:05pm

Hey C, been wondering if you were still here!

We went to AK in 2004, and I was really disappointed. It was so very hot, and we didnt do much at all, I think one of the trails and the Lion King (which is absolutely awesome, BTW) and that was about it. Decided to try again in 2005 and we had a blast! We started out with Donald's breakfastsaurus (both times, we do like that), and in 2005 we left there and went straight to the Kilamanjaro Safari, which we missed the firs time, and that was pretty good. The off to Dinoland for a little bit, caught the Paint/Splat/something that is street actors, it was hilarious, DH rode Kali (Trev didn't want to, imagine that, and Isaac was too short), the boys had fun spraying water on him as his raft went by. Over to the Lion King, and it was as awesome as the first time, lunch at Tusker House, really, REALLY good, especially for counter service. I don't remember what all else we did, but we saw almost everything and really enjoyed the park. My advice is NOT to start with the trails! We even ended up going back a second time on our 05 trip if I remember right.

~Steph

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2003
Sun, 09-17-2006 - 8:14pm
Yep, I mostly lurk as I'm all planned, ADR'ed and paid for, just waiting on the calendar!

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Mon, 09-18-2006 - 3:48am

I have often heard that AK is a half-day park, and maybe that's true if youf family is not into animals.

My kids adore animals, and they loved AK a lot. They went late one afternoon to see the parade and the Lion King show (I didn't go that day; toddler was too grumpy), and then we went the next a.m. to do the rest. Got there at opening (it wasn't an early EMH day) and we stayed til after lunch and it wasn't enough, there was more we wanted to do. Now, they wanted to ride the safari 3 times, so that took a big bite out of our day (the first two times, it was early so the line was short; the last time, we used FastPass). They loved Kali River Rapids and the Boneyard. They loved just hanging around watching the street performers. My 3-yr-old loved the bird show; DH said that my older kids would've adored it because it was very funny.

We were there on a very, very, very hot day. It's a big park; maybe most people just don't last much past lunch, which is very understandable. I know when my family went for that late afternoon, they were very hot and draggy, and they didn't enjoy those events much (which I don't understand -- most people rave about the Lion King show and the parade! I think the kids were just hot and tired; they'd already been to another park that a.m.). So for us, maybe two mornings would have been better (we were there a week), or one early EMH morning. Or going in November instead of July. :-)

Maybe the magic of staying so close to animals at AKL will spark more interest for your family. A 4-night trip is short, so I can see why you're thinking more about the other parks, esp. if your kids aren't so much into animals. My WDW philosophy is this: it's all fun, and you can't do it all...pick something you think you'll love and enjoy it. If you don't go to AK, then you won't know what you're missing, so you won't miss it much. And you'll probably enjoy whatever you do instead. We missed some biggies on our trip: Fantasmic, Space Mountain, Test Track, and Dole Whips. But it doesn't occur to us that we missed out, because we saw and did *so* much. What we DID sticks with us. The rest will be there if we ever go back.

You could always leave AK for the morning of your last day; if by then, your kids are ho-hum about the whole animal thing and they didn't get enough of MGM/MK, you could switch plans. But if they've been bitten by the theming of AKL and the call of the wild, then give AK a try -- it's fun! If you go and find it lacking, then park hop!!

Chris

Avatar for carolejd
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-13-1999
Mon, 09-18-2006 - 5:00pm

This is our favourite park!

My DD (now 8) is nuts about animals, we stayed at AKL this time last year.

Festival of the Lion King is a not to miss show, the Maharajah's Jungle trek is a great walking trail amongst Indian ruins - you feel as if Mowgli and the rest of the JUngle Book gang could show up any minute. The tigers are here which are my DD's all time favourite animal.

Kali River Rapids is such a fun ride (but take a towel you will get wet - there are places to dry off afterwards though)The Boneyard is a great place to play for a while - my DD's fave part was the "dig" area (my sis is an archaeologist , so she was pretending to be Aunty L lol!)

There's an area near the Dino ride that has smaller rides and Primeval Whirl, also carnival type games.

It Tough to be a Bug is another good show, and a chance to sit down and cool off.

I could go on and on LOL!

Carole

Carole

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2005
Mon, 09-18-2006 - 11:00pm

Hey, we might see you there - we're also going in Nov! My DH and my oldest DD (who is 8) LOVE animals and therefore, love this park.

Val, Co-CL Disney Vacations

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2005
Tue, 09-19-2006 - 1:24pm

In the summer, AK is our least favorite park (cause it's the hottest)... but in November we love it.

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