Any Animal Kingdom lovers?

[nono]

Was having a conversation today with someone else who really likes the AK. Wanted to know who else on the board shares our fondness for the 4th gate!

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d51/nono_33/Tigerswim-AnimalKingdom.jpg

That's one of the reasons I like it -- the LIVE action. :kitty: (just couldn't resist!)

[jaysue]

The best park by day and our first choice for a day of adventure - with the addition of EE, this park will move up the charts

At night we like Epcot best

Our rank by day

#1 AK
#2 Epcot
#3 MK
#4 MGM

Our rank by night

#1 Epcot
#2 MGM
#3 MK
#4 AK (what little is open at night)

cheers
jaysue

[DarthGoofy]

My wife and I really enjoy the AK. It is probably my DWs favorite park. I think that in order to really appreciate the AK, you must slow down and take your time. I join in your enthusiasm and will give the AK a double wave:thewave: :thewave:

[JimC]

AK is a great park if you slow the pace, enjoy the shows, take in the landscaping. I like Jaysue's approach. Here is our rankings:

Ranking for day

1. AK or MK
2. Studios
3. Epcot


Ranking at night

1. Epcot or MK
2. Studios

[AFMom]

It's just such a different park - we think of it on a whole different level than the other parks. My DS's first love is animals - so he adores AK - and I think they did an amazing job.
I think Epcot is still our #1 choice, but for us, AK and MK are on the same bar!

[gracelrm]

We usually take our trips to WDW in June and after several trips, I can hardly do AK anymore. I like it, and want to go, but I can't take the heat there. I'm not sure why, but by 11:00 a.m., I've wilted and have to leave. It seems to me to be so much hotter than the other parks and I even have trouble breathing there! Hopefully, some year (after we retire) we'll be able to go during the winter months - then maybe we'll love it as much as you guys!

[JimC]

We usually take our trips to WDW in June and after several trips, I can hardly do AK anymore. I like it, and want to go, but I can't take the heat there. I'm not sure why, but by 11:00 a.m., I've wilted and have to leave. It seems to me to be so much hotter than the other parks and I even have trouble breathing there! Hopefully, some year (after we retire) we'll be able to go during the winter months - then maybe we'll love it as much as you guys!


Good point Grace. You will notice a difference if you avoid the summer.

[withdisneyspirit]

Love the picture, nono:thumbsup: We love AK too, bunch of animal lovers in our family! It is terribly hot though in the summer...we love it in October and December!

[Rozzie]

Awesome Pic nono!!!

:thumbsup: from your fellow AK lovers!!!!!!!!!!

It has become our tradition to do AK first. Yep, while the masses runs to the castle, we "mosey" around AK, soaking up our favorites. Funny thing is, the rides are not our favorites. (but that could change when EE opens!!) We love interacting with the CMs, and learning so much about these adorable creatures. We like doing the Exploration Trail first thing, and have the animals to ourselves, and not having to cram a eyeball into the viewing window. It absolutely is a park you need to slow down to enjoy. But I agree about the heat, we only been once in summer, and boy it does make a difference to enjoy it in cooler weather.

OK here's our list:
Days-
AK and/or MK (we usually do both parks together)
MGM
Epcot

Nights-
Epcot
MK
MGM
AK

[AFMom]

Why is it so much hotter there???? Is it just some of the more immature landscaping? I guess they need to consider more than just Kali ( or make Kali as wet as Grizzley River Run is in CA!)- give us another wet play area for the kids or something. When we were there in early Oct - we were REALLY hot - whereas we hadn't noticed it at the other parks as much - I thought it was just hotter that day.....

[Rozzie]

I always heard that it is hotter because the set up of the tropical landscaping prevents any air flow through the park. ??? anybody else have an idea???

[DarthGoofy]

I always heard that it is hotter because the set up of the tropical landscaping prevents any air flow through the park. ??? anybody else have an idea???

I have always heard the same thing.

[athenna]

I love the AK!
I love it's slower pace, you never feel like you HAVE to run from one thing to another. I like to take a pleasant stroll around and enjoy the decor and the animals. One of my favorite things to do at the AK, is to get a Rum Runner from the Dawa bar and sit at the little tables while the African musicians are playing.
I do agree w/the heat there, though. Ugh! One year I was there in Sept. and we were so hot at the AK that we had to leave.

[jaysue]

Trick with heat in AK is to

* get in the shade
* ride KRR
* park yourself in front of one of those fans they use to generate air flow
* take an outdoor shower in Harambe near the river
* go into Tusker House to get some AC action or Pizzafari

:brrrrrr: :brrrrrr: :brrrrrr: :brrrrrr:

cheers
jaysue

[jaysue]

We usually take our trips to WDW in June and after several trips, I can hardly do AK anymore. I like it, and want to go, but I can't take the heat there. I'm not sure why, but by 11:00 a.m., I've wilted and have to leave. It seems to me to be so much hotter than the other parks and I even have trouble breathing there! Hopefully, some year (after we retire) we'll be able to go during the winter months - then maybe we'll love it as much as you guys!

:jawdroppi

Tend to agree - AK in June would be hot hot hot - especially in Dinosaur USA - in May when we have been there it has been rough - ice pack for my head please! :sick:

Cheers
jaysue

[nono]

Yeah, it can get hot. That picture I posted at the top of the thread was from August. That's probably why the tiger was going for a swim! :goldfish:

As for an icepack for the head, when we go in August, we get "buzz" cuts pretty soon before we go. It definitely helps keeps us cooler.

[lllovell]

I LOVE AK!!! It is without a doubt my favorite park and for our first year of visiting, the kids always wanted to go to see the Lion King show, but now it isn't in the top 5 things we must see when we make our list. I hate that because there is just something more fun about that park. It is relaxed, there is so much to do, the shows are fantastic, the food can be quite different and refreshing. I think lots of people don't get that its "not a zoo" :sunny:

Give me AK and I always end up feeling more relaxed - - - at least AFTER I have found our stroller where they move them after the AK show. Talk about a heartattack. The first time we saw that show I really thought our stroller was gone :( Now we know we will have to search for it and that it will be crazy trying to get to it and get out of the mob after the show, so we slow down, head towards the bathrooms for a potty break first and let the crazies fight for stroller space for a while before we mosey that way.

[KNWVIKING]

Couple more votes for AK.

Dinoland Carny Park needs to be bulldozed, a well done dark ride needs to be added and they have to find someway to utilize the waterways around Disc Island but it's still our favorite park.... well, at least mine....DW still likes that place with the castle.

AK has a rep for being a half day park which I could agree with if the reason you vacation in WDW is to ride rides. But come on people, look beyond the make believe and look at what is real. You can spend hours walking the trails and never see the same thing twice. I also don't care how many times you've looked at The Tree, you are always going to spot something you've missed the last 100 times you looked at it.

I highly recommend everyone take the backstage tour. You will diffenitely look at AK in a different light afterwards.

I was never interested in anything Disney till my first trip in '95 ( I was 36 ). I look at AK as being MY park. I saw it being built, I was there almost from day one and look forward to growing old with it.

[Rozzie]

I highly recommend everyone take the backstage tour. You will diffenitely look at AK in a different light afterwards.

.

we are going to do this in May. Can't wait! :bouncingg I would love to do it with this trip next month, but we have always agreed to do one tour per visit, and Segway is all ready booked.

Another thing I love, is the sitting area for Flame Tree BBQ on the water overlooking EE. We always thought this place to be the best counter service on property. And DDE discount at that!

I spent over an hour once learning about the molerats. Who knew that the queen spends her ENTIRE life pregnant! :scratchch (note to self, next life...no molerats...)

[dizhoni]

This is DH favorite park. We haven't experienced it in the summer, but will this July. I can't imagine it will change his mind---I do believe he could just visit this park and feel the trip was complete. Well at least after he and son-in-law have their day at Fantasy of Flight! :) Honi

[JimC]

If you like AK, then I recommend a stay at AKL. Stay on concierge level and do the sunrise and sunset safaris. Make sure you find out what days they run before you book.

[athenna]

If you like AK, then I recommend a stay at AKL. Stay on concierge level and do the sunrise and sunset safaris. Make sure you find out what days they run before you book.

This has been my dream to do this for a long time now. I will get to do it eventually finances permitting!

[jaysue]

The two tours at AK are amazing - very much recommeded indeed

Paul is a great guide on the backstage tour there and the wild by design one is good as well

Remember DVC discounts on the tours!

cheers
jaysue

[kathleena]

DH and I love the AK. Dh only wants to go to AK and Epcot when he goes.

AK is living. Breathing. Always growing. The other parks are nice and familiar or exciting and entertaining, but the AK is about the park - not so much the attractions.

[Simba's Mom]

My very favorite park. I also recommend the tours to fellow AK lovers. I've done Backstage Safari and loved it. Unfortunately, since Wild by Design is only offered on Thursday and Friday right now, I haven't been able to do that one yet. For fellow animal lovers, the Pocohontas Animal Training show is really interesting. They show you how the animals are encouraged to do what they should for the show. I loved it.

[AmyBeth68]

Another HUGE fan here of AK. I think it is my favorite day park....though EPCOT and MK are right there. I have always felt this park has been under-rated and that people just don't give it a chance. It drives me crazy...and I've heard this waayyyy too many times that there are better "zoos" elsewhere. It is NOT a zoo....never intended to be a ZOO. Uggggg. And the theming there is just incredible. But I guess I'm preaching to the choir here. So many people who visit WDW just ignore AK....I think the traffic will be heavier with the addition of EE. :).

BTW...the Sunrise Safari tour really IS amazing! We really enjoyed that a few years ago. And AKL is my favorite non-DVC resort...if they build a DVC there we will buy. Wish we could spend the $$$ to stay there on our upcoming trip but alas...

[Pumpkinboy]

Another AK and AKL lover chiming in here. In our many times there, I have still not been on any of the "thrill" rides at AK. DW wnet on Kali River with DNiece this past April, but none of us have been on Primeval Whirl or Dinosaur. We might do Everest next fall, since DD is getting taller and a bit braver. But mainly we love AK for the many things to linger over and the great shows. We do Festival of the Lion King every visit - sometimes multiple times.

Wouldn't it be great if they remodeled the Kudu wing of AKL into DVC units - I'd sell off most of my other points to get in on that one!:thumbsup:

[Rozzie]

ya'll have me itching this morning to book AKL concerige for the sunrise safari. This is something I have wanted to do forever!!!!!!!!!! :blueflowe