Worst Things About Animal Kingdom?

[dior29]

The inconsistency of the animal-based attractions. Like most zoos. Are the animals up and about and doing something interesting when you come through? Great! Are they asleep or hiding? Well, tough break.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I agree with what others have said about the layout...I feel like we never quite new where we were going but I also feel like we missed out on something because we didn't know where we were. I do feel like adding more rides would be nice because even though they added Pandora I feel like it could use more.

Part of that is the part was designed to be "discovered" and in fact originally was not going to have any signs or anything. So that is one reason I think the park has a much different feel that the other parks and also why I think some people love it/is their favorite park and other people aren't fans/"1/2 day park"

Doesn't take away from the fact that it is/can be a negative aspect to the park, but at least there is a reason for it

 

[FastPasser.]

I felt like everything was so hard to find and disconnected. We literally walked around in circles.

That's because the AK layout is complex. I was required to know where everything was both onstage and backstage at WDW and AK was by far the hardest to memorize. Below is the special abbreviated map that I used showing just the paths and major locations. As complicated as it may look, it helped me tremendously.

 

[jtaznsanford]

I enjoy AK, but I think it always feels way more crowded than it is while walking around. My number one dislike is the way the paths are designed. The paths are not as wide as the other parks and there are a considerable amount of choke points that cause unnecessary "traffic" stoppages.

 

[ChrisFL]

- Lack of air conditioned areas
- Lack of proper slow-moving dark rides (with air conditioning). The Na'vi River Journey is really the first one and it's very short
- Very hot and humid
- Dino-rama is very cheap
- Some pathways are too narrow
- Layout isn't easy to get back and forth between areas.

 

[Surr]

Heat
Humidity
Size (Everything is spread out, with no good short cuts between lands.) It is a 10 to 15-minute brisk walk between E-Ticket attractions.
Animals/birds harassing you while eating outdoors (This could be true of any of the parks, but seems worse at AK to me).

 

[TCRAIG]

Unless I’m taking others to WDW - my husband and I always skip AK

 

[DisLiss]

1. The heat/humidity. Yes, I understand it. But that doesn't make me like it.
2. I agree that more ways to get from one place to another would be nice. I'd love paths from the Oasis to Dinoland or Pandora, for instance, instead of having to walk up to Discovery Island before branching off. It's not a major difference, but it seems silly to be on the same side of the river as those two lands, cross the river away from them, then cross it again to get back to first one, and back and forth again to the other.
3. Dinoland. It's just my least favorite area. The carnival thing just isn't what I'm looking for at WDW and while I like Finding Nemo, it just bugs me that they stuck it in Dinoland. You might as well just hang a sign that says "We couldn't be bothered to come up with a truly immersive Dinosaur area, so we threw in a dino-themed carnival and there was still more space, so what the heck, toss Nemo over there, too." (The Dinosaur ride & boneyard are fine in my personal opinion.) I feel like they can either do better with Dinoland or they can just do something else there entirely.

That's it. Otherwise I really like Animal Kingdom.

 

[magicalcouple]

This may be my favorite park so I hate to use the word "worst" but I will agree that this park does require more strategy in planning so we aren't zigzagging and wasting precious time.

 

[EdmondD]

Mine is maybe weird but I just don't have issues with this park:

The height requirement on Primeval Whirl is 48, which seems excessively tall for a ride that doesn't go very fast, go upside down, and into which you are firmly seated. Made my son miss this a couple times.

Also, if you try to tip DiVine after one of her shows the CM will you tell you it "is strongly discouraged." (Okay, I've never done this, it just feels like you should tip her... )

 

[kbelle8995]

One It is basically an open air Greenhouse, hot as heck.

Also it is a complicated set up. My Dad does tell a story in which he had to ask a CM how to leave the park. So the exit wasn't really plain I guess.

I go see my favorite animals the tigers and then I leave.

 

[PK Disney Dork]

Without a doubt it's the heat/humidity...and as I've discovered there's a scientific reason for this. Due to so much added plant life that was added to make the park feel more real and legit the added photosynthesis. Here's what I discovered about this:

Photosynthesis itself is an endothermic reaction. Plant uses the energy of the light to form chemical bonds, so it requires energy, but and it's a big but, there's heatbeing released during photosynthesis. Released heat doesn't come fromphotosynthesis itself but a mechanism called non photochemical quenching (NPQ)

 

[Aj1129]

I too find this park to be so hot and humid. The past two years my toddler has had meltdowns only in animal kingdom I think from being so hot. I also find it hard to navigate in this park. We’ve traveled to WDW many many times and I always feel lost in this park. This summer we plan on skipping AK just because my DS can’t handle this park just yet.

 

[Napandnat]

The carnival atmosphere in DinoLand (I know the story behind it, but most tourists don't and it doesn't seem very "Disney")

 

[Brett Wyman]

I'll admit I'm kinda confused about the complaints about layout. Its setup like a hub and if you know where you are you can follow the main "loop". Or you can take the cut through paths on either side of the Tree of Life. Sure when you are in the mix it can be visually unclear but I think that's by design to add to the atmosphere. If you take line of sight out of the equation and know where you on are the map, AK is very easy to navigate.

 

[fairestoneofall]

The pathways are uneven. I know that lends to its authenticity, but it's the park in which I'm most likely to trip.

 

[Flamingeaux]

The heat. Lack of straws and lids for drinks. The new bird show.

 

[Kae]

Its one of the hottest parks and I swear I get lost finding my way around every single time there. You would think with all the trees it would at least be cooler.

I agree. I think it is because the foliage so think the breeze doesn't come thru

 

[Conchita]

Hello in response to your question about what we don’t like about AK - One criticism I have about Animal Kingdom is the lovely Bird show - it now has some unnecessary characters in it from the film ‘UP’! I and my family can remember when it was a proper lovely show and now it’s been commercialised just like other parts of Walt Disney world! For instance - why take away the Great Movie Ride and replace it with a Micky Rollercoaster!!!!! Why get rid of the Backlot Tour and put Star Wars Land in! Ok ok I agree with the Star Wars Land but surely Disney who have 42 square miles of private land can find somewhere else to put it and leave the ‘old faithfuls’!!!! And don’t even get me started on the Frozen Ride replacing the troll ride!! Really???? I’m losing it tbh! If they get rid of Walt disney’s Favourite ride (Carousel of Prpgress) then I’m not sure I’ll ever step foot in Disney again! I know I’m sounding off but hopefully somebody out there knows where I’m coming from? My husband just told me to make his tea so I’ll sign out for today - look forward to chatting again!

 

[GoingSince1990]

We saw the “Up” bird show for the first time last week, and I was pretty unimpressed. It needs more birds and less “wilderness explorer” stuff.