Worst Things About Animal Kingdom?

[hedberg1661]

Okay, I promise, this is the last time I ask you these wide open questions, but we have one more episode to go with these topics! What do you think are the worst things about Animal Kingdom? Y'all basically said everything about the park was the best about it, so I'm super interested in hearing what you think the worst aspects are.

1) It's so hot there in the summer. Florida is hot in general but it seems that AK in particular can be brutal.
2) Less attractions = more crowds...unless you RD the park. While there are plenty of animals to see and plenty of things to do in the park I find that if you travel with someone who is a go-go attraction person this could be a challenge park for you.
3) Food options. Tiffins and Tusker are good but otherwise I don't find the options at AK anything worth writing home about.

 

[snappy]

While I love the park, I am not crazy about the width of the pathways; even a slight crowd can feel crushing on the narrow pathways surrounded by dense foliage.

The word that comes to mind for me is claustrophobic.

Also, when it rains hard in AK, it feels like a deluge to me. Like a Noah’s ark kind of thing.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Absolutely this. The list is: Triceratops Spin, Navi, and Safari.

And the train ride to Rafiki's Planet Watch, when that is operating.

 

[eliseisawkward]

An insufficient number of snakes

I don’t know why, but this made me laugh a lot.


My least favorite part of AK has already been mentioned, but just how spread out everything is. I don’t mind that all the trill rides are in opposite corners, but the lack of smaller attractions between them is a bummer.

Also the bottleneck leaving Dinoland is an absolute nightmare. Why are there rock columns in the middle of that walkway? Who thought that was a good idea?

 

[MaryKM]

I love AK.
I think my “worsts” are: the demise (or inconsistent use of) Rafiki’s Planet Watch and the variability in levels of of soakedness on Kali River Rapids. Seeing folks get so soaked that they look like they just stepped out of a shower makes me not want to ride it. I know that’s lame. It’s a me problem not a park problem!

 

[Napandnat]

I love AK.
I think my “worsts” are: the demise (or inconsistent use of) Rafiki’s Planet Watch and the variability in levels of of soakedness on Kali River Rapids. Seeing folks get so soaked that they look like they just stepped out of a shower makes me not want to ride it. I know that’s lame. It’s a me problem not a park problem!

I enjoy Kali River Rapids, but I'm taking a large family next month and it would be nice to have the "soak" factor be a little more predictable to help everyone decide if they want to ride it. I don't personally mind a little splash, but I definitely don't want to get drenched.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

I enjoy Kali River Rapids, but I'm taking a large family next month and it would be nice to have the "soak" factor be a little more predictable to help everyone decide if they want to ride it. I don't personally mind a little splash, but I definitely don't want to get drenched.

That's a good idea, to have it like the former Catastrophe Canyon, where if you knew, you could choose the wetter side or the drier side. (I realize it would be more complicated to make Kali that way).

 

[disneyseniors]

? Star Wars shouldn't have any impact on Animal Kingdom at all. It's in a different park.

Yes, but I think it will affect all the parks. People can only stay in that area for so much time. Due to the crowd levels, the crowds will have to spill out into the other parks, AK included.
I sure hope not, but am afraid it will affect the other parks too.

 

[Laura's Dad]

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.

Actually that building housed a Jungle Book show and Tarzan Rocks! before the current Finding Nemo show. They didn't just toss Nemo over there. I think everyone would agree that the Nemo Show was a definite improvement over the two previous shows and that enclosing the theater has made it much better.

 

[shh]

They need to get rid of the entire midway area in Dinoland, Its never fit in.

Yup. Yup and Yup. What a waste of space and a ******* with the park's theme.

 

[nkereina]

I'm sure I'm repeating after 8 pages, but we find there is a lack of things for adults to do. We enjoy the rides, one or two shows, and the trails and we're done with everything by 2pm. No need to go back. We pretty much just walk through Dinoland without stopping, save for Dinosaur if that counts.

 

[Moliphino]

Actually that building housed a Jungle Book show and Tarzan Rocks! before the current Finding Nemo show. They didn't just toss Nemo over there. I think everyone would agree that the Nemo Show was a definite improvement over the two previous shows and that enclosing the theater has made it much better.

I preferred Tarzan Rocks. Who doesn't want to watch a flying wild man in a loincloth? Enclosing the theater with AC was a good choice.

 

[Shellyred8]

They took away breakfast at Satuli. They closed down Rafiki's.

 

[JK World]

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.

Yes, there is a similar ride at our local Six Flags with a 42" height requirement that my 4 year old enjoys.

 

[Farro]

I'm always amazed at the people who say there is nothing to do at Animal Kingdom. We are two adults who can easily fill two full day and nights there. Just sitting have a glass of wine at Nomad is an experience!

 

[JK World]

Not enough rides for the little people. There are plenty of shows, but the only rides my son could do last trip (41") were NRJ, Safari, and Triceratops Spin. Technically he could have done Dinosaur, but that seemed too scary.

I love all of the live entertainment throughout the park and could stay all day just for the music and dancers, but with my son I just skip the park now. It's a half-day park for us (an exhausting half day, given all the walking required!).

 

[Day-Day]

I agree with many others on the layout and getting around the park. It does seem like you have to back-track a bit. But worse than that.... some of the walkways seem so narrow and difficult to get around other guests. I am referring to the walkway heading back to Everest and then trying to get around the Nemo theater and Rivers of Light. Also trying to walk through the Oasis to Discovery Island. You have to walk all the way up and around and it gets so congested going across the bridge and then trying to get through the crowds to get to the right pathway. I think they should make a pathway directly to DinoLand and one to Pandora.

I don't understand why the main paths were designed to be so narrow in a couple of places. The path between Asia and Africa is really tight. It is especially ridiculous when DiVine sets up on this path (don't know if she still uses this location but crowds gather where the path is so narrow when she does).

 

[Maggie Gallagher]

1. The heat just feels more oppressive in AK.
2. It feels as if a lot more walking is required to go from place to place.
3. Kali River Rapids is the only ride we really like...maybe because we get cooled off by the splashing water.

On our last trip, we opted out of going to AK entirely.

 

[SillySallySews]

As I’m sure others have said, the heat. It’s brutal. The city I live in and have become acclimated to is known for being “famously hot” and even I can’t stand Animal Kingdom on a summer afternoon.

 

[Bullseye]

So much hate for Dinoland. I'll stick up for it as I appreciate what's going on there. It could use a little "plussing" but I still like it.

I'm with you Brian. I don't get all the animosity. Especially from folks who know the backstory. Imagineers never intended for it to have a "Disney" theme. That's like saying why didn't they give Pandora a Disney theme? The section offers one major ride, a couple of kid rides, a couple eating spots, a gift shop, and a play area for kids to run around in. Restaurantosaurus has a pretty decent menu and is one of the few QS places that has a topping station and free drink refills. Quite honestly it's very comfortable in there and plenty of things to look at inside. We like Dinoland too!


DinoLand USA