Worst Things About Animal Kingdom?

[kiford]

Dinoland - I like the Dinosaur ride even though its connection to Animal Kingdom is tenuous at best. But if you're going to go with it and do a dinosaur-themed land, take out the cheesy carnival rides and games and put something more interesting and better in.

Tiffins used to be one of our favourite restaurants. They've now turned the menu into a generic surf and turf with just a few interesting items, none of which I'm allowed to eat because they're deep fried and they don't have a separate fryer for people with seafood allergies. And they changed the bread in the bread service and I can't even eat one of them because it has sunflower oil in which I'm also allergic to. But the Nomad Lounge still rocks. Love that place.

Other than that I love the place.

 

[PDettorre]

I HATE Dinoland. When me and my sister bring the kids, we avoid Dinoland like the plague. We always hope the kids don't see it and ask to go. I feel like dinoland is just a small carnival-it doesn't live up to Disney standards in my opinion! Also, I feel like AK doesn't have enough to fill your day. I love AK, but we end up finishing around 2 and going to another park. Also, I find a hard time finding quick service meals I like there, but that's probably just because I am picky!

 

[Maggie Gallagher]

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.

We were there on Christmas day about 10 years ago. It was 87 degrees and we just melted in AK watching the "Jingle Jungle Parade." It felt like August.

 

[juuuliebeth]

It is the only park I get turned around in. I swear I know my way, and then BAM - wrong turn taking me through animal trails when I'm just trying to get somewhere. I'm not directionally challenged. I don't visit often enough, maybe, but at least once per trip I get sort of lost and have to pull out a map.

I'll also second whoever said it could use more dark rides. Dark rides are my jam! I'm getting to where I almost prefer them to thrill rides. (Almost!) With a shorter wait, I'd ride NRJ a lot more.

 

[Just_Joe1087]

There's a new upgraded Rivers of Light show set to debut this summer.

https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-storie...oduce-rivers-of-light-we-are-one-this-summer/

Thank you! This actually makes me excited to check it out during our next trip!

 

[Mike_M]

I hate to say it, but the entire park is just not anything I’m interested in. Went there once in 2001, that was plenty for me. Even with the additions since then, I’m not interested and would most likely skip altogether if/when I make my way to WDW again.

The overall conservationist tone, while an admirable and appropriate stance for most zoos and AK as well to have, comes across to me as a bit preachy and out of place for a Disney Park experience. Being reminded about how humanity is not taking care of the planet (poachers & deforestation seemingly at every turn) is a bit of a downer and not the mood I’m looking for on a Disney trip.

 

[hiroMYhero]

The “Worst” Show:

 

[kwdw]

The new dumbed-down menu at Tiffins.

WHAT!!! No!!!! Off to read the menu...

 

[maccagerl]

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.

YES! That happened to me too, just kept circling around looking for the way out. It reminded me of being in a casino- those are purposely set up to keep you from leaving!

 

[Farro]

I hate to say it, but the entire park is just not anything I’m interested in. Went there once in 2001, that was plenty for me. Even with the additions since then, I’m not interested and would most likely skip altogether if/when I make my way to WDW again.

The overall conservationist tone, while an admirable and appropriate stance for most zoos and AK as well to have, comes across to me as a bit preachy and out of place for a Disney Park experience. Being reminded about how humanity is not taking care of the planet (poachers & deforestation seemingly at every turn) is a bit of a downer and not the mood I’m looking for on a Disney trip.

If you aren't really looking for it, most people won't even notice the message of the park. It's not a downer at all. I think it's a celebration of the animals and nature.

 

[Mike_M]

If you aren't really looking for it, most people won't even notice the message of the park. It's not a downer at all. I think it's a celebration of the animals and nature.

Funny enough, I didn’t think I was looking for it. It was just always there in the background and left me feeling like the Magic was missing. The optimism of the Disney park experience, the utopian example they try and have in the other parks, was replaced with a realism that I just wasn’t looking for.

It’s a unique park and for the right person, I'm sure it’s a great experience.

I am just not that person. Lol

 

[Tomh]

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.

Interesting Question. A few years ago, before the addition of the evening entertainment, and Pandora, it was not unusual for us to skip Animal Kingdom. Now with all of those additions, we will actually be spending two days there on our trip this summer.

The worst things, in my opinion, about Animal Kingdom. First off, the heat. Much of AK is outdoors, and there are lots of trees and vegetation to help keep the heat and humidity in place. I feel the heat at AK more so than at any other park.

Also, as a result of so much of the park being outdoors, there are precious few places to get under cover when it rains, so this tends to be the park that we end up getting the wettest in.

Because of the layout of the pathways in AK, it is pretty easy to get disoriented, and go in the wrong direction. After 10 years of visiting Disney World, this is the one park where I still need to use the park map pretty regularly in order to actually get where it is I want to go.

I also dislike the lack of a parade. We really enjoy the parade at MK, and used to enjoy the parade at AK as well, so we dislike the fact that it is no longer running.

And finally, I kind of have a love hate relationship with Rivers of Light. Visually, the individual show elements are beautiful. Sadly, the story that should tie them together is tragically lacking, leaving the show well less than awe inspiring to me. I can only hope that the new improved version which is going to be debuting soon will bring things together into a show that really manages to move people the way that Disney shows usually do.

This all having been said, these complaints are relatively small, nit picky things. Overall, I really enjoy AK now, it is a beautiful park with plenty to see and do.

 

[Malestrom Troll]

The worst is the queue for Kilimanjaro Safaris in the morning when it gets backed up. They have one CM that stands by the tapstyle but not one to direct guests to the end of the line so it's just a big blob of people out front.

 

[annemce118]

This is my least favorite park. A half day is all I need usually. I don’t like being there at night. I think it’s hard to see. The paths aren’t well lit. I don’t like the Rivers of Light show. It is awfully hot there too.

 

[snappy]

Definitely too dark at night. I agree. Can be difficult to navigate with curving narrow walkways that are sometimes sloping as well.

 

[disneyworldsk]

Most of the animals at AK are there because they were transferred from other zoo's, or rehabbed and unable to be returned to the wild. There are reports that some of the lions were going to be killed (culled) in the wild and were brought to AK instead. AK also has massive conservation efforts and rehabs animals. I'm OK with that, and am glad animals from other zoos get to be in AK as it is the cream of the crop for animal care. Also knowing human psychology as I do, these experiences up close with these animals serve to make humans feel concern and connection to them, a lot of them are either endangered or close to being on the list. Disney gives us a way to give money to help while becoming educated on these animals.

yes, i agree with you on these points. Just don't like animals being trained to do things for our entertainment. And they do that in ak too.