Originally Posted By FerretAfros It was ten years ago today (at least on the east coast, where it actually happened) that Disney's Animal Kingdom opened its gates to its first gates. It opened as Disney's largest park, in terms of size, and has certainly grown over the past decade as well. We've seen additions like Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade, Kali River Rapids, Chester and Hester's, the Finding Nemo Musical, and Epxedition: Everest. The theming and attention to detail, along with the edutainment aspects, make it one of Disney's best critically received parks in the world. Hopefully the next ten years (and then some) will be as great as the first ten!
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys It's also still the hottest park. Hottest day I ever spent was at AK.
Originally Posted By FenwayGirl Some will disagree with you leobloom. Our family spent 2 full days in AK in January!!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Agreed, I think DAK is a park to be enjoyed over several days. Whereas more than 3 hours at the MK and I want to get out of there.
Originally Posted By mstaft Just finished a huge tribute to DAK on my blog. I tried to pull out some rarely seen concept art, old maps, and my photos. Hope you enjoy it- andHappy Anniversary, DAK. You're a terrific park! www.insightsandsounds.blogspot.com
Originally Posted By dshyates "I think DAK is a park to be enjoyed over several days." You said the same thing about DCA. And feel legoland is a perfect mix of attractions. My youngest (7) would probably have fun, but I believe would get very bored on the attractions at legoland. Maybe its because I have a cool photo of her on Millinium Force (310' tall, 93 mph) with both hands sky high and a grin from ear to ear. My 12 year old DD would rather go to the dentist. We really enjoyed DAK, but were done before the parade. So we sat and waited. After the parade we left and went o the hotel pool. We were there in August, and yes it was VERY hot. Poor airflow due to the dense foliage and narrow walkways. It is really disappointing to me that from the get go the nightime hours have been an issue, and 10 years later they haven't figured out that it is a theme park designed around animals. NAHTAZU. BGA doesn't close at dark because the animal go to sleep. So a few attractions go down at dark. Thats were added entertainment and actual attractions come into play. With the DAK logic MK has no reason to open at all since there are no animals to see even during the daylight hours.
Originally Posted By leobloom DAK is a park best experienced in 3-hour park-hopping snippets. The only way I'd spend two full days at DAK would be a) if I had never been to a zoo before or b) if I had never gone hiking before or c) if I had never left my house before.
Originally Posted By dshyates "OOOHHH NOOOO. you have to leave now, its 6:00pm and the everest coaster needs its beauty rest. Well, I know you paid the $72 dollars, but there is no way we can keep the park open the same hours as the other parks, The Festival of the Lion King and Nemo are sleeping. What part of that don't you get." Sounds like profit maximizing over customer service. It has been a lame excuse to rip off the customers for 10 years. They have been playing the closing early game at all the parks for years. While increasing the admission costs. Less hours, higher price. Taking from both ends. Next they will cut portion sizes and raise the price.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Difference is dsyates, I like to take my parks in my stride, soak in the experiences, have fun with my family, and have a nice restful meal. It is not go, go, go roller coaster happy time. We are not that kind of family. I have been on real safari's in africa and south america, I prefer the Disney version. When at DCA we can spend hours playing in Animation or Redwood Creek Challenge trail, or enjoy wine tastings, and talking to cast members about how tortillas are made. To us this is part of a vacation. Yesterday I worked 19 hours including 5 hours of travel. Today I have been go go go and will likely finish work at 9. Tomorrow out to work at 6, charity event tomorrow night. Thursday and Friday executive away days. This week we are sending out 3 contracts, engaging with 18 media stakeolders, preparing a final cut of our guide book (I am editor in chief), and I have month end accounts to do. This is a pretty normal week. When I go on vacation, I like to take my time and enjoy my family and environment. I find gigacoasters are a cheap thrill that I am not willing to travel around the globe or wait hours for. But to see animals in such a natural looking surrounding, go on a safari, see some quality stage shows, pick out animals in the Tree of Life, enjoy bands and tribal dancers, and ride some world class attractions (Dinosaur, Expedition Everest, and ITTBAB are world class). Then I am happy. Would I like to see more, or extended hours? Of course. Maybe if DAK had longer hours, I would deem it a 1 day park. But we spend 1-2 hours each animal experience if we can.
Originally Posted By FenwayGirl I'm with you Dave. We love to take our time in the parks and just enjoy the atmosphere. The rides in AK are fine, but we spend more time on the trails and at the shows. The Conservation Station is a huge hit with my little ones. The zoo keepers out there are very patient and answer all of the questions that the kids have.
Originally Posted By dshyates See, If I want a relaxing vacation I go to the national parks, the keys, or some other relaxing place. And I do love the immersive environment at DAK. But I have very little to no interest on spending hours in the Mahraja Jungle trek. For my $72 a day, I want attractions, not park benches. 5 mins. of watching the tigers and I'm good. What's next.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo You see, but that is where we differ. In going to DAK, if we want animals, we have animals. Or rides, or shows, or characters, or theme shopping. If you go to a national park, that is all you have. $72 is a drop in the ocean. For us to go to a US national park, we would spend far more. I like that DAK is the closest thing to being in Africa and India, and you do not need shots or are unlikely to die of a horrid disease. To me, that $72 is a bargain. The reason why I fell in love with Disney was due to immersive environments, a sense of place. DL/DLP used to offer this (and does still to a degree) and Epcot and DAK still do. So does Legoland. I grew out of white knuckles in my early 20's, I ride them now, but they are not a big deal. to me seeing the verts operate on a tiger, speaking with people from Africa and Asia, enjoying live music that is accessable to my little one's and different. These are worth travelling for. And these make the Disney difference. Disney offers a post card experience of other places in the world. I have always said, I would rather be in Epcot's Paris than the real thing. Same with Venice.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo And this is my point about oversaturation of toons. I will spend the time and money to fly out to a place that offers me high quality choices. But if they keep rolling out segregated thrills and toons, then I will stop going. I can do thrills here in the UK. I can even see toons of some description here in the UK. But things like: - Mixed species of animals in one environment - Audio Animatronic laden ride throughs - Soarin - Lights Motors Action - Illuminations - Wishes - Live entertainment everywhere, that's suitable for the whole family - Sights that are works of art, not in a mixed urban environment, or a gallery - Choices of different cuisine and shopping experiences - Clean environments and clean cut, friendly cast members These are the halmark of excellent tangibles Disney have brought me up to enjoy. And this is why I get sooooo ANGRY AND BITTER about the laziness of toons and thrills, the destruction of unique dining and shopping, the cutting back of bands in favor of rubberheads, and the lessening of cleanliness and real magic (rather than marketting speak). This is what drags me so down. This is why I question going anymore at times. This is what shows me that the world is becoming a worse place to live in. If I got into a dark place in my mind, Disney used to be great medicine. It doesn't so much anymore. But DAK and Epcot, they still inspire and awe, and I am truly sorry you guys miss out on that. enjoy 6 Flags.
Originally Posted By dshyates There is nothing wrong with thrills. Its naked thrills that are empty. Maliboomer vs ToT. Thats the Disney difference to me. To me the immersive environ is the wrapping. The attractions are the meat. And by attractions I do mean shows, streetmosphere, and actual rides. I think one of the big difs is that you have really small (2 & 4) kids. Tell me how interested they will be in sitting on a bench and watching the tigers for 2 hours for the 30th time when they are 10 & 12. When we had a stroller bound 9 month old in the parks, we did it differently than we do now. I know its just me, but I find watching animals for the most part boring. I do enjoy watching the Vets and talking to the CMs. But just sitting there watching animals is pretty boring. I actually enjoy the themed environment more than the animals. And being a bonified amusement park junkie, I really like amusement parks. That is why I prefer USF over USH anyday. Yes, the tram tour is fascinating, but an amusement park it is not. More like a Film Museum with a couple of attractions. That is why IOA is my second favorite park in Otown after MK. EPCOT is my favorite non-traditional Disney park But I find it really hard to classify EPCOT as an Amusement Park. But there is a lot to do at EPCOT that doesn't involve sitting on a bench watching the exotic (said so in the guide) foliage grow.
Originally Posted By tonyanton Animal Kingdom has grown to be one of my favourite parks (second at WDW after Epcot). I guess since I don't visit WDW without a park hopper or whatever they're calling it these days, I have less issue with it sometimes being a shorter day. However, on my last trip I spend a second day visiting to catch EE again and some of the smaller shows/attractions I missed the first time. Happy Birthday...hope the next 10 years are even greater!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>And being a bonified amusement park junkie, I really like amusement parks. That is why I prefer USF over USH anyday. Yes, the tram tour is fascinating, but an amusement park it is not. More like a Film Museum with a couple of attractions. That is why IOA is my second favorite park in Otown after MK. <<< See, this is where we are totally different. I was mega disappointed with USF because it was an amusement park and not like USH. I like USH very much. Don't get me started on MK - mamma said if I cannot say anything nice....
Originally Posted By barboy "it's(Animal Kingdom)still a half-day park." Maybe........, but then again I'll take 5 hrs. of Disney excellence over 2 days of a neglected, toon ridden, Stitch belching MK anytime.
