Originally Posted By Rebekah This topic is for discussion of the 4/23/2004 news item <b><a href="http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2004/commentary040423RAM.htm" target="_blank">Fool: Saving Disney's World</a></b> An April 23rd <I>Fool.com</I> editorial recounts a recent visit to Walt Disney World and discusses how easily a quality brand can be tainted.
Originally Posted By guyhayden Sure, it's not the theme parks that I remember as a child, but if I could take a Disney novice to a park everyday it would be just as fun. As for 2000 Leagues, it's better to see a pond than a parking lot there.
Originally Posted By teri Wow... Excellent article. Indoor venues at Animal Kingdom do exist - Lion King show, Flights of Wonder (?) and Tarzan Rocks do have shade, the Pizzafari and Restaurantosaurus are air conditioned. It's Tough to be a Bug is cool and dark. And Rainforest Cafe is an indoor table-service restaurant that is open to guests inside or outside the park. But WE NEED COVER AND SHADE!!!! That carnival in a parking lot they put in is miserable in the daytime, rain or shine. I really wonder if these guys ever try to take their mothers to these parks and see how they fare. AK is a tough park to be in all day, physically. It hurts to be there. And I actually like the place anyway.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I like the place too but most of his criticisms have some meat to them.
Originally Posted By dennis-in-ct <<AK is a tough park to be in all day, physically. It hurts to be there>> I have heard this from other people as well but I must say I have yet to feel that way. Having visited the park numerous times since opening, AK is becoming my park of choice. For me, stunning, emotional, immersive and makes me want more. There is so much lush greenier with the trees forming a canopy that creates shade. Yet - over and over - I hear comments about how "hot" it compared to other WDW parks. I don't get it.
Originally Posted By Labuda "I hear comments about how "hot" it compared to other WDW parks. I don't get it." My take on that is that people are actually complaining about the humidity. With the massive amount of greenery there, I'd guess that DAK is quite a bit more humid than the other, more concrete-laden Disney parks. ANd of course, humdity is much much worse than the dry heat you can get at the other parks.
Originally Posted By EpcotRules Speaking for myself and making a few casual assumptions, I have to say that I also find AK hot and hard to do. I am sure if you are younger, non-arthritic and in good shape it wouldn't be much of a problem. If you look at the layout of the park, everything connects to a center spot but not to each other. It requires a lot of backtracking to get from one area to another. The trees that provide some of the shade also work to stop breezes and hold the humidity in. To get from one area to another you must walk out in the open, without the air movement and with no shade in those areas it can get really unbearable. It is the only park that I notice this in with the exception of IOA. That place is like a maze. I never ran into so many dead ends in my life with no shade at all. That is part of the reason why I don't have AK on the top of my list. I wouldn't go for more than half a day even if it were open longer. Just takes to much out of me for very little return in the form of entertainment. I go to Disney for entertainment. It does seem like a park that isn't done yet but they do charge full price to see it anyway.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I think the humidity issue brought up due to the greenery may have some validity as the park is more taxing than the others -- however I must say, I am just hort of 50 years old and I have yet to feel overwhelmed by it - it is a good workout- but stop and enjoy some of he non-ride attractions - there are some wonderful animal exhibits here - and although we pay full price for a yet unfinished park - I would gather that most locals have AP's and the rest of us usually have hoppers - so AK in AM and a nice visit to an Epcot restaurant and fireworks makes a wonderful day. I think this park is excellent and when we get our next e ticket ride in 2006 will be even better. Just my humble opinion
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m "If you look at the layout of the park, everything connects to a center spot but not to each other. It requires a lot of backtracking to get from one area to another." I found this out when I went in March and my first destination was Festival of the Lion King. It took quite a while to walk there, because you had to walk to the center of the park, then backtrack to the lion king.
Originally Posted By Mos Def Good article. Wish he had spent more time talking about the quality and theming of past rides, he kind of gives the impression that the parks just need more rides period.
Originally Posted By a1stav My last trip to WDW my wife and I spent 9-5 at AK (and still did'nt have time for a second ride on CTX or going to the conversation station). Then "hopped" over to the MK for the "Not so Scary" party. This was our only time at the MK so we went from 6-midnight and saw nearly everything at the MK including 2 rides on Splash, AE, and Pooh. We were beat but had a wonderful time.
