The fifth WDW theme park thread

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

There are rides, shows, real dining now with Yak and Yeti and soon a night time spectacular.

Plenty to see.

 

Originally Posted By jonnyrzone420

Thank you Jonvn, I was thinking the same exact thing. Someone before said that the animals were left out all night, but that is false. I checked with a cast member, they are housed every night, besides that, you can see where they are kept if you take the train to rafiki aninal watch.

 

Originally Posted By jonvn

I was last at DAK in 2001. And it was done done done in a few very short hours. I know they've added a couple of rides since, but it doesn't seem that much.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

Walt did indeed consider St. Louis for a park in the mid-60s prior to deciding on FLA.

 

Originally Posted By jonnyrzone420

If you have never been to animal Kingdom before, you can do the entire park (all shows, attractions, animal trails, and lunch) by 2:30 in peak season

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

The only way you can do the whole park in a few hours is if you are a ride person, who will walk by a tiger and say 'OK, I saw it, where's the rolley coaster?'

 

Originally Posted By jonnyrzone420

What are you supposed to do, ask the tiger for its autograph and what magical captivity is like?

 

Originally Posted By jonvn

There is only so much time I am going to be devoted to staring at a tiger.

I've seen tigers. There are half a dozen of them in my local zoo.

They are nice to look at, but I'm done after about 2 minutes, tops.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

Everyone is different. But, for me, I spend a good 10 minutes at most animal exhibits especially the tigers and gorillas (often more with the latter).

But if you're a 'ride person' you're going to be done with DAK very quickly except during busy periods.

I see many folks who only go there for the rides and come out unhappy ... of course, they're missing so much of what makes the park so wonderful, but that's their choice.

They may say I'm crazy for wanting to watch wildlife ... I think people who want to mindlessly ride Space Mountain are nuts.

Different strokes ...

 

Originally Posted By jonnyrzone420

I love to walk around the parks on my downtime and soak everything in and take my time by myself. However when you are with your family, and I have done this many times; you are on a mission, you have a map and a plan and probably an unnoficial guide touring plan. You want to get through it as quickly as possible while maximizing the fun factor.

 

Originally Posted By jonnyrzone420

A cast member friend of mine just reminded me that the cost is 75.62 per day per park. So people who spend that are going to want to get as much in as possible aka; Everest over and over again

 

Originally Posted By jonnyrzone420

By the way, it seems that this has become the animal kingdom thread, which is probably better that it being the 'let me lament over the fifth gate that is never going to happen' thread.

 

Originally Posted By jonvn

I can watch wildlife here.

I have a pass to the zoo. We see caged animals often. They are displayed very nicely in DAK, but it's just nothing that I need to watch for long periods of time, not after flying 4000 miles to get there.

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

"They may say I'm crazy for wanting to watch wildlife ... I think people who want to mindlessly ride Space Mountain are nuts.

Different strokes ..."

Agreed - we spent 3 days at DAK, and spent loads of time in the two main trails (2-3 hours each), but will only queue for SM if it's less than a 15min wait. But that's just us.

And St Louis was an interest due to demographics (even now Chicago makes up that largest US demo to visit WDW).

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

>>>I have a pass to the zoo. We see caged animals often. They are displayed very nicely in DAK, but it's just nothing that I need to watch for long periods of time, not after flying 4000 miles to get there.<<<<

Different strokes. I live within 1 hour of three major international zoological institutions, but seeing the animals feels like being on a farm. DAK reminds me of the real deal (which I have experienced). I can ride WDW's version of Spacemountain at virtually any fun fair, carnival or local park these days.

But different strokes as they say. If I want a cool themd Magic Kingdom, I will go to DL, DLP or TDL.

But for great edutainment, WDW offers me Epcot and DAK.

 

Originally Posted By u k fan

<<<However when you are with your family, and I have done this many times; you are on a mission, you have a map and a plan and probably an unnoficial guide touring plan. You want to get through it as quickly as possible while maximizing the fun factor.>>>

That's sounds just like me 7 years ago on my first trip to WDW. Then I realized that WDW wasn't planning to pack up and leave anytime soon and that I could go back.

Now I'm much more laid back.

I love soaking up the atmosphere at DAK. I spent a day there last year and only experienced 3 "rides" including the safari.

I think being a regular visitor to DLP makes me appreciate the well themed areas of WDW so much more.

I once spent a very fun 2 days at DLP and didn't "ride" anything!!!

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

Young Padawan, I am glad to see how you have developed. When we first met, the restaurants and leisure pace did not exist much to you. I am glad to see your Disney life has changed.

If a Disney trip means commando tatics, no thanks (unless it is showing an international friend the ropes on a possible once in a lifetime).

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

<<< Did anyone notice that they give VIP seating to the little kid who volunteers to raise the curtain in front of the AK tips board at the park opening every day.>>>


Cool!

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

**There is only so much time I am going to be devoted to staring at a tiger.
I've seen tigers. There are half a dozen of them in my local zoo.
They are nice to look at, but I'm done after about 2 minutes, tops.**

Definitely a "different strokes" thing...I can watch interesting animals for a while. Recently spent 10-15 minutes watching a really cool sea lion (or maybe it was a seal, dunno) sleep at the bottom of his tank at our local zoo. I can also enjoy the Living Seas pavillion perhaps longer than some.

Animal Kingdom is really well laid out (though with no transportation save that little train, grr), and much more "natural" than any zoo I've been too as well (including San Diego which was AWSOME but totally felt like a zoo if that makes any sense).

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

<<< I don't see that happening either, especially with Sea World opening Aquatica Park this summer.>>>


WHAT??? Is this going to be a water park or a theme park...that is "go in your swim suit, or go in your normal clothes" or that is "Young'uns need a life vest, or you won't be swimming" ???