Animal Kingdom

I read your blog & had to . You really did miss just about everything, didn't you?
Now, we are a family of adults & AK wasn't open until Max was 10 - so I may make some mistakes on what is age appropriate....

1st off - Get Thee to Kilimanjaro Safaris & get Fast Passes. Then, if the line is short, ride it stand-by as well. It's worth going on twice, esp for the kiddos. My Grandsons could have rode that all day.

Also, ones I think shouldn't be missed are Camp Mickey Minnie for Characters & Festival of the Lion King. Kiddos should love that.

I love It's Tough to be a Bug & if your kids are brave - go for it. But if they are nervous, be forewarned that it is Dark & some noisy parts with Giant 4d bugs.

Kali might be tough for the littler kids - you will get SOAKED so dress appropriately if you want to ride that.

I'd take the kids over to blow off some steam at the Boneyard in Dinoland. Big Hit for kiddos. you & Dad put your feet up & chill while they run around & play.

After they are done in the Boneyard, head over to the Fair section of Dinoland for Triceratops Twirl. If you can do Baby swap, do Dinosaur. Play Midway games.

I love the animal trails, esp Pangani - but play that by ear with the kids.

Oh! I almost forgot! Take the train to Conservation Station! There are some neat exhibits there & a Petting Zoo that your kids should really enjoy.

I hear the Nemo show is great, but haven't done it yet.

There is so much to do at AK. I think so many people miss alot because of the way it's laid out. Lots of stuff is rather hidden. I could easily spend a whole day there.

Good Luck!

There are only 2 real walking trails: Maharaja Jungle Trek in Asia (bats and tigers are the highlights) and Pangani Forest Exploration Trail in Africa (meer cats and gorillas are the highlights). Pangani is usually more crowded than the Jungle Trek, because people are funneled there from the Safari. Maharaja is a good place to slowly wander.

Other highlights for us of the park are Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids, and the Nemo show (only need to see it once).

Another of our favorites is dino-land, though that will be hotly contested surely...

Maharajah! That's the name. I blanked it out. I love the trails. I think they are overlooked gems.

And I love Dinoland. It Cheezey Fun!

I love the Jungle Treks! They're relaxing and I would think cool enough to keep the kids entertained.

I agree with others that Kilimanjaro Safari and Festival of the Lion King are MUST DO. I love Dinosaur and you probably would too, but your kids are too young for that, I think. They might be scared.

I have not yet seen the Nemo musical, but will be going in May. I should think that would appeal to the kiddos.

I don't know if I could choose between Maharaja and Pangani. They both have their pluses. You get the gorillas on Pangani, but the tigers on Maharaja.

Dinosaur the ride is definitely questionable for little ones. I think it's kind of boring, but a lot of people tell me it's scary.

It's true! Every year is totally different because what you do changes every time you go! Our trips when Max was 3 were completly different than when he was 7 or 10 or 12 or now that he's 20.

As much as I love all of us being adults & doing WDW a little slower, a little more luxuriously - I have to admit I miss seeing his eyes go wide over the Characters or doing the Major Commando Sprees we did when he was a pre-teen.

that really is one of the most fun things about taking someone who hasn't been to wdw is seeing their reactions!

I personally think the best thing about AK is the atmosphere. There are actually a lot of things to look at and do that are not part of any attraction or trail, like the Alligators near dinoland or the drums in Africa.

OH!!! I love to get a Turkey leg there and sit on a bench and eat it while growling at passers by. I don't make too much of a spectacle out of it and it makes my DW laugh at me being silly. (the fact that I'm built like a beast dosen't hurt either.)

Do the CMs ever come and try to return you to your enclosure?

Naa, they know better than to approach a wild uncaged, carnivorous animal while it's feeding. Ill get a picture of me eating and put it up.

Wha??? What alligators?

See what I mean. As you walk out of Dinoland after you pass under the dig site to your right is a little opening with real live Alligators, right on the other side of a waist height fence. And more people miss them then not.

Mark me down in the "missed them" category.

Hey, thanks Marzyar. I shall check out said alligators next time

Me too! And AK is my second favorite Park!

Ok, has anyone besides me seen the alligators in Dinoland?

If not I need to get a picture of them this time, or I'm crazy one of the two.

Photo please.

In your defense, I stop to watch the otters at AK all the time, but nobody else knows they're there!

Is this the first time you've seen alligators that no one else has seen?

Yep--would love to see where they are!