To visit Animal Kingdom or not to?

First disclaimer is I love AK. Rain can be a definite downfal on a trip to the park. Bottom line if you are about rides, it is probably not for you. While all Disney Parks are just as much about the experince, I think this one is probably the most truthful of that. It is a slightly limited park with major rides like the safari closing early. On the days where they close around 6:00 it is beyond me why Disney charges just as much as they do for every other theme park (I know they do because it is Disney, but that explination simply does not work for me). If the combination of an amazing animal safari, a wet whitewater experince, or a thirlling prehistoric ride does not sound thiilling to you, then skip it. Still, it's tough to be a bug.

No Kristen, not weird, I said usually, not always. Some are more mature, but I would say most teenagers are all about the thrill rides and that's it. When we used to go with the marching band, that's all they wanted. They never wanted to sit and watch a show.

AK is just an amazing park for animal lovers and anyone who loves that kind of thing(: I do see how some people wouldn't like the park, because compared to other parks there isn't really a variety. It's all based around animals and the safari, so it's really either a hit or miss depending on your family type. Like my family, we all love animals and that kind of thing, so usually we have a great time!! It's definitely not all about the rides though, it's mostly focused on the atmosphere of the park. Viewing the animals, watching the musicals, not so much the rides. Although Mount Everest is pretty much what AK's known for these days, that's really not the best part about the park in my opinion(:

Awww, true, but I know of a LOT of 15 year olds who LOVE animals and that's what AK Park is all about. It's such a unique park, in terms of ambiance, feel, and activities. Although, yes, it is very different from your traditional "amusement park." But that's what makes it so wonderful!

Oh! The parade! I have to share my AK Parade story!

We were hanging out at AK one afternoon during our last trip when we were approached by a cast member who asked us where we were from, what our plans were for the afternoon, etc.... We told her California and said that we were just enjoying the park for the rest of the day. She explained that the floats in the Jammin' Jungle Parade have guests on them and that she needed four more people. Did me and DH want to be on a float in the parade?

Did we?!?!?! Seriously? Of course we -- errr, uh oh, well, half of "we" wanted to. The other half (DH) had ZERO interest. He HATES any attention at all. Being in a parade would be his worst nightmare. But the lady said she had numbers to fill and needed both of us or neither of us. DH would do a lot for me, but this was just asking too much. He was not going to ride on a float. Not happening. So I told her and explained that I would LOVE to and if anything changed, we would stick around the general area. (Apparently, they rarely find people solo who want to ride so taking me would mean needing to find a party of 1, which apparently doesn't happen often.)

About 10 minutes later (after I'm convincing myself that I still love my husband even if I did just miss out on a great opportunity because of his introverted-ness ), the same lady tapped me. She found a party of 3 and if I want to ride in the parade, she has a single spot. DID I? Oh boy! She said she went looking for me once she found the party of 3. It was a blast.

I had to meet at a semi-backstage area. They got us dressed in safari clothes that went over my clothes. They lined us up based on float, helped us on, and woohoo! I got to ride the entire parade route in a WDW parade at the AK Park. They gave each of us a disposable camera to take pictures of our view from on the float and when we got off the floats at the end we were given a photopass card for pictures that were taken specifically of me during the parade by a photopass photographer. It was / and still is one of my fun WDW memories. All thanks to a party of three out there somewhere.

- Dreams

^^^ See, Dreams do come true.

- Ride on a parade float: Check!
- Be in a Disney parade: Check!

,
Dreams

So awesome!!

Wow Dreams, so cool!

If I had to give up a park; it would be AK. I do enjoy the Lion King show. I also like the live Nemo stage show, but I would be ok if I had to miss it. Epcot deserves 2 days and MK 1or2 days. You could go to AK for about 4 or 5 hours and then resort hop to visit some of the resorts that you would like to visit. We do this and eat dinner at one of the resorts. Our car ride is 10/12 hours. We bring an IPad and play Disney trivia games. Have a great trip.oh! If you can get a reservation at the Yak and Yeti; book it for 3:15. Tell the hostess that you want to sit at a table overlooking the parade route. You can look down at the parade while enjoying a meal. The parade is usually at 3:45.

Nice Dreams!