Trip Report September 2019: Animal Kingdom is Just a Zoo?

This trip with these travelers, Disney's Animal Kingdom came in last place when it came to the rankings of the theme parks. Epcot came in third, and surprisingly Magic Kingdom came in second, leaving Disney's Hollywood Studios as the Number One favorite theme park. Your rankings may vary- as did mine, by quite a bit actually. But I'm an old school Imagineering fan where design detail, immersive environments and a wide variety of attractions play an important part of the overall experience.  For this post, I'll begin with Animal Kingdom as we spent the least amount of time there.

Over the decades I have discovered that each trip taken to the same location is different than the ones I have had before. Our touring experiences and the rankings above prove this point once more.

To set up the stats for this trip, let me tell you our group was made up of two boys (8 and 7), one girl (5), their parents- my daughter and her husband (mid-30s) and my wife and I. Other than my daughter, no one else in her family had been to Walt Disney World before- and only her husband had been to Disneyland once. She herself had not been to Florida since 1999. 

Pouring over the map in preparation

for a day of exploration.

We were set to depart knowing that we would probably experience some park closures or being restricted to our rooms at Pop Century due to the coming Hurricane Dorian. The parks were empty, including Animal Kingdom which fell on Day Two.

Unfortunately, this beautiful park was only a zoo

to this crowd.

Due to a very late night before, with the little guys beat, we missed both our 8:30am Kilimanjaro Safari and almost our Expedition Everest Fast Pass times. When it hit 8:00am and we were still in the room, I went on the app and gave up the safari for someone else to have. Wouldn't have mattered. Most everything was a walk on.

Arriving at almost 11, we reversed our initial plan and first walked straight to Everest. Only our littlest tourist couldn't ride, much to her disappointment as she likes to keep up with her brothers. My wife happily sat out with her.  I've long described Everest as "Big Thunder on steroids" and my favorite ride on the property. 

Photopass was put to good use.

The reactions? My oldest daughter declared it a winner; her hubby wasn't thrilled, but the two boys loved it in spite of it putting the fear of God into them... and they immediately wanted to ride again. We stopped in the exit shop nearby to buy each of them an Everest T-shirt to commemorate them braving the mountain, just as I did last year with their cousin. Once again, they spoke up, sharing their desire to do it again. We could have done so easily as the line was up to ten minutes now, but we made a decision to take our youngest traveler on something she was tall enough for: Kali River Rapids.

Her smile says it all.

Being Florida, we expected hot and humid and a larger group of people here, but the crowds were nil, leaving us to walk right through the empty snaking line all the way to the front and into our raft. Kali has a gorgeous queue, perhaps the prettiest in all of the park. Such a waste for a journey less than half the length of what was originally planned. No fire effects, no logging sounds, nothing. Just one big drop after a few spins, and it was over. Even our little adventurer asked if that was it. Kids say the darnedest things!

The Safari was next, and the experience landed with a collective thud. I miss the opening days when drivers from the African continent were present. I miss the days I couldn't see so much chain link fence, and being we rode around noon, we missed seeing most of the animals. An antelope doesn't cut it, but at least the lion was out. Looking back through our photos, none of us had taken one single shot of anything related to the park's centerpiece attraction! Gorilla Falls did not charm the kids either. This visit - our only day in this park- was going downhill quickly. Very, very quickly.

It was time for a new tactic, so I suggested the winning Festival of the Lion King. As we waited, the skies opened and a torrent of rain washed down drenching those under the portions of the line that were uncovered. Due to the direction it fell, we took a lot of water too, but not nearly as much as our neighbors. The kids wanted rides and not shows. Of course, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Disney Parks in Florida are filled with shows to round out the attraction list as these parks remained under built for decades. (Could this be one reason the Magic Kingdom is still the most visited?) The kids reluctantly went in, but once the giant character floats and especially the monkey gymnasts came in, they were infinitely more interested. It was a solid "B" rating, but it came back with a request from the boys to conquer the mountain once again.

Kevin from "Up"

brings the biggest smiles of the day.

We had dinner reservations at Boma in the early evening as our large group was on the Disney Dining Plan, so off to Flame Tree BBQ we went for lunch. Since the park opened in 1998, this place has consistently provided delicious meals of all those on the property without fail visit after visit. No different this time either. 

As we edged so much closer to our last ride time of the day, Flight of Passage, we ran into Kevin as we circled back to Everest for another ride. I made it to the last seat, my favorite. We rounded the bend to Dinosaur while it was raining hard again. In the preshow area, so many people were talking and yelling that we couldn't hear the set up for the jeep ride, and we were right up against the screen. This kind of stuff is irritating, as for most people, I bet Walt Disney World is a once in a lifetime trip. The same kind of discourtesy happens at Disneyland as the regulars tend to speak all the lines of the attractions as if these were sing a long shows. Annoying! But the ride was another average hit with the kids. They wanted Everest again. Are you sensing a pattern here?

The Valley of...

I can't remember much anything specific about this movie.

Finally Pandora! It was a mere 15 minutes to take the boat ride. Good thing, as it was another "meh" rated experience. As for me, I think the environment is beautiful, but the attraction needs a bit of a story, a slightly longer length, a few real Audio-Animatronic Na'vi hunters and a few robotic animals to bring the experience up to where it should have been. Gotta say though,  I love Disney dark rides cruising in a boat.

As our very last attraction, it pleased me that Flight of Passage was an overall home run! The boys loved it. We needed the baby swap option, so some of us rode twice. I discovered my immediate second ride was as thrilling as the first. Boom, it hit me. I had a huge smile on my face. Until Disney Imagineers wow us again, I now have to say Flight of Passage is my new favorite ride on the property.

On our way to the bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge for dinner, I asked my daughter and son-in-law what they thought of the park. It was "pretty but really just a zoo". They were glad it was only one day of our trip. They told me they wouldn't even go back next visit if they were short on time.

Another lesson learned: Each guest experiences the Disney theme parks in very different ways. We come with very different tastes and a large variety of expectations. For some like me, this lush giant Adventureland is worth an entire day exploring and stopping to soak in all the details as well as enjoying the rides and shows. For others, if it's not a roller coaster, it's not worth the time. And still for others, if you're under some height restrictions, it could be a very frustrating day where you often feel left out. 
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Next up might be the Magic Kingdom. We'll see. 

(I guess it's time for that next part in my detailed look at the history, creation, and evolution of Disney's Animal Kingdom...Part One of Eight - so far- starts here. It's also full of rare concept art, plenty of information on unbuilt attractions, and trip reports through the years.)

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Christmas From Aulani

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year in Hawaiian) from the island of Oahu and specifically, Disney’s Aulani Resort! Your friendly neighborhood blogger Mark Taft has again kindly allowed me to take up bandwidth to amuse, bedazzle, and mostly irritate his reading audience with my random thoughts, words, and befuddling images.

For this guest post, I wanted to share some photos and thoughts from the Disney Aulani Resort! There won't be much reporting on the activities and events at the hotel as I was there for barely a day. My good friend is a DVC member and she invited me to spend some time with them. Since I arrived at Aulani in the late afternoon, most of the evening was spent shooting sunset and long exposure images. I did a lot of interior and people shots on my last visit, so there won't be much of that for this report. Hopefully, you'll get a feel for the overall ambiance and theming of the resort told through my pictures and words. But again, not much first hand reviews or anecdotes about dining, swimming, or all the other cool stuff one can do at Aulani . 

Let's start with some photos of the resort area just prior to sunset. Aulani is located at the Ko Olina Resort & Marina in Kapolei. Situated on the west side of Oahu, it’s about a 45 minute drive from Waikiki (up to 2 hours during peak traffic hours). While it’s pretty obvious the hotel is immaculately designed and up to Disney standards, the area its located in is nothing to sneeze at either! With its pristine beaches and a skyline overlooking the mountainous landscape, the resort truly feels unique and apart from the daily lifestyle of most local residents.

I live in east Oahu, so I rarely make it to this side of the island. Because everything is new and mostly unexplored, it almost feels like I’ve traveled to another part of the world. While I remember initial resistance to Disney building a hotel in the area, I never doubted that the Imagineers would do a respectful job of integrating Hawaiian culture into the fabric and theme of the hotel. It’s obvious they did their research and worked with local experts to get the details right. I was lucky to encounter Imagineer Joe Rohde when the hotel first opened. He was walking the grounds early one morning so I ventured forward to ask for a picture and we talked a bit about the design process. Joe is obviously an extremely talented artist who takes great care and pride in his work.

The two towers, impressive in height, never seem to overwhelm or stick out like a sore thumb from the rest of the property. Each and every element works in smooth harmony with the others to incorporate a breathtaking, yet natural vista. Much thought was also put into the surrounding attractions and eating establishments. “Makahiki” is clearly the centerpiece restaurant of the resort, with its traditional Disney character breakfast and buffet. I ate there when Aulani first opened and thought it was a mixed bag. Some of the food, especially the local cuisine (lau lau, kalua pig) seemed a bit bland, but I chalk it up to the kitchen staff getting their feet wet and finding that right mixture of flavor and taste. I’m sure the dining experience has much improved by this time.

While it’s hard to make up for the absence of a Disney park down the road, the Imagineers worked up a little magic in the form of a mini water park. From the active volcano that serves as a base for the water slides, to the lazy streams running throughout the property, children (and many adults) will find the poolside areas the highlight of the stay. I’m particularly impressed with “Keiki Cove’, a play zone for kids. The design work allows this attraction to seamlessly integrate with the resort while providing its own unique taste of Disney. While I was photographing the area after midnight, voices of menehunes (strange, magical creatures) were still being piped throughout the area (reminiscent of the snoring bears at Disney’s Frontierland).

One of the biggest surprises for me on this visit was the overall subtlety of the Christmas decorations. Part of it maybe a conscientious decision not to overwhelm the Hawaiian motif with tons of lights and Christmas décor. But after experiencing the beautiful lobby trees of such fellow Disney resorts as The Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge, not seeing a huge tree was a bit of a disappointment. Thinking of how the AK trees were adorned with ornaments that paid tribute to the local culture and arts, I could see something similarly done for the lobby here at Aulani. There were two small trees placed at the ends of the ground floor, but they were rather pedestrian and something you would find on display at your local Walmart store.

For a kamaaina (local), the cost of a night makes it prohibitive for most to stay at the resort. Being a visitor, and especially if you’re a Disney fan, I can see how this place would be a destination point regardless of the high costs. So if you’re thinking of planning a trip to Hawaii, Aulani should definitely be on your radar.

Until my next intrusion, take care, stay safe, and God bless us all!

(Photographs copyright Len Yokoyama.)

Our WDW Christmas Vacation Part VI: Disney's Animal Kingdom

Back in 2004 during our last visit to WDW, Animal Kingdom struck me as the least interesting. Part of this is due to personal taste and expectations from a Disney based park. For one thing, viewing wild animals live in person was low on my priority list. Don’t get me wrong, these are amazing creatures but now necessarily something I want to see at Disney (I can do that at a local zoo). The park also felt vastly underdeveloped…the ratio of space to attractions feeling oddly unbalanced. The early closings just added to this feeling that you could easily do everything by late afternoon and have no need to return. 

Dragons did not make the final cut.

I remember McDonald’s running a promotion when AK first opened which consisted of 4 drinking glasses (one for each park). The AK logo showed a parade of animals, from real to mythical (the fantasy aspect represented by a dragon). 

There was something about the design that fired up my imagination as well as expectations for the new park. Alas, Beastly Kingdom, as it was to be called, never came to fruition. This was to be a land dedicated to mythical animals such as unicorns, sea monsters, and of course, dragons. Instead AK got Camp Minnie-Mickey. Like Walt’s vision of Epcot, one can only imagine how different the park might have become had the company followed through with their original plans.

A million miles from Orlando or so it seems.

A treacherous climb to the top.

Guardian of the mountain.

The blog owner's favorite Walt Disney World attraction.

So it was with lukewarm feelings that we entered AK last December. Of course, we were looking forward to Expedition Everest (still a metal skeletal frame during our last visit)! The fact that a mythical creature like the Yeti lived in the mountains already gave the E-Ticket ride a strong edge. The roller coaster ride itself does not disappoint. The ride is imaginatively designed to reach the end of vandalized tracks and then flung backwards in a myriad of loops and dips. 

Shadow of a beast

compared to the attraction's opening day.

But, and this is a big but, the yeti is a failure!!! I know Disney was having trouble with the animatronics, but the silhouetted figure against a cave wall and a brief glimpse through strobe lights are not adequate substitutes. With Beastly Kingdom being a no go, it seems imperative that the first mythical creature to appear in AK should… actually work! As a result, Expedition ends up being a major thrill and disappointment all in one breath.

Local dining and beautiful atmosphere.

Other than that one strike, I was totally shocked by how much Sue and I enjoyed Animal Kingdom. Where to begin? First, and perhaps most important, is the food. We couldn’t find a bad meal even if we tried. Somewhere in Africa we came across these delicious teri-beef sliders. A little bigger than a silver dollar, the meat is marinated in a slightly sweet sauce and served on a moist bun with an assortment of veggies. A little pricey at five bucks a pop, but that didn’t stop us from ordering a few. 

Guilty pleasures at Sanaa

in Animal Kingdom Lodge.

And then there are the incredible breads at Sanaa (okay it’s not technically in the park, but we can probably lump the lodge in the same boat). I’m a bread lover, so I’m not easily impressed, but the texture and density of the African based carbs were pure delight. Adding to that is an assortment of dipping sauces from hot & spicy to tangy sweet that just added to taste bud nirvana!

Harambe Market is the newest addition to AK and is the beginning of what I hope is a gradual expansion to the overall theming of the park. The Imagineers found just the right mix between authentic cultural trappings and imaginative visual aesthetics. I’m not sure it’s indigenous to African art, but the combination of colors and patterns used for in AK’s Christmas decorations were downright mesmerizing. I truly can say that the holiday trimmings here were second to none. 

We were able to catch several musical performances here and all were top notch with amazing rhythms and vocals. Even the shops seem to carry merchandise that were a cut above the normal tourist offerings found elsewhere. My wife picked up a set of ceramic bowls with a very classy and colorful motif while I purchased a pull over sweater featuring patches designed around Expedition Everest (okay, I now I grumbled about the ride earlier, but this jacket was too beautiful to pass up). It seems to me that a lot of the merchandise here shows a bit more restraint in the advertising / marketing graphics. Whereas a lot of stuff will scream “Look, I’ve been to Disney!”, AK’s wares have a more subtle, low key approach that focuses more on the art itself.

The only blue tinted beings found in Animal Kingdom...
but not for long!

Did I mention that AK has not one, but two of the best musical productions in all of WDW? “Festival of the Lion King” and “Finding Nemo the Musical” feel like elaborate Broadway productions with their amazing vocal talent, grade A staging/props, outstanding musical numbers. I prefer Festival to the Broadway play, as it wasn’t a scene for scene mimicry of the movie. Nemo’s careful integration of actor and puppet works to perfection and the audience can really buy into this symbiotic relationship as believable.

DiVine is heavenly.

Prior to visiting the park, I started seeing images of a character named DiVine. These are dancers hired to perform in costume as living embodiments of nature. Her movements are slow and graceful, accomplished while on stilts! DiVine often startles guests by blending in with the plants and trees, but more often it gasps of amazement or the gleeful chuckle of a child that is the end result. It’s interesting that something as small as DiVine’s performance can add so much to a park that is already loaded with heavy hitter attractions. It’s a prime example of what Disney does the best…attention to even the smallest details. It’s this philosophy that’s worked well for the company and why they’ve been able to keep ahead of the competition all these years (although Universal is closing that gap).

The wonders of man's creation and God's creation

are both found in this park!

Not only has AK matched Epcot as a favorite park, the potential for growth far surpasses all the rest. With the coming of River of Lights and Avatarland, I think Imagineers are truly starting to tap into the unlimited potential Ak has to offer. If the good Lord is willing, I hope to be back in several years to see some amazing sights and changes!

It's a jungle in there.

A big mahalo to Mark Taft for allowing me to share my thoughts and pictures with all of you! I hope it hasn’t caused anyone to avoid this wonderful blog as Mark has done an incredible job entertaining and informing us throughout the years. And although I did nitpick areas of WDW, I still highly recommend a visit to the parks if you have a chance (but don’t forget to see the real world too). Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day!
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Editor's note: Thank you, Len, for this incredible series of posts and the absolutely wonderful photographs! I've saved the most beautiful Animal Kingdom photo ever taken for a later post...

(Photographs copyright Len Yokoyama.)

4240 at 5280

Do you love the Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World? Are you entranced by the magnificent artistry of the Animal Kingdom Lodge? Perhaps the West Coast stylings of the Grand Californian is more your type of lodging. However you answer, you just have to check out the website for 4240 Architecture. The name of their Principal, Peter Dominick Jr., might sound familiar. A great site! It's chockful of wonderful concept art and photographs of these Disney projects. What about "5280" you ask? That's for the Mile High City, Denver, where this firm is located.

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)