Animal Kingdom

Where to start. Such a strange park at the moment with a little too much development in progress. A good thing to be sure, but is it a park that we would choose to spend many hours at? Yes, we could normally, but not this year. As it stands at the moment, there is a little too much recreating going on. As you first enter the park the paths lead you past various small animal enclosures. But what animals? Where are they? Are they even in there? These spaces are not overly large (neither are the animals that supposedly live there) but they all appeared deserted, animals on holiday or hiding from the heat? After getting lost several times, and taking multiple detours, (Animal Kingdom you are notoriously difficult to navigate), we finally made it to the Safari. Lot of fun as always, great display of animals in what is the single largest area anywhere in Walt Disney World. Today the giraffes were playing `hog the road` and led to endless delays. We find admiring these long legged beauties from afar is wonderful, but the closer they get, the bigger they get and suddenly their cuteness becomes a little overwhelming. The animal directors approached them in a specially designed shoo vehicle, basically a mobile food truck for giraffes and our tour continued. After the safari we walked the Tiger enclosures, and unlike previous years found them a little tiring. Is it the area, or are these bunnies genuinely just tired in themselves? We do feel that some Disney parks are a little overwhelmed at the moment with the huge amounts of reimagineering that is ongoing and perhaps these smaller areas are starting to suffer a side product. Am sure a well trod path will occur at any animal enclosure, but these paths here, especially in the Tiger home are a little too pronounced. Time to rejig the living space perhaps and offer these stripy puddy tats a new route to pace about in perhaps? Animal Kingdom lost its Jungle Jammin` Parade a long time ago, probably when they realised there were far too many visitors and not enough room, and like the other parks, the rope drop with Mickey and Friends in their safari clothing is also a thing of the past. There are not that many rides at A.K, with the most recent attractions, the very beautiful area of Pandora and the rides being two of just a few. Everybody raves about the beauty of the Pandora ride, and the ride wait times reflect its popularity. Once again, Mrs B fails to see the appeal here as having ridden it once, was profusely nauseous for the rest of the day. If you love the film, then riding a banshee may just be your vibe. Next new ride is the Navi River Ride. Exceptionally sparkling, but utterly over rated and whole lot of waiting for what is essentially just a boat ride. Do not get me wrong, the theming is so pretty, but its just a boat ride, and absolutely not worth waiting more than 20/25 minutes for. I personally think you could experience the same sort of thing sat in your bath, in a darkened bathroom, light a couple of candles, wave around a torch and listen to some soothing music. Sorry for the lack of enthusiasm, but its far too naff for me. Dinoland used to have a few rides, but I think Disney got the feeling that these had also run their course as this whole area is set to be levelled very soon to make way for a whole new Encanto themed land. Sad to see the end of Dinosaur, but never the same since they made the T Rex more of a side attraction than a full on scare fest, boo sucks to you wimps, this ride is more a spine rattling ride around a dino museum rather than an adventure. Exceedingly sorry to say Au revoir to the TriceraTop Spin, akin to Dumbo at Magic Kingdom, I do enjoy these simple flying rides, and this cute Dino ride was no exception. Everest is the other adventure, a rollercoaster around the Himalayas, with a glimpse of the ever elusive Yeti. Great ride, couple of quirks, bit shaky, but doable. Mrs B here took help with the backwards section of this ride (and incidentally Hagrid`s Motorcycle Ride) from an unexpected source, the film Maverick of all things. I watched the pilots flying with high G Forces and I adopted their posture, and found that by holding my breath and breathing out slowly helped me cope with the backwards motion. No idea why it helps, but it does. Two great shows at A.K, Lion King and Nemo the Musical. I have seen both numerous times, to the point where I am word perfect. Lion King, a very good show, and I can see why it is popular, but having seen it so often I am now bored watching same same same, absolutely not one word or action has been changed over the years. Cramming a 1 hour 29 min movie into a 20 minute show, still gives you 1hour and 9 minutes of play time to incorporate or swap a few scenes surely? Nemo, replacing the superb Tarzan show of years ago (phwoar, that Tarzan was a pure hunk of joy to watch) but now we have a fish....hmm...anyway, Nemo. Well thought out, colourful, great songs, true to the story and with changes! This was a slightly different show to the one we watched last year which was nice to see. Bugs life, the show under the Tree of Life, another casualty of progress. I used to enjoy this quirky little take on a bugs life, but Disney feels that this has run its course and is now in the process of being rethemed into Zootopia. Must say I am quite looking forward to this new show.

Animal Kingdom, what delights do you have left for me? Flights of Fancy bird show perhaps? or what about a ride to Rafiki`s Island? With lightening in the air and the bird show reduced to only 5 minutes of talking parrots instead of a full informative show about various birds, I chose to go visit Rafiki. The train there is a little side seater allowing you some good views of the behind the scenes workings of what is an actual Zoo. Animal Kingdom may be rides and animals, but these animals are very well cared for, and a lot goes on behind the scenes. My ride took me past the rhino enclose, where I spotted a rhino wearing what appeared to be blinkers and earmuffs, Rhino sized of course, but with no explanation as to why, I satisfied my personal curiosity by imagining he was off to the spa for a little bit of puff and pander. Rafiki`s Planet watch, incidentally no longer visited by Rafiki himself, or any other character for that matter, not entirely sure what there is to see there anymore. A few glass windows show you behind the scenes of real bugs and creepy crawlies, brrr shudder, not a fan and a drawing class, teaching you how to draw one of a choice of Disney Characters. If the character that moment had been someone other than Timone, say perhaps, Thumper or Eeyore, I may have tried to stay and participate. I think, though I did not go and look, there is a petting zoo in the outdoor section of this area. You can, or could, buy appropriate foods for these small animals, goats, etc. Other than these few exhibits, Rafiki`s Island was a done and dusted visit for me in 10mins flat. A.K. I am just not feeling the love for you this year. I missed Eeyore by the doors, Tigger and Pooh by the Lake, Chip n Dale walking around in their cute Dino Outfits, Ivy, the lady who blends into the trees with her great camouflage, in fact, there was a distinct lack of any Disney characters in all the Parks this year. Too hot? Too crowded? Who knows.

A nice side story, an expensive mistake, and a successful internet plea. Mr B purchased himself a very nice blue shirt that had luminous effects under certain light, he got it from Pandora and wore it just once prior to leaving WDW. Once home, this shirt was inadvertently put in the tumble dryer and shrunk massively. He was so disappointed and I felt guilty. I put a plea out on the Facebook Disney for Brits group, and a nice kind soul offered to replace this shirt if it was still available. It was, quick exchange of pennies and address and a brand new shirt arrived 3 weeks later.

Animal Kingdom, I may have grumbled and dissed you a little this year, but would I go back? Of Course !! With all the activity, building and reimagineering, I can only think that next time it will, once again, be the special place that it once was.