Animal Kingdom is a Failure
KaliRiverRapids
http://www.parkoutlet.com/ak.htm
Kali
Sandi Femino
kaliriv...@aol.com (KaliRiverRapids) wrote:
> An interesting read, even if one doesn't agree with it. . .
> http://www.parkoutlet.com/ak.htm
I think some of his ideas are good, and I would like to see the book
when it comes out...
--
Sandi
Julie
with Discovery Cove coming in second. But as you can tell I am an animal
lover, too, the more exhotic the species the better. AK seems crowded
enough any time I go there, even in off season. If a Disney employee
reads this please drop us a line to reassure us that attendance is
adequate to keep this venture going.
--
Julie
http://www.foresitecomputing.net/COVE/
Carol Lee
and AK was right up there behind the other Disney Parks so I don' think
Reading this article was HOOT. For example, he claims that AK has short
hours since no one attends. AK has always had short hours since the animals
are hard to see after dark and you can't do things like Fireworks with
animals around. Actually with this round of EE AK has an EE day which I
don't think it had before (notice that is NOT mentioned in this article!)
There is no factual basis for this guys article that I can see. I can't
imagine paying money for his book based on this.
"Julie" <co...@foresiteZZZcomputing.net> wrote in message
news:3F109429...@foresiteZZZcomputing.net...
dennis-in-ct
Denise near Disney
reads this please drop us a line to reassure us that attendance is
Why would Disney shut down one of their theme parks? If anything, they'd just
expand it to bring more visitors in, which is what they are doing with the
upcoming roller coaster.
Denise
Down 31 pounds and counting. :)
More information. More truth. More power. (Less Weight!) - Thanks Cov. :)
Paris
hours since no one attends. AK has always had short hours since the animals
are hard to see after dark and you can't do things like Fireworks with
animals around. >>
Carol, I don't think the point that he/she made is that the park closes
early because no one is attending, it's because no one is staying.
The short hours have NOTHING to do with the animals. Anyone in Florida will
tell you that the sun is setting around 8:30 these days. They were putting
up safari lighting back in 1998 so the plan had to be to open later. Still,
the park doesn't have to close three hours earlier. Why is Busch Gardens
open until 10:30, as the author claims?
As far as the AK EE it was added AFTER Animal Kingdom stopped opening at 8am
every day. It used to be EE every day, technically speaking.
Paris
What Denise said. Animal Kingdom has actually been less of an attendance
disappointment than California Adventure and nobody is talking about closing
it down.
Does anyone remember what Disney-MGM opened with a dozen years ago? It's an
entirely new park, for the most part.
Disney will expand Animal Kingdom appropriately. It has been more aggressive
in growing DCA because that's where the real problems are. That's the only
reason that I can think why it hasn't been adding more to Animal Kingdom.
Kowboyguard
open late. The animals have to be put up for the night and that takes about 2
hours, can you imagine trying to find all of the animals in the safari area in
the dark. I dont know if they offer the tour, I work there so Ive seen it, but
when we toured backstage we got to witness how they get all of the animals back
indoors for the night into the pens, very interesting even though i was a bit
disapointed that they didnt let them stay outside all night, but again, safety
issues im sure.
Tirya
news:F5qdnZijeNn...@comcast.com...
> There is no factual basis for this guys article that I can see. I can't
> imagine paying money for his book based on this.
Maybe it's just me, but the title "Disney Whirl: A Cynic's Perspective" (from
which this article was excerpted) doesn't appeal to me in the first place, so
to me it's no surprise that I didn't care for most of what I read of the guy's
article - i.e. the first few paragraphs that left such a sour taste that I
only skimmed the rest of the article. I do have to admit that I found myself
in agreement with his five suggestions at the end, though. Especially the
Beastly Kingdom suggestion.
Tirya
--
TDC Inca Jeeper
A dirty Jeep is a happy Jeep
Denise near Disney
disappointment than California Adventure and nobody is talking about closing
it down.
Not to mention they put what - a billion dollars or so into the park? Whether
they eventually rotate days off at some point is one thing, but the park can't
go anywhere. Disney will add what it needs to if attendance isn't good.
Also, I am not sure how tickets work - when someone buys an annual pass, or a
Ultimate Park Hopper or park hopper - I'd assume that money is earmarked for
each park and DisneyQuest, etc. So it's possible that AK could have very
little attendance and still make profit.
Denise near Disney
And even if the animals were put away, you could still have the shows running
and maybe put in a nice sit-down restaurant. Hopefully eventually the park
will be open later once there is more to do in the evening.
mercurywaxing
"KaliRiverRapids" <kaliriv...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030712163030...@mb-m17.aol.com...
> An interesting read, even if one doesn't agree with it. . .
>
> http://www.parkoutlet.com/ak.htm
>
> Kali
Well, anyway, he admits he's a cyinc but he can't make a good argument or
bother to claim authorship for his work hurts credibility. Oh, the park has
it's problems but the ones he choose to point out are not supported by any
statistics.
First, he claims that the Pangani Forest trail's name was changed due to the
fact you can't see Gorillas. Has anyone ever NOT seen gorillas? This was a
small problem when they were getting used to the habbitat but it was mostly
changed because the gorillas were the last thing you see and everybody kept
asking where they were and blowing by the other exhibits to get to them.
He says the park commits hippocracy by serving meat, then complains about
being "fed" and anti-logging on message Kali and switches tone again when he
bitches them out for using WOOD on the ride.
He clamis the early closing is due to attendance. The park always had an
early closing.
I never noticed any pastel colors in the Tree of Life.
Mercury
Kowboyguard
entertainment to justify longer hours, maybe in the future but I doubt it since
they have always said for the health of the animals in the park Animal Kingdom
would be a daytime only park. Noise has been an issue for now doing any
fireworks too, so this is also a factor.
CarliEntin
few years ago and I believe they said the animals are called back but not
required to return for the evening.
The guide also said that the elephants were so pooped by the end of the day
they didn't even really need to be called; they were waiting by their pens at
closing time--whereas the warthogs stayed out all night!
Carli
"That's not a bee. That's a bear in a bee costume."
Denise near Disney
DAK used to be open later - I'm thinking 7 or 8, I have been there when it was
at least late dusk in the park. I really liked being there in the evenings.
S.G.
anywhere) makes some good points. He/She seems to be mixing in opinions
about the actual experience, with their own bias against Disney, which is
very clear from the start. It's easy to see that the author does not like
Disney at all, and by the time I was done reading the article I was
questioning whether or not some of the points were valid due to this
prejudice.
Anyway, I am interested in seeing other material by this author to see how
they like the other parks. It may be easier for some people, than others,
but especially for an actual park review it is important to separate the
actual experience from a political bias against Disney. Here's one example
from the article:
"After being fed an anti-logging message you board your raft and begin to
ascend a wood-paneled lift hill. Yes, you read right. No matter how many
trees Disney had to take down to build this attraction and supply it with
moving parts you are supposed to believe that Disney is the good guy with
the anti-logging message. "
Does this have anything to do with the quality of the park experience? I
guess you could argue in a roundabout way that if confronted by hypocrisy
throughout the park that it effects the experience....I don't know.
Interesting to read though.
S.
"KaliRiverRapids" <kaliriv...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030712163030...@mb-m17.aol.com...
Musclecadet
"KaliRiverRapids" <kaliriv...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030712163030...@mb-m17.aol.com...
PheelThePhlow
As with Denise, I also remember when the park was open later - during fall
of '99. I was College Program then, and my roommate worked in Africa, and
sometimes he wouldn't get home until 10-ish (granted they had a bunch of
clean-up time after the park closed). I also remember being there multiple
times during fall of '99, walking around in the dark (well, after sundown).
If I can find some of my pics I'll get them up somewhere to show that. As
for the Safari's, I cannot remember if that was open after sundown or not...
Mike
Jennifer
"Paris" <h...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:773Qa.45264$sY2....@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net...
> << For example, he claims that AK has short
> hours since no one attends. AK has always had short hours since the
animals
> are hard to see after dark and you can't do things like Fireworks with
> animals around. >>
>
> Carol, I don't think the point that he/she made is that the park closes
> early because no one is attending, it's because no one is staying.
>
> The short hours have NOTHING to do with the animals. Anyone in Florida
will
> tell you that the sun is setting around 8:30 these days. They were putting
> up safari lighting back in 1998 so the plan had to be to open later.
Still,
> the park doesn't have to close three hours earlier. Why is Busch Gardens
> open until 10:30, as the author claims?
On the contrary, closing early has everything to do with the animals.
Animals such as the ones gracing AK are typically kept on a schedule. Ever
gone to a zoo for an after-hours activity? The animals are restless,
hungry, and unhappy. Many animals will go into a night house of sorts, and
most animals will receive some kind of evening feeding. Also, it takes a
decent amount of time <in which keepers must have light> to check bother
their animal charges, and the exhibits they inhabit. Care must be exercised
to make sure that the animals are healthy, and not injured after the day,
and that exhibits are clean and well-kept. Being a zookeeper is an
incredibly demanding job. On top of this, there's tons of paperwork that
much be done on the animal's condition, how it looked after the day, how it
ate ...
The early hours are most like due to good animal husbandry. Check with your
local zoo ... I'm willing to bet that they close early are well. And as far
as Busch Gardens goes, well, they have a plethora of activities that do not
require any animals to be present. They have beautiful gardens, lots of
rides (including a number of significant coasters), and plenty of other
things to do that do not require their animals to be out and about. It's
been many years since I've visited BG, but I'm willing to bet that their
safari tour also closes much earlier than the rest of the park.
Denise near Disney
times during fall of '99, walking around in the dark (well, after sundown).
I really enjoy the park when it gets dark. I went also to the AK annual pass
event, I was thrilled to be in the park once the sun went down.
If AK had a nice sit-down restaurant, I think it'd be great to go see FOTL at
that time. They could do a dinner and a show package (like with Fantasmic).
Naysando
I found this to be pretty much right on the money.
a lot of people on this ng are so biased and will just refuse to hear any
other point of view towards Disney that differs then, "I had the most
magical time", no matter how right they are, because then they will have to
start to admit there are flaws in their perfect theme park.
but I thought that this article had a lot of good points, and maybe Disney
will take note.
Richard Brown
(in message <29fQa.4187$N%3.1849@lakeread01>):
>
> "Paris" <h...@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:773Qa.45264$sY2....@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net...
>te ...
>
> The early hours are most like due to good animal husbandry. Check with your
> local zoo ... I'm willing to bet that they close early are well. And as far
> as Busch Gardens goes, well, they have a plethora of activities that do not
> require any animals to be present. They have beautiful gardens, lots of
> rides (including a number of significant coasters), and plenty of other
> things to do that do not require their animals to be out and about. It's
> been many years since I've visited BG, but I'm willing to bet that their
> safari tour also closes much earlier than the rest of the park.
>
>
Funny, they didn't have any problems staying open until 7p (and sometimes
8p) in the summeri n 1998 and 1999....
Remember Kona!
article. AK is lacking, but has great potential. The author correctly
points out that Kilamenjaro safaris and FotLK are superb attractions. He
also correctly points out huge disappointments like:
- the Discovery River Boats are boring and uninspiring to most
people
- the train - is a huge missed opportunity to ride past
animals/exhibits and to serve as a relaxing trip to the opposite side of the
park. Out and back on the same trip is boring.
- no sit down dining
- Kali River Rapids - another missed opportunity, too short, no
animal viewing. This ride should float lazily along for several minutes of
relaxed animal viewing before and culminate in the ride as we know it today.
Expedition Everest has the opportunity to fix some of these issues.
KaliRiverRapids <kaliriv...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030712163030...@mb-m17.aol.com...
LJCefali
Expedition Everest has the opportunity to fix some of these issues.
>>
EE has the opportunity to be a thrill ride, but I don't know how it will fix
the "issues" presented.
Personally I like AK, because it is not a thrill a minute. Instead, it is
quiet, respectful and makes one appreciate plants, animals and the environment.
Is it perfect? No, but I don't want it to be just another amusement park.
I hope they keep their themes, add a bit more to do without lots of "in your
face" noise, explosions and attractions.
I like that it is serene, calm and respectful.
A sit down restaurant would be nice - but then so much of the day would be
taken out for eating if they continue to close early.
I don't remember them having late hours at AK, and I have been there during
busy times of the year - yes, even when it first opened.
I remember thinking how pretty the park must be after dark, and it was a shame
that it wasn't open late enough to see it.
I don't mind that AK is not like the other parks. I don't think it was ever
meant to be. (though I would have like to have them develop the
imaginative/beastly area, as they first planned.)
Michelle
No. Apparently all of your Cadet Muscles are in your head. This isn't
remotely his style.
Fab
You will always remember this day as the day you read a Usenet post by the
Fabulous Disney Babe!
HPCode(1.1) SPS+++COS+++POA+++GOF+++OOP+++FF+QB
CH+++DD+++HB+HM+PO+++TR+
GrumpyOne
"PheelThePhlow" <mik...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:f3fQa.97$3y4.1...@news2.news.adelphia.net...
Would it be accurate to say that ALL of the WDW parks have shorter hours,
since 9/11? Seems like current hours for MK and others are also shorter
than they have been. And as another poster said, you won't find a zoo in
the country open much past 5 or 6, do to the needs of the animals. Perhaps
the later hours didn't work with the care and maintenance end of things...
PheelThePhlow
> Would it be accurate to say that ALL of the WDW parks have shorter hours,
> since 9/11? Seems like current hours for MK and others are also shorter
> than they have been.
In my 'travels' (lol), I would tend to agree with this statement. I only
moved (permanently) to this area about a month before 9/11, and have noticed
many, many changes, including the shortening of hours. But, I think during
peak times they've been pretty consistent (minus the monstrosity of closing
Future world earlier and earlier)
>And as another poster said, you won't find a zoo in
> the country open much past 5 or 6, do to the needs of the animals.
Perhaps
> the later hours didn't work with the care and maintenance end of things...
>
>
Maybe that is the case, I don't know personally. If it is, then I would
agree that the animals take precedence over us guests (well, not from a
financial standpoint obviously...). But, *I* just mentioned remembering
going to AK at night because that *certain* poster said - "We have always
closed before dark since the park opened..." etc. etc. - and that is simply
not true. Actually, I said it more because I dislike his attitude around
these parts and think it needs to be taken elsewhere - the "I am 'We' am
Disney, I've been working there so many years, blah blah blah".
Side Note - No, Kevin, I'm not calling you out or flaming or whatever you
want to call it. I just don't like the things I've read, that's all. Oh,
well.
Just one man's opinion....
Mike
Denise near Disney
parks for what it has. The Jungle Trek is incredible.
The roller coaster I am sure will be fun, but I'd rather have seen more animal
exhibits. I love coasters, but I don't need to see one in AK. Other
continents - like Australia - with koala bears and such would be really cool.
And other attractions too.
Denise near Disney
the park mid-afternoon.
The park used to be open when it was dark (or fairly dark), that I do know.
And I loved it. I miss not being able to go in the evenings, I think AK would
be a better afternoon/evening park then it is a day park. And if the animals
were put away from like 10pm-6am, I don't think that would be a problem. Also,
it's not like the animals need to be out and about in the evening. You could
just have the shows and the rides in Dinoland and ITTBAB, etc. open.
Musclecadet
Not his style but definitely his negativity.
I find people who write stuff like this are actually Disney wannabes. I
wonder how many times Disney received their resumes.
"Michelle" <discov...@aol.communicore> wrote in message
news:20030713184539...@mb-m13.aol.com...
Mark L. Fendrick
Conservation Station, and during the December Holiday period, DAK was indeed
open late. I remember her telling us (we were down there at the time) of
their trips on the CM testing of the nighttime Safari. We did get a chance
to do that ourselves when we were down there/
Mark
Michelle
>
Gosh! How original! How witty!
>
>Not his style but definitely his negativity.
(Rolls eyes). I really don't see how you can see negativity in everything Jim
writes. He's a fan, but a realistic one. Oh, wait, you're a complete and
utter moron. Well, I could see where you wouldn't be able to understand the
most basic of concepts, so there ya go.
>I find people who write stuff like this are actually Disney wannabes. I
>wonder how many times Disney received their resumes.
So, that would leave Jim right out. See? You answered your own lame, stupid
question.
Charlie Foxtrot
Disney) wrote:
> Other
>continents - like Australia - with koala bears and such would be really cool.
>And other attractions too.
>
One problem with Koalas: They don't do much! Busch Gardens put in a
Koala exhibit about 15 years back and everyone was all excited. Well,
once it was open, I don't think anyone ever saw a Kaola do anything
other than squint and - maybe on a good day - yawn. Yeah, they're
cute but, for the most part, they sleep, stoned out on eucalyptus.
Foxtrot
Denise near Disney
once it was open, I don't think anyone ever saw a Kaola do anything
other than squint and - maybe on a good day - yawn. Yeah, they're
cute but, for the most part, they sleep, stoned out on eucalyptus.
Being cute is enough for me. :) I liked when BGT had two of them in the
nursery - they must have been there for over a year! You would only be a few
feet from them through glass. They were often asleep, but occasionally eating
and that was pretty cool.
Richard Brown
(in message <rypQa.24904$GF2.6...@twister.nyc.rr.com>):
> When my daughter first came to WDW on the College Program, she worked in
> Conservation Station, and during the December Holiday period, DAK was indeed
> open late. I remember her telling us (we were down there at the time) of
> their trips on the CM testing of the nighttime Safari. We did get a chance
> to do that ourselves when we were down there/
>
> Mark
>
>
I rode that. With the "natives" fire dance in the elephant area. It was
pretty weird being out on the veldt in the dark.
>
Denise near Disney
night safari.
BigBobxxx
>
> I found this to be pretty much right on the money.
> a lot of people on this ng are so biased and will just refuse to hear any
> other point of view towards Disney that differs then, "I had the most
> magical time", no matter how right they are, because then they will have
> to start to admit there are flaws in their perfect theme park.
>
> but I thought that this article had a lot of good points, and maybe Disney
> will take note.
I thought the Animal Kingdom article was right on also.
Especially...
"Don't buy the argument that the abridged hours are related to the
animals. During this same summer that Animal Kingdom is closing as
early as 5pm Busch Gardens Tampa is open until 10:30pm and Sea World
Orlando wraps up the day at 10pm. Even if they had to close down some
of the live animal attractions -- like the Future World animals in
EPCOT that must be put to bed by 6pm daily -- surely the park can stay
open much later, right?"
Disney has been practicing a systematic program of cutbacks,
nickel-and-diming, charging for previously "free" things (like The
Land backstage tour) and roping off areas and attractions in order to
charge groups to use that area during regular operating hours (thus
denying ticket buyers what they paid for) for the past 5-6 years.
Combine this with simultaneous outrageous price increases that have
reached the level of price-gouging, and we are left with a pretty sad
picture of the new Disney.
September 11th only gave Disney a fig leaf – coupled with public
sympathy and understanding – when, in reality, the cutbacks/price
increases began shortly after Frank Wells death... and have been
obvious to Disney cognoscenti, as I said, for the past 5-6 years.
My particular "specialty" is EPCOT (I refuse to say Epcot :).
It breaks my heart to watch the systematic destruction of EPCOT by the
current Disney.
For the record, EPCOT's Future World hours were already cut back to "9
AM - 7 PM" at least as early as September, 1996... obviously nothing
to do with 9/11!
BTW, think any of this has anything to do with paying Jeff Katzenberg
half a billion dollars, settling the EPCOT design and Sports complex
lawsuits, expanding corporately beyond their abilities and building
the money pit called Disney's California Adventure?
And, for the record, the Animal Kingdom DID used to stay open later.
My recollection is 8 PM during peak times the first year or so.
I HAVE ANIMAL KINGDOM GUIDE MAPS I am looking at which shows me IN
PRINT that the Animal Kingdom operating hours during "Aug. 31 - Sept.
6, 1998" and "September 7 - 12, 1998" were "Park Hours 8am - 7pm."
- BigBob
Yen_Sid
conventions), then they had a party in the parking lot until midnight
and had fireworks.
It used to be open to 8 pm in the summer and Christmas and they even
had a night safari, which was great because you saw different animals
who were more active at night.
ljce...@aol.com (LJCefali) wrote in message news:<20030713180010...@mb-m29.aol.com>...
Nick
restaurants.
Restaurants draw me to World Showcase. They're one of several
attractions at the Disney Studios. They provide a needed break at the
MK.
At the DAK, they're a weakness. There's no place I can go to get off
my feet for an hour and have a nice meal, unless I want to go to the
Rainforest Cafe franchise, and even that's erratic. Half the time our
exit from a morning at DAK is timed partly to make lunch elsewhere
convenient.
It's not so bad in the evening; our afternoons at DAK now end with a
late Safari ride followed by a pilgrimage to Boma. But if there was a
good restaurant at the DAK, we might simply stay at the DAK for a nice
dinner. Heck, if they leave the park open later into dusk, I'm sure
that will give us a different park experience as some of the animals
get more lively as dusk approaches.
Just a thought,
Nick
*--
That which I take seriously, I take very seriously.
Everything else, I mock, in proportion to how excessively
someone else takes something seriously.
Yen_Sid
putting a bridge between Asia and Dinoland is trying to etup a
nightime area for rides. Maybe they do like Epcot, have the animal
areas open early and close early(ie. Future World), the have ride
areas stay open late (ie. World Showcase) But I agree that they need a
full service restaurant in the park.
Nick <nick...@netscape.net> wrote in message news:<7v26hv8ao0sorrovg...@4ax.com>...
Musclecadet
I write one line "Did Jim Hill right this?" I get get this degree of name
calling?
Honey you have a frigging problem! You need to seek professional help.
"Fabulous Disney Babe!" psycho!
"Michelle" <discov...@aol.communicore> wrote in message
news:20030714030843...@mb-m13.aol.com...
Rodney T. Grill
news:avoRa.120443$ic1.2...@twister.tampabay.rr.com...
> What is your F'ing problem?
Jim Hill is her ex-husband.
--
- RODNEY (16 days to go!)
Doc
> a lot of people on this ng are so biased and will just refuse to hear any
> other point of view towards Disney that differs then, "I had the most
> magical time", no matter how right they are, because then they will have to
> start to admit there are flaws in their perfect theme park.
I think people in our modern era take for granted what a park like
Animal Kingdom represents. Not that long ago, animals such as those at
AK and other zoos and animal sanctuaries were the stuff of myth,
legend and hearsay. Very few white men had ever seen these creatures
in person. Once upon a time, the only way to see them was to take a
long, expensive and incredibly dangerous journey.
Now of course, we've had decades of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom,
National Geographic, Walt Disney's own nature documentaries, Jacques
Cousteau etc. and you can see these animals laid out before you while
you nonchalantly munch on a Mickey pop. Also don't forget there also
has to be a team of people who know their stuff taking care of these
animals. You don't just go down to PetSmart and stock up on Purina
Gorilla Chow.
Naysando
"Doc" <docsa...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> I think people in our modern era take for granted what a park like
> Animal Kingdom represents. Not that long ago, animals such as those at
but now there are zoo's in just about every major city.
i agree that we may take it for granted, but why would we not, when there
are so many of them to choose from?
<Also don't forget there also
> has to be a team of people who know their stuff taking care of these
> animals. You don't just go down to PetSmart and stock up on Purina
> Gorilla Chow.
I,110% agree.
most of the animal keepers have just as much schooling as MD's do, but not
nearly the respect or pay.
I think that it's an amazing job that animal keepers do, and they really
help kids to appreciate and respect animals.
I am sure that there isn't an adult out there that did not want to be one
when they were kids.
but (since Disney is saying it) how is it really "not-a-zoo"?
Pixel Dent
>
> I,110% agree.
> most of the animal keepers have just as much schooling as MD's do, but not
> nearly the respect or pay.
Umm, not all the animal keepers are DVMs. While someone who is a Doctor of
Veteranary Medicine certainly does have as much schooling as an MD, the
majority of animal keepers have a 2 year degree in Zoo Animal Technology.
Two of the big feeders for Animal Kingdom are the programs at Santa Fe
Community College in Gainesville and Pensacola Junior College.
While I'm sure they are wonderful programs they're not quite Johns Hopkins.
Naysando
"Pixel Dent" <pixel...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> Umm, not all the animal keepers are DVMs. While someone who is a Doctor of
> Veteranary Medicine certainly does have as much schooling as an MD, the
> majority of animal keepers have a 2 year degree in Zoo Animal Technology.
>
> Two of the big feeders for Animal Kingdom are the programs at Santa Fe
> Community College in Gainesville and Pensacola Junior College.
> While I'm sure they are wonderful programs they're not quite Johns
Hopkins.
and your point is?
I was just saying that they are not as respected as people in the health
care profession, yet they do as much schooling.
FINE they are not all doctors, but they all go to school for quite a while.
better?
LJCefali
Geographic, Walt Disney's own nature documentaries, Jacques
Cousteau etc. and you can see these animals laid out before you whileyou
nonchalantly munch on a Mickey pop.
But seeing them in on TV and in print is not the same as seeing them roaming
"free." That is why I appreciate AK. It is much more then any zoo I have ever
visited.
Doc
>
> Umm, not all the animal keepers are DVMs. While someone who is a Doctor of
> Veteranary Medicine certainly does have as much schooling as an MD, the
> majority of animal keepers have a 2 year degree in Zoo Animal Technology.
>
> Two of the big feeders for Animal Kingdom are the programs at Santa Fe
> Community College in Gainesville and Pensacola Junior College.
I would venture to guess the majority of posters here would have no
idea where to begin in caring for these animals, what their
specialized needs are, so 2 year degree or no, they have unique and
specialized knowledge. I doubt they'd last long if they weren't
competent. I would guess many are using their AK experience as a
stepping stone toward their DVM, since if I'm not mistaken, you have
to have done something like that to get into vet school.
> While I'm sure they are wonderful programs they're not quite Johns Hopkins.
I would assume not as I don't believe Johns Hopkins has a Veterinary
school.
Hillery Griffin
My local zoo has a fence between me and the animals. I don't get to ride a
safari jeep around giraffes and elephants. There isn't a water ride at the
local zoo, nor a tremendous stage production of The Lion King. To me,
Animal Kingdom is more of a theme park with elements of a zoo. Camp
Minnie-Mickey and Dino, USA aren't zoo like at all, yet they are part of
animal kingdom.
--
Dollywood Hillery
TDC Honor Guard of Mouse Ears and Dolly Parton Wigs
God is bigger than the boogeyman!
"Naysando" <nays...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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melvincats
depending on my mood and how hot it is in central Florida that day.
(Epcot is the other)My husband and I, on our last safari ride in June,
were commenting how the hokey story line seems to be toned down, or
kind of played down by the drivers. I like this. In fact, I think
they should give their patrons some credit and eliminate the story all
together. Disney for us is a mad, get up early, rush around kind of
place, and AK is one place where we can slow down, stroll, watch the
interesting animals as well as the horrifying mammalian behavior as
the park gets hotter and more crowded. We love to stay at Animal
Kindgom Lodge, as well, as this really seems like a retreat, away from
it all kind of place (especially if you have a room at the end of one
of the five mile long wings of the hotel!)
As an aside, I love tower of terror and rock and roller coaster, but
after that, there is not much to do at MGM. I used to like to watch
the street performers, but I never see any anymore except those toy
soldiers. Where is Mary Popins? And that skinny, funny "Where's
Waldo" guy with the director? Animal Kingdom has so much more to see,
in my opinion.
Carol Lee
"melvincats" <the...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:6da8b09c.03071...@posting.google.com...
> Okay, Animal Kingdom is either my first or second favorite park,
> depending on my mood and how hot it is in central Florida that day.
> (Epcot is the other)My husband and I, on our last safari ride in June,
> were commenting how the hokey story line seems to be toned down, or
> kind of played down by the drivers. I like this. In fact, I think
> they should give their patrons some credit and eliminate the story all
> together.
On one of my solo visits I was the only person on my Safari truck. While we
were sitting there waiting to drive off the driver and loader asked me if I
had done it before. When I indicated LOTS of times they asked what I
thought. I told them that I loved the ride, but for an average of $50 a
head couldn't Disney reinforce that gate at the end. Needless to say on my
solo ride we just ignored the whole Big Red/Little Red story!
Brett Weiss
seems to have: the walkways.
It always feels as if I'm cheek to jowel with other visutors. I
bump up against others and feel "pressed in". This is true even
when the park isn't packed. Ion't know if it's because the
walkways are narrower, or simply because they are more winding,
but it has been a significant annoyance each of the times I've
visited there.
--
Brett
"Denise near Disney" <tinyb...@aol.comawesome> wrote in message
news:20030713213155...@mb-m18.aol.com...
Brett Weiss
pressure off of the AKL Boma, and give a nice themed eating
experience at the park.
--
Brett
"Nick" <nick...@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:7v26hv8ao0sorrovg...@4ax.com...
Sandi Femino
<law...@erols.com> wrote:
> Of all the parks, AK has one problem that none of the others
> seems to have: the walkways.
I mentioned in a TR the uneveness of the walkways. I would HATE to be
pushing a stroller or wheelchair there. I understand that they wanted
them to look authentic, but form should follow function to a certain
extent. I bet they could have made them LOOK authentic without
sacrificing ease of movement for crowds.
--
Sandi
Peter Altschuler
years after it opened. But a few years later, Disney added new ride and
attractions (including Tower of Tower, Sun Set Boulevard, Fantasmic!, Rock
'N Rollercoaster, Beauty and the Beast stage show, among others).
Disney has announced Expedition Everest: The Legend of the Forbidden
Mountain probably some time after that article was written. Also, the
expansion of Dinoland was recently completed. In the next few years, AK will
probably get even more expansions. Numbers will most definitely increase as
new rides open.
"KaliRiverRapids" <kaliriv...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030712163030...@mb-m17.aol.com...
> An interesting read, even if one doesn't agree with it. . .
>
> http://www.parkoutlet.com/ak.htm
>
> Kali
>
Caren
> How about opening a Boma II at AK? It would take some of the
> pressure off of the AKL Boma, and give a nice themed eating
> experience at the park.
>
Mmmmm...Boma.
Although Boma is one of my favorite places to eat, opening a franchise
in Animal Kingdom is probably not practical. Animal Kingdom isn't open
for the dinner hours and I don't think a restaurant like that could
generate enough lunchtime business in Animal Kingdom to make it
profitable. However, if they were to open a Boma at AK (are you
listening, Disney?), I'd be heading to AK just to eat lunch.
--
Caren
TDC Queen of Adventureland
Bob Richmond
>> uneveness of the walkways. I would HATE to be pushing a stroller or
wheelchair there. I understand that they wanted them to look authentic,
but form should follow function to a certain extent. <<
Since DAK has opened a LOT of the walkways have been redone with
strollers / wheelchairs in mind. The "cracks" are still there, but a lot
have been made smaller and a lot of the uneveness has been worked out.
--
Bob Richmond
Remove "SPAMBEGONE" to reply by EMail.
"... well uh, this is MY dream!" - Mickey Mouse in Fantasmic!
Pixel Dent
> "Pixel Dent" <pixel...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > Umm, not all the animal keepers are DVMs. While someone who is a Doctor of
> > Veteranary Medicine certainly does have as much schooling as an MD, the
> > majority of animal keepers have a 2 year degree in Zoo Animal Technology.
> >
> > Two of the big feeders for Animal Kingdom are the programs at Santa Fe
> > Community College in Gainesville and Pensacola Junior College.
> > While I'm sure they are wonderful programs they're not quite Johns
> Hopkins.
>
> and your point is?
> I was just saying that they are not as respected as people in the health
> care profession, yet they do as much schooling.
My point was to be an MD or a DVM you must have a 4 year college degree followed
by a bare minimum of 4 years of Medical School.
To be an animal keeper at at AK you need a 2 year associates degree.
I was trying to point that out politely without sounding like I was insulting
anyone with an associates degree. I'm sure they are very committed to what
they do but their education is in no way comparable to that of an MD or DVM.
Pixel Dent
> to have done something like that to get into vet school.
Not a DVM myself, but had friends at Tuft's Vet School. While having done
something like that would help a bit in the admissions office it certainly
isn't a prereq. All my friends had normal 4 year university degrees in
liberal arts with concentrations in chemistry. One had a summer job working
with a large animal vet, but it wasn't anything she needed an associates
degree to Animal Technology to do.
>
> > While I'm sure they are wonderful programs they're not quite Johns Hopkins.
>
> I would assume not as I don't believe Johns Hopkins has a Veterinary
> school.
True; however, I'm sure that they have classes in Veterinary Pathology.
Hard to do research without it.
The original poster was comparing MDs with Animal Keepers. Let me rephrase in
SAT style...
Animal Keeper is to MD as
Santa Fe Community College is the Johns Hopkins
If you'd prefer to compare DVMs with with Animal Keepers I'll change that to...
Animal Keeper is to DVM as
Pensacola Community College is to Cornell University Veterinary School
ParisByAir
new rides open. >>
New rides (and attractions) have opened. Numbers have fallen every single year.
I agree with you that Everest will change that, but that's about the only
addition in what will be an 8 year park that will have resulted in drawing more
guests and making them stay longer.
Sandi Femino
Richmond" <73770.474...@compuserve.com> wrote:
> Sandi,
>
> >> uneveness of the walkways. I would HATE to be pushing a stroller or
> wheelchair there. I understand that they wanted them to look authentic,
> but form should follow function to a certain extent. <<
>
> Since DAK has opened a LOT of the walkways have been redone with
> strollers / wheelchairs in mind. The "cracks" are still there, but a lot
> have been made smaller and a lot of the uneveness has been worked out.
Bob,
I had noticed this In March of 2002 which was our first visit to AK.
( We had last been only 2 months before it's opening.) Has this been
changed since then?
--
Sandi
Pixel Dent
>
> The original poster was comparing MDs with Animal Keepers. Let me rephrase in
> SAT style...
>
You know, I re-read this and it came through much more strident than I intended.
I hope nobody was offended and apologize if they were.
Bob Richmond
>> had noticed this In March of 2002...Has this been changed since
then? <<
Using my best guess. Some of it was, but most of it was done before that
time.