2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Best Animal Exhibit?
As the lines between theme park and zoos blur, animal exhibits have become popular attractions at more theme parks. Today's we're honoring five of your favorites, as voted on in the Theme Park Insider attraction listings. Please vote for your favorite from these five, selecting the one that you feel best represents the ideal blend of education, awe... and a faithfully engaging recreation of a native habitat.
Today's category draws from all walk-through animal exhibits in theme parks, and does not include animal exhibits included as part of other attractions, such as narrated rides, roller coaster queues and live shows - which were voted on in other categories.
Voting is open for 24 hours.
Eagle Ridge - at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Edge of Africa - at Busch Gardens Tampa
Maharajah Jungle Trek - at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail - at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Turtle Reef - at SeaWorld San Diego
Tomorrow: It's the 4D show showdown.
Replies (14)
I've been to both BG parks, but I have zero interest in animal exhibits. I saw some from the sky-ride in Florida, but I'll abstain from voting.
I prefer Edge Of Africa at Busch Gardens to either of the Disney attractions - there's a wider variety of Animals and different ways to view them - the train, Rhino Rally (not as good without the water element) and the sky ride. I've not ridden it yet, but I suppose Cheetah Hunt offers some "fleeting" views too. I'll find out in September!
A friend of my, who has been to India several times was amazed about the accurat detailing (minus religus stuff) at the Maharajah Jungle Trek. And I´m a sucker for big cats. Although I like the mix of animals and attractions at Bush Gardens this vote goos to Disney´s Animal Kingdom.
Ah. Again we (seemingly) see the east coast bias of the voting. Then again, 80% of the nominated exhibits are east coast.
I may have missed this one, but I would think that many zoos would qualify as theme parks as many theme parks have qualified at least partly as zoos (in theme, if not in reality). Pretty sure the - ahem - World Famous San Diego Zoo has had more rides than SeaWorld San Diego until recently, yet the latter is considered a theme park while the former is, to my knowledge, not. Not that the SDZ would place very high in a tournament.
Except, maybe, in this category.
The AK ones are the best, so I voted for Pangai.
I'm very disappointed that Shrek 4-D isn't on here. :)
Animal Kingdom takes the cake here, hands down. Both of the Disney walking trails are terrific, but if I have to pick one, the Maharajah gets my vote. It is, as someone else already stated, less congested and I prefer the Asian tigers, Komodo Dragon, and Malayan Flying Fox to the hippos, meerkats, and gorillas of the Pangani trail.
I do love all the zoo stuff at DAK and wish more people would take the time to explore it thoroughly. Sadly, most people just ride rides and bolt, never really understanding that DAK is all about exploration. *Sigh*
I have deployed the varmints to Brian's house. Everyone please remain calm.
Did you see the photo Mr. Niles chose to illustrate Pangani Forest Exploration Trail?
I see that image in my darkest dreams every night ... and I wake up ... screaming...
The horror ... The horror ...
Two words that elevate Maharaja Jungle Trek. Bengal Tigers. Hard to argue with Bengal Tigers.
I love the themeing throughout the area, and the Jungle Trek has a feeling of antiquity that is amazing.
Glad you noticed that, TH. :^)
My vote goes for The Maharajah Jungle Trek because I believe it is the best themed and has a good back story. And not because I work there. OK, maybe the fact that I work there affects it a little bit...
There is usaully sancions for lions, tigers, elephants, manaties, etcc but you don't really hear much about saving turtles.
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I'm not really into animal attractions but I went with Mahahraja. If I have to do one of these I'd rather see really exotic Asian or African animals than birds or aquatic animals. I put Mahahraja ahead of Pangani because I've read the former is less congested. I put it ahead of Edge of Africa because I'm more likely to go to an animal exhibit at AK than I would be at Busch Gardens Tampa.