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Disney's Animal Kingdom

640 bytes added, 01:43, 12 September 2022
/* History After Opening Day */
==History After Opening Day==
[[Image:ExpeditionEverestAtdayExpeditionEverest3.jpg|400px|thumb|Expedition Everest opened in the Asia section of Disney's Animal Kingdom in 2006.]]
Although relatively young compared to the other Disney Parks, Animal Kingdom has gone through several changes throughout its history. The first major expansion of the park came in 1999, when [[Asia]] was finally completed <ref> http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_asia.htm </ref>. Added at this time were the popular attractions [[Maharajah Jungle Trek]] <ref> https://touringplans.com/animal-kingdom/attractions/maharajah-jungle-trek </ref> and the [[Kali River Rapids]]. The [[Discovery River Boats]] (which had a dock in Asia) closed with the opening of the new attractions <ref>http://waltdatedworld.com/id55.htm</ref>.
In 2000 and 2001 many of Animal Kingdom's lands were renamed. The former [[Safari Village]] became [[Discovery Island]] <ref> http://waltdatedworld.com/id131.htm </ref>, while [[ConservationStation]] Station was renamed [[Rafiki's Planet Watch]] <ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2009/07/rafikis_planet_watch_the_forgo.html </ref>. The change in name to Discovery Island coincided with the closing of the Discovery Island attraction on Bay Lake. Also changing its name at this time was the popular [[DinoLand USA]] attraction [[Countdown To Extinction]]. That ride was re-named after, and slightly altered, to tie into the 2000 Disney movie [[Dinosaur]] <ref> https://www.mouseplanet.com/10881/Remembering_the_Magic_Countdown_To_Extinction__DINOSAUR </ref>.
2001 saw another expansion of Disney's Animal Kingdom. At this time, [[Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama]] was added to [[DinoLand USA]]. This mini land housed Midway Games (later renamed [[Fossil Fun Games]]) and the [[TriceraTop Spin]] <ref name= "d23"> https://d23.com/a-to-z/chester-hesters/ </ref>. The following year on March 31April 18, 2002, [[Primeval Whirl]] was added to the area <ref name= "d23"/>.
The next set of major changes came to Animal Kingdom in 2006. In DinoLand USA, Finding Nemo- the Musical replaced Tarzan Rocks, which had been operating since 1999 <ref> http://allears.net/tp/ak/nemo.htm </ref>. Also in 2006, the “E-Ticket” roller coaster [[Expedition Everest]] was built in [[Asia]]. The attraction is a high speed coaster set in the Himalayas, and it includes a close encounter with the fabled Yeti. By including the Yeti in the attraction, Disney's Animal Kingdom finally featured a mythical creature (which had been promised since the park’s dedication).
2016 saw several new experiences come to Animal Kingdom. The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic stage show opened as a temporary offering based on the Disney live-action film The Jungle Book. Also debuting at this time was the [[Kilimanjaro Night Safaris]] and the Tree of Life Awakens, a nighttime event where magical fireflies make animal spirits come alive on the Tree of Life. <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/04/update-on-nighttime-experiences-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/ </ref>.
On February 17, 2017, Rivers of Light, Disney's Animal Kingdom's new nighttime show, opened to guests <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/02/rivers-of-light-officially-opens-february-17-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/ </ref>. Finally, on May 27, 2017, [[Pandora- The World of Avatar]] opened to guests <ref>https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/02/just-announced-pandora-the-world-of-avatar-will-open-may-27-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/</ref>. Based on the 2009 James Cameron film, Pandora- The World of Avatar transports guests to the planet Pandora and features the attractions [[Flight of Passage]] and [[Na'vi River Journey]].
On July 16, 2020, Disney announced that Rivers of Light would not reopen with the park, and would be permanently discontinued <ref> https://wdwnt.com/2020/07/breaking-stitchs-great-escape-rivers-of-light-and-primeval-whirl-officially-closed-forever-at-walt-disney-world/ </ref>.
 
At the 2022 D23 Expo, Disney Parks chairman Josh D'Amaro showcased Blue Sky concepts for a new land inspired by Disney's Moana and Disney's Zootopia. Based on the concept art, as well as comments made at the Expo, the new land would replace [[DinoLand USA]]. At the time of the announcement, no further details were given and plans for the new area remain in flux <ref> https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/animal-kingdom/news/11sep2022-disney-parks-head-josh-damaro-share-some-zootpoia-blue-sky-concepts-for-disneys-animal-kingdom.htm </ref>.
===Beastly Kingdomme===
One change that has yet to (and may never) come to Animal Kingdom is the addition of Beastly Kingdomme. Despite a dragon being featured on the park's original logo, there are currently no plans to build the land. Camp Minnie-Mickey proved to be popular with guests, and thus the land set aside for Beastly Kingdom remained in use. With the creation of [[Pandora- The World of Avatar]] it is unlikely that Beastly Kingdomme will be built. Despite this, remnants of the planned Beastly Kingdom can still be found including:
==Current Lands==
To see the current Animal Kingdom map [https://secure.parksandresorts.wdpromedia.com/media/wdpro-assets/parks-and-tickets/destinations/animal-kingdom/Disneys_Animal_Kingdom.pdf ?16052017140623'''Click Here'''.]
===Oasis===
[[Image:AnimalKingdomGuideMap2020.jpg|thumb|400px|The 2021 Animal Kingdom map (click to enlarge)]]Located at the front of the park, the Oasis is the first land that guests encounter. Guest services Services and the Rain Forest Cafe are located here. The Oasis leads to the park's hub, [[Discovery Island]].
'''[[Oasis Exhibits]]'''- This walking trail allows guests to see many animals including: the giant anteater, wallabies, exotic boar and more.
Home to the popular [[Kilimanjaro Safaris]], the Africa section of the park takes place in the fictional village of Harambe. According to the land's backstory, Harambe was once a colony before gaining its freedom in 1961 after a peaceful revolution. Harambe is currently home to a wildlife reserve, where tourists can see some of Africa's most interesting animals. In 2014 the Africa section of the park was expanded to house the relocated [[Festival of the Lion King]].
[[Image:AnimalKingdomGuideMap2017.png|thumb|350px|The 2017 Animal Kingdom map (click to enlarge)]]
===[[Rafiki's Planet Watch]]===
Main Article: [[Rafiki's Planet Watch]]
Rafiki's Planet Watch was originally called Conservation Station from 1998 until October 2000. It is the only land not accessible from [[Discovery Island]]. In order to get to Rafiki's Planet Watch guests must board the [[Wildlife Express Train]] which travels between [[Africa]] and the Planet Watch.
===[[Asia]]===
[[Image:MickeyandRafikijpeg.jpeg|thumb|400px|Mickey and Rafiki in front of the Tree of Life]]
Main Article: [[Asia]]
==Former Lands==
===Camp Minnie-Mickey===
Initially intended to be a temporary land, Camp Minnie-Mickey was located constructed where Beastly Kingdom Kingdomme was originally supposed intended to be built. HereAt Camp Minnie-Mickey, guests could meet their favorite Disney characters including Mickey, Minnie, and Donald. The main attraction located in Camp Minnie-Mickey was the Broadway style show [[Festival of the Lion King]]. In 2014 Camp Minnie-Mickey closed in order to make room for a new land based on James Cameron's [[Pandora- The World of Avatar]]. Following Camp Minnie-Mickey's closure, Festival of the Lion King was relocated to the [[Africa ]] section of the park.
==FastPass Disney Genie +==[[Image:AnimalKingdomfastpass.jpg|350px|thumb|Flight of Passage and Na'vi River Journey- in Disney's Animal Kingdom's Tier One FastPass + optionsPandora]] The FastPass + attractions at Disney's Animal Kingdom are broken up into two tiers. Guests may choose one experience from Tier One and two experiences from Tier 2.===Tier One===Guests may choose ONE of the following attractions:
{| style="padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px;"
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* [[Flight of Passage]]
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* [[Na'vi River Journey]]
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===Tier Two===
Guests may choose TWO of the following attractions:
{| style="padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px;"
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* [[Rivers of Light]]
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* [[Kali River Rapids]]
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* [[Kilimanjaro Safaris]]
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* [[Flights of Wonder]]
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* [[DINOSAUR]]
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* [[Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers OutpostFeathered Friends in Flight!]]
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* [[Expedition Everest]]| * [[Festival of the Lion KingNa'vi River Journey]]
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* [[It's Tough to be a Bug!]]
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* [[Finding Nemo- The MusicalAnimation Experience]]
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* [[Primeval WhirlFestival of the Lion King]]|-
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* [[UP! A Great Bird Adventure]]|} ===Lightning Lane===Disney's Animal Kingdom's two Lightning Lane exclusive attractions are:{| style="padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px;"
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* [[Flight of Passage]]
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* [[Expedition Everest]]
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==Fun Facts and Trivia==
*StrawsPlastic straws, balloons, and cup lids are not used inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom to protect the animals from potential choking hazards <ref name= "guide"> http://www.guidetothemagic.com/animalkingdom/animalkingdom5.htm </ref>.
* Animal Kingdom features 250 species and 1,0000 different animals <ref name= "trivia"/>