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/* History After Opening Day */
{{Template:Infobox amusement park
| image=TreeOfLifeNightTreeOfLifeday.jpg| caption='''The Tree of Life, the icon of the Disney’s Animal Kingdom.'''| theme=Animals and , nature, conservation
| opening_date=April 22, 1998
| icon=The Tree of Life
}}
Disney's Animal Kingdom is a theme park located in Walt Disney World.
==Conception <ref name= "book"> Malmberg, Melody. The Making of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. New York: Hyperion, 1998. Print. </ref>==
The Magic genesis of Disney's Animal Kingdom is a began when Disney noted that the idea of an animal theme park located in tested well on surveys. This feedback, combined with the fact that Disney owned several intellectual properties that featured animals, convinced Disney CEO Michael Eisner to send the idea of an animal theme park to Walt Disney WorldImagineering. In 1990, Imagineer Joe Rohde met with Eisner to discuss the new park. Rohde’s vision for the park was threefold, it would feature traditional theme park components, an Epcot Center style pavilion, and a nontraditional zoo. [[Image:AnimalKingdomConcept.jpg|400px|thumb|Concept art for Disney's Animal Kingdom]] Eisner agreed to the basic premise of the park, commenting that like the Magic Kingdom, Disney should also have an Animal Kingdom. With this objective in mind, Rohde and his team of six Imagineers (Kevin Brown, Zofia Kostyrko, Kevin Brown, Christopher West, Tony Marando and Patsy Tillisch) set out to create a basic outline for the new park.
==Construction==
[[Image:TreeofLifeConstruction3.jpg|400px|thumb|Disney's Animal Kingdom under construction]]
Construction on Disney's Animal Kingdom began in August of 1995. Four million cubic yards of dirt were moved and nearly 40,000 plants were added during the park's construction <ref name= "trivia"/>. During this process it was decided that the plants in Animal Kingdom would need to be in the ground for two growing seasons before the animals arrived. This meant that the horticulture team, led by Disney Legend Bill Evans, had until the spring of 1996 to get all the plants in place <ref> http://allears.net/ae/issue863.htm </ref>. This deadline was met, and in the fall of 1997, the animals were brought into the park <ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2011/01/kilimanjaro_safaris_at_animal_1.html </ref>. These animals came from various zoo's or wildlife preserves around the world. A few animals were also from the wild, but were too injured to be re-released. In total Animal Kingdom is home to over 1,700 animals.
Phase II of Animal Kingdom cost nearly 1 billion dollars to built. Four million cubic yards of dirt were moved and nearly 40,000 plants were added. It was decided that the plants in Animal Kingdom would need to be put in for two growing seasons before the animals arrived. This meant that completion of [[Asia]], along with the construction team had until the Spring of 1996 Beastly Kingdom. Due to get all the plants in park not being completed on opening day, Camp Minnie-Mickey, a placewhere guests could meet various Disney characters, was created as a temporary land. This deadline Camp Minnie-Mickey was met, and the fall of 1997 the animals were brought in. They came from various zoo's or wildlife preserves around the world. A few animals were also from the wild, but were too injured to be re-releasedessentially a place holder until Beastly Kingdom could be built <ref> http://www. In total Animal Kingdom is home to over 1,700 animalsyesterland.com/campmm.html </ref>.
==History After Opening Day==[[Image:ExpeditionEverest3.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>.
The next set of major changes came to Animal Kingdom opened without many problemsin 2006. In DinoLand USA, however Countdown to Extinction did break down for over an hourFinding Nemo- the Musical replaced Tarzan Rocks, which had been operating since 1999 <ref> http://allears. Overall net/tp/ak/nemo.htm </ref>. Also in 2006, the grand opening “E-Ticket” roller coaster [[Expedition Everest]] was built in [[Asia]]. The attraction is a successhigh 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).
In 2014 Camp Minnie-Mickey was closed in order to make way for a new area of the park based on James Cameron's 2009 film “Avatar” <ref name="attractions"> https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=History After Opening Daychrome-instant&ion=1&espv=Although relatively young compared to the other Disney Parks, Animal Kingdom as gone through a lot 2&ie=UTF-8#q=Festival+of changes. In 1999 Asia was finally completed+Lion+King+closed+Avatar </ref>. Added to Following the land were 's closure the popular attractions [[Festival of the Maharajah Jungle Trek and the Kali River Rapids. The Maharajah Jungle Trek is Lion King]] attraction was relocated to a wildlife trail along which guests will encounter bats, a Komodo dragon, and even a Bengal Tigernew section of [[Africa]] called “New Harambe” <ref> https://disneyparks. The Kali River Rapids is disney.go.com/blog/2013/07/a white water rafting ride, that takes guests down -new-home-for-festival-of-the Chakranadi River-lion-king-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/ </ref>. The Kali River Rapids also addresses In 2015 the issues of illegal logging and habitat destructionHarambe Marketplace opened to guests.The Discovery River Boats that were once located in Asia closed new area was themed around a “Colonial-era train depot design complete with a 1960s water tower”. Inside the opening of the Harambe Marketplace guests can visit various food vendors who sell African inspired quinine <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/04/fun-new attractions-tastes-at-harambe-market-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/ </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 KingdomKingdomme===One change that has yet to (and may never) come to Animal Kingdom is the addition of Beastly KingdomKingdomme. 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 it was determained that thus the small increase land set aside for Beastly Kingdom remained in guests would not warrant use. With the costcreation of [[Pandora- The World of Avatar]] it is unlikely that Beastly Kingdomme will be built. Despite this, remenets remnants of the planned Beastly Kingdom can still be found including:
*The parking lot contains a section named "Unicorn."<ref> http://www.yesterland.com/avatarkingdom.html </ref>.
*There is a dragonA detailed dragonhead statue sits atop one of the ticket booths at the park's entrance <ref> http://www.wdwinfo.com/columns/walt-shaped stone fountain near Camp Minniedisney-Mickeyworld-never-built.cfm </ref>.
*A detailed dragonhead statue sits atop one In the first couple years of the ticket booths parks existence, blasts of fire would be spewed from a cave at the park's entranceedge of the water near Camp Minnie-Mickey <ref name= "hill"> http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2004/10/19/479.aspx </ref>. Also debuting at this time
*In the first couple years Burnt suits of armor were located just outside the parks existance, blasts of fire would be spewed from a cave at entrance, and when the edge of the waterDiscovery Boats passed this scene, in Camp Minnieguests were told by the boat's captain that the fire was created by a fire-Mickeybreathing dragon inside the cave <ref name= "hill"/>.
==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. Located here is guests services as well as Guest Services and the Rain Forest Cafeare located here. The Oasis leads to the parks 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!.
===[[Discovery Island]]===Originally called Safari Village, Main Article: [[Discovery Island is the hub of the park. From Discovery Island guests can get to all of the other lands except Rafiki's Planet Watch. Disney's Animal Kingdom's icon, The Tree of Life can be found on Discovery Island.]]
Originally called Safari Village, Discovery Island is the hub of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. From Discovery Island guests can get to all the park’s other lands except for [[Rafiki's Planet Watch]]. Animal Kingdom''s icon “The Tree of Life” can be found in Discovery Island, inside which guests can find the [[It's Tough to be a Bug!'''- On this 4D ]] attraction, guests enter the world of the Disney-Pixar movie A Bugs Life. Here, they meet up with Flick, Dot, and even Hopper as they learn some of the challenges of being a bug!
===[[Rafiki'''Festival of the Lion King'''- This Broadway style show uses puppetry, song, dance and special effects to tell the story of Disneys Planet Watch]]===Main Article: [[Rafiki's The Lion King.Planet Watch]]
Rafiki's Planet Watch was called Conservation Station from 1998 until October 2000. It is the only land not accessible from [[Discovery Island]]. In order to get to Rafiki''Greeting Trails'''- On s Planet Watch guests must board the Greeting Trails, guests can find some of their favorite Disney characters including, Mickey, Donald, Minnie [[Wildlife Express Train]] which travels between [[Africa]] and Timonthe Planet Watch.
===Africa[[Asia]]===Home to the popular Kilimanjaro Safari, the Africa section of the park takes place in the fictional African village of Harambe. According to the land's backstory, Harambe was once a colony, but it gained it's 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. [[Image:AnimalKingdomGuideMapMickeyandRafikijpeg.jpgjpeg|thumb|A 2011 guidemap to Animal Kingdom400px|Mickey and Rafiki in front of the Tree of Life]]Main Article: [[Asia]]
Perhaps the most popular land in Disney'''Kilimanjaro Safaris'''- On this 22 minute safaris Animal Kingdom, guests ride through the savanna dessert Asia was not complete until 1999. Set in East Africa. Along the waytownship of Anandpur, guests come face the land is home to face with elephants, lions, cheetahs, rhinos the popular [[Kali River Rapids]] and much more! The safari us usually operational until sundown[[Expedition Everest]].
===Asia[[Pandora- The World of Avatar]]===Perhaps the most popular land in Disney's Animal Kingdom, Asia was not complete until 1999. The land is home to Disney's newest attraction Expedition Everest. On this roller coaster, guests will take a wild train tour through the Himalayan Mountains, before coming coming face to face with the mythical Yeti. Other popular attractions in Asia include the Flights of Wonder show, a live bird show, as well as the Kali River Rapids which take guests white water rafting down the Chakranadi River. Asia is also home to the Maharajah Jungle Trek where guests can explore ancient ruins and see animals such as Komodo dragons, fruit bats and even a Bengal Tiger. The popular resturant the Yak and Yeti is also located in Asia. Main Article: [[Pandora- The restaurant serves the cuisine World of India and Nepal for lunch and dinner.Avatar]]
==Fun Facts and Trivia==*There are over 61Plastic straws,000 costume pieces worn by balloons, and cup lids are not used inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom cast membersto protect the animals from potential choking hazards <ref name= "guide"> http://www.guidetothemagic.com/animalkingdom/animalkingdom5.htm </ref>.
*At over 500 acres, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is large enough to fit the Magic Kingdom features 250 species and 1, Epcot, and The Disney-MGM Studios in it.0000 different animals <ref name= "trivia"/>
* Two Micronesian Kingfisher chicks were hatched at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, raising the world population of these birds by 3 percent <ref name==References=="trivia"> http://www.magicalmountainallears.net/animal-kingdomtp/ak/ak_fact.htm </disneys-animal-kingdomref>.aspx