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/* History After Opening Day */
{{Template:Infobox amusement park
| image=TreeOfLifeday.jpg
| caption='''The Tree of Life is , the icon of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.'''
| theme=Animals, nature, conservation
| opening_date=April 22, 1998
| icon=The Tree of Life
}}
==Construction==
[[Image:TreeofLifeConstruction3.jpg|400px|thumb|Disney's Animal Kingdom under construction]] Construction on Disney's Animal Kingdom began in August of 1995. Like other Disney theme parks, Animal Kingdom was to be made up Four million cubic yards of various dirt were moved and nearly 40,000 plants were added during the park's construction <ref name= "landstrivia"/>. When designing the park, During this process it was decided that the lands plants in Disney's Animal Kingdom were going would need to be: The Oasisin the ground for two growing seasons before the animals arrived. This meant that the horticulture team, Safari Villageled by Disney Legend Bill Evans, Africa, Asia, Conservation Station, DinoLand USA and Beastly Kingdomhad until the spring of 1996 to get all the plants in place <ref> http://allears. Through these lands Animal Kingdom net/ae/issue863.htm </ref>. This deadline was to represent three groups met, and in the fall of 1997, the animalswere brought into the park <ref> http: current living //land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2011/01/kilimanjaro_safaris_at_animal_1.html </ref>. These animals, extinct came from various zoo's or wildlife preserves around the world. A few animalswere also from the wild, and mythological but were too injured to be re-released. In total Animal Kingdom is home to over 1,700 animals.
As construction on Disney's Animal Kingdom cost nearly one billion dollars to build. Four million cubic yards of dirt were moved and nearly 40continued,000 plants were added during funds for the parks constructionnew park began to dwindle. During this process Eventually it was decided that the plants in Animal Kingdom would need have to be open in the ground for two growing seasons before the animals arrivedthree phases. This meant that the construction team had until the spring The first phase would consist of 1996 to get all the plants in place. This deadline was metThe Oasis, [[Safari Village]], [[Africa]], [[Conservation Station]], and the fall of 1997 the animals were brought an unfinished [[Asia]]. Also included in to the parkPhase I would be either [[DinoLand USA]] or Beastly Kingdomme <ref name= "jim"> http://jimhillmedia. They came from various zoo's or wildlife preserves around the worldcom/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2001/01/01/309.aspx </ref>. A few animals were also from the wildDisney eventually decided to build DinoLand USA, but were too injured possibly due to the new movie “Dinosaur” that was set to be re-released. In total Animal Kingdom is home to over 1,700 animalsin 2000 <ref name= "jim"/>.
Phase II of Animal Kingdom was to be the completion of [[Image:AnimalKingdomSerfariElands.jpg|300px|thumb|Elands grazing on the Kilimanjaro SafariAsia]] As construction continued, funds for along with the new park began to dwindle. Eventually it was decided that Animal construction of Beastly Kingdom would have to open in three phases. The first phase would consist of The OasisDue to the park not being completed on opening day, Safari VillageCamp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Conservation Stationa place where guests could meet various Disney characters, and an unfinished Asiawas created as a temporary land. Also included in phase one would Camp Minnie-Mickey was to be either DinoLand USA or essentially a place holder until Beastly Kingdom. Disney eventually decided to build DinoLand USA, possibly due to the new movie “Dinosaur” that was to could be released in 2000built <ref> http://www.yesterland.com/campmm.html </ref>.
==Opening Day==
Disney's Animal Kingdom officially opened on April 22, 1998 (Earth Day). At the opening of the park, the song “The Circle of Life” from Disney's The Lion King played as guests were showered with rose pedalspetals <ref> http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_opn.htm </ref>. A half hour after the park had opened; the parking lot was filled to capacity, while and 45 minutes later the park itself was filled to capacity<ref name= "day"/>. The first official guests to Disney's Animal Kingdom were the Werikhas familyBrenda Herr, her husband Damon Chepren, and their son Devon <ref name= "day"> http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/apr22.html </ref>. They were greeted by Roy E. Disney and given lifetime passesto Walt Disney World. Unlike previous theme park openings, the event Grand Opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom was not a star studded one (however affair, although Michael J. Fox, Drew Carey , Stevie Wonder, and David Copperfield did make an appearance in Camp Minnieappear <ref> http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1998-Mickey to film a television clip for ABC)04-20/news/9804190408_1_walt-disney-animal-kingdom-disney-theme </ref>. Some 5,000 reporters were also on hand as Disney CEO Michael Eisner read the park’s park's dedication:
{{Quotation|Welcome to a kingdom of animals… real, ancient and imagined: a kingdom ruled by lions, dinosaurs and dragons; a kingdom of balance, harmony and survival; a kingdom we enter to share in the wonder, gaze at the beauty, thrill at the drama, and learn.|
Michael Eisner <br> April 22, 1998}}
==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 changesthroughout 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 were located 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.bravepages.com/id131.htm </ref> and , while [[Conservation Station became ]] 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 also saw another expansion in of Disney's Animal Kingdom. At this time, [[Chester and Hester’s 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"/>.
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=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Festival+of+Lion+King+closed+Avatar </ref>. Following the land's closure the [[Festival of the Lion King]] attraction was relocated to a new section of [[Africa ]] called “New Harambe” <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/07/a-new-home-for-festival-of-the-lion-king-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/ </ref>. In 2015 the Harambe Marketplace opened to guests. The new area was themed around a “Colonial-era train depot design complete with a 1960s water tower”. Inside 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-tastes-at-harambe-market-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/ </ref>.
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 announcement creation of [[Pandora- The World of a land based on Avatar ]] it looks is unlikely that Beastly Kingdomme will be built. Despite this, 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>.
*A detailed dragonhead statue sits atop one of the ticket booths at the park's entrance <ref> http://www.wdwinfo.com/columns/walt-disney-world-never-built.cfm </ref>.
*In the first couple years of the parks existence, blasts of fire would be spewed from a cave at the edge 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
*Burnt suits of armor were located just outside the cave entrance , and when the Discovery Boats passed this scene, guests were told by the boat's captain that the fire was created by a fire-breathing dragon inside the cave <ref name= "hill"/>.
==Backstory==
==Current Lands==
To see the current Animal Kingdom map [https://wdpromediasecure.disneyparksandresorts.gowdpromedia.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”[[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 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.]]
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 Flick, Dot, and even Hopper as they learn some of the challenges of being a bug.
Rafiki'''s Planet Watch was called Conservation Station from 1998 until October 2000. It is the only land not accessible from [[Wildlife Express TrainDiscovery Island]]'''- This seven minute train ride transports guests from the African village of Harambe . In order to get to Rafiki's Planet Watch guests must board the [[Wildlife Express Train]] which travels between [[Africa]] and vice versathe Planet Watch.
Perhaps the most popular land in Disney'''Wild Africa Trek'''- This three hour tour allows guests s Animal Kingdom, Asia was not complete until 1999. Set in the township of Anandpur, the land is home to trek through the African wilderness popular [[Kali River Rapids]] and the Savannah Desert where they can get an up close look at various African animals. The tour requires guests to pay an additional cost[[Expedition Everest]].
===Rafiki's Planet Watch[[DinoLand USA]]===Rafkik's Planet Watch was originally called Conservation Station and 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. Main Article: [[DinoLand USA]]
Pandora – The World of Avatar transports guests to the land of James Cameron'''s Avatar. On Pandora guests can travel on the [[Conservation StationNa'vi River Journey]]'''- At Conservation Stationattraction, guests can get an in-depth look at how Disney takes care or take flight on a Banshee on [[Flight of the animals located within Disney's Animal KingdomPassage]]. Interactive exhibits and live animals also help guests learn about various animal habitatsPandora – The World of Avatar was constructed on the land formally occupied by [[Camp Minnie-Mickey]].
===Asia=Disney Genie +==Perhaps the most popular land [[Image:AnimalKingdomfastpass.jpg|350px|thumb|Flight of Passage and Na'vi River Journey in Disney's Animal Kingdom, Asia was not complete until 1999. The land is home 's Pandora]]{| style="padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px;"|-| * [[Kali River Rapids]]| * [[Kilimanjaro Safaris]] |* [[DINOSAUR]] |* [[Feathered Friends in Flight!]]| |-| * [[Na'vi River Journey]]|* [[It's Tough to be a Bug!]]| * [[Expedition EverestThe Animation Experience]]. |* [[Festival of the Lion King]]|-||}
==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"/>
*Two Micronesian Kingfisher chicks were hatched at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, raising the world population of these birds by 3 percent <ref name= "trivia"> http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_fact.htm </ref>.
*Disney’s Animal Kingdom contains live plants from every continent on Earth except Antarctica <ref name= "trivia"/>.
*There are over 61,000 costume pieces worn by Animal Kingdom cast members.
*At over 500 acres, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is large enough to fit the [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Epcot]], and [[Disney’s Disney's Hollywood Studios]] inside of it <ref name= "guide"/>.
*In the early 2000s 2000's Disney promoted Animal Kingdom with the phrase NăHTăZū!(pronounced "not a zoo") <ref> https://www.mouseplanet.com/10581/Its_Nahtazu </ref>.
*Disney’s Animal Kingdom features the largest groups of Nile hippos and African elephants in North America <ref name= "trivia"/>.
* There are 27 million gallons of water in Discovery River <ref name= "trivia"/>
==References==