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/* History After Opening Day */
{{Template:Infobox amusement park
| image=TreeOfLifeday.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 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 one billion dollars to build. 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 with few problemsin 2006. In DinoLand USA, although 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 has gone through a lot 2&ie=UTF-8#q=Festival+of changes+Lion+King+closed+Avatar </ref>. In 1999 Asia was finally completed. Added to Following the land were 's closure the popular attractions the Maharajah Jungle Trek and [[Festival of 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 a white water rafting ride, that takes guests down the Chakranadi Riverdisney. The Kali River Rapids also addresses the issues of illegal logging and habitat destructiongo. The Discovery River Boats, which were once located in Asia, closed with the opening com/blog/2013/07/a-new-home-for-festival-of -the new attractions-lion-king-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/ </ref>. In 2000 many of Animal Kingdoms lands were renamed. The former Safari Village became Discovery Island and 2015 the Conservation Station became Rifiki's Planet WatchHarambe Marketplace opened to guests. The change in name to Discovery Island coincided new area was themed around a “Colonial-era train depot design complete with the closing of the Discovery Island attraction in Bay Lakea 1960s water tower”. Also changing its name was Inside the popular Dinoland USA attraction, Countdown To ExtinctionHarambe Marketplace guests can visit various food vendors who sell African inspired quinine <ref> https://disneyparks. That ride was redisney.go.com/blog/2015/04/fun-named and slightly altered to tie into the 2000 Disney movie Dinosaurnew-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 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 it was determined 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, 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 existence, 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://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]].
'''[[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'''s Planet Watch was called Conservation Station from 1998 until October 2000. It is the only land not accessible from [[Pangani Forest Exploration TrailDiscovery Island]]. In order to get to Rafiki'''- On this 3/8 of a mile walking trail, s Planet Watch guests can observe some of must board the [[Wildlife Express Train]] which travels between [[Africa's most exotic animals. Okapis, meerkats, hippos, ]] and Western Lowland Gorillas can all be seen herethe Planet Watch.
Perhaps the most popular land in Disney'''s Animal Kingdom, Asia was not complete until 1999. Set in the township of Anandpur, the land is home to the popular [[Festival of the Lion KingKali River Rapids]]'''- This Broadway style show uses puppetry, song, dance and special effects to tell the story of Disney's The Lion King[[Expedition Everest]].
==Former Lands==
===Camp Minnie-Mickey===
==Fun Facts and TriviaDisney Genie +==[[Image:AnimalKingdomfastpass.jpg|350px|thumb|Flight of Passage and Na'vi River Journey in Disney's Animal Kingdom'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!]]| * [[The Animation Experience]]|* [[Festival of the Lion King]]|-||}
==Fun Facts and Trivia==*Two Micronesian Kingfisher chicks were hatched at Plastic straws, balloons, and cup lids are not used inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom, raising to protect the world population of these birds by 3 percentanimals from potential choking hazards <ref name= "guide"> http://www.guidetothemagic.com/animalkingdom/animalkingdom5.htm </ref>.
*Disney’s Animal Kingdom contains live plants from every continent on Earth except Antarctica.features 250 species and 1,0000 different animals <ref name= "trivia"/>
*There are over 61,000 costume pieces worn by Two Micronesian Kingfisher chicks were hatched at Disney’s Animal Kingdom cast members, raising the world population of these birds by 3 percent <ref name= "trivia"> http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_fact.htm </ref>.
*At over 500 acres, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is large enough to fit the Magic Kingdom , Epcot, and The Disney-MGM Studios in itcontains live plants from every continent on Earth except Antarctica <ref name= "trivia"/>.