Difference between pages "Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover" and "Disney's Animal Kingdom"

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{{Infobox Disney ride |
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{{Template:Infobox amusement park
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| image=TTAspeedway.jpg
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| image=TreeOfLifeday.jpg
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| caption='''The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover above the Tomorrowland Speedway.'''
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| caption='''The Tree of Life is the icon of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.'''
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| opened=July 1, 1975
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| theme=Animals, nature, conservation
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| duration=10.06
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| opening_date=April 22, 1998
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| land=Tomorrowland
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| icon=The Tree of Life
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| length=5280
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| guests_per_vehicle= 20
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| cars_per_vehicle= 5
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| guests_per_car= 4
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| park= Magic Kingdom
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| vehicle_type=PeopleMover
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| host=Mike Brassel
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|custom_label_2= FastPass +
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|custom_value_2= No
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}}
 
}}
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The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover is an attraction located in [[Tomorrowland]].
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Disney's Animal Kingdom is a theme park located in Walt Disney World.
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==Conception <ref name= "book"> Malmberg, Melody. The Making of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. New York: Hyperion, 1998. Print. </ref>==
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A theme park about animals was not high on Disney’s list of ideas, but surveys showed that Disney and animals tested well, and Disney had a lot of intellectual properties that showcased animals. Because of this, Michael Eisner sent the idea for an animal theme park to Imagineering. 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 syle pavilion, and a nontraditional zoo.
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[[Image:AnimalKingdomConcept.jpg|400px|thumb|Concept art for Disney's Animal Kingdom]]  
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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.  
  
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==History==
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In July 1990, Joe Rohde and his team flew to Africa to get first hand experience of the type of environment that they wished to create. In total, during the development of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Rohde and his Imagineers visited Africa six times. Using these trips as inspiration, the team eventually used much of their experience when creating [[Kilimanjaro Safaris]].
  
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=== Original Concept===
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As plans for the park continued to develop, Michael Eisner wondered if simply encountering animals would be a big enough draw for guests. To prove that this was not the case, Joe Rohde brought a 400 pound Bengal tiger into a meeting he was having with Eisner and Frank Wells. As Rohde gave his presentation, the tiger sauntered around the room. After feeling the effect of being so close to a tiger, Eisner and Wells relented and live animal encounters would be the focal point of Animal Kingdom.  
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Like many early Walt Disney World attractions, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover was based on a Disneyland attraction (simply known as the PeopleMover), which took guests on a leisurely tour around Tomorrowland. When Walt Disney and his Imagineers originally created the concept for the PeopleMover, they saw it as the transportation of the future. Walt thought that one day, PeopleMover would be the easiest and cleanest method of urban transportation <ref>http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/walt_disney_world's_magic_kingdom/tomorrowland_transit_authority_peoplemover </ref>. If fact, traveling by PeopleMover was going to be one of the main modes of transportation in his [[Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow]] <ref> https://sites.google.com/site/theoriginalepcot/the-florida-project </ref>.The trains that guests sit in on the attraction follow a guided track, and are made up of five cars, which each hold four passengers. Disneyland’s PeopleMover also used Goodyear tires, with their own motors to propel the trains along the tracks.  
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Although the technology never became as widespread as Walt might have hoped, in 1967 the WEDWay PeopleMover opened as an attraction in Disneyland. The attraction consisted of 62 trains which took guests on an elevated tour around Tomorrowland. Since the trains never stopped, guests stepped on a moving platform to align themselves with, and board the trains. Although the track was not covered, each of the individual cars were. Each of cars also had their own speakers, from which they could hear the rides narration. The attraction was often billed as the "Future of transportation, here today!" <ref> http://www.yesterland.com/peoplemover.html </ref>.
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During another meeting with Eisner and other executives, the Disney CEO told Imagineers that he wanted a DinoLand. Other ideas stemming from these meetings included the Oasis (which would serve as the entryway) Safari Village (the parks hub) and Discovery River. By 1992, the basic layout of the park was in place. Guests would enter through the Oasis before arriving at [[Safari Village]]. From there, guests could explore the park's other lands including DinoLand, [[Africa]], Asia, and the land dedicated to imaginary animals.  
  
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===Creation in Walt Disney World===
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Finally, after years of development on June 21, 1995 Disney’s Wild Animal Kingdom was officially announced. When discussing the new park, Michael Eisner stated:
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[[Image:PeopleMover1975.jpg|400px|thumb|The WEDWay PeopleMover in 1975. Photo Credit: Disney.]]
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Although the PeopleMover was opening day attraction, there were quickly plans to add the attraction to Disney World’s Tomorrowland. When the park opened in 1971, Tomorrowland was not yet complete, and as such there was a scarcity of attractions. To help finish the land, a version of the PeopleMover was constructed along with [[Space Mountain]]. The Disney World version of the attraction was named the WEDWay PeopleMover, and it opened on July 1, 1975. Instead of using GM tires as the Disneyland attraction did, the Walt Disney World version used linear induction motors (which were magnetically powered, and thus pollution free). Because the attraction no longer used GM tires however, General Motors decided not to sponsor the Florida version of the attraction. The WEDWay PeopleMover was instead sponsored by the Edison Electric Institute <ref> http://waltdatedworld.com/id219.htm </ref>. Another difference between the two attractions was that while the Disneyland PeopleMover featured ''covered cars with and uncovered track'', the Walt Disney World, WEDWay PeopleMover featured a ''covered track with uncovered cars''.
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The WEDWay PeopleMover, like its Disneyland counterpart, took guests on a tour around Tomorrowland. The original version of the attraction was narrated by Disney voice artist, Jack Wagner, who pointed out the various Tomorrowland attractions to guests. When it opened, the WEDWay PeopleMover originally passed through, or by: The Carousel of Progress, If You Had Winds, the Circle-Vision 360 Theater, Flight to the Moon, and Space Mountain. The attraction also drove over the Tomorrowland Speedway and under the Star Jets, where the loading and unloading station was located <ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2009/10/tta_tomorrowland_transit_autho.html </ref>.
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{{Quotation|“This is to the traditional zoo as the motion picture was to the stage play. A leap forward that keeps the concept of combining education and entertainment alive and well. The need for awareness of endangered animals and their environments has never been greater. We are in a unique position to promote deeper understanding and love for all animals."|Michael Eisner}}
  
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===Changes Since 1975===
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==Construction==
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Although the track and basic premise of the WEDWay PeopleMover have remained pretty much the same, the narration and the attraction name have changed quite frequently throughout its history. The original Jack Wagner narration was used from 1975 until 1985. During this time the only major change to the narration came when America the Beautiful closed, and Magic Carpet Around the World replaced it. In 1985, the rides narrator was changed to, ORAC-1 "The Commuter Computer". The new narration stuck mostly to the same script; however it was lighter in tone. While ORAC-1 was the narrator, Delta Dreamflight replaced If You Had Wings. Due to this change, the windows that once looked into If You Had Winds, no longer lined up with the attractions scenes. Because of this, the first window was replaced with panels depicting the attractions barnstormer scene. The second window which looked into Delta Dreamflight's  Parisian Excursion scene, however the angle ruined the forced perspective that the attraction used. The third window (the left one) would have had guests looking directly into a bright light, so it was covered with black fabric which blocked guests view. The only other major change to happen during ORAC-1's narration was the removal of the Magic Carpet Around the World in the Circle-Vision 360 Theater, and the addition of its replacement American Journeys <ref> http://waltdatedworld.com/id219.htm </ref> .
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Construction on Disney's Animal began in August of 1995. Like other Disney theme parks, Animal Kingdom was to be made up of various "lands". When designing the park, the lands in Disney's Animal Kingdom were going to be: The Oasis, Safari Village, Africa, Asia, Conservation Station, DinoLand USA and Beastly Kingdom. Through these lands Animal Kingdom was to represent three groups of animals: current living animals, extinct animals, and mythological animals.  
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[[Image:TreeofLifeConstruction3.jpg|400px|thumb|Disney's Animal Kingdom under construction]]
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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 parks 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 the fall of 1997 the animals were brought in to the park <ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2011/01/kilimanjaro_safaris_at_animal_1.html </ref>. 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-released. In total Animal Kingdom is home to over 1,700 animals.  
  
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In 1995, in order to correspond with the opening of the New Tomorrowland, the WEDWay PeopleMover went under a significant refurbishment. The original track which was white and very smooth looking was replaced with a darker, metallic looking track. A new narration was also added to the attraction, this time done by Pete Renaday. The new narration focused on Tomorrowland's new backstory, and made references to the fact that Tomorrowland was an intergalactic meeting place. Additions and changes during Pete Renaday's time as the narrator include:
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As construction continued, funds for the new park began to dwindle. Eventually it was decided that Animal Kingdom would have to open in three phases. The first phase would consist of The Oasis, [[Safari Village]], [[Africa]], [[Conservation Station]], and an unfinished [[Asia]]. Also included in phase one would be either [[DinoLand USA]] or Beastly Kingdomme <ref name= "jim"> http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2001/01/01/309.aspx </ref>. Disney eventually decided to build DinoLand USA, possibly due to the new movie “Dinosaur” that was to be released in 2000 <ref name= "jim"/>.
  
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* The Carousel of Progress being renamed Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress.  
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Phase II was planned to be the completion of Asia, along with the construction of Beastly Kingdom. Due to the park not being completed on opening day, Camp Minnie-Mickey, a place where guests could meet various Disney characters, was created as a temporary land. Camp Minnie-Mickey was to be essentially a place holder until Beastly Kingdom could be built <ref> http://www.yesterland.com/campmm.html </ref>.
  
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Like the other Disney parks, Imagineers knew that Disney's Animal Kingdom would need a "weenie" or icon to draw guests into the park.The first icon considered for the park was the Animal Carousel <ref name= "book"/>. This three tiered structure would have featured birds, animals and fish that guests could ride on as they went around the carousel. Michael Eisner eventually rejected this idea because he though it was "too frivolous"<ref name= "book"/>., and Imagineers came up with a new icon- The Tree of Life.
  
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* The addition of the Timekeeper narration in 1994. This narration was subsequently removed when the Timekeeper closed in 2006.
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Initially, Imagineers had a tough time figuring out how to create the massive icon <ref name= "tree"> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2012/06/tree_of_life_at_disneys_animal.html </ref>. The tree had to look authentic, while being able to withstand hurricane level winds<ref name= "tree"/> . On top of that, the tree would also have to house the attraction [[It's Tough to be a Bug!]] (the attraction was chosen over an earlier idea of having a restaurant inside the tree)<ref name= "tree"/> . Eventually however, Imagineers came up with a fairly simple solution.  
  
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[[Image:Epcotmodel2.jpg|400px|thumb|A model of Walt Disney's EPCOT can be seen on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. Photo credit: Disney]]
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First, they took the structure of an oil rig for the base<ref name= "tree"/> . 45 secondary branches were then added to the tree, followed by 756 tertiary branches and finally 891 end branches. The Tree was then covered with 102,583 man-made leaves. After the structure was complete,  20 artisans carved over 300 animals into the tree<ref name= "tree"/> . When the Tree of Life was completed it stood 145 feet tall and looked as if the animals themselves were making up the tree's trunk<ref name= "tree"/> .
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* A change in the narration so that the ride vehicle was referred to as the TTA Metroliner.
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==Opening Day==
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* A change in the narration when Delta Dreamflight became Take Flight! in 1996.
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Disney's Animal Kingdom 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 petals <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 45 minutes later the park itself was filled to capacity <ref name= "day"/>. The first official guests to Disney's Animal Kingdom were Brenda 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 passes. Unlike previous theme park openings, the event was not a star studded one although Michael J. Fox, Drew Carey, Stevie Wonder and David Copperfield did appear <ref> http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1998-04-20/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 dedication:
  
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{{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.|
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Michael Eisner <br> April 22, 1998}}
  
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* The addition of Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. With this addition, the window that once looked into Delta Dreamflight was covered with a diorama of an intergalactic hair salon.  
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==History After Opening Day==
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[[Image:ExpeditionEverestAtday.jpg|400px|thumb|Expedition Everest opened in 2006.]]
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Although relatively young compared to the other Disney Parks, Animal Kingdom has gone through several changes. 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 in Asia) closed with the opening of the new attractions <ref>http://waltdatedworld.com/id55.htm</ref>.  
  
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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> and Conservation Station became 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>.
  
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* The addition of a diorama depicting the fiction Red and Green lines. This diorama is located across from Progress City.  
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2001 also saw another expansion in 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 31, 2002, [[Primeval Whirl]] was added to the area <ref name= "d23"/>.  
  
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The next set of majorchanges came to Animal Kingdom in 2006. In DinoLand USA, Finding Nemo- the Musical replaced Tarzan Rocks, which had been there 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 roller 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).
  
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* A change in the narration so that Federal Express was removed as the sponsor of Space Mountain in 2004.  
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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>.  
  
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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>.
  
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In 2009 in conjunction with the Space Mountain refurbishment, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority was once again closed for refurbishment. Disney said that it was necessary to close the attraction, so that maintenance workers could work on Space Mountain. At this time, the attraction also received a new narration <ref> http://attractionsmagazine.com/video-ride-the-updated-tomorrowland-transit-authority-tta-at-the-magic-kingdom/ </ref>. The narration eliminated the New Tomorrowland backstory, and many of the in-jokes and references that came with it. New attractions such as [[Stitch's Great Escape!]] and the [[Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor]] were added to the narration. The narration is now done by Mike Brassell, who narrates the attraction in a much quieter and emotionless way. During the time that Mike Brassell has narrated the attraction; the only major change has been the re-addition of the famous Tom Morrow line, now located in [[Space Mountain]]. In the new narration the ride vehicle is referred to as Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover instead of the TTA Metroliner <ref> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6EnR8fxcs4 </ref>.
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On February 17, 2017, Rivers of Light, Disney's Animal Kingdom's 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 [[Flights of Passage]] and [[Na'vi River Journey]]
  
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In August 2010 the Tomorrowland Tranist Authority was renamed the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/tomorrowland-transit-authority/news/05aug2010-tomorrowland-transit-authority-renamed-to-the-'tomorrowland-transit-authority-peoplemover'.htm </ref>.  
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===Beastly Kingdomme===
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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 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 of a land based on Avatar it looks unlikely that Beastly Kingdomme will be built. Despite this, remnants of the planned Beastly Kingdom can still be found including:
  
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In 2014, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover was given a new red and orange paint scheme at Rockettower Plaza. <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/tomorrowland-transit-authority/news/06aug2014-photos---tomorrowland-transit-authority-peoplemover-reopens-with-new-color-scheme.htm </ref>
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*The parking lot contains a section named "Unicorn" <ref> http://www.yesterland.com/avatarkingdom.html </ref>.
  
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==Attraction Plot==
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*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>.
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The plot of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority revolves around guests taking a tour of Tomorrowland. Originally, this involved pointing out the various attractions located in the land. With the creation of the New Tomorrowland in 1994, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority also told the backstory of “New Tomorrowland” and the narration became more creative. Since the 2009 refurbishment the attraction has gone back to being a simple tour of Tomorrowland.
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===WEDWay PeopleMover Plot (1975-1994)===
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*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
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[[Image:ttaposter.jpg|thumb|400px|The original WEDWay PeopleMover poster.]]
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On the WEDWay PeopleMover, guests would board their trains from the moving platform. The narrator would then welcome guests, on behalf of the Edison Electric Institute.  After leaving the loading area, the PeopleMover would head towards [[Mission to Mars]]. The narrator would point out the attraction, and also mention that across the way, guests could see [[America the Beautiful]]. This part of the attraction was changed when America the Beautiful became [[Magic Carpet Around the World]] and then again when American Journey's replaced that. After passing Mission to Mars, the trains would enter a tunnel, where guests could see the model for [[Progress City]]. The narrator would tell guests that this was a preview of the future, in the City of Tomorrow. After exiting the tunnel, the PeopleMover passed over the [[Grand Prix Raceway]]. After pointing the attraction out, the narrator would also tell guests that [[Space Mountain]] was ahead. After the train went into Space Mountain, the narrator drew guest’s attention to RCA's Home of Future Living, which was located in the post-show, as PeopleMover riders could get an excellent view of some of Space Mountain’s post-show scenes. The narrator would also remind guests that they did not have to ride Space Mountain to see the Home of Future Living.  
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As the trains left Space Mountain, the narrator pointed out the [[Skyway]] which hung above guests. He also informed them that there were "no moving parts in (the PeopleMover's) clean, quiet motor". The narrator also told guests that across the way, they could see the Contemporary Resort, and the monorail that ran through it. After seeing the hotel, riders would move past the [[Carousel of Progress]]. As they did, the narrator would inform them about some of the history behind the attraction, including its introduction at the 1964 World's Fair. As the PeopleMover continued on, it would enter a tunnel which ran alongside [[If You Had Wings]]. Originally, when passing through this tunnel guests could look down into the attraction, through three windows. The first window showed the Trinidad scene, the second window the Jamaica scene, and the third window the Mexico scene. As the PeopleMover went through the tunnel, the If You Had Wings theme song would play. After If You Had Wings was replaced by Delta Dreamflight, the left window was covered, leaving only the two right windows.  
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*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"/>.
  
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After exiting the tunnel, the narrator would tell guests that in the distance, they could see Cinderella's Castle. He would also mention that they could dine at King Stefan's Banquet Hall, which was located inside the castle. After this, the PeopleMover would arrive back at the loading station and the narrator would then thank guests saying:
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==Backstory==
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According to The World According to Jack the backstory for Disney's Animal Kingdom states
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{{Quotation|'Once upon a time, no vegetation would grow on Discovery Island. There were no trees, no shrubs, no flowers, nothing. It was a barren piece of land. Then, one day, a tiny ant planted a seed and made a wish. He asked for a tree to grow – a tree large enough to provide shelter for all the animals. Magically, the ant’s wish came true and a tree began to grow -- and it kept growing until there was room beneath its limbs for all the animals from A (ants) to Z (zebras). And as the tree continued to reach for the heavens, the images of all the animals that took shelter beneath its shade appeared on its trunk, roots, and branches.<ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2012/06/tree_of_life_at_disneys_animal.html </ref>}}
  
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{{Quotation| “Now as we approach the PeopleMover station, our Grand Circle tour of Tomorrowland is coming to an end, but not to a stop, aboard this transportation system that never stops. On behalf of the Edison Electric Institute for your electric company, we hope you've enjoyed your trip aboard this electric transportation system of tomorrow, here today."}}
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==Current Lands==
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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 '''Click Here'''.]
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===Oasis===
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Located at the front of the park, the Oasis is the first land that guests encounter. Guest services and the Rain Forest Cafe are located here. The Oasis leads to the park's hub, “Discovery Island”.
  
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If you want to read the script for the WEDWay PeopleMover check out: http://waltdatedworld.com/id219.htm
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'''[[Oasis Exhibits]]'''- This walking trail allows guests to see many animals including: the giant anteater, wallabies, exotic boar and more.
  
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===The Tomorrowland Transit Authority (1994-2009)===
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===[[Discovery Island]]===
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[[Image:Redline.jpg|400px|thumb|A glimpse of the Red Line can be seen inside the Interplanetary Convention Center.]]
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Main Article: [[Discovery Island]]
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The WEDWay PeopleMover was refurbished in 1994, as part of the New Tomorrowland. When the attraction re-opened it was renamed the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, and Pete Renaday took over as the narrator. The attraction now focused on the New Tomorrowland backstory, and included a much more creative narration.
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Beginning in 1994, The Tomorrowland Transit Authorities’ vehicles were called Metroliners, and the attraction was narrated by an announcer in TTA Central. In conjunction with the New Tomorrowland backstory, the Metroliners were referred to as one of the many possible methods of transportation in Tomorrowland. According to the backstory there were also three different "lines" of Metroliners, which were:
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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!]] attraction.
  
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*The Blue Line, which was what guests were currently riding on. The line was an elevated train system that ran throughout Tomorrowland.
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===[[Africa]]===
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Main Article: [[Africa]]
  
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*The Red Line, which was the transportation system that would take riders "off planet". This was the line that Tomorrowland residents could take to anywhere in the galaxy.  
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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.  
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[[Image:AnimalKingdomGuideMap2017.png|thumb|350px|The 2017 Animal Kingdom map (click to enlarge)]]
  
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*The Green Line, which was a line that would take guests to the "Hover-Burbs", Tomorrowland's suburbs.
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===[[Rafiki's Planet Watch]]===
 +
Main Article: [[Rafiki's Planet Watch]]
  
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Although the Red and Green lines were referenced, guests could only see glimpses of the two rides. Inside the Interplanetary Convention Center, the three lines would intersect and guests could see stationary dioramas of both the Red and Green Lines.  
+
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.
  
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Although the Blue Line narration referenced many stations, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority consisted of a round-trip ride to Rockettower Plaza. Guest's boarded the attraction underneath the Astro Orbiter, and the TTA announcer welcomed them to the TTA Blue line. He then explained to guests that they were about to take a round-trip tour to Rockettower Plaza, aboard "Tomorrowland's Super Skyway!".
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===[[Asia]]===
 +
Main Article: [[Asia]]
  
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The first sight that the TTA passed was the Interplanetary Convention Center. On their left, guests could see the model of Progress City. The narrator informed guest's that the model was sponsored by the Tomorrowland Metro Retro Historical Society. On the rider’s right, they could see a scene that depicted both the Red and Green lines. As the Metroliner continued on, it would pass through a tunnel which overlooked Mickey's Star Traders. Here the narration told guests that "For your convenience, the ground crew will be glad to rocket 'ship' you to any planet in the galaxy".  After emerging from the tunnel guests would pass over the Tomorrowland Speedway. Here Mr. Johnson gave the Tomorrowland traffic report. He would always remark that, "As usual the traffic was always perfect on Tomorrowland super-highways".  
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Perhaps the most popular land in Disney's Animal Kingdom, Asia was not complete until 1999. Set in the township of Anandpur, Asia is home to the popular [[Kali River Rapids]] and [[Expedition Everest]].
  
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The narrator would then announce that the Metroliner was approaching Space Mountain. As the Metroliner entered the building, the narrator informed them that Space Mountain was Tomorrowland's gateway to the galaxy (from 1994-2004, he would also mention that it was sponsored by Federal Express). Inside Space Mountain, guests could look down into the pre and post show scenes. It was also possible to see the Space Mountain trains fly by, in the dark. A dispatcher from Space Mountain would announce:
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===[[DinoLand USA]]===
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Main Article: [[DinoLand USA]]
  
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{{Quotation| "Greetings from Space Mountain dispatch. High-speed rockets are now boarding to blast off to all intergalactic destinations. Departures out of space every few seconds from all launch areas"}}
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DinoLand USA is home to the [[Dino Institute]], which allows guests to travel back in time and come face to face with dinosaurs. In 2001 the land was expanded to include Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama. This new area is themed like a roadside attraction which was built to capitalize on the success of the nearby institute.
  
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After exiting Space Mountain the narrator would say, "As you can see, Space Mountain makes ordinary space travel an adventure. Another fine service provided by the Tomorrowland Transit Authority.". While riding on the track, just outside of Space Mountain, riders would often pass other Metroliners going into the attraction. The trains would run within an arm's length of each other. A female would then begin talking, saying "All visitors from Galaxy M31, please keep forward facing tentacles clear of oncoming Metroliner vehicles (a tongue-in-cheek safety announcement).
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===[[Pandora- The World of Avatar]]===
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Main Article: [[Pandora- The World of Avatar]]
  
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As the TTA moved forward, guests could see the Astro Orbiter in the distance. The Narrator would then inform guests that:
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Pandora – The World of Avatar transports guests to the land of James Cameron's Avatar. On Pandora guests can travel on the Na'vi River Journey attraction, or take flight on a Banshee on Flight of Passage. Pandora – The World of Avatar was constructed on the land formally occupied by [[Camp Minnie-Mickey]].
  
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{{Quotation|"The center of piece of Rockettower Plaza is the League of Planets Astro Orbiter. This symbol of universal harmony and inter-planetary fellowship provides all beings with an exhilarating spin around the planets."}}
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==Former Lands==
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===Camp Minnie-Mickey===
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Initially intended to be a temporary land, Camp Minnie-Mickey was located where Beastly Kingdom was originally supposed to be built. Here, 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 Avatar. Following Camp Minnie-Mickey's closure, Festival of the Lion King was relocated to the Africa section of the park.
  
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The female voice then reminded guests that the "TTA services all of Tomorrowland's outlying areas, including the personal rocket ship docking lot, and of course Perfect Park Acres, the latest in Hover-Burb Communities". She would then utter the attractions signature line:
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==Fun Facts and Trivia==
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[[Image:blueline.jpg|400px|thumb|The Tomorrowland Transit Authority logo from 1994-2009.]]
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*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>.
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{{Quotation|"Paging Mr. Morrow, Mr. Tom Morrow, your party from Saturn has arrived.}}
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The Metroliner then reached the Carousel of Progress, which the narrator pointed out to guests. After passing the Carousel, the TTA drove through a tunnel which was located next to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. Here, the narrator told guests that they could join Buzz and help stop the Evil Emperor Zurg. If guests looked to their right, they would see two windows. The first showed a diorama of the Inter Stellar Hair Salon. The second window allowed guests to look down into the Robot Attack scene of the attraction.
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* Animal Kingdom features 250 species and 1,0000 different animals <ref name= "trivia"/>
  
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From 1994 until 2005, when the TTA came out of the tunnel the narrator would announce that the TTA was" Now Approaching Metropolis Science Center". He would then continue:
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*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>.
  
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{{Quotation|"Be here today at Metropolis Science Center is the greatest invention of all time. A Time Machine! Be sure and stop by to meet the inventor, the Timekeeper. He'd Love to take the time, to take you through time!"}}
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*Disney’s Animal Kingdom contains live plants from every continent on Earth except Antarctica <ref name= "trivia"/>.
  
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This announcement was a reference to the [[Timekeeper]] attraction, which operated in Tomorrowland from 1994 until 2004. Following this announcement The Metroliner would then come back around to Rockettower Plaza, where the narrator would give one final line:
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*There are over 61,000 costume pieces worn by Animal Kingdom cast members.  
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{{Quotation|"Welcome back to Rockettower Plaza at the heart of Tomorrowland. Come now, re-join us, and believe in the promise of tomorrow!"}}
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===The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover (2009-Present)===
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In 2009, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority was closed for renovations. Originally, it was stated that the ride was closing to facilitate the 2009 Space Mountain rehab. To the surprise of many however, when the TTA re-opened it had a brand new narration. This time the narrator was Mike Brassell, who delivered the narration in a much quieter and emotionless tone. The new narration eliminated all of the references to the New Tomorrowland and its backstory. Instead of having a plot, the attraction once again served as a simple tour around Tomorrowland, referencing all of the land's attractions as guests passed by. Attractions such as the [[Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor]] and [[Stitch's Great Escape]] which had not previously been mention on the TTA, were now included in the narration. Another new feature of the narration was the addition of characters. Buzz Lightyear, Stitch, Mickey, and Roz (from Monsters Inc.) now have speaking lines within the narration. During the renovation, the ride vehicle’s names were once gain changed and are now referred to as the PeopleMover (again) as opposed to the Metroliner.  When the attraction re-opened, it was also renamed the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover.
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[[Image:TTAnewentrancesiebyside.jpg|500px|thumb|The TTA entrance sign (left) and the new Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover sign (right)]]
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The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover begins with the narrator telling guests to sit back and relax. He tells them that they will see many of the attractions that they may want to visit later in the day. He also explains that the PeopleMover is the perfect vehicle to people watch from. After leaving the station, the train rolls above Stitch's Great Escape. Here, the narrator tells guests that they can report for duty for the Galactic Federation, to try to keep Stitch under control. Guests then here Stitch taunting them saying, "I don't think so!"
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After passing Stitch's Great Escape, guests enter the tunnel where Progress City is held. The narrator tells them that the model was inspired by Walt's ideas for the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. To their right, guests can still see the intersection of the Red and Green lines (from the old TTA backstory). This seems to simply be a remnant of the old TTA, as the lines are never mentioned in the new narration. After going past Progress City, the PeopleMover rolls through another tunnel, past Mickey's Star Traders. The narrator then tells guests that Mickey's Star Traders has the greatest goods in the galaxy. Mickey then agrees saying, "That's right it's out of this world!" As guests emerge from the tunnel, they can see the Tomorrowland Speedway below. The narrator invites guests to try the attraction and "race to the checkered flag".
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After passing the Speedway, the PeopleMover enters Space Mountain. Here, the narrator then tells guests:
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{{Quotation|"We're now entering one of the real wonders of our world: Space Mountain. Blast off on a high speed rocket adventure and convene to the cosmos."}}
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Inside Space Mountain also allows guests to hear a slightly altered version of the famous Tom Morrow line. A female voice now is heard saying,
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{{Quotation|"Paging Mr. Morrow, Mr. Tom Morrow, please contact Mr. Johnson in the control tower to confirm your [[Flight to the Moon]].}}
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Both Tom Morrow and Mr. Johnson are references to the defunct Tomorrowland attraction Flight to the Moon and its predecessor [[Mission to Mars]]. While inside Space Mountain, guests are also able to hear the attractions new soundtrack and see part of the new postshow. As they are exiting the tunnel, the narrator reminds them to, "Be sure to visit Space Mountain for an adventure that's out of this world!”  Continuing on, the PeopleMover once again travels over the Tomorrowland Speedway and guests are able to see the Astro Orbiter in the distance. The narrator informs them that, "For a different high-flying adventure take a spin around the Astro Orbiter".
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After passing the Astro Orbiter, the train runs alongside Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress. As the train moves by, the narrator explains the basic premise, and the history of the attraction. He tells guests that the show celebrates progress, and encourages guests to remember that there is always a "Great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day." After leaving the Carousel, the PeopleMover arrives at Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. Once again, guests can look through the right windows to see both the Inter Stellar Hair Salon, and the attraction itself. As guests are looking down into the attraction, Buzz Lightyear can be head over the speakers, inviting them to report to their Space Cruiser, and help him stop the evil Emperor Zurg. The trains then pass by the final Tomorrowland attraction, the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. Here Roz tells them to "keep it moving.” The PeopleMover then arrives back at Rockettower Plaza where the narrator tells them that although this is then end of their tour, the PeopleMover itself never stops.
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==See the Attraction!==
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If you want to see the current version of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover check out:
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{{#ev:youtube|j6EnR8fxcs4|420}}
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==Cast==
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'''Narrator (1975-1985)'''- Jack Wagner
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'''Narrator (1985-1994)'''- ORAC-1 "The Commuter Computer"
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'''Narrator (1994-2009)'''- Pete Renaday
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'''Narrator (2009-Present)'''- Mike Brassell
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==Fun Facts and Trivia==
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* 20% of the magnets on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover can fail, and the attraction will still run properly<ref> http://www.hiddenmickeys.org/wdw/magickingdom/secrets/tl/TTA.html</ref>.  
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*At over 500 acres, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is large enough to fit the [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Epcot]], and [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]] inside of it <ref name= "guide"/>.
  
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* The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover travels at a speed of about 10 feet per second.
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*In the early 2000s Disney promoted Animal Kingdom with the phrase NăHTăZū!(pronounced "not a zoo") <ref> https://www.mouseplanet.com/10581/Its_Nahtazu </ref>.
  
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* In the loading and unloading area however the trains travel at 2.7 feet per second.
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*Disney’s Animal Kingdom features the largest groups of Nile hippos and African elephants in North America <ref name= "trivia"/>.
  
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* On the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, guests can hear the current voice of Mickey Mouse, Bret Iwan <ref> https://www.amourdart.com/biography-iwan-bret.html </ref>.
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* There are 27 million gallons of water in Discovery River <ref name= "trivia"/>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 16:23, 3 June 2018

Disney's Animal Kingdom
TreeOfLifeday.jpg
The Tree of Life is the icon of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Theme Animals, nature, conservation
Opened April 22, 1998
Icon The Tree of Life

Disney's Animal Kingdom is a theme park located in Walt Disney World.

Conception [1]

A theme park about animals was not high on Disney’s list of ideas, but surveys showed that Disney and animals tested well, and Disney had a lot of intellectual properties that showcased animals. Because of this, Michael Eisner sent the idea for an animal theme park to Imagineering. 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 syle pavilion, and a nontraditional zoo.

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.

In July 1990, Joe Rohde and his team flew to Africa to get first hand experience of the type of environment that they wished to create. In total, during the development of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Rohde and his Imagineers visited Africa six times. Using these trips as inspiration, the team eventually used much of their experience when creating Kilimanjaro Safaris.

As plans for the park continued to develop, Michael Eisner wondered if simply encountering animals would be a big enough draw for guests. To prove that this was not the case, Joe Rohde brought a 400 pound Bengal tiger into a meeting he was having with Eisner and Frank Wells. As Rohde gave his presentation, the tiger sauntered around the room. After feeling the effect of being so close to a tiger, Eisner and Wells relented and live animal encounters would be the focal point of Animal Kingdom.

During another meeting with Eisner and other executives, the Disney CEO told Imagineers that he wanted a DinoLand. Other ideas stemming from these meetings included the Oasis (which would serve as the entryway) Safari Village (the parks hub) and Discovery River. By 1992, the basic layout of the park was in place. Guests would enter through the Oasis before arriving at Safari Village. From there, guests could explore the park's other lands including DinoLand, Africa, Asia, and the land dedicated to imaginary animals.

Finally, after years of development on June 21, 1995 Disney’s Wild Animal Kingdom was officially announced. When discussing the new park, Michael Eisner stated:

“This is to the traditional zoo as the motion picture was to the stage play. A leap forward that keeps the concept of combining education and entertainment alive and well. The need for awareness of endangered animals and their environments has never been greater. We are in a unique position to promote deeper understanding and love for all animals."

— Michael Eisner

Construction

Construction on Disney's Animal began in August of 1995. Like other Disney theme parks, Animal Kingdom was to be made up of various "lands". When designing the park, the lands in Disney's Animal Kingdom were going to be: The Oasis, Safari Village, Africa, Asia, Conservation Station, DinoLand USA and Beastly Kingdom. Through these lands Animal Kingdom was to represent three groups of animals: current living animals, extinct animals, and mythological animals.

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 parks construction [2]. 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 [3]. This deadline was met, and the fall of 1997 the animals were brought in to the park [4]. 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-released. In total Animal Kingdom is home to over 1,700 animals.

As construction continued, funds for the new park began to dwindle. Eventually it was decided that Animal Kingdom would have to open in three phases. The first phase would consist of The Oasis, Safari Village, Africa, Conservation Station, and an unfinished Asia. Also included in phase one would be either DinoLand USA or Beastly Kingdomme [5]. Disney eventually decided to build DinoLand USA, possibly due to the new movie “Dinosaur” that was to be released in 2000 [5].

Phase II was planned to be the completion of Asia, along with the construction of Beastly Kingdom. Due to the park not being completed on opening day, Camp Minnie-Mickey, a place where guests could meet various Disney characters, was created as a temporary land. Camp Minnie-Mickey was to be essentially a place holder until Beastly Kingdom could be built [6].

Like the other Disney parks, Imagineers knew that Disney's Animal Kingdom would need a "weenie" or icon to draw guests into the park.The first icon considered for the park was the Animal Carousel [1]. This three tiered structure would have featured birds, animals and fish that guests could ride on as they went around the carousel. Michael Eisner eventually rejected this idea because he though it was "too frivolous"[1]., and Imagineers came up with a new icon- The Tree of Life.

Initially, Imagineers had a tough time figuring out how to create the massive icon [7]. The tree had to look authentic, while being able to withstand hurricane level winds[7] . On top of that, the tree would also have to house the attraction It's Tough to be a Bug! (the attraction was chosen over an earlier idea of having a restaurant inside the tree)[7] . Eventually however, Imagineers came up with a fairly simple solution.

First, they took the structure of an oil rig for the base[7] . 45 secondary branches were then added to the tree, followed by 756 tertiary branches and finally 891 end branches. The Tree was then covered with 102,583 man-made leaves. After the structure was complete, 20 artisans carved over 300 animals into the tree[7] . When the Tree of Life was completed it stood 145 feet tall and looked as if the animals themselves were making up the tree's trunk[7] .

Opening Day

Disney's Animal Kingdom 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 petals [8]. A half hour after the park had opened; the parking lot was filled to capacity, while 45 minutes later the park itself was filled to capacity [9]. The first official guests to Disney's Animal Kingdom were Brenda Herr, her husband Damon Chepren, and their son Devon [9]. They were greeted by Roy E. Disney and given lifetime passes. Unlike previous theme park openings, the event was not a star studded one although Michael J. Fox, Drew Carey, Stevie Wonder and David Copperfield did appear [10]. Some 5,000 reporters were also on hand as Disney CEO Michael Eisner read the park’s dedication:

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
April 22, 1998

History After Opening Day

Expedition Everest opened in 2006.

Although relatively young compared to the other Disney Parks, Animal Kingdom has gone through several changes. The first major expansion of the park came in 1999 when Asia was finally completed [11].Added at this time were the popular attractions Maharajah Jungle Trek [12] and the Kali River Rapids. The Discovery River Boats (which were located in Asia) closed with the opening of the new attractions [13].

In 2000 and 2001 many of Animal Kingdom's lands were renamed. The former Safari Village became Discovery Island [14] and Conservation Station became Rafiki's Planet Watch [15]. 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 [16].

2001 also saw another expansion in 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 [17]. The following year on March 31, 2002, Primeval Whirl was added to the area [17].

The next set of majorchanges came to Animal Kingdom in 2006. In DinoLand USA, Finding Nemo- the Musical replaced Tarzan Rocks, which had been there since 1999 [18]. Also in 2006, the “E-Ticket” roller coaster Expedition Everest was built in Asia. The attraction is a roller 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” [19]. Following the land's closure the Festival of the Lion King attraction was relocated to a new section of Africa called “New Harambe” [20]. 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 [21].

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. [22].

On February 17, 2017, Rivers of Light, Disney's Animal Kingdom's nighttime show, opened to guests [23]. Finally on May 27, 2017, Pandora- The World of Avatar opened to guests [24]. Based on the 2009 James Cameron film, Pandora- The World of Avatar transports guests to the planet Pandora and features the attractions Flights of Passage and Na'vi River Journey

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 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 of a land based on Avatar it looks 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" [25].
  • A detailed dragonhead statue sits atop one of the ticket booths at the park's entrance [26].
  • 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 [27]. 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 [27].

Backstory

According to The World According to Jack the backstory for Disney's Animal Kingdom states

'Once upon a time, no vegetation would grow on Discovery Island. There were no trees, no shrubs, no flowers, nothing. It was a barren piece of land. Then, one day, a tiny ant planted a seed and made a wish. He asked for a tree to grow – a tree large enough to provide shelter for all the animals. Magically, the ant’s wish came true and a tree began to grow -- and it kept growing until there was room beneath its limbs for all the animals from A (ants) to Z (zebras). And as the tree continued to reach for the heavens, the images of all the animals that took shelter beneath its shade appeared on its trunk, roots, and branches.[28]

Current Lands

To see the current Animal Kingdom map Click Here.

Oasis

Located at the front of the park, the Oasis is the first land that guests encounter. Guest 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

Main Article: 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! attraction.

Africa

Main Article: Africa

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.

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

Main Article: Asia

Perhaps the most popular land in Disney's Animal Kingdom, Asia was not complete until 1999. Set in the township of Anandpur, Asia is home to the popular Kali River Rapids and Expedition Everest.

DinoLand USA

Main Article: DinoLand USA

DinoLand USA is home to the Dino Institute, which allows guests to travel back in time and come face to face with dinosaurs. In 2001 the land was expanded to include Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama. This new area is themed like a roadside attraction which was built to capitalize on the success of the nearby institute.

Pandora- The World of Avatar

Main Article: Pandora- The World of Avatar

Pandora – The World of Avatar transports guests to the land of James Cameron's Avatar. On Pandora guests can travel on the Na'vi River Journey attraction, or take flight on a Banshee on Flight of Passage. Pandora – The World of Avatar was constructed on the land formally occupied by Camp Minnie-Mickey.

Former Lands

Camp Minnie-Mickey

Initially intended to be a temporary land, Camp Minnie-Mickey was located where Beastly Kingdom was originally supposed to be built. Here, 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 Avatar. Following Camp Minnie-Mickey's closure, Festival of the Lion King was relocated to the Africa section of the park.

Fun Facts and Trivia

  • Straws, balloons and cup lids are not used inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom to protect the animals from potential choking hazards [29].
  • Animal Kingdom features 250 species and 1,0000 different animals [2]
  • Two Micronesian Kingfisher chicks were hatched at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, raising the world population of these birds by 3 percent [2].
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom contains live plants from every continent on Earth except Antarctica [2].
  • There are over 61,000 costume pieces worn by Animal Kingdom cast members.
  • In the early 2000s Disney promoted Animal Kingdom with the phrase NăHTăZū!(pronounced "not a zoo") [30].
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom features the largest groups of Nile hippos and African elephants in North America [2].
  • There are 27 million gallons of water in Discovery River [2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Malmberg, Melody. The Making of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. New York: Hyperion, 1998. Print.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_fact.htm
  3. ↑ http://allears.net/ae/issue863.htm
  4. ↑ http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2011/01/kilimanjaro_safaris_at_animal_1.html
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2001/01/01/309.aspx
  6. ↑ http://www.yesterland.com/campmm.html
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2012/06/tree_of_life_at_disneys_animal.html
  8. ↑ http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_opn.htm
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/apr22.html
  10. ↑ http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1998-04-20/news/9804190408_1_walt-disney-animal-kingdom-disney-theme
  11. ↑ http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_asia.htm
  12. ↑ https://touringplans.com/animal-kingdom/attractions/maharajah-jungle-trek
  13. ↑ http://waltdatedworld.com/id55.htm
  14. ↑ http://waltdatedworld.com/id131.htm
  15. ↑ http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2009/07/rafikis_planet_watch_the_forgo.html
  16. ↑ https://www.mouseplanet.com/10881/Remembering_the_Magic_Countdown_To_Extinction__DINOSAUR
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 https://d23.com/a-to-z/chester-hesters/
  18. ↑ http://allears.net/tp/ak/nemo.htm
  19. ↑ https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Festival+of+Lion+King+closed+Avatar
  20. ↑ https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/07/a-new-home-for-festival-of-the-lion-king-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/
  21. ↑ https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/04/fun-new-tastes-at-harambe-market-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/
  22. ↑ https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/04/update-on-nighttime-experiences-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/
  23. ↑ https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/02/rivers-of-light-officially-opens-february-17-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/
  24. ↑ https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/02/just-announced-pandora-the-world-of-avatar-will-open-may-27-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/
  25. ↑ http://www.yesterland.com/avatarkingdom.html
  26. ↑ http://www.wdwinfo.com/columns/walt-disney-world-never-built.cfm
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2004/10/19/479.aspx
  28. ↑ http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2012/06/tree_of_life_at_disneys_animal.html
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 http://www.guidetothemagic.com/animalkingdom/animalkingdom5.htm
  30. ↑ https://www.mouseplanet.com/10581/Its_Nahtazu
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