Difference between revisions of "Disney's Animal Kingdom"

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Disney's Animal Kingdom is a theme park located in [[Walt Disney World]]
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{{Template:Infobox amusement park
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==Coneption==
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| image=TreeOfLifeday.jpg
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| caption='''The Tree of Life, the icon of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.'''
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| theme=Animals, nature, conservation
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| opening_date=April 22, 1998
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| icon=The Tree of Life
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}}
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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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Although the plans for Disney's Animal Kingdom in 1989, the idea of the park can be traced back to Walt Disney himself. When designing the attraction the [[Jungle Cruise]] for Disneyland, Walt wanted guests to see real animals. Walt felt that being close proximity to real animals would give guests a unique and exciting experience.  Eventually however, it was decided that real animals would be too unpredictable and each ride on the attraction would not get an even experience.When the Jungle Cruise opened it featured Audio Anamatronic animals, who were much more predictable and consistent than live ones. Although Walt never got to see it, Disney's Animal Kingdom took his basic idea and expanded it to a much larger scale.
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The genesis of Disney's Animal Kingdom began when Disney noted that the idea of an animal theme park 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 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 style 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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When Walt Disney World was ready to expanded again in 1989, Michael Eisner (the CEO of Disney) tasked his Imageneers with creating a theme park based on animals. In 1990 a team of Imageneers led by Joe Rohde began brainstorming different ideas for the park. In 1992 the park layout was finally adopted. It was decided that the park would be part zoo and part theme park. The idea for a new animal theme park, was put on hold during the early 1990s. A recession had hit the country, and theme parks were hit hard. Also complicating matters, Disney's newest park-Disneyland Paris, was not doing as well as expected. However in 1994 with the economy picking up, and the recent success of the Disney movie The Lion King, plans for a new theme park were once again put in motion. From 1992-1995 Disney Imageneers studied wild animals in their natural habit (focusing on Africa).
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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 recalled many of their experiences when creating [[Kilimanjaro Safaris]].  
  
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Within Disney however,  their was much debate on whether the new park was a good idea. Many worried that the public would not want to visit a zoo when on vacation. Besides the fact that there were zoos all over the country, Disney worried that people thought of zoos as a depressing place with caged animals. Joe Rohde and his Imageneers however, believed in their idea. They explained that the animals would be living in a re-creation of their natural habitat. Their would be no fences, but natural boundaries (such as moats or rocks) that the animals would not cross.  Animal Kingdom would not be a zoo, but a place of conservation, that taught guests the importance of nature.
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As plans for the park continued to develop, Michael Eisner and Frank Wells wondered if simply encountering animals would be a big enough draw for guests. To prove that this was 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 Disney's Animal Kingdom.  
  
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Although the idea of the park was eventually seen as feasible, Michael Eisner and other executives worried that simply seeing animals would not be exciting enough for guests. Joe Rohde and his Imageneers however felt, like Walt Disney, that being in such close proximity to wild animals would be thrilling to guests. To prove his point, Joe brought a 400 pound tiger into a meeting. While he was giving a speech, to persuade the company to build the park, the Tiger walked around the table. The tiger went right next to Michael Eisner before eventually exiting the room. After the demonstration Eisner had to agree with Joe Rohde. He announced the park in June of 1995 and Disney's Animal Kingdom was green lit for construction.
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During another meeting with Eisner and other executives, the Disney CEO told Imagineers that he wanted a [[DinoLand]] in the new park. 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 USA]], [[Africa]], [[Asia]], and a land dedicated to imaginary animals called Beastly Kingdomme.  
  
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==Construction==
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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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Construction on Disney's Animal Kingdom began in August of 1995. Like other Disney theme parks, Animal Kingdom was made of of various "lands". 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 supposed to represent, three groups of animals, Current living animals, extinct animals, and mythological animals.  
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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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Animal Kingdom cost nearly 1 billion dollars to built. Four million cubic yards of dirt were moved and 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 the construction team had until the Spring of 1996 to get all the plants in place. This deadline was met, and the fall of 1997 the animals were brought in. The animals were brought in 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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==Construction==
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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 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.  
  
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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 in phase one would be Dinoland USA or Beastly Kingdom. Disney eventually decided to build Dinoland USA, possibly due to the new Dinosaur movie that would be coming out in 2000. Phase II would be the completion, with Phase III being 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. Besides the lands, the park would feature the Kilimanjaro Safari which would allow guests to see the animals in a natural way, as if they were on Safari.  
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As construction on Disney's Animal Kingdom 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 I 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 set to be released in 2000 <ref name= "jim"/>.
  
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Like the other Disney Parks, Animal Kingdom also as an "icon"-The Tree of Life. The tree of life stands 145 feet tall and is made of mostly steel. Imageneers had a hard time figuring out how to make the tree look authentic, while being able to withstand hurricane winds. On top of all that, the tree would also have to house the 3D attraction It's Tough To Be A Bug. The solution they came up with was actually fairly simple. First they took the structure of an oil rig for the base. 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.
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Phase II of Animal Kingdom was 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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Although the tree itself would have been enough Disney took it a step further. 20 artisans carved over 300 animals into the tree. When the Tree of Life was completed it looked as if the animals themselves were making up the tree. Construction on Disney's Animal Kingdom finished in the Spring of 1998 and opened April 22, 1998. When completed Animal Kingdom was an astonishing 500 acres.
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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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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 show was chosen over an earlier idea of having a restaurant inside the icon) <ref name= "tree"/>. Eventually however, Imagineers came up with a fairly simple solution. First, they took the structure of an oil rig for the base<ref name= "tree"/>. Next, 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 structure's branches and trunk<ref name= "tree"/>. When the Tree of Life was completed, it stood 145 feet tall <ref name= "tree"/>.
  
 
==Opening Day==
 
==Opening Day==
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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 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, and 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 to Walt Disney World. Unlike previous theme park openings, the Grand Opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom was not a star studded affair, 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 Michael Eisner read the park's dedication:
  
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Disney's Animal Kingdom  opened on Earth Day 1998 (April 22). 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 pedals. A half hour after the park had opened, the parking lot was filled to capacity. 45 minutes later, the park was filled to capacity. The first offical guests to Disney's Animal Kingdom were the Werikhas family. They were greeted by Roy E Disney and given lifetime passes. Unlike previous theme park openings, the event was not a star studded one.However, Drew Carey did make an appearance in Camp Minnie Mickey to film a television clip for ABC. Some 5,000 reporters were also on hand as Michael Eisner the CEO of Disney read the 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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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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==History After Opening Day==
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—Michael Eisner April 22, 1998
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[[Image:ExpeditionEverest3.jpg|400px|thumb|Expedition Everest opened in the Asia section of Disney's Animal Kingdom in 2006.]]
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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>.  
  
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Animal Kingdom opened without many problems, however Countdown to Extinction did break down for over an hour. Overall the grand opening was a success.  
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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>, while [[Conservation Station]] was renamed [[Rafiki's Planet Watch]] <ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2009/07/rafikis_planet_watch_the_forgo.html </ref>. The change in name to Discovery Island coincided with the closing of the Discovery Island attraction on Bay Lake. Also changing its name at this time was the popular [[DinoLand USA]] attraction [[Countdown To Extinction]]. That ride was re-named after, and slightly altered, to tie into the 2000 Disney movie [[Dinosaur]] <ref> https://www.mouseplanet.com/10881/Remembering_the_Magic_Countdown_To_Extinction__DINOSAUR </ref>.  
  
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==History After Opening Day==
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2001 saw another expansion of Disney's Animal Kingdom. At this time, [[Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama]] was added to [[DinoLand USA]]. This mini land housed Midway Games (later renamed [[Fossil Fun Games]]) and the [[TriceraTop Spin]] <ref name= "d23"> https://d23.com/a-to-z/chester-hesters/ </ref>. The following year on April 18, 2002, [[Primeval Whirl]] was added to the area <ref name= "d23"/>.  
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Although relatively young compared to the other Disney Parks, Animal Kingdom as gone through a lot of changes. In 1999 Asia was finally completed. Added to the land were the popular attractions the Maharajah Jungle Trek and the Kali River Rapids. The Maharajah Jungle Trek is a wildlife trail along which guests will encounter bats, a Komodo dragon, and even a Bengal Tiger. The Kali River Rapids is a white water rafting ride, that takes guests down the Chakranadi River. The Kali River Rapids also addresses the issues of illegal logging and habitat destruction.The Discovery River Boats that were once located in Asia closed with the opening of the new attractions.  
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In 2000 many of Animal Kingdoms lands were renamed. The former Safari Village became Discovery Island and the Conservation Station became Rifiki's Planet Watch. The change in name to Discovery Island coincided with the closing of the Discovery Island attraction in Bay Lake. Also changing names was the popular Dinoland USA attraction, Countdown To Extinction. That ride was re-named and slightly altered to tie into the 2000 Disney movie Dinosaur.  
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The next set of major changes came to Animal Kingdom in 2006. In DinoLand USA, Finding Nemo- the Musical replaced Tarzan Rocks, which had been operating since 1999 <ref> http://allears.net/tp/ak/nemo.htm </ref>. Also in 2006, the “E-Ticket” roller coaster [[Expedition Everest]] was built in [[Asia]]. The attraction is a high speed coaster set in the Himalayas, and it includes a close encounter with the fabled Yeti. By including the Yeti in the attraction, Disney's Animal Kingdom finally featured a mythical creature (which had been promised since the park’s dedication).
  
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In 2001 change came to Dinoland USA with the addition of Midway Games (later renamed Fossil Fun Ground) and the TriceraTop Spin. The Fossil Fun Ground features dinosaur themed carnival games, while TriceraTop Spin was a dinosaur themed "Dumbo" attraction.
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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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The next major changes came to Animal Kingdom in 2006. In Dinoland USA, Finding Nemo- the Musical replaced Tarzan Rocks, which had been their since 1999. Finding Nemo- The Musical is a Broadway style show which uses live entertainers and puppets to tell the story of the 2003 Disney movie Finding Nemo. Also in 2006, Expedition Everest was built in Asia. The attraction was a roller coaster set in the Himalayas and includes a close encounter with the fabled Yeti. By including the Yeti in the attraction, Disney's Animal Kingdom finally featured a mythical creature. In 2008 the popular Yak and Yeti restaurant opened in Asia as did Donald's Safari Breakfast at the Tusker House Restaurant.  
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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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===Beastly Kingdom===
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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]].
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One change that has yet to come to Animal Kingdom is the addition of Beastly Kingdom. Despite a dragon being featured on the park's logo, their are currently no plans to build the land. Camp Minnie Mickey proved to be popular with guests, and it was determained that the small increase in guests would not warrant the coast. Despite this, remenets of the planned Beastly Kingdom can still be found including:
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*The parking lot contains a section named "Unicorn."
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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>.
  
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*There is a dragon-shaped stone fountain near Camp Minnie-Mickey.
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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>.
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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 original logo, there are currently no plans to build the land. Camp Minnie-Mickey proved to be popular with guests, and thus the land set aside for Beastly Kingdom remained in use. With the creation of [[Pandora- The World of Avatar]] it is unlikely that Beastly Kingdomme will be built. Despite this, remnants of the planned Beastly Kingdom can still be found including:
  
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*A detailed dragonhead statue sits atop one of the ticket booths at the park's entrance.
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*The parking lot contains a section named "Unicorn" <ref> http://www.yesterland.com/avatarkingdom.html </ref>.
  
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*In the first couple years of the parks existance, blasts of fire would be spewed from a cave at the edge of the water, in Camp Minnie-Mickey.  
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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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*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.
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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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==Current Lands==
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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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==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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==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?16052017140623'''Click Here'''.]
 
===Oasis===
 
===Oasis===
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Located at the front of the park, the Oasis is the first land guests encounter. Located here is guests services as well as the Rain Forest Cafe. The only attraction in the Oasis is the Oasis Exhibits. The Exhibits are walking trails that feature Spoonbills, ducks, wallabies, and even a Giant Anteater. The Oasis leads to the parks hub, Discovery Island.
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[[Image:AnimalKingdomGuideMap2020.jpg|thumb|400px|The 2021 Animal Kingdom map (click to enlarge)]]
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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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===Discovery Island===
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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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Originally called Safari Village, 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. Inside the tree the guests can find  4D show It's Tough To Be A Bug! featuring characters from the Disney Pixar movie- A Bugs Life. On the Discovery Island Trails, guests can see animals such as kangaroos, black crowned cranes, and lemurs.
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===Camp Minnie Mickey===
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===[[Discovery Island]]===
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Originally intended to be a temporary land, Camp Minnie Mickey is located where Beastly Kingdom was supposed to be built. Here, guests can meet their favorite Disney characters including Mickey, Minnie, and Donald. The main attraction located in Camp Minnie Mickey is the Broadway style show, Festival of the Lion King.
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Main Article: [[Discovery Island]]
  
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===Africa===
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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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Home to the popular Kilimanjaro Safari, Africa is based on the Savannah Desert. On the safari guests can see a wide variety of African animals including: elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, rhinos and even okapis! While in Africa guests can also go on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. On the Trail guests will come face to face with birds, fish, gorillas, and they will even be to see hippos underwater. If guests get hungry, they can check the popular Tusker House as well as other small restaurants and stands around the land.  
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===Rafiki's Planet Watch===
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===[[Africa]]===
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Rafkik's Planet Watch was originally called Conservation Station, and 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. After arriving, guests will learn conservation tips at Habitat Habit. The attraction also features the rare cotton-top tamarin.  Also located in Rafiki's Planet Watch is Affection Section, which is a large petting zoo featuring some rare animals.
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Main Article: [[Africa]]
  
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===Asia===
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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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Perhaps the most popular land in Disney's Animal Kingdom, Asia was not completely complete until 1999. The land is home to Disney's newest attraction Expedition Everest. On this roller coaster , guests will take a wild train tour through the Himalayan Mountains, before coming coming face to face with the mythical Yeti. Other popular attractions in Asia include the Flights of Wonder show, a live bird show as well as the Kali River Rapids which take guests white water rafting down the Chakranadi River. Asia is also home to the Maharajah Jungle Trek where guests can explore ancient ruins and see animals such as Komodo dragons, fruit bats and even a Bengal Tiger. The popular resturant the Yak and Yeti is also located in Asia. The restaurant serves the cuisine of India and Nepal for lunch and dinner.
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==Fun Facts and Trivia==
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===[[Rafiki's Planet Watch]]===
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Main Article: [[Rafiki's Planet Watch]]
  
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*Straws, balloons and cup lids are not used at Animal Kingdom to protect the animals from potential choking hazards.
+
Rafiki's Planet Watch was called Conservation Station from 1998 until October 2000. It is the only land not accessible from [[Discovery Island]]. In order to get to Rafiki's Planet Watch guests must board the [[Wildlife Express Train]] which travels between [[Africa]] and the Planet Watch.
  
−
*Two Micronesian Kingfisher chicks were hatched at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, raising the world population of these birds by 3 percent.
+
===[[Asia]]===
 +
[[Image:MickeyandRafikijpeg.jpeg|thumb|400px|Mickey and Rafiki in front of the Tree of Life]]
 +
Main Article: [[Asia]]
  
−
*Disney’s Animal Kingdom contains live plants from every continent on Earth except Antarctica.
+
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 [[Kali River Rapids]] and [[Expedition Everest]].
  
−
*There are over 61,000 costume pieces worn by Animal Kingdom cast members.
+
===[[DinoLand USA]]===
 +
Main Article: [[DinoLand USA]]
  
−
*At over 500 acres, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is large enough to fit the Magic Kingdom , Epcot, and The Disney-MGM Studios in it.
+
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.
  
−
==References==
+
===[[Pandora- The World of Avatar]]===
−
http://www.magicalmountain.net/animal-kingdom/disneys-animal-kingdom.aspx
+
Main Article: [[Pandora- The World of Avatar]]
  
−
http://www.wdwradio.com/2007/09/disneys-animal-kingdom/
+
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]].
  
−
http://allears.net/ae/issue187.htm
+
==Former Lands==
 +
===Camp Minnie-Mickey===
 +
Initially intended to be a temporary land, Camp Minnie-Mickey was constructed where Beastly Kingdomme was originally intended to be built. At Camp Minnie-Mickey, guests could meet their favorite Disney characters including Mickey, Minnie, and Donald. The main attraction located in Camp Minnie-Mickey was the Broadway style show [[Festival of the Lion King]]. In 2014 Camp Minnie-Mickey closed in order to make room for [[Pandora- The World of Avatar]]. Following Camp Minnie-Mickey's closure, Festival of the Lion King was relocated to the [[Africa]] section of the park.
  
−
http://saitonews.tripod.com/daknews2.html
+
==Disney 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]]
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
|}
  
−
http://www.orlando-florida.net/walt-disney-world/resources/timeline.htm
+
===Lightning Lane===
 +
Disney's Animal Kingdom's two Lightning Lane exclusive attractions are:
 +
{| style="padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px;"
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
* [[Flight of Passage]]
 +
|
 +
* [[Expedition Everest]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==Fun Facts and Trivia==
 +
* Plastic 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 Hollywood Studios]] inside of it <ref name= "guide"/>.
 +
 
 +
* In the early 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==

Latest revision as of 20:43, 11 September 2022

Disney's Animal Kingdom
TreeOfLifeday.jpg
The Tree of Life, 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]

The genesis of Disney's Animal Kingdom began when Disney noted that the idea of an animal theme park 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 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 style 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 recalled many of their experiences when creating Kilimanjaro Safaris.

As plans for the park continued to develop, Michael Eisner and Frank Wells wondered if simply encountering animals would be a big enough draw for guests. To prove that this was 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 Disney's Animal Kingdom.

During another meeting with Eisner and other executives, the Disney CEO told Imagineers that he wanted a DinoLand in the new park. 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 USA, Africa, Asia, and a land dedicated to imaginary animals called Beastly Kingdomme.

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

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 [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 in the fall of 1997, the animals were brought into the park [4]. 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.

As construction on Disney's Animal Kingdom 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 I 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 set to be released in 2000 [5].

Phase II of Animal Kingdom was 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 show was chosen over an earlier idea of having a restaurant inside the icon) [7]. Eventually however, Imagineers came up with a fairly simple solution. First, they took the structure of an oil rig for the base[7]. Next, 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 structure's branches and trunk[7]. When the Tree of Life was completed, it stood 145 feet tall [7].

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 petals [8]. A half hour after the park had opened; the parking lot was filled to capacity, and 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 to Walt Disney World. Unlike previous theme park openings, the Grand Opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom was not a star studded affair, although Michael J. Fox, Drew Carey, Stevie Wonder, and David Copperfield did appear [10]. Some 5,000 reporters were also on hand as 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 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 [11]. Added at this time were the popular attractions Maharajah Jungle Trek [12] and the Kali River Rapids. The Discovery River Boats (which had a dock 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], while Conservation Station was renamed 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 saw another expansion of Disney's Animal Kingdom. At this time, Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama was added to DinoLand USA. This mini land housed Midway Games (later renamed Fossil Fun Games) and the TriceraTop Spin [17]. The following year on April 18, 2002, Primeval Whirl was added to the area [17].

The next set of major changes came to Animal Kingdom in 2006. In DinoLand USA, Finding Nemo- the Musical replaced Tarzan Rocks, which had been operating since 1999 [18]. Also in 2006, the “E-Ticket” roller coaster Expedition Everest was built in Asia. The attraction is a high speed coaster set in the Himalayas, and it includes a close encounter with the fabled Yeti. By including the Yeti in the attraction, Disney's Animal Kingdom finally featured a mythical creature (which had been promised since the park’s dedication).

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 new 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 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 [25].

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 [26].

Beastly Kingdomme

One change that has yet to (and may never) come to Animal Kingdom is the addition of Beastly Kingdomme. Despite a dragon being featured on the park's original logo, there are currently no plans to build the land. Camp Minnie-Mickey proved to be popular with guests, and thus the land set aside for Beastly Kingdom remained in use. With the creation of Pandora- The World of Avatar it is unlikely that Beastly Kingdomme will be built. Despite this, remnants of the planned Beastly Kingdom can still be found including:

  • The parking lot contains a section named "Unicorn" [27].
  • A detailed dragonhead statue sits atop one of the ticket booths at the park's entrance [28].
  • 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 [29]. 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 [29].

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.[30]

Current Lands

To see the current Animal Kingdom map Click Here.

Oasis

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 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.

Rafiki's Planet Watch

Main Article: Rafiki's Planet Watch

Rafiki's Planet Watch was called Conservation Station from 1998 until October 2000. It is the only land not accessible from Discovery Island. In order to get to Rafiki's Planet Watch guests must board the Wildlife Express Train which travels between Africa and the Planet Watch.

Asia

Mickey and Rafiki in front of the Tree of Life

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, the land 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 constructed where Beastly Kingdomme was originally intended to be built. At Camp Minnie-Mickey, guests could meet their favorite Disney characters including Mickey, Minnie, and Donald. The main attraction located in Camp Minnie-Mickey was the Broadway style show Festival of the Lion King. In 2014 Camp Minnie-Mickey closed in order to make room for Pandora- The World of Avatar. Following Camp Minnie-Mickey's closure, Festival of the Lion King was relocated to the Africa section of the park.

Disney Genie +

Flight of Passage and Na'vi River Journey in Disney's Animal Kingdom's Pandora

Lightning Lane

Disney's Animal Kingdom's two Lightning Lane exclusive attractions are:

Fun Facts and Trivia

  • Plastic straws, balloons, and cup lids are not used inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom to protect the animals from potential choking hazards [31].
  • 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 2000's Disney promoted Animal Kingdom with the phrase NăHTăZū!(pronounced "not a zoo") [32].
  • 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. ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2020/07/breaking-stitchs-great-escape-rivers-of-light-and-primeval-whirl-officially-closed-forever-at-walt-disney-world/
  26. ↑ 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
  27. ↑ http://www.yesterland.com/avatarkingdom.html
  28. ↑ http://www.wdwinfo.com/columns/walt-disney-world-never-built.cfm
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2004/10/19/479.aspx
  30. ↑ http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2012/06/tree_of_life_at_disneys_animal.html
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 http://www.guidetothemagic.com/animalkingdom/animalkingdom5.htm
  32. ↑ https://www.mouseplanet.com/10581/Its_Nahtazu
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