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Disney's Animal Kingdom

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Jen Cook
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4 out of 5
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68
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Editor Pick

Lions and Dinosaurs Anyone?

  • October 28, 2009
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Meggysmum from Oxford, United Kingdom
Lions and Dinosaurs Anyone?

Disneys Animal Kingdom was opened in 1998 and is the newest of the Disney Parks in Orlando and it also covers the largest area although a lot of this is not area that is accessible to the public.
The difference between this and the other Disney Them Parks is evident as soon as you enter. The atmosphere is more natural with lots of trees and less of the garish colours and frantic activity that you associate with Disney. Even the footpaths are made to look as if you are walking on forest trails with imprints of leaves and animal footprints set into the concrete. The huge "Tree of Life" structure is in the centre, this artificial tree has hundreds of animal sculptures cast into the trunk and it is a delight to spend a few quiet minutes seeing how many you can spot.

The Africa area is the one that most people arrive at first. Decorated to look like an African village with native musical groups and lots of chances for interaction for children the area is always buzzing with activity. Asia has a great feel of the Himalayas about it and houses the awe-inspiring "Everest". Dinoland is a complete contrast; it is loud and frantic and is more like an American fair of the 1950s. Rafikis planet watch is reached by train and allows animal interactions. Camp Minnie-Mickey is the setting for the Lion King and also allows character meet and greet. This is a general overview of the areas and each contains various attractions.

If exciting rides are your thing then there are several to choose from:
Expedition Everest is a white-knuckle ride bringing you to a close encounter with the Yeti. The theming in the waiting area is fantastic and there is also a single rider queue which moves quite fast.
Kali river rapids is a raft ride that is great fun, guarantees that you will get wet and also introduces education aspects about deforestation.
Kilimanjaro safaris takes you on a jeep ride across huge animal enclosures. Arrive early to see the most animals, look out for the lions lying on their air-conditioned rock! Ensure everyone remains seated or the driver does have to stop because of the danger of children being thrown from the jeep.
Dinosaur is a fast dark and very noisy ride back in time. Personally I find this the worse ride in the whole of Disney as it is so violent and noisy I don’t get chance to actually enjoy the ride but everyone else seems to think it is fantastic.

There are some slightly slower rides in Dinosaur land, particularly the triceratops Spin and Primeval Whirl. Under the Tree of Life there is a 3D presentation of Its Tough to be a Bug. There are extra effects and I have seen children leave crying but my family have always thoroughly enjoyed the film.

There are several walking trails with guided notes that take you past some fantastic animal enclosures and lovely theming that are certainly worth doing.

Animal Kingdom does offer some good shows which are ideal when you need a break but arrive early as seating is limited and they are very popular.

Finding Nemo replaced the Tarzan show, this offers wonderful costumes and music and is a truly enchanting show.
Festival of the Lion King celebrates the film in a colourful spectacle with all the film favourites. Some children get to be involved and it is great family show.
Flights of wonder is an educational display of birds that fly very close over your heads. Set in a shady outside arena this is a pleasant place to stop.

The highlight of the afternoon is always the Mickey’s Jammin’ jungle Parade. This colourful parade of Disney Characters all dressed for a safari is brilliant. The floats are all animated by the drivers and the characters interact far more with the crowd than in any other Disney parade. The music is infectious so make sure you have got yourself a shady viewing spot to enjoy this spectacular.

The dining opportunities are not great in this park, mainly fast-food type places. There is a Rainforest Cafe at the entrance. The shopping activities are more interesting with items to buy from around the world.

The park closes early because of the animals so there is no firework or evening displays. This works fine as I find that we have usually exhausted the activities here by late afternoon anyway. It makes a nice change from some of the busier parks and has some educational value too. Certainly a park that is worth visiting.

From journal Walt Disney World Theme Parks

Best Roller Coaster in Disney

Animal Kingdom. See the Tree of Life, As soon as you get there Get a fast pass for Expedition Everest it's the best roller coaster in Disney!
The Safari ride is OK, not very exciting, but nice to see all of the animals. The Park is beautiful.

From journal Disney- Family Grand Gathering

Editor Pick

Animal Kingdom

  • August 23, 2008
  • Rated 3 of 5 by tinkerbell7856 from New Orleans, Louisiana
Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom has always been my last stop when I go to Disney World. If I run out of time and I have to cut something, I am always willing to cut this park. That's not to say it's not a worthwhile experience, it just doesn't compare to the other Disney or Universal parks for me. It hasn't always felt unfinished to me. You can do every attraction at this park and finish easily before the end of the day. There are not enough rides, restaurants, or fireworks to last the entire day. Its large size and the amount of outdoor walking and attractions can also make you miserable in the Florida heat. Nevertheless, there are a few great attractions and shows that should not be missed.

Animal Kingdom generally opens earlier then all of the other parks. The animals can be seen best in the morning, the lines are not long, and the heat is not unbearable. Be sure to arrive at the park early and be waiting in line for its opening! Once in, a lot of people will tell you to head straight to Kilimanjaro Safaris. I disagree with that advice. Kilimanjaro Safaris is a 30-40 minute ride. In the time it takes you to ride this one ride you could have visited three or four attractions with no wait at all. Go first to Asia and ride the new coaster Expedition Everest. This is a yeti-themed coaster that goes both forward and backward and offers the most intense ride experience in Animal Kingdom. Next, hit Dinosaur in Dinoland USA. This is a dark, bumpy ride that may be a little too intense for young children.

After that, catch either the Festival of the Lion King or the Finding Nemo stage show. Both shows fill up fast so arrive early and try to go to the first show of the day. Pick up a Fastpass for Kilimanjaro Safaris or Kali River Rapids before you go to the show. That way, by the time you get out, it will be nearly time for your Fastpass appointment. The Finding Nemo show is excellent and is my favorite Disney show from any of the parks. The theater is also indoors which is very nice. Be sure to catch it.

Then, catch Kilimanjaro Safaris, Kali River Rapids, and the 3-D It's Tough to Be a Bug show. That's basically it for all of the attractions. Sometimes I leave after that. If you have more time and really are an animal fan, there are trails like the Pangani Trail and the Maharajah Trek. You can always stay around for the afternoon parade or have lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants, but I never do. Since we finish the park so early, we always use the evening to hang out at our hotel or go to Downtown Disney. I think as Disney continues adding attractions and possibly a new themed land to the park, it will increase Animal Kingdom's appeal and the amount of time guests spend there. However, until then, I am happy visiting it only as a side attraction and getting my real thrills from somewhere else.

From journal Walt Disney World & Universal Orlando!

Editor Pick

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom

I stood inside Animal Kingdom with my sights set on Expedition Everest. My grandmother, prior to entering the park got me a pin that stated my name and that it was my birthday on it. She watched in delight as every cast member wished me a happy birthday, but I wasn't listening. I was focused on my roller coaster. The events of the day started with Mickey, Goofy, and Donald on a safari truck reminding everyone to wear sun block, and then Mickey appearing below the Tree of Life to start the day. People rushed the park, but to keep everyone safe two cast members walked with a rope in front of us to slow our pace. Closer to Everest all bets were off. My grandfather grabbed my hand, we lost my grandmother and ran to the line forming at Everest. The best part about having your birthday at the park is the perks. One of the cast members saw my birthday pin, and helped us through the line and gave me the choice of where I wanted to sit. My grandfather and I looked at each other and exclaimed "the front!!!" We got into the cars that look like a rickety old train and took off up Everest. The train twists and turns through the mountain until it reaches the end of the track that has been mysteriously torn up. Sitting in the front it seems like the train wont stop in time, but all is good and we just make it. The train sits there for a couple of seconds giving a great view of EPCOT and MGM, before it takes off backwards where the Yeti is waiting and tearing up more of the track just before the plummet off the mountain. Expedition Everest is my favorite Disney ride of all time.

The birthday pin is free and is given out throughout the park if you let a cast member know that it is your birthday. Everyone who sees it shouts out Happy Birthday as you pass and even gets you special treatment on some rides (ex they don't take your fastpass so you can use it again or you get to choose where you want to sit).

The rest of the day was just as exciting. On the safari I was also given a choice each time where I wanted to sit. My grandmother took full advantage of my birthday pin making sure it was in full view everywhere I went. My choice was to sit in the back of the car on the safari. The main reason was for photo purposes. I could easily turn around and get shots of animals as our truck drove away from them. The safari is great and best enjoyed in the early morning and evening when the animals are out and the most active. The grounds are set up so it actually feels like a safari in the African Serengeti taking great pain to hide fences and other barriers.

The highlight of the day was the parade. We sat along the parade route on one of the benches. As everyone passed they shouted "Happy Birthday Samantha" and the characters even came over and gave me a huge, which was something that they only usually do for small kids. My grandmother was dieing at this point with excitement. If someone passed and didn't say something she would check to make sure that my pin was properly displayed. Her biggest delight came from the person sitting next to her who couldn't understand how everyone knew my name and kept looking over every time some one greeted me or came up for a hug. When the parade was over my grandmother proudly exclaimed to all of us that the women next to me thought I was an American celebrity that she didn't recognize since she was on vacation from London. She was so delighted by this that she still talks about it to this day.

Disney really goes the distance to make sure that all of their guests have a really great time, but truly out does themselves when it comes to birthdays!

From journal Birthdays at the Happiest Place On Earth

Disney's Animal Kingdom

  • April 21, 2008
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Amber Autumn from Chalmette, Louisiana
"Sharks: [reciting] I am a nice shark, not a mindless eating machine. If I am to change this image, I must first change myself. Fish are friends, not food."--From the movie Finding Nemo

Set in a lush landscape and a promise of exciting, close encounters of wild animals, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is turning ten years old! The park has a tropical oasis, a 14-story tree, an African village, ruins of Indian temples, and even a playground for young children to dig up dinosaur bones in the Boneyard and ride the rides adjacent to the Boneyard. The best time to go is early in the morning, or at noon.

The Oasis is a tropical lush island where you’ll find South American macaws, wallabies, tiny deer, anteaters, otters, and even a rhinoceros iguana perched on a rock, bathing in the sunlight. Discovery Island is beyond the Oasis where you’ll find the Tree of Life, the symbol of nature connected to the earth. Disney Outfitters has a totem-pole that is a must-see as well as the many souvenirs from glass figurines to t-shirts.

An African village is what you’ll see past the Tree of Life. Sounds of drums can be heard upon entering the run-down village with uneven cobblestone. Traditional African dancers will perform throughout the day. Two must-sees of Africa are the Kilimanjaro Safaris and the Pangani Forest Exploration Trails. You’ll see Nile crocodiles, hippos, gorillas, cheetahs, giraffes, and elephants.

Between Africa and Asia, pay careful attention to the trees. An acrobat wearing stilts, dressed as a tree, is hidden among the bamboo trees. She dances and performs her acrobat tricks. Asia has the Kali River Rapids (a water ride), Maharajah Jungle Trek, and Expedition Everest. The Maharajah Jungle Trek has Bengal tigers and fruit bats. Finally, Expedition Everest is Animal Kingdom’s first major roller coaster.

Dino-Land USA is where kids can ride the rides and go explore the sand areas to find fossils. The show Finding Nemo can be seen in a building near here.

From journal The Year of a Million Dreams

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