Disney's Animal Kingdom

You've visited the world of fantasy, basked in the glitz of Hollywood, and visited 11 countries in a day. Now, position your safari hat and get your camera's ready, because you're about to ride the rapids, go on safari, and trek through the forest while on adventure at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park.

History and Introduction

Like an oasis in the desert, Disney's Animal Kingdom Park which opened on April 22, 1998, offers Disney visitors a retreat of sorts and makes it Disney's newest park in almost 9 years. The main show here isn't a thrill ride, a stage show, or numerous, cleverly dressed Disney icons. While it does offer all of the above, the main attraction at this park, is the wide array of stunning creatures, great and small, who roam about in painstakingly detailed recreations of their natural habitats.

This animal lover's paradise, which is home to more than 1700 animals representing 250 species, is accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. It boasts 6 areas of exploration - The Oasis; Safari Village-Discovery Island; Camp Minnie Mickey; Africa; Rafiki's Planet Watch; Asia; and DinoLand USA.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this theme park, is it's cleverly designed barriers between you and the lions, rhinos, and other creatures of the wild. One would never know that the lion sunning itself on those rocks ahead of you, is kept at a safe distance from very intricately designed landscape. Disney's Imagineers never missed a step in incorporating safety within these natural habitats they so carefully created. In addition, you will not see creatures from Africa roaming about in landscape grown in the USA. That is because many of the more than 4 million native trees, shrubs, and other items within your view have been brought in by Disney from the actual country to which it is native. In all, this landscaping offers a glimpse at 3,000 species. The creators at Disney visited 37 states and 28 countries in their quest to bring you the best of the Serengeti.

Getting Around

More than 500 acres large, and like the rainforests and savannah itself, Disney's Animal Kingdom tends to be one of the hardest parks to navigate. With it's tremendous amount of foliage it's quite hard to see beyond your immediate vicinity. For this reason, be sure to pick up a park guidemap and pay attention to the directional signs posted around the park, which guide you to specific areas and attractions.

Beyond the guidemaps and the signs, however, Animal Kingdom's landmark -- the 14-story tall, Tree of Life -- can be seen from most anywhere throughout this breath-taking park, and always gives you an idea of where exactly you are. Located in the center of the park, the Tree of Life serves as the hub here; just as Cinderella's Castle serves as the hub of the Magic Kingdom.

As you make your way thru the gates at the entrance plaza you will follow the path to the Oasis, where you can browse and enjoy the creatures that call this place home; then onto Safari Village. To the Northwest of Safari Village is Africa, to the North is Rafiki's Planet Watch, to the Northeast is Asia, to the Southeast is DinoLand USA and to the Southwest is Camp Minnie Mickey. Basically, you enter each area from Safari Village, and then return there and onto the next stop. So, strap on your hiking boots and enjoy all this park has to offer.

An In-Depth Tour of the Park:

• Map of Disney's Animal Kingdom
• The Lands of Disney's Animal Kingdom
• Attractions
• Shopping
• Tips and Information
• Magictrips Discussion Forum

Transportation:
Disney's Animal Kingdom Park is accessible to all Disney Resort guests via bus ride only. There is ample parking for those wishing to drive to the park in their own vehicle.

Credit Cards & Money Matters:
American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Discover Card, Diner's Club, JCB International Card, and Disney Credit Card are accepted at all locations, as well as Traveler's Checks, Cash, and Disney Dollars. ATM machines, provided by Chase, are located on east side of the entrance; before the turnstiles; and next to the kennel near the Dinosaur attraction in the DinoLand U.S.A. area.

Park Fun Facts:

• Sixty dump trucks of dirt were delivered to Disney's Animal Kingdom construction site every day for two years straight, equaling 4.4 million cubic yards of dirt.
• More than 4 million trees, plants, shrubs, ground-covers, vines, epiphytes and grasses from every continent on Earth -- except Antarctica -- were planted.
• There are 325 animal images carved into the park's showpiece, the "Tree of Life".
• The Tree of Life is topped with more than 103,000 transparent, five-shades-of-green leaves that actually blow in the wind.
• Native reed thatch, which is hurricane-proof, was imported from South Africa for roofs on several buildings. It can be fireproofed and has natural resistance to pest and fungus.
• In the Boneyard casts were taken from real dinosaur bones found in places like Utah's Dinosaur National Park, then reproduced in a plastic-cement which makes it look, and feel, like the real thing to your children on their archeological "dig".
• Disney's Animal Kingdom is home to the largest groups of Nile hippos and African elephants in North America.
• The first birth at Disney's Animal Kingdom was a kudu, a large African antelope.
• Disney Animal Kingdom scientists have discovered two new vocalizations never before reported in elephants.
• More than 2,000 pounds of vegetation and browse is fed to the animals every day, and several varieties of worms are provided to the animals, including super mealworms, yellow mealworms, red wigglers, night crawlers and wax worms -- 40,000 in a week! Dieticians also order 80,000 crickets per month as part of the healthy diet for the animals.

Additional Disney's Animal Kingdom Pages:

• Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama -- A whacky 1950s-style roadside carnival that will immerse you in an atmosphere where you can play everything from Ringosaurus to tossing beanbags into dinosaur jaws.
• DINOSAUR
• It's Tough to be a Bug
• Kali River Rapids
• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Primeval Whirl
• TriceraTop Spin

Last Updated: May 22, 2009