Disney's Animal Kingdom Overview

JAMBO EVERYONE!

Theme Park Operating Hours

Extra Magic Hours for Disney Resort Guests

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The Adventure Begins at Animal Kingdom - Each morning, 15 minutes before the schedule opening time, you can go through the turnstiles and head to the Tree of Life area. Soon, Minnie, Pluto, and Goofy arrive to welcome you to the park! Mickey appears and gets on the truck and you can follow them into Harambe as the Adventure Begins in the Animal Kingdom!

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Disney's Animal Kingdom is a spectacular theme park unlike anything you have ever experienced.

In January 1990, Imagineering Concept Designer Joe Rohde met with Michael Eisner about a proposal for a new animal park. His concept was simple: a traditional theme park, an Epcot style pavilion, and a nontraditional zoo. Disney's Wild Animal Kingdom Project was announced June 5, 1995 and ground was broken in August 1995. The name changed a bit during the next couple years and the Grand Opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom was held on April 22, 1998. Animal Kingdom celebrated its 10th Anniversary on April 22, 2008!

Animal Kingdom has an afternoon parade Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade.

OVERVIEW

The Tree of Life, an impressive icon, stands tall in the distance as you emerge from the entrance, called the Oasis. Then think of the park as a bicycle wheel, the Tree of Life is the hub and the various lands stretch out like spokes.

Animal Kingdom opened with the Oasis, Safari Village (renamed Discovery Island), Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Conservation Station (renamed Rafiki's Planet Watch), Dinoland USA and a small portion of Asia. Before the park's first birthday, a larger portion of Asia opened to complete the circle.

Some say Animal Kingdom is only a half day park and not worth the price of admission. I disagree, yet there is a fair group of visitors that feel that way. I tend to think those are the folks who run from attraction to attraction, with the sole purpose of checking off what they have done and to hurry and get to what is left. By doing so, you'll miss much of what Animal Kingdom is about.

"Disney's Animal Kingdom won't be for everyone. The difference will largely be in one's expectations. Come expecting "rides" and you're bound to be disappointed. That's why Disney is advertising it as "a different kind of theme park". If you come expecting to learn a bit about animals, to view them in as natural a situation as any zoo in the world, to experience a themed environment as convincing as Main Street or Hollywood Boulevard, and to be awed by the many fantastic details from the walkway design to the Tree of Life, you'll love it!" (ZaZu)

The exquisite detail that Disney is known for shines through in Disney's Animal Kingdom where landscaping and attention to details dominate the 500 acre park.

The exciting Wild Africa Trek is a jaw-dropping journey only a few Guests get to experience. The expedition is a true encounter with African creatures in their native habitat.

Two "calmer" "Behind the Scenes Tours" are offered for you to learn more about Animal Kingdom.

On the southwestern edge of the Walt Disney World Resort, Imagineers have created a nature rich and protective environment for exotic animals. Most of the barriers between the animals and you are natural looking or invisible.

Disney craftsmen had the difficult task of making something brand new look very old - with crumbling walls and roots sticking up into the walk ways. To create just the right feeling, buildings are a maximum of 30 feet tall, while many of the trees are over 40 feet tall.

The park is beautiful with wondrous vegetation, broadway class show (Festival of the Lion King, Finding Nemo), a 20-minute journey into an African savanna (Kilimanjaro Safaris), an adventure to find the Yeti (Expedition Everest) time travel back to the Cretaceous Period (Dinosaur), and lots of exotic birds and animals to discover.

What's NEW?

A New Baby Elephant is born August, 2011

Real-life Rafiki -- a Baby Mandrill -- Born at Disney's Animal Kingdom! - He is the newest boy at the Animal Kingdom, born May 30, 2011 to first-time mother, Kelley. Read more on our Animal Babies page.

Wild Africa Trek is a jaw-dropping journey only a few guests get to experience. The expedition is a true encounter with African creatures in their native habitat.

What's COMING?

AVATAR - Construction begins 2013!

What's Going - Going - Gone...

Evening Extra Magic Hours

A wide variety of sources were used to obtain the Animal Kingdom information found on AllEars® including: Discussions with Cast Members, various Animal Kingdom Guide Maps, WDW Media Releases, the Backstage Safari Tour, Cast publications such as Eyes and Ears, "The Field Guide to Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park", and "The Making of the Animal Kingdom Theme Park", by Melody Malmberg.