Your Name in Thai at Animal Kingdom

It had been a few weeks since I last visited the Animal Kingdom, so when a friend suggested getting together for lunch, I proposed Flame Tree BBQ. After enjoying a chicken & rib combo and a pulled pork sandwich, we decided to ride Expedition Everest. As we entered Asia, I noticed a small stand near the entrance to this exotic land. Since this stand was new (at least new to me) I stopped and snapped a picture.

Thai Kiosk

Upon closer inspection, I noticed that both cast members were from Thailand and a sign on their kiosk said, “Get your name written in Thai.”

Get Your Name Written in Thai

On a clipboard were sheets of paper displaying a Disney character and their name written in Thai. Additional space was available for the guest to write their own name and then an area where the cast member could translate it into their language. Here you can see what “Jack” looks like when sounded out in the Thai alphabet.

Stitch in Thai

Jack in Thai

The Thai alphabet has 44 consonants, 15 vowels, and 4 tone marks. The vowels combine to create at least 28 vowel sounds.

The cast members also had maps of Thailand and other information to share about their country. This spot would be a wonderful way for parents to introduce their children to another culture, but like most Disney attractions, adults can enjoy the experience as well.

I asked the cast members if this booth was temporary to handle the President’s Day Weekend crowds, or was it a permanent fixture. They said that as far as they knew, they’d be around for a while. I sure hope so. I love the “little” things.

Check back on Monday for my regularly scheduled blog. This week I will cover the Japan Pavilion.

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9 Replies to “Your Name in Thai at Animal Kingdom”

  1. The cart may be new, but this activity has been offered in the temple by flights of wonder for a while. I was a CP at Kali River Rapids and was very close with all the cultural representatives (including Kerati and Jojo from your picture). The representatives are from India, Indonesia, and Thailand, and will write your name in Hindi, Indonesian, or Thai. They can also teach you how to play some instruments from Asia. They are an awesome group of people and are certainly worth visiting.

  2. Jack, do you know if the Thai language is read from left to right or from right to left? Just wondering.

    Jack’s Answer:

    I found this on Wikipedia.

    Consonants are written horizontally from left to right, with vowels arranged above, below, to the left or to the right of the corresponding consonant or in a combination of those positions.

  3. This is really cool we will have to check this out next time we are there. My children love having their names written in other languages like at Epcot World Showcase, it is the little things that add so much.

  4. Hi Jack! I love hearing about and seeing things like this in Disney. My daughter bought an umbrella in the China pavilion a few years back and they wrote her name in Chinese on it. To this day, it’s her favorite WDW souvenir.

  5. hey jack
    this is really neat. like you i also love the little things when it comes to disney so I will have to check this out next time I visit. can’t wait for your next blog and as always keep up the great work.

  6. That is so great! I remember several years ago there was another booth set up near the Yak & Yeti where we met a wonderful young CM from Indonesia named Ambar. She told us all about her native country, giving us little maps and such and then took us to the control towers of both Kali and Everest – a wonderful magical memory that we will never forget 🙂

  7. This is so neat so I do hope it is going to stay forever!
    I love these “little” things. I still have my passport from World Showcase where cast members from eah country wrote something in their language . They would tell me what they had written and then I wrote it down so I would be able to tell my kindergarten class what it said.
    I’m glad you spot these thinhgs Jack!