{"id":5105,"date":"2013-04-17T17:34:25","date_gmt":"2013-04-17T21:34:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_ms_news\/?p=5105"},"modified":"2022-05-04T20:57:58","modified_gmt":"2022-05-05T00:57:58","slug":"happy-anniversary-to-disneys-animal-kingdom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/happy-anniversary-to-disneys-animal-kingdom\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy Anniversary to Disney\u2019s Animal Kingdom!"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Debbie Boehm<\/p>\n

\"Disney\"<\/a>
Disney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

April 22nd marks 15 years since Disney\u2019s Animal Kingdom opened its gates for the first time.\u00a0 As a Cast Member of The Disney Store in the local mall, I have many memories of that time and the excitement building up to this momentous occasion.\u00a0 Earth Day was the perfect day for the opening of a theme park where concern for the environment manifests in benches that are made from recycled milk bottles, where straws and plastic covers are not provided for drinks due to concern for the animals and where the sheer beauty of the park is so amazing.<\/p>\n

The entrance to Disney\u2019s Animal Kingdom is unlike the other theme parks.\u00a0 The area beyond the gates is called the Oasis and is often overlooked by people rushing to get to an attraction or a ride.\u00a0 However, my advice is to take your time here and enjoy the wonder of the animals surrounding you on all sides.\u00a0 Where else can you see an anteater up close and personal and in a natural habitat?\u00a0 In passing through the Oasis I always feel as if I am making my way to Africa and India as the humidity surrounds you in the form of mist.<\/p>\n

When you emerge from the Oasis you turn to your left where you finally see the amazing Tree of Life, the icon of Animal Kingdom Park and a marvel of construction on Discovery Island.\u00a0 This particular tree houses a theater where you can visit with insects of all kinds in an attraction called \u201cIt\u2019s Tough To Be a Bug\u201d.\u00a0 You even get to be a bug when you put on your bug eyes and be a bug yourself.\u00a0 Along the path into this magical theater be sure to take note of the 325 (more or less) animals carved into the Tree of Life.\u00a0 Posters of bug movies are also entertaining as you get closer to the theater entrance.\u00a0 Only Disney Imagineers would think to build a tree around an oil rig and that is precisely what they did!\u00a0 The oil rig was the perfect shape to fit a theater and to support the weight of the enormous icon of the park.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

My favorite area of Animal Kingdom is Camp Minnie Mickey where The Festival of the Lion King is performed several times a day with a cast of talented singers, dancers and Olympic gymnasts playing tumble monkeys.\u00a0 When you leave The Festival of the Lion King your heart will be happy and you\u2019ll probably be singing.\u00a0 If you make a left after the exit you\u2019ll find rest rooms and benches to relax.\u00a0 There is also a spot to get ice cream or pick up a cool drink.<\/p>\n

This is also where a certain aunt made a little niece\u2019s dream of meeting Mickey up close and personal come true.\u00a0 My niece received a phone call that morning from \u201cMickey\u201d (actually my brother\u2019s best friend) telling her he couldn\u2019t wait to meet her later.\u00a0 Cast Members are amazing at every park but the Cast Members at the greeting trails picked up on this aunt\u2019s panic and made magic.\u00a0 I worked my way to the front of the rest of the family and told the Cast Member what had happened.\u00a0 She assured me that Mickey would \u201cmention\u201d the phone call.\u00a0 When it was my niece\u2019s turn to meet Mickey he made a gesture to indicate that there had been a phone call and he was so happy to see her.\u00a0 Boy, talk about making magic!<\/p>\n

\"Disney\"<\/a>
Disney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Off to Africa and the Kilimanjaro Safaris, an attraction that you shouldn\u2019t miss.\u00a0 It\u2019s your opportunity to board a jeep and take a safari right in the middle of Florida.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0You\u2019ll find yourself wondering how you can see the lions or elephants so close and yet you don\u2019t notice a barrier.\u00a0 Again, the Disney Imagineers at work!<\/p>\n

Have you seen gorillas and meerkats yet?\u00a0 You will if you walk along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. \u00a0Set up along the trail are education stations.\u00a0 There is a wealth of knowledge shared at Animal Kingdom if you\u2019re interested.<\/p>\n

Rafiki\u2019s Planet Watch is accessed by train which you board at the Harambe Train Station.\u00a0 A short ride to this section brings you to the most amazing exhibits.\u00a0 If you\u2019re lucky you might get to see a veterinarian at work.\u00a0 There\u2019s another trail here where you learn how to share the planet with the animals and a place to see and touch animals.<\/p>\n

Be sure to go inside Conservation Stations where you can use the Animal Cams to watch animals go through their normal day. Walk through the veterinary labs where, if you\u2019re lucky, you could catch a veterinarian working with an animal.\u00a0 Insects and reptiles are showcased here also.\u00a0 The turtles are fascinating to watch as they make their way around their terrarium and push sand to make themselves more comfortable.<\/p>\n

The Rafiki\u2019s Planet Watch video gives information about endangered animals and Song of the Rainforest is an audio show which surrounds you with the sounds of the rainforest.\u00a0 It\u2019s dark and headphones are used in soundproof booths \u2013 a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle and heat.<\/p>\n

Although you won\u2019t see tigers on the safari, you will see them in Asia.\u00a0 Asia is the home of the Maharajah Jungle Trek, a walking trail where you can get up close and personal with the tigers, fruit bats, Komodo dragons and colorful birds.\u00a0 Also located in Asia are Kali River Rapids where you will get wet as you ride the rapids through rushing waters and a blazing inferno.\u00a0 Secure your valuables in the cargo area (even better put them in a locker or leave them on dry ground with a non-rider) and get ready to be soaked!\u00a0 This ride was so much fun for our family that we purchased a ride vehicle model to take home to remember.\u00a0 How was it possible that in a 12 seat raft only one person was under every waterfall or fountain?\u00a0 That honor belonged to my husband and our children couldn\u2019t stop laughing.<\/p>\n

\"Disney\"<\/a>
Disney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Expedition Everest is one wild ride I haven\u2019t taken.\u00a0 My husband and family members have been on it and love it.\u00a0 As for me, I find myself enjoying the people watching and the absolute beauty and authenticity of the area.\u00a0 As with other areas of the Animal Kingdom attention to detail is incredible here.\u00a0 A team of Imagineers, led by Joe Rohde, traveled to the \u201creal\u201d areas of the world upon which each area is based and took thousands of photographs in order to provide an authentic experience for all of us.<\/p>\n

On to DinoLand U.S.A. ~ where you\u2019ll find Dinosaur, formerly known as Countdown to Extinction.\u00a0 Board a jeep to time travel back in time to pick up a dinosaur for a return to modern times.\u00a0 Bouncing, lurching, dodging meteors and some pretty frightening carnivores for 3.5 minutes seems like a lot longer. \u00a0You need to enter The Dino Institute for this one and it is well worth it.\u00a0 One year my husband and I rode with a 9 year old girl whose mom was sitting outside with an infant in a stroller.\u00a0 We talked about the dinosaurs and exhibits inside the building and had a lot of fun when our little friend asked if we knew anything at all about Doctor Who.\u00a0 Where else but at Walt Disney World?<\/p>\n

My experience with the other areas of DinoLand is limited to a friend\u2019s children but I can say that The Boneyard can keep them entertained for hours.\u00a0 While some of our party rode Dinosaur the younger ones played in the Boneyard and had a blast digging for dinosaur bones and other fossils.\u00a0 There is shade there and plenty of benches for the adults.\u00a0 Two smaller rides are also housed at Chester & Hester\u2019s Dino-Rama.\u00a0 Primeval Whirl is a small roller coaster and Triceratop Spin is perfect for the Dumbo lover.<\/p>\n

Finding Nemo \u2013 The Musical is a puppet show of sorts with all the favorite characters from the movie in a wonderful show that includes dancers, acrobats and the music from that big blue world.\u00a0 The theater is air conditioned and very cool to see.<\/p>\n

When shopping at Animal Kingdom Park it\u2019s important to remember that some of the things you see are not available at shops at Downtown Disney and you should consider picking them up when you see them.<\/p>\n

Animal Kingdom was designed to help us learn about conservation in addition to entertaining us with the shows and attractions.\u00a0 Over the years it has changed.\u00a0 For example, The Festival of the Lion King was once performed in an open air theater with just a roof.\u00a0 Now it\u2019s in an enclosed building with air conditioning.\u00a0 Finding Nemo \u2013 the Musical replaced Tarzan, which replaced a show that celebrated the movie The Jungle Book.<\/p>\n

Going forward there are bound to be more changes at Animal Kingdom.\u00a0 As we celebrate 15 years of Animal Kingdom we celebrate the future and what it might bring.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Debbie Boehm April 22nd marks 15 years since Disney\u2019s Animal Kingdom opened its gates for the first time.\u00a0 As a Cast Member of The Disney Store in the local mall, I have many memories of that time and the excitement building up to this momentous occasion.\u00a0 Earth Day was the perfect day for the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":202,"featured_media":5108,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6189],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-article"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/202"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5105"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79533,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5105\/revisions\/79533"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}