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First came the Magic Kingdom, then Epcot, then Disney MGM Studios, and now... Introducing the most adventurous Walt Disney World theme park ever. 'Disney's Animal Kingdom'. The imagination of Disney... gone wild.
―1998 TV commercial on The Lion King II: Simba's Pride VHS.


Disney's Animal Kingdom is one of four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort. Built on a theme taking inspiration from many cultures around the world, circling around a central animal message, the park's icon is the magnificent Tree of Life, into which is carved a massive array of animals, insects, and fauna.

Plans for the park were originally released in 1995, and ground-breaking began soon after. The park opened on Earth Day (April 22) 1998, and is the largest of the four theme parks in the Resort, due to the large expanses of man-made savanna and animal habitats in the north of the park.

Dedication[]

"Welcome to a kingdom of animals... real, ancient, and imagined: a kingdom ruled by lions, dinosaurs, and dragons; a kingdom of balance, harmony, and survival; a kingdom we enter to share in the wonder, gaze at the beauty, thrill at the drama, and learn."
Michael D. Eisner, April 22, 1998

Lands[]

The Oasis[]

The Oasis is the Main Street, U.S.A. of Animal Kingdom. Guests first enter this land after entering the park. Here, guests are surrounded by animal exhibits featuring birds and other animals as well as realistic rock work until they are greeted by a view of the Tree of Life.

Discovery Island[]

Located around the Tree of Life, Discovery Island is the main hub of Disney's Animal Kingdom. Many shops and restaurants are found here. Discovery Island is home to It's Tough to Be a Bug! inside the Tree of Life. Walking tours of the gardens surrounding the Tree of Life are also located on Discovery Island. This area was originally named Safari Village.

Africa[]

Themed around the southwestern continent, the Africa area is home to Pangani Forest Exploration Trails as well as a train to Rafiki's Planet Watch. You can also find the insanely popular Kilimanjaro Safaris in Africa. This area also became the new home of the popular Festival of the Lion King stage show in the summer of 2014 (retitled A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King in 2021), following the closure of Camp Minnie-Mickey (which is permanently closed).

Rafiki's Planet Watch[]

Rafiki's Planet Watch is the only land that is not connected to Discovery Island, it is instead connected to Africa. The land is named after Rafiki, a character from the 1994 Disney film The Lion King. Attractions in the land include Wildlife Express Train and walkthrough attractions Habitat Habit!, Conservation Station, and Affection Section.

Asia[]

Currently famous for the new Expedition Everest roller coaster. Asia also contains the new restaurant The Yak and Yeti. Themed around a town near Tibet, Asia, Asia also contains Kali River Rapids, Flights of Wonder (which is permanently closed to make way for UP! A Great Bird Adventure in 2018), and the Maharajah Jungle Trek.

DinoLand U.S.A.[]

Containing the controversial Chester and Hester's Dinorama, Dinoland USA has evolved into a diversified area within the park. Encompassing Finding Nemo: The Musical (which was temporarily closed to make way for a "reimagined" version of the show as Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!, which opened in 2022), Dinosaur, TriceraTop Spin, and Primeval Whirl (which is now permanently closed), Dinoland USA contains a wide variety of attractions. Dinorama's theming is often under fire from Disney fans due to its theme of a cheap carnival in what is usually an impeccably-themed complex.

Pandora: The World of Avatar[]

An area themed to the world of Pandora from James Cameron's Avatar films. It opened in summer of 2017.

Former Lands[]

Camp Minnie-Mickey[]

Camp Minnie-Mickey was the main character greeting area of the park. It was also home of two stage shows: Festival of the Lion King and Pocahontas and her Forest Friends. The area was originally slated to become Beastly Kingdom with the Camp serving as a temporary placeholder, but those plans were never realized. The Camp closed for good in January 2014 to make way for a new area, which would eventually become Pandora: The World of Avatar.

Characters[]

Current[]

Discovery Island[]

Past[]

DinoLand U.S.A.[]

Discovery Island[]

Asia[]

Special Events[]

Current[]

  • Disney After Hours

Recent Park Map[]

Animal-kingdom


Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • When Imagineers were designing Animal Kingdom, executives were unconvinced that the park would have the necessary draw to compete against other zoos. To reassure them of the up-close excitement, Imagineers brought a live tiger to their presentation. It turned out that was all the convincing necessary.
  • Over a three-year period, Animal Kingdom came to life on what was a barren cow pasture. The incredible transformation included laying 60 miles of plumbing, importing 4.4 million yards of dirt, creating rivers, and relocating and relocating animals from around the world. The park was quite an investment—a whopping $800 million dollars!
  • Approximately 1,000 animals live in Animal Kingdom, and more than 150 species have reproduced since the park's opening.
  • Out of the three Walt Disney World Parks, this is the only one to not feature fireworks for the safety of the animals.
  • Ever wondered where all of your recycled containers go? Well, quite a few milk jugs ended up in Animal Kingdom. Through Disney's "green" efforts, the benches in the park are made of the recycled material.
  • It has a game on Facebook.com and unlocks more animals encircling the Tree of Life.
  • This is the only Disney Park where all of its restrooms have doors on their entrances/exits. This is because in the event of a rogue animal escaping its enclosure, guests would need to go into the restrooms and close the door for cover.


v - e - d
Walt Disney World
Theme Parks
Magic KingdomEpcotDisney's Hollywood StudiosDisney's Animal Kingdom
Water Parks
Disney's Typhoon LagoonDisney's Blizzard Beach
Other Attractions
Disney SpringsESPN Wide World of Sports ComplexWalt Disney World Monorail SystemDisney SkylinerClub 33
Resorts
Disney's Animal Kingdom LodgeDisney's Beach Club ResortDisney's Beach Club VillasDisney's BoardWalk ResortDisney's Contemporary ResortDisney's Grand Floridian Resort & SpaDisney's Polynesian Village ResortDisney's Wilderness LodgeDisney's Caribbean Beach ResortDisney's Coronado Springs ResortDisney's All-Star Movies ResortDisney's All-Star Music ResortDisney's All-Star Sports ResortDisney's Pop Century ResortDisney's Art of Animation ResortDisney's Old Key West ResortDisney's BoardWalk VillasBay Lake TowerDisney's Fort Wilderness Resort & CampgroundDisney's Port Orleans ResortDisney's Yacht Club ResortDisney's Animal Kingdom VillasDisney's Saratoga Springs Resort & SpaDisney's Riviera ResortStar Wars: Galactic Starcruiser
Former Areas
Disney's River CountryDiscovery IslandPleasure IslandWalt Disney World SpeedwayWalt Disney World Airport
See Also
The Walt Disney World ExplorerAs Told by EmojiDisney TransportTransportation and Ticket Center


v - e - d
Disney's Animal Kingdom logo
The Oasis
The Oasis Exhibits
Discovery Island
Tree of LifeIt's Tough to Be a Bug!Discovery Island TrailsWinged Encounters - The Kingdom Takes FlightZootopia 3D Show (Opening in 2025)
Africa
Kilimanjaro SafarisPangani Forest Exploration TrailsWild Africa TrekFestival of the Lion King
Rafiki's Planet Watch
Wildlife Express TrainConservation StationThe Animation Experience at Conservation StationHabitat Habit!Affection Section
Asia
Feathered Friends in Flight!Expedition EverestKali River RapidsMaharajah Jungle Trek
DinoLand U.S.A.
DinosaurThe Boneyard PlaygroundFinding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama (Fossil Fun GamesTriceraTop Spin)
Pandora: The World of Avatar
Avatar: Flight of PassageNa'vi River Journey
Tropical America (Opening in TBA)
Indiana Jones Adventure
Current Entertainment
DiVine
Former Attractions and Entertainment
Discovery River BoatsCamp Minnie-Mickey (Pocahontas and her Forest Friends) • Dinosaur JubileeDisney KiteTailsJourney into the Jungle BookTarzan Rocks!UP! A Great Bird AdventurePrimeval WhirlThe Jungle Book: Alive with MagicRivers of Light: We Are OneFlights of Wonder
Resorts
Disney's Animal Kingdom LodgeDisney's Animal Kingdom VillasDisney's Coronado Springs ResortDisney's All-Star Movies ResortDisney's All-Star Music ResortDisney's All-Star Sports Resort


v - e - d
Kingdom keepers - logo
Books
Kingdom KeepersKingdom Keepers I: Disney After DarkKingdom Keepers II: Disney at DawnKingdom Keepers III: Disney in ShadowKingdom Keepers IV: Power PlayKingdom Keepers V: Shell GameKingdom Keepers VI: Dark PassageKingdom Keepers VII: The Insider
Characters
Original Characters: Finn WhitmanCharlene TurnerTerrence MaybeckDell PhilbyIsabella AngeloWayne KreskyAmanda LockhartJessica LockhartMrs. WhithamGreg LuowskiDillard Cole

Disney Characters: Mickey MouseMinnie MouseGoofyDonald DuckDaisy DuckPlutoChip and DaleArielViolet ParrMulanKing TritonMegaraStitchRemyDjangoRajahPrince PhillipElsaRapunzelTimonPumbaaTiggerLiloWinnie the PoohPiglet
Overtakers: MaleficentChernabogThe Evil QueenCruella De VilClaude FrolloUrsulaJafarShan YuJack SparrowTia DalmaGastonPrince JohnHorned KingBig Bad WolfJ. Worthington FoulfellowGideonShenzi, Banzai, and EdDiabloMagic BroomsGreen Army MenBlackbeardShere KhanSi and AmHopperFlotsam and JetsamJudge DoomMadame LeotaSaborThe Headless HorsemanStormtroopersScarZira

Locations
Magic KingdomEpcotDisney's Hollywood StudiosDisney's Animal KingdomDisney's Typhoon LagoonDisneyQuestCinderella CastleIt's a Small WorldSplash MountainThe New Adventures of Winnie the PoohBig Thunder Mountain RailroadCamp Minnie-MickeyExpedition EverestFantasmic!Voyage of the Little MermaidDisney DreamWalt Disney: One Man's DreamDisney's Animal Kingdom LodgeSoarin'Mission: SPACETest TrackWonders of LifeMorocco PavilionChina PavilionFrance PavilionNorway PavilionMexico PavilionDisneylandJungle CruiseThe Sorcerer's HatIndiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden EyeBuzz Lightyear Astro BlastersThe Haunted MansionCasey Jr. Circus TrainMickey's ToontownMatterhornThe Disney Gallery
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