Animal Kingdom

News

Celebrate Animal Kingdom’s 15th Anniversary on Earth Day, April 22

Disney's Animal Kingdom - the largest animal theme park in the world - opened to the public on Earth Day, April 22, 1998. This year marks the park's 15th anniversary and there's a "wild" celebration planned.

Two New Interactive Games Launching This Spring at Walt Disney World

Get ready for a swashbuckling good time at the Magic Kingdom, because according to the Disney Parks Blog Pirates are taking over Adventureland this spring with a new interactive entertainment adventure.

News Tidbits: Animal Guides and New Home for Marie

Here are a couple of news tidbits for those of you heading out to the parks soon that have to do with Disney's Animal Kingdom and an Epcot character meet and greet.

First up, the next time you find yourself at AK, check out the new animal guides. Found at the main entrance, the tip board and Mombasa Marketplace, the animal guides should cover most animals found within AK. These guides look to be in a trial phase which began just the other day (October 1) and should be available through November 30.

News Tidbits: Kali Rapids and Epcot Meet-and-Greet

Here are two brief news stories that could be of interest to our Walt Disney World fans.

First up,some helpful news from Disney's Animal Kingdom. That park is said to start offering two-hour locker rentals to guests riding the Kali Rapids. Look for the new lockers by the restroom near the Rapids' main entrance. Keep in mind, it is a two-hour rental; those wishing a longer rental time can still utilize the lockers for rent near the front of the park.

Avatarland Delayed?

Could work on an "Avatar"-based land within Walt Disney World be delayed? According to online reports, the answer is yes.

The reports say work on the sequels (yes, sequels with an "s") to the blockbuster 2009 film has not yet started and no release dates have been set for either "Avatar 2" or "Avatar 3." This stall could spill over to "Pandora: The World of Avatar" - the "Avatarland" that is slated to be built in Disney's Animal Kingdom.

New Appointment in Disney Imagineering Indicates Possible 'Significant Activity' at WDW

It's been reported Walt Disney Imagineering has recently undergone a shuffle of sorts of its employees - all of which could indicate new activity in Walt Disney World's future.

The newest change in Walt Disney Imagineering has Kathy Magnum taking on the new role of "Producer, Walt Disney World Portfolio." This new role will have Magnum partnering up with Jack Blitch and working with Meg Crofton as a creative producer for Walt Disney World. She'll continue to report to Walt Disney Imagineering Chief Creative Executive Bruce Vaughn.

Animal Kingdom's Wild Africa Trek Linked to Illness Outbreak

A popular guest experience in Disney's Animal Kingdom park is being linked to "several dozen" cases of guest illness. Several guests have reported an abdominal-based sickness after taking part in the Wild Africa Trek tour during June and July.

Dan Weister, a spokesperson for the Orange County Health Department, said the illness "appears to be some kind of stomach bug." The source of the illness hasn't been found, and Weister says: "It could be food-borne, it could be water-borne, it could be something that's passed on person-to-person, it could be something that's picked up by surface."

Walt Disney World Rumors: Adventureland and Avatarland

Who doesn't love a good rumor now and then? Here are two newer rumors about the happiest place on earth that are currently making the rounds.

Animal Kingdom Welcomes Baby Okapi

The okapi population at Disney's Animal Kingdom just got a little bigger with the addition of a new calf late last month. The newest okapi, a female named Nafuna, was born June 21.

Here are some fun stats about Nafuna's birth:

  • Her name is African and means "delivered feet first."
  • Nafuna weighed 35 pounds at birth.
  • The proud parents are first-time mom Zawadi and father Akili.

New Meet and Greet Planned for Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney is planning a new character meet and greet to debut at its Animal Kingdom park. The site of the new meet and greet will be Beastly Bazaar; that store is set to close August 12 to undergo its transformation to the character-guest meet up space.

Guests who liked the Beastly Bazaar's bulk candy purchasing option will be happy to note this feature will still be offered within the park after the store's closing - at Chester and Hester's in the Dinoland, U.S.A. section.

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Learn about the Man behind the Mouse at ‘Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream’ in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

If there is one attraction that should be a "must see" on any Disney fan's list, it is 'Walt Disney: One Man's Dream' at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Originally created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Walt's birth, it opened on October 1, 2001 as part of Walt Disney World's 100 years of Magic Celebration. A few years ago the attraction's marquee was updated to reflect that D23: The Official Disney Fan Club was now presenting the attraction.

5 Reasons to Stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge

Wake up, walk out onto your balcony, and take in views of an African savanna. This is just the beginning of the many amazing possibilities that await you at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Here are 5 reasons why you should consider staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge on your next visit.

Price of Walt Disney World Theme Park Tickets Increased for Second Time in Less Than a Year

For the second time in less than a year, the Walt Disney World Resort has raised the price of admission for all four theme parks.

A one-day ticket for the Magic Kingdom will now cost $99 for guests age 10 and older. This $4 increase makes the Magic Kingdom the most expensive Disney Park.

5 Popular Photos to Get at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Today we're pulling some photo tips out of the archive to revisit our series on "must have" pictures. The park of the day is Disney's Animal Kingdom. This is a beautiful park for photography with so much color and texture around it's difficult to take a bad picture. There are a few shots on themes that I seem to come across over and over in the Disney Blog-o-sphere, these popular location capture the essence of the Park.

The Broadsides of Harambe Village at Disney's Animal Kingdom

One of the reasons the Disney Parks keep fans returning year after year is the attention to detail they give to the storytelling throughout all of the lands. From architecture and attractions to landscaping and set dressings this attention is what allows millions to suspend belief and journey to a land far away from central Florida. One of my favorite areas for this is the Harambe Village in Disney's Animal Kingdom.

It’s Tough To Be A Bug at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The spectacular Tree of Life draws guests deeper into Disney's Animal Kingdom. As the dramatic 145 foot high Park icon comes into focus it is apparent that its massive truck is ornately carved with representations of 325 different animals. Standing beneath the impressive Park icon, guests may feel as if they've shrunk as they wind through the queue for the attraction deep within the tree's base.

Enjoy Exotic Cocktails at the Yak and Yeti Lounge

Looking to get out of crowd and enjoy a cocktail at Disney's Animal Kingdom? Why not stop in at the Yak & Yeti Lounge for a quick drink. This quaint bar is small with only about six seats and some standing room, but it's a great escape for grown up travelers looking for a break.

Details for Avatar-Inspired Land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Announced at D23 Expo Japan

After two years of rumor and speculation, the Avatar-themed land at Disney's Animal Kingdom really is happening.

Last weekend at the D23 Expo Japan, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Tom Staggs presented a first look at the new Avatar-inspired experience at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The announcement came via a video featuring James Cameron, director of Avatar and Walt Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde. You can watch it below.

Head Out on a New Adventure as a Wilderness Explorer at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Just like Russell in Disney/Pixar's UP, young guests at the Animal Kingdom can become a Wilderness Explorer.

The Wilderness Explorer experience gives kids - and grown-ups - the opportunity to discover all the natural surroundings of the Animal Kingdom while working toward earning one or more of the more than 30 badges available.

DFB Mini-Guide to Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios Snacks

One of the most useful tools I took along with me on a recent trip to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom was the Disney Food Blog's Mini-Guide to Magic Kingdom Snacks. With the ebook's pdf file loaded on my iPhone, the kids and I always knew where to head for the most delicious and cost effective snacks available. All the information I could ask for and then some was right at my fingertips, and that's a good thing because we used this reference a lot. I only wished I had one to use on our day at Disney's Hollywood Studios.