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 (The chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company from 1984 until 2005)
Being the fourth of the four theme parks built by the Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is known as the largest animal theme park in the world. It was opened on Earth Day in April 22, 1998 and is located at the Bay Lake, Florida. It’s vicinity covers about 580 acres (235 ha) and is represented by The Tree of Life, which is an artificial tree sculpted to be 145 feet tall (44 m) and 50 feet wide (15 m).
It is the very first Disney park to be themed fully around animal conservation, with which Walt Disney himself had envisioned once. It shows Walt Disney’s commitment and dedication to environment and animal conservation, care, education and research. It is now a home to 1,700 animals or more with a total of 250 different species.
Having met as well as exceeded the required standards set for animal education, conservation, and research, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is approved, acknowledged and accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
In the year 2011, Disney’s Animal Kingdom ranked as the 4th most visited amusement park in the United States as well as the 7th most visited in the world, having approximately hosted 9.8 million guests and about 9.9 million in 2012.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park is divided into seven enthralling lands namely Oasis, Discovery Island, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia and DinoLand, U.S.A. areas.
The park’s main entrance is the Oasis. Some of its featured animal habitats are the African Spoonbills, Babirusas, Chiloe Wigeons, Eleonora Cockatoos, Florida Cooters, Giant Anteaters, Hyacinth Macaws, Lesser Whistling Ducks, Military Macaws, Puna Teals, Rhinoceros Iguanas, Swamp Wallabies, White-cheeked Pintails, Yellow-billed Teals and many more. If you continue and go deeper into the park, you will arrive at the Discovery Island.
Discovery Island is at the center of the park, connecting the other sections of the park (except Rafiki’s Planet Watch) and is found in the middle of the Discovery River waterway. Its original name was Safari Village. This is also where you can see the Tree of Life. In this area you can view the Abdim’s Storks, Black-necked Swans, Collared Brown Lemurs, Knob-billed Ducks, Oriental Small-Clawed Otters, Red-and-green Macaws, Silver Teal, White Storks, etc.
Next is the Camp Minnie-Mickey which is themed as a rustic summer camp. There where you meet and greet the Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Koda, and Thumper. The main theater in this area is home to the Festival of the Lion King.
Africa showcases several African animals wandering through acres of savanna, rivers and rocky hills, and some of which are the Addax, Bongos, Cheetahs, Gerenuks, Hippos, Impalas, Mandrills, Nyalas, Sable Antelopes, Thomson’s Gazelles, Warthogs.
Rafiki’s Planet is where the guests board the Wildlife Express Train for a short trip to and from the area consisting of three sub-areas, the Habitat Habit!, Conservation Station and the Affection Section.
Asia contains the Maharajah Jungle Trek which leads through the forests and ruins which are home to a many animal species such as Blue-Throated Barbets, Crested Partridges, Eld’s Deer, Green Peafowls, Hoopoes, Iris Lorikeets, Mandarin Ducks, Northern White-Cheeked Gibbons, Silver-Eared Mesias, White Rumped Shamas and Yellow-Vented Bulbuls.
The last area, the DinoLand U.S.A., displays the American Crocodile, Red Legged Seriemas and Asian Brown Tortoise. Those that have survived since the dinosaur era are found along the Cretaceous Trail. They have the DINOSAUR which is a thrill ride featuring a trip through time to the Late Cretaceous Period. There is also the Boneyard where your children may enjoy a multi-leveled playground area complete with fossil and skeletons to be uncovered. Have a colorful ride with your family at the TriceraTop Spin and a spinning roller coaster ride at the Primeval Whirl.
With all these being said about Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, come, visit and discover for yourself or with your family the experience of great fun, thrill and adventure.
