In January 1990, Imagineering Concept Designer Joe Rohde met with Michael Eisner about a proposal for a new animal park. His concept was simple: a traditional theme park, an Epcot style pavilion, and a nontraditional zoo. Disney's Wild Animal Kingdom Project was announced June 5, 1995 and ground was broken in August 1995. The name changed a bit during the next couple years and the Grand Opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom was held on April 22, 1998.
Animal Kingdom has an afternoon parade Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade.
The Tree of Life, an impressive icon, stands tall in the distance as you emerge from the entrance, called the Oasis. Then think of the park as a bicycle wheel, the Tree of Life is the hub and the various lands stretch out like spokes.
Animal Kingdom opened with the Oasis, Safari Village (renamed Discovery Island), Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Conservation Station (renamed Rafiki's Planet Watch), Dinoland USA and a small portion of Asia. Before the park's first birthday, a larger portion of Asia opened to complete the circle.
The exquisite detail that Disney is known for shines through in Disney's Animal Kingdom where landscaping and attention to details dominate the 500 acre park.
Two "Behind the Scenes Tours" are offered for you to learn more about Animal Kingdom. A special Wildlife Discovery Excursion is available to any Disney Resort Concierge Guests.
On the southwestern edge of the Walt Disney World Resort, Imagineers have created a nature rich and protective environment for exotic animals. Most of the barriers between the animals and you are natural looking or invisible.
Disney craftsman had the difficult task of making something brand new, look very old - with crumbling walls and roots sticking up into the walk ways. To create just the right feeling, buildings are a maximum of 30 feet tall, while many of the trees are over 40 feet tall.
The park is beautiful with wondrous vegetation, a broadway class show (Festival of the Lion King), a 20 minute journey into an African savannah (Kilimanjaro Safaris), time travel back to the Cretaceous Period (Dinosaur), and lots of exotic birds and animals to discover.
Disney storytelling comes to life in a kingdom brimming with fun, wonder and adventure. Join together with your circle of loved ones to savor thrilling attractions, shows, the majesty of nature and the fascinating animals — real and imagined — that enrich our planet.
Finding Nemo - The Musical Dive into a musical adventure with your pals from Disney·Pixar's "Finding Nemo"! Watch your favorite characters come to life on stage — with amazing puppetry and original music
Category: Live Entertainment
Kilimanjaro Safaris® Ride off into the savannah in an open-air safari vehicle for a thrilling animal-filled African expedition.
Category: Mild But Wild Thrills
DINOSAUR Jump into your time rover and zoom back 65 million years to come face-to-face with dinosaurs as you try to rescue one of these prehistoric beasts.
Category: Big Thrills
Festival of the Lion King Join the Circle of Life as you are surrounded by the pageantry, spectacle, magic and humor of "The Lion King" in this dazzling 30-minute big-as-Broadway live musical.
Category: Live Entertainment
It's Tough to be a Bug!® This way, way off-Bugway show is "a creepy, crawly bug-eyed adventure" that makes a mountain of laughs out of an anthill of friendly insects.
Category: Mild But Wild Thrills
Kali River Rapids® Venture deep into an Asian rainforest and get drenched aboard a raft adventure on the Chakranadi River.
Category: Mild But Wild Thrills
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade Join the outrageous island street party as Disney characters come to the jungle on expedition with a wild, whimsical, larger-than-life tribute to their animal friends.
Category: Live Entertainment
Expedition Everest Take on the treacherous terrain of the towering Forbidden Mountain in this high-altitude, high-speed train adventure. Nail-biting hairpin turns hurl you forward toward the peak and then, just when you think it couldn't get more thrilling - backward! The mountain's full of surprises: Beware the snarling beast who watches over his domain... the Yeti! Category: Big Thrills
Information courtesy of Allearsnet.com & Disney.com.