Animal Kingdom

About

Opening on Earth Day, April 22, 1998, Disney's Animal Kingdom is the fourth park to open at the Walt Disney World resort. It is the largest Disney park in the world, with much of it's acreage being taken up by Kilimanjaro Safaris.

The icon of Disney's Animal Kingdom is the Tree of Life, a 145 foot man made tree with 325 animals carved into it's bark. In the base of the tree of life is the 3D stage show titled "It's Tough to be a Bug" featuring characters from the Pixar movie, "A Bug's Life".

The lead Imagineer for Disney's Animal Kingdom, Joe Rohde often discusses a set values for Disney's Animal Kingdom that led them through the design process and story telling in the park:

The intrinsic and superior value of nature - this means that nature, above all else is at the forefront of the design. This leads to parts of the park being out of their true control (live animals, overgrown pathways, etc.).
Transformation through adventure - this idea is that adventure changes people when they experience something they've never experienced before.
Personal call to action - a sense of responsibility for the animals and the conservation message.

The lands of the Animal Kingdom are as follows:

The Oasis

This is the entrance area of the park. In lieu of a traditional Main Street style entrance that's lined with shops, The Oasis is a series of trails meant to be explored by guests. Guests can find a variety of animals ranging from birds to moderate sized mammals.

The Oasis Exhibits

Visible Animals

Babirusa
Patagonian Cavy
Rhinoceros Iguana
Military Macaw
Scarlet Macaw
Reeve's Muntjac
Rosybill Pochard
African Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill
Black Swan
Black-Necked Swan
Swamp Wallaby
Chloe Wigeon

Visible Fish

Longnose Gar

No longer visible

Southern Giant Anteater
Hyacinth Macaw

Discovery Island

For all intents and purposes, this is the hub of the park. While much of the park is a large circle, bridges to each land extend from Discovery Island. Discovery Islands features the Tree of Life, shops, "It's Tough to be a Bug" and several animal exhibits.

Discovery Island Trails

Paroon Shark-Catfish
Nene Goose
Military Macaw
African Crested Porcupine
Painted Stork
Saddle-Billed Stork
Giant Galapagos Tortoise

The Tree of Life Exhibits

West African Crowned Crane
Lesser Flamingo
Red Kangaroo
Collared Lemur
Ring-Tailed Lemur
Green-Winged Macaw
Asian Small-Clawed Otter
White Stork
Tambaqui
Cotton Top Tamarin
Lappet-Faced Vulture

Africa

Africa is home to Kilimanjaro Safaris, the single biggest attraction in Disney history. Guests enter Africa in the village of Harambe. The African marketplace features shops and restaurants as well as the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail and the Kilimanjaro Safaris. After the 2014 closure of Camp Minnie Mickey, Festival of the Lion King moved to Africa as well. Also departing from Africa is the Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki's Planet Watch

Kilimanjaro Safaris

The attraction vehicles list many of the animals visible on a "Game Spotting Guide". This includes the following:

Sable Antelope
Bongo
Bontebok
Ankole Cattle
Cheetah
White-breasted Cormorant
Stanley Crane
Nile Crocodile
Northern Pintail Duck
Red-billed Duck
White-faced Tree Duck
Yellow-billed Duck
Yellow-backed Duiker
[Patterson's] Eland
[African] Elephant
Greater Flamingo
Helmeted Guinea Fowl
Thomson's Gazelle
Reticulated Giraffe
Egyptian Goose
Hippopotamus
Impala
Greater Kudu
Lion
Mandrill
Okapi
Scimitar-horned Oryx
Ostrich
Pink-backed Pelican
Black Rhinoceros
White Rhinoceros
Marabou Stork
Saddle-billed Stork
Yellow-billed Stork
Warthog
Wildebeest
Grant's Zebra

Additional Animal Species have been added that are not on the Game Spotting Guide:

Addax
West African Crowned Crane
African Wild Dog
Masai Giraffe
Spotted Hyena
Springbok
Waterbuck

Animals visible in the queue

West African Crowned Cranes
Sacred Ibis

Some of these animals from the Game Spotting Guide are no longer visible including:

Northern Pintail Duck
Red-billed Duck
White-faced Tree Duck
Yellow-billed Duck
Helmeted Guinea Fowl
Thomson's Gazelle
Egyptian Goose
Impala

Additional animals that were not on the Game Spotting Guide and are no longer visible are:

Mohr Gazelle
Grevy's Zebra

Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail

Visible Animals

Angolan Black & White Colobus Monkey
Stanley Crane
Yellow-backed Duiker
Okapi
Meerkat
Grevy's Zebra
Western Lowland Gorilla
Hippopotamus
Kenyan Sand Boa
African Bullfrog
Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches
Hedgehog Tenrec
Ornate Spiny-Tailed Lizard
Four-striped Grass Mouse
Naked Mole-Rat
African Mud Turtle
Pancake Tortoise
Spider Tortoise
Bearded Barbet
Black Crake
Emerald Spotted Wood Dove
Tambourine Dove
Cut-throat Finches
Pygmy Goose
Hammerkop
Green Wood Hoopoe
African Jacana
Blue-breasted Kingfisher
Black-cheeked Lovebird
Bronze Mannikin
Brown-necked Parrot
African Green Pigeon
Olive Pigeon
Snowy-headed Robin Chat
Blue Bellied Roller
Raquet-tailed Roller
Magpie Shrike
Amethyst Starling
Golden-breasted Starling
Purple Glossy Starling
Superb Starling
Marbled Teal
Hottentot Teal
Great Blue Turaco
Lavender Waxbills
Taveta Golden Weaver
White-headed Buffalo Weaver
Paradise Whydah
Pintail Whydah
Victorian Rock Cichlids (pyxichromis orthostoma, labrochromis ishmaeli, paraiabidochremis plagiodiodon, prognathochromis perrierie)

No longer visible

Gerenuk
Warthog
Maribou Stork)
Dung Beetle
Spiny Mice
Emperor Scorpion
Mombassa Starbust Tarantula
Brown-necked Parrot
Golden-breasted Starling
Hottentot Teal)

Pandora: The World of AVATAR

Pandora: The World of AVATAR is inspired by the 2009 James Cameron movie, Avatar. Guests enter the Valley of Mo'ara where they encounter interactive plant life in the bioluminescent forest as well as floating mountains.

Tour guides from Alpha Centurai Expeditions (ACE) have colonized the area and made peace with the Na'vi after years of conflict. The time frame of the land takes place a generation after the original Avatar movie and it's four sequels. The conflict between humans and Na'vi is over, but remnants of the conflict can be found throughout the land.

As guests enter the land from Discovery Island, they encounter a large Pandoran plant called a Baja Tickler. The plant helps detoxify the atmosphere and helps humans breath in the otherwise poisonous air.

The land features a snack stand called Pongu Pongu where guests can get offerings exclusive to Pandora. A quickservice restaurant called Satuli Cateen offers a wider selection of food inspired by the movie.

The two main attractions in the land are Na'vi River Journey and Flight of Passage. Na'vi River Journey is a nighttime boat ride through the bioluminescent forests of Pandora culminating with an encounter with a Na'vi Shaman. Flight of Passage allows guests to link with their Avatar and ride a banshee outside of the confines of the Valley of Mo'ara.

Throughout the land guests can enjoy the Na'vi drum circle, Navi totems, and interactive walkways and foliage.

Rafiki's Planet Watch

This is the veterinary services area of the park. It helps convey the parks conservation message through interactive exhibits and live animal encounters. There is also a petting zoo for all ages and scheduled character meet and greets as well.

Affection Section

Visible Animals

Pineywoods Cow
African Pygmy Goats
Nigerian Dwarf Goats
African Guinea Hog
Kunekune Pigs
Babydoll Sheep

Conservation Station

Visible Animals

Axolotl, Blue Poison Dart Frog
Golden Poison Dart Frog
Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frog
Solomon Islands Leaf Frog
Emperor Newt
European fire salamander
Greater Siren
Colorado River Toad
Puerto Rican Crested Toad
Surinam Toad
Blue Death-feigner beetle
Elephant beetles
Flamboyant Flower beetles
Fungus beetles
Giant Desert Centipede
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
Eastern Lubber Grasshopper
Giant Stick Insect (aka Giant Spiny Stick)
Malaysian Dead-leaf Mantis
Common Emperor Scorpion (aka African Emperor Scorpion)
Tailless Whip Scorpion (aka Asian Whip Scorpion)
Brazilian Salmon Tarantula
Mexican Fireleg Tarantula
Puerto Rican Boa
Desert Rosy Boa
Inland Bearded Dragon
Black Tree Monitor
Blue-tounged Skink
Prehensile-tailed Skink
Egyptian Tortoise
Annam Leaf Turtle
Chinese Box Turtle

No longer visible:

Green Tree Python
Orb Spider
Two-toed amphiuma
Hourglass Tree Frog
Velvet Ant
Predacious Diving Beetle
Rainbow scarabs
Desert Hairy Scorpion
Burmese Python
Eastern Box Turtle

Habitat Habit

Visible Animals

Geoffrey's Marmoset
Cotton-top Tamarin
Emperor Tamarin
Golden Lion Tamarin

Animal Encounter/It All Started With a Mouse

Visible Animals (Show):

Lesser Anteater
Rotchschild's porcupine

Visible Animals (Terrariums):

Komodo Dragon
Gopher Tortoise

No longer visible (Terrariums):

Asian Water Monitor

Asia

Asia is broken down into two separate villages: Anandapur and Serka Zong. In the village of Anandapur, guests can find Kali River Rapids, Flights of Wonder and the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Along the path from Anandapur to Serka Zong guests will encounter the exhibit for the Siamang Gibbons before approaching the enormous Expedition Everest Roller Coaster.

Maharajah Jungle Trek

Visible Animals

Banteng
Rodrigues Fruit Bat
Blackbuck
Water Buffalo
Sarus Crane
White Naped Crane
Eld's Deer
Komodo Dragon
Roechelle Duck
Malayan Flying Fox
Bar-Headed Goose
Green Peafowl
Asian Tiger
Sumatran Tiger
Tree Monitor
Fairy Bluebird
White-Cheeked Bulbul
Bartlett's Bleeding Heart Dove
Green Winged Dove
Jambu Fruit Dove
Mandarin Duck
White Headed Duck
Stella's Lorikeet
Chestnut-Breasted Malcoha
Plum-Headed Parakeet
Crested Wood Partridge
Hooded Pitta
Golden Pheasant
Great Argus Pheasant
Nicobar Pigeon
Pied Imperial Pigeon
Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Masked Plover
Black-Collared Starling
Metallic Starling
Shama Thrush

No longer visible

Asia Giant Centipede
Blood Python
Annam Leaf Turtle
Burmese Black Mountain Tortoise
Fire-Tufted Barbet
Palm Cockatoo
Indian Pygmy Goose
White-Throated Kingfisher

Siamang and Gibbon Exhibit

Visible Animals

Siamang Gibbon
White-Cheeked Gibbon

Visible Animals (Flights of Wonder)

Chicken
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Pogo)
Andean Condor
East African Crowned Crane (Frasier)
Pied Crow (Harley)
Bald Eagle (Hope)
Harris Hawk (Orion)
Trumpeter Hornbill (Miles)
Blue and Gold Macaw
Green-Winegd Macaw
Hyacinth Macaw
Barn Owl (Alfalfa)
Great Horned Owl
Spectacled Owl
African Gray Parrot (Keebler)
Yellow-naped Amazon Parrot (Groucho)
Raven (Poe)
Red-Legged Seriama, Black Vulture (Webster)

Dinoland U.S.A.

Part research facility, part roadside carnival, Dinoland U.S.A. features the DINOSAUR attraction, Primeval Whirl, Triceratops Spin, Finding Nemo The Musical, carnival games and more.

Visible Animals (American Crocodile Exhibit)

American Crocodile
Abdim Stork
Asian Brown Tortoise

Disney Description

Disney's Animal Kingdom

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.

Dedicated this 22nd day of April, 1998

Michael D. Eisner

Historical Notes

Estimated attendance courtesy of Themed Entertainment Association TEA-ERA/AECOM for 2006-Present. Prior years courtesy of WDWMagic.com user donsullivan.

Year	Attendance	% Change	Global Rank
2017	12,500,000	15.3%	6
2016	10,844,000	-0.7%	7
2015	10,922,000	5.0%	7
2014	10,402,000	2.0%	7
2013	10,198,000	2.0%	7
2012	9,998,000	2.2%	7
2011	9,783,000	1.0%	7
2010	9,686,000	1.0%	7
2009	9,590,000	0.5%	8
2008	9,540,000	0.5%	8
2007	9,490,000	6.5%	8
2006	8,910,000	8.7%	8
Pre 2005 data courtesy of WDWMagic.com user donsullivan
Year	Attendance	% Change	Walt Disney World Rank
2005	8,200,000	5.1%	4
2004	7,800,000	6.8%	4
2003	7,300,000	0.0%	4
2002	7,300,000	-5.2%	4
2001	7,700,000	-7.2%	4
2000	8,300,000	-3.5%	4
1999	8,600,000	43.3%	4
1998	6,000,000	-	4

Extinct Lands

Camp Minnie Mickey

Extinct Attractions

Extinct Entertainment

Extinct Meet and Greets

Chip and Dale Meet and Greet

Extinct Restaurants

Extinct Shops

Extinct Events

Harambe Nights

Significant Personnel

Vice President: Djuan Rivers (August 13, 2014 - Present)
Vice President (Former): Josh D'Amara (February 1, 2013 - August 12, 2014)
Vice President (Former): Michael Colglazier (Through January 31, 2013)
Animal Operations Manager: Steve Metzler
Imagineering Creative Lead for Animal Kingdom: Joe Rohde, Senior Vice President, Executive Designer of Walt Disney Imagineering