When most people think of Disney, Animal Kingdom isn't the first thing that comes to mind. Some people have criticized the park for not being "Disney enough" (whatever that means). But Animal Kingdom is very important to Disney. Walt Disney himself was a big believer in conservation, way before the modern movement of the 1970s started. Conservation was very important to Walt. He once said, "Landscapes of great wonder and beauty lie under our feet and all around us. They are discovered in tunnels in the ground, the heart of flowers, the hollows of trees, fresh-water ponds, seaweed jungles between tides, and even drops of water.Life in these hidden worlds is more startling in reality than anything we can imagine. How could this earth of ours, which is only a speck in the heavens, have so much variety of life, so many curious and exciting creatures?"
Walt also said, "You've probably heard people talk about conservation. Well, conservation isn't just the business of a few people. It's a matter that concerns all of us." This sentiment is the basis of Animal Kingdom. His ideologies live on with the park.
While he is now most known for his animated films, it was his True Life documentaries that gained him most critical acclaim during his lifetime. In fact, Walt never won an Academy Award for his animated films. But his True Life series earned 8 total awards. Walt was also presented with the Audubon Medal for his appreciation and understanding of nature.
When Walt was building Disneyland, he originally wanted real animals to be featured in the Jungle Cruise. Of course, that was impossible. Now there is an entire theme park that features real animals in Disney's name. And this park continues to bring to life one of Walt's many dreams.
The park benches are made out of recycled plastic.
Dinoland used to be a cast member parking lot
If you even been on the Kilimanjaro Safaris, you might have noticed big, bare baobab trees. Some of them aren't real trees at all, but are storage sheds.
DAK is the only park at Walt Disney World where the Cast Members can walk straight through the front entrance in costume. There is a way to enter the park completely out of view of guests, but it takes a while. It is more efficeint to have the Cast Members walk from their parking lot, past the resort buses, and past security check. There is a backstage entrance by the bathrooms just outside of the main gates.
Animal Kingdom was opened to the public on Earth Day 1998. The park was actually built and ready to be opened months earlier. An earlier opening would've made more money for the park. But the message of conservation was so important to the park that they held out for the Earth Day opening.
If you look at the ground outside of the entrance of the park, you will notice two different colors of pavement. It was designed to look like a tree from an aerial view.
The animals above the three ticket booths represent the animals of yesterday (dinosaur), today (elephant), and the animals that never were (dragon).
If you are ever worried about the animal's health - don't be. The animals are usually kept in the park for life. They are retired from being shown to guests on the safari or in exhibits. There is a retirement section backstage just for the animals to chill out. This is better for the animals because they are kept with the same care takers for life.
Just like any other cast member, the animals also get days off. The animals on the safari usually rotate. So you will see one group of lions on the safari one day, and then the next day that group of lions will take a break while another group of lions takes their place on the safari.
Seriously, don't feed the animals.
There is a hidden Mickey on the Tree of Life. Find the buffalo. Near the buffalo will be three black spots. That's Mickey!
If you have any dietary needs, there is an allergy kiosk on Disvocery Island that will provide you will yummy snacks and menus to the restaurants in the park.
As you enter Asia from Disocvery Island, you will notice a prayer tree. It is common in India to tie a piece of cloth to a tree. Once the cloth falls off, your prayer will have been answered. The first cast members of the park actually were the ones to tie the cloths to the prayer tree in the park!
If you do any souvenir shopping in Asia, you might notice a picture of a couple hung up in the shops. That is the King and Queen of Andapour. The picture means that the King and Queen approve of the shop, and the size of the picture shows how rich the shop owners are. The bigger the picture, the more money the shop makes! The merchandise carts have the smallest pictures while the Everest gift shop has the biggest.
A lot of the Christmas decorations hung in the park are made of recycled materials.
DAK is the only park that has two exits in all bathrooms. This is in case an animal were to ever escape into the park. The guests could hide in the bathrooms and exit to a safe place backstage.
The Cast Member cafeteria backstage is called Pride Rock, in homage to The Lion King. There is also a smaller break room near Resturantasaurous, called Castosaurous.
