by Beth Keating
News/Lifestyle
DisneyBizJournal.com
April 22, 2023
Today (April 22) isn’t just Earth Day, it’s also the day that Disney World’s Animal Kingdom began welcoming guests 25 years ago, on April 22, 1998. The fact that it fired up the turnstiles on Earth Day was no mere coincidence. Disney has long been a supporter of conservation efforts throughout the world. (Please note: All photos by Jonathan Keating.)
Our family was there shortly after the opening in 1998, and the 500+ acre park has certainly changed a lot since then. Gone is Camp Minnie-Mickey, where our young son brought a pillowcase he’d designed to each of the characters to sign, and where Stitch tried to run away with the pillowcase, even trying to pull it over his head. Camp Minnie-Mickey was built where Beastly Kingdom was originally slated to go, and was also the original home to the first Lion King Theater, a covered roof, open air location that was much smaller and much hotter, without the air conditioning available in its newer, larger current location in the Africa section of the park. Pandora didn’t exist yet. It opened in 2017, taking over the former campground.
What a fabulous addition to the park Pandora and its floating mountains and bioluminescent forest turned out to be! “Flight of Passage” is still an amazing ride as you soar on the back of a banshee. While some have critiqued the decision to place a fantasy world among the real creatures of the African safaris and exploration treks, Animal Kingdom was originally designed to host a mythical beasts’ area called “Beastly Kingdom.” If you don’t believe me, check out the marquee at the park’s entrance, or the original Animal Kingdom logo sometime, where you’ll see the silhouette of a unicorn or even a winged dragon parading behind the “real” animal silhouettes.
Over the years, we’ve been able to watch shows such as Journey Into Jungle Book, and Tarzan Rocks, an oddly satisfying performance that saw actors zooming around on skateboards; a short-lived nighttime show (what???) called Rivers of Light that used floating illuminated barges rather than fireworks to tell their story; and the even shorter lived “Kite Tales,” a cute, high-flying performance that earned a cult-following as much for the beauty of the enormous 30-foot-long kites as for the hysterical crash landings of the over-sized characters. Sporadic flotillas ply the Discovery River today, bringing a wave to guests from their favorite Disney characters (when they aren’t meeting-and-greeting in safari gear elsewhere in the park). For a short time in the early days, though, you could take a boat ride down the Discovery River yourself.
The park icon, the Tree of Life, was created from the scaffolding of an oil rig to withstand the winds of a Florida hurricane. It has more than 300 animals hand-carved on its “bark,” with artists having as little as six hours to finish detailing each creature before the plaster dried. Walking paths meander past the roots of the tree so that you can get a closeup view of the carvings. Look especially for the carving of the chimp named David Greybeard, named in honor of legendary primatologist Jane Goodall and her favorite chimpanzee. (She was there for the opening of Animal Kingdom, too.)
Of course, the real stars of the park are the live animals. When Walt Disney was designing the Magic Kingdom, he’d wanted to add live animals to the “Jungle Cruise,” but was talked out of it because of the terrible logistics of having live animals show up when and where they were needed. Animal Kingdom would have thrilled him. Can you imagine how ecstatic he would have been to catch a ride on a Kilimanjaro Safaris’ truck?
Kilimanjaro Safaris itself has grown over the years, as the originally planted flora has filled in and adapted to its role in the journey. Seeds and plants from more than three dozen countries were brought in to create the animals’ new habitats. Baby animals have arrived on the savannah as well, not only exciting guests in the process, but in many cases, adding to the lineage and diversity of the species in the park.
If you want an even closer look at the people and vets who care for these creatures large and small, tune in to The Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Disney+. A wonderful, behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day operations of the Animal Kingdom, it is endearing to watch guests spot the critters that they’ve been introduced to on the show, and then excitedly point them out in the parks in real life, often calling them by name. The safari itself has changed a lot over the years as well. Those of us who have been around longer remember the original dialogue to the safari, a disturbing backstory about poachers and “Big Red.” Fortunately, today’s safari guides are a lot more educational and fun, sharing interesting facts and individual details about the animals on their tour.
Joe Rohde, the lead Imagineer on the Animal Kingdom project, and his team traveled all over Africa and Asia gathering information to help give the park its realistic feel. They even brought Zulu craftsmen in from Africa to help thatch the Harambe buildings in the manner they’d be constructed back home. Restaurants like Yak & Yeti installed reclaimed architectural pieces and unique artifacts to give the park an authentic feel.
When we first started going to Animal Kingdom 25 years ago (especially when the kids were too small to ride such thrillers as “Expedition Everest,” which opened in 2006), Animal Kingdom was little more than a half-day park for us. While it still closes earlier than the other parks because the animals go to bed at dark, Disney has increased the number of special touches over the years to bring added value to the park. The Tree of Life became a Beacon of Magic during the 50th anniversary celebration, and Awakenings, with its beautiful projections and blinking fireflies dancing across the 145-foot-tall tree, offers guests a heartwarming “kiss goodnight” from the park. And while the “Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade” may not be pouncing through the park anymore, the “Merry Menagerie” puppets at Christmastime are a gorgeous, interactive way for families to get in the holiday spirit.
Speaking of puppets, the park has also re-invested in their theater shows over the years, enlarging and enclosing the theater that Nemo and his puppeteers perform in, in addition to the changes they’ve made toward the Broadway-caliber The Festival of the Lion King (one of the best shows on Disney property, in our opinion!)
Today’s Animal Kingdom has also branched out with unique tours for guests, including climbing a rope bridge over a crocodile enclosure! Other tours allow you to share a meal out on the savannah, a wonderful way to celebrate a special occasion, or just get to know the inhabitants of Animal Kingdom a little better.
Most people think of Animal Kingdom as a “theme park,” but it is so much more than that. If you’ve ever taken the “Wildlife Express Train” out to “Rafiki’s Planet Watch,” you may have gotten the opportunity to watch the vets taking care of some of their furry or scaly patients behind the glass observation windows. Disney’s animal care experts also participate in a number of Species Survival Plans (SSPs) with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, helping to assure the survival of some of the endangered and threatened species calling Animal Kingdom home. There are thousands of animals living at Animal Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Lodge, many of whom are members of vulnerable groups. Disney also sponsors the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, which provides grants and assistance to animal organizations throughout the world. (That adorable species-specific cupcake or specialty coffee you bought in the park may just have deposited some cash into the Conservation Fund.)
While you can never count on speculated changes until construction is complete and they actually start welcoming guests, Disney has already started to do a slow burn of the Chester and Hester’s DinoLand area of the park, removing the nausea-inducing “Primeval Whirl” in preparation for something new, perhaps a rumored Zootopia-themed attraction?
Whatever it might be, here’s wishing a happy 25th birthday to Animal Kingdom, and the many critters and cast members who make it their home!
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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.
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