Located in Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, is Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a fascinating zoological theme park for everyone to enjoy. Incorporating 580 lush acres of land, it’s the largest animal conservation and natural environment theme park in the world. With a range of culturally diverse islands and a myriad of exotic animals to visit, it’s easy to see why it is the seventh most visited theme park in the world.
This incredible kingdom of animals will entice visitors, young and old. There are several natural habitats within the park. Discovery Island is a good place to begin in the centre of the park. The central point connects with other sections making it easy to navigate for first timers. The park’s iconic “Tree of Life” is located on the island. The huge man-made Baobab tree is surrounded by a labyrinth of trails and walkways which lead to a variety of animals. Visitors can view cotton top tamarins, collared brown lemurs, macaws and even Galapagos tortoises in this zone. In “Africa” zone, visitors climb aboard an open side vehicle to partake in an authentic African safari experience. Roam the rivers, rocky hills and rugged terrain of the savanna, viewing elephants, giraffes, black rhinos and zebras. Young Children will enjoy Rafiki’s Planet Watch, accessed by the Wildlife Express Train. Learn about animals in their natural habitat and discover how to keep domestic animals safe around the home. Another highlight is “Asia”, dominated by the peaks of Mount Everest. Ancient villages provide walking trails with a jungle trek, river rapids and waterfalls. Don’t miss out on DinoLand U.S.A, home of the dinosaur, and the magical “Pandora - The World of Avatar”. The evening shows and carnivals are spectacular. Watch the mist lift as floating lanterns glide into the air while music plays, and a stunning light show engages the audience.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is located on Osceola Parkway in Orlando close to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom Park and Epcot. The theme parks are connected via a network of buses. If driving from downtown Orlando or bustling International Drive, it’s an easy journey on Interstate 4 taking around 20-30 minutes. Shuttle buses operate from many accommodations and minibus shares, Uber and taxis are readily available.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened on “Earth Day” in 1998. It was the fourth park to open inside the Walt Disney World Resort. It was constructed as a place to learn and educate, showcasing animals along the way. The park was dedicated to Walt Disney who cast many animals in his animated movies and grew up drawing sketches during his childhood on a farm. It’s the world’s largest theme park attracting over 9 million visitors each year.