Jambo Keith and Welcome back to planDisney.
You are in for a great treat!
Disney's Animal Kingdom is a theme park like no other and do not make the mistake of thinking of it as a zoo, as it is so much more! It is a special park that allows Guests to slow down and connect with the world of animals. It offers a great selection of attractions but also provides you with an up close encounter with hundreds of the planet's amazing wildlife as well as plenty of opportunities to learn about our environment and animal conservation. You will be able to view wild animals, meander through jungle trails, interact with Disney characters, enjoy amazing stage shows and rides, and snack on delicious food and beverage options with Asian and African flavors.
There are fewer rides here than the other theme parks, but each one is unique and fits perfectly in this animal environment. One of the most popular is Kilimanjaro Safaris which takes Guests on an open air truck for a guided tour across the massive African savanna. You will have the opportunity to see animals roaming free with many of them just a couple of feet from your truck. You may even find yourself at a standstill waiting for the giraffes to cross the dirt road. Quick tip - the animals are usually much more active earlier in the day when it is cooler, so this is a great attraction to head to first thing in the morning.
If you are looking for some thrills, there are a number of great options including a jot back in time to rescue a
DINOSAUR, a speeding train that just may come face to face with the Yeti on
Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, and one of the newest attractions at Walt Disney World Resort is
Avatar Flight of Passage found in the breathtaking
Pandora - The World of Avatar. Once you climb off your mountain banshee, be sure to wander over for a journey into the bioluminescent rainforest of Na'vi River Journey. Be sure you schedule plenty of time to enjoy the amazing shows including
Festival of the Lion King (one of my favorites),
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue...and Beyond!, and the very cool
Animal Encounters: Winged Encounters. On top of all of this, there are plenty of winding paths and areas for you to get up close views of the most beautiful creatures. You will want to take every path and turn you come across as you never know where it may lead or what you may see. Don't forget, to keep your energy up with some of the
delicious "local" flavors. One of our favorites is the Lo Mein options from
Yak & Yeti Restaurant. Yum!! I hope this helps get you started tackling this wild adventure. If I can help with any additional planning questions, please stop back and
see me.
T-T-F-N (Ta-Ta for now),
Margaret