Disney's Animal Kingdom is the newest of the Disney theme parks and a huge hit with animal and nature lovers. It’s huge—you can fit the Magic Kingdom inside the park a number of times and it spans over 500 acres. You can see animals from all over the world. There are great restaurants like the Yak and Yeti and an awesome thrill ride with Expedition Everest. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is separated into different sections to showcase the parts of the world the gorgeous animals come from.

There is an African section, an Asian section, and a cool part called Dinoland U.S.A. where you get to go back in time and explore the land of the dinosaurs. Originally, Disney’s Animal Kingdom was supposed to have “Beastly Kingdom” which featured mythical creatures and was supposed to have a ride much like the pegasus sequence in Fantasia. But funding was an issue and the plans were scrapped at the last minute. Considering the renovations the other parks have been undergoing, the rumor mill once again started up concerning Beastly Kingdom—but we’ll have to wait and see.

The great news about Disney’s Animal Kingdom is that you know you will be visiting a theme park officially accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums! The park just passed the very thorough and difficult requirements set by the AZA. This accreditation means that all of the animal care facilities are top notch and the animals are being treated well and given a good quality of life.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom isn’t the only park with this special recognition from the AZA. Over at Epcot, their Living Seas area and all of their marine research is also AZA accredited, ensuring you’re visiting the best animal facilities in the world. You can learn more about accreditation by visiting the AZA website. The next time you stop by either Epcot or Animal Kingdom make sure you taken in the great surroundings and recognize the hard work that goes into the animal exhibits every day. You now know the experience Disney provides is among the best in the world!