As the marketing campaign stated when Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park came to fruition on Earth Day in 1995 there are many things this theme park is, but one thing it is not – a zoo! In fact, it is far from being a zoo, because Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park brings together a unique collection of rides, shows, parades and mixes them in with the excitement of seeing exotic wild animals in re-creations of their natural habitats. So, instead of seeing wild animals in cages and viewing them from afar, this theme park gives you the opportunity to be up close and personal with animals and see them as you never have before.
If your next vacation includes a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort, then we highly suggest a visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Whether you are an animal lover or not, this park is a nice, relaxing respite from the hustle and bustle of the other three theme parks. But, to experience all of the fun at any of the Walt Disney World parks, you are first going to need tickets to get into the action. OrlandoFunTickets.com is your one-stop shop for discounted tickets to all of the top Central Florida attractions, including all of the parks at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and even Sea World Orlando. These prices are only available here, so click here to get started on your vacation planning by purchasing these discounted tickets now!
As we mentioned above, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is far from being a zoo, as there are many opportunities throughout the park to get an up close view of a plethora of exotic wildlife. One of the best places to start your animal adventure is Rafiki’s Planet Watch. This is an area of the park that is meant to educate the guests of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park on animals and conservation of the world and our environment. The main facility at Rafiki’s Planet Watch is the Conservation Station. Here, guests will encounter hands-on displays, live-animal exhibits and a chance to see some of the behind-the-scenes facilities where the animals are taken care of, such as the veterinary facilities and animal nurseries. From there, you can venture to Habitat Habitat!, which is a series of adventure trails that give guests a rare look at cotton-top tamarin primates. And finally, for a more hands-on attraction, you can visit the Affection Station, which is a shaded petting zoo that features goats, sheep, llamas, pigs, chickens and more.
While Rafiki’s Planet Watch may be the best all-in-one place for animal encounters, you can find these all around the park, even as you first enter through the turnstiles. As guests make their way to Discovery Island and the Tree of Life after they enter the park, they will first encounter the Oasis Exhibits, which gives them a sneak peak of what is to come with a tropical oasis full of waterfalls, meandering streams and tropical wildlife. From there, guests can venture on three different walking trails located throughout the park. In Asia, guests can see wild animals native to Asia, including Komodo dragons, bats, Bengal tigers and more, at the Maharajah Jungle Trek. In Africa, the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail is a self-paced area that offers exhibits featuring gorillas, colorful African birds, hippos and about 35 different species of exotic birds flying overhead. And finally, the Cretaceous Trail, located in Dinoland U.S.A., is a walking tour that takes you through an exhibit of plants and animals that have been on this planet since the days of dinosaurs.
In addition to Rafiki’s Planet Watch and the different trails and exhibits at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, you will also find expert Cast Members located at different stations throughout the park. These special animal experts are here to answer any questions you may have about the different animals in the park, as well as educate guests on conservation and animal preservation.
