Hey, these audioanimatronics look real! Welcome to Disney's fourth Florida gate, Animal Kingdom. The 500 acre park, stocked with more than 1000 species of wild and not so wild animals, officially opened on April 22, 1998. It is the largest of the Disney parks by tape measure standards but fear not, a lot of that space belongs to the animal reserves. For now it is still a very incomplete park. You can knock out most of the attractions in half a day (with minimal lines if you time your visit just right, that being just as the park opens or heading in late in the afternoon during slow season just as everybody else is leaving).
Disney has great plans for this park. On the drawing board there once was Australia and Beastly Kingdom though the park has set its sights in the near term to go with what it has -- the thrilling Expedition Everest coaster set to open by the end of 2005. This is not to say that you should dismiss this park entirely right now. The ambiance, the wide open spaces and the detailed touches at every turn make up for the lack of actual things to do. This is the opposite of Magic Kingdom. Rather than a ton of rides cramped into tight spaces, Animal Kingdom is a park to explore. Come in with that attitude and you won't be disappointed.
The Oasis
Your journey starts here. The turnstiles area is quiet. The loudest noise you hear is the huge cascading water from the nearby, and not-to-be-missed, Rainforest Cafe. To your immediate right you will find stroller and wheelchair rentals. When the park was in previews Disney made the mistake of not having canopy tops on the strollers. They now have them, and that's a good thing because most of your experience here will be outdoors. If it's summer, sunscreen and sunglasses are almost required attire. The terrain here is hilly and not entirely smooth, so if you can afford it, opting for the motorized scooter wheelchair over the traditional push variety is recommended.
There is not much to do at the Oasis. The parkside entrance to Rainforest Cafe is to your left, along with Guest Services, and there's also a limited locker storage area. While there is a souvenir shop just outside the turnstiles, Oasis is commerce free. You can go left. You can go right. Both paths circle around the lush plant life and limited animal life. They both meet in the middle where you cross a bridge to come to the center of the park, the Safari Village.
Safari Village
Before you begin to consider the various shops and counter-service food offerings here you are drawn to the Tree of Life. It is the park's icon and it is a beautiful, man-made tree where animals have been sculpted into the rich brown faux bark. There are many great photo spots encircling the tree throughout the garden area. Of course, eventually you will have to move on, and there is actually an attraction inside the tree.
Camp Minnie-Mickey
The Safari Village has bridges which divide the different lands. Underneath these bridges the Discovery Boats glide by. Clockwise from the Oasis you will find Camp Minnie-Mickey but it is certainly not what you want to hit first if you get to the park at the open. The best show on Disney property is here, but it doesn't start its regular run until well into the morning. You have a few meet and greet autograph stations here, and while they naturally are the most crowded after the shows let out, it is probably not worth anything than a later visit.
Pocahontas and Her Animal Friends
Harambe, Africa
This is a recreation of an East African port village. Harambe means "coming together" and if you come by here in the late morning that is exactly what you will find -- a slew of parkgoers coming together. Early or late? Choose one and that is the best time to hit Harambe.
Asia
Asia is the newest of the Animal Kingdom territories. From a majestic gazebo to the rustic charm of hand-painted signs it is also home to Disney's first rapid ride.
Expedition Everest - Coming in 2006
Dinoland U.S.A.
This is the funnest of the lands and it's easy to see why McDonald's snapped up the area's sponsorship. The theme is an archaeological dig and the off-the-beaten humor is everywhere. You walk under a dinosaur bridge and you immediately hear cleverly appropriate pop music selections. From R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World As We Know It" to Blue Oyster Cult's "Godzilla" blaring from the counter-service restaurant to witty bulletin board postings by the entrance, this is the best thought-out land in the park.
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