Disney's Animal Kingdom

Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World Resort's fourth and newest theme park celebrates one amazing adventure after another with wild animals, exciting attractions, lavish stage shows and lovable characters. Highlights include an authentic African safari, Expedition Everest, a whirling white-water raft ride and a thrilling race back in time to prehistoric worlds.

The park is in the middle of a huge expansion opening in 2017 that will bring an entire new land to the park - AVATAR, a new nighttime show 'Rivers of Light,' and enhancements throughout the park.

  • Main Details

  • Location

    From Walt Disney World property: take World Drive to Osceola Parkway West. From off Disney property: take I-4 to Exit 25B (U.S. 192 West), to World Drive North, to Osceola Parkway West, to Disney's Animal Kingdom parking plaza.

  • Size

    More than 500 acres

  • Lands

    Africa, Asia, AVATAR, Discovery Island, DinoLand U.S.A.

  • Dedication Plaque

    "Welcome to a kingdom of animals . . . real, ancient and imagined: A kingdom ruled by lions, dinosaurs and dragons; A kingdom of balance, harmony and survival; A kingdom we enter to share in the wonder, gaze at the beauty, thrill at the drama . . . and learn." Dedicated by Michael Eisner, CEO of The Walt Disney Company April 21, 1998

  • Events

  • runDisney

    Expedition Everest Challenge

  • Important Dates

  • Announced Jun 5 1995
  • Construction Began Aug 1995
  • Grand Opening Apr 22 1998
  • Attractions

  • Rides

    DINOSAUR
    Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
    Kali River Rapids
    Kilimanjaro Safaris
    Primeval Whirl
    TriceraTop Spin
    Wildlife Express Train

  • Activities

    Affection Section
    Cretaceous Trail
    The Boneyard Playground
    Wilderness Explorers

  • Character Meet and Greets

    Baloo and King Louie at Upcountry Landing
    Daisy Duck on Discovery Island
    Mickey and Minnie at Adventurers Outpost
    Goofy & Pluto in DinoLand U.S.A.
    Pocahontas at Discovery Island Trails
    Rafiki at Rafiki's Planet Watch
    Russell and Dug at Discovery Island
    Chip and Dale at Rafiki's Planet Watch
    Donald Duck in DinoLand U.S.A.

  • Exhibits

    Conservation Station
    Dino-Sue
    Discovery Island Trails
    Maharajah Jungle Trek
    Pangani Forest Exploration Trail

  • Entertainment

    Burudika
    Chakranadi
    DJ Anaan
    DiVine
    DinoLand Dance-a-Palooza
    Gi-Tar Dan at Rafiki's Planet Watch
    Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe
    Viva Gaia Street Band!
    Winged Encounters - The Kingdom Takes Flight

  • Shows

    Festival of the Lion King
    Finding Nemo - The Musical
    Flights of Wonder
    It's Tough to be a Bug!

  • Tours

    Backstage Tales
    Wild Africa Trek
    Wild by Design

  • Shopping

  • Shops

    Chester & Hester's Dinosaur Treasures
    Disney Outfitters
    Garden Gate Gifts
    Island Mercantile
    Mombasa Marketplace
    Out of the Wild
    Rainforest Café Shop
    Serka Zong Bazaar
    The Dino Institute Shop
    The Outpost Shop
    Yak & Yeti Bhaktapur Market
    Ziwani Traders

  • Dining

  • Quick Service Restaurant

    Flame Tree Barbecue
    Pizzafari
    Restaurantosaurus
    Tamu Tamu Refreshments
    Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes

  • Table Service Restaurant

    Rainforest Cafe at Disney's Animal Kingdom
    Yak & Yeti Restaurant

  • Character Dining

    Tusker House Restaurant

  • Kiosks

    Anandapur Ice Cream Truck
    Beastly Kiosk
    Bradley Falls Kiosk
    Dino Diner
    Dino-Bite Snacks
    Discovery Island Kiosk
    Discovery Island Popcorn
    Drinkwallah
    Everest Bar
    Gardens Kiosk
    Harambe Fruit Market
    Harambe Popcorn
    Isle of Java
    Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery
    Maharajah Kiosk
    Royal Anandapur Tea Company
    Trilo-Bites

  • Bars and Lounges

    Yak & Yeti Quality Beverages

Write a Review
Walt Disney World Resort's fourth and newest theme park celebrates one amazing adventure after another with wild animals, exciting attractions, lavish stage shows and lovable characters! Highlights include an authentic African safari, Expedition Everest, a whirling white-water raft ride and a thrilling race back in time to prehistoric worlds.

Details

Location: From Walt Disney World property: take World Drive to Osceola Parkway West. From off Disney property: take I-4 to Exit 25B (U.S. 192 West), to World Drive North, to Osceola Parkway West, to Disney's Animal Kingdom parking plaza.

Size: More than 500 acres

Parking: For 6,000 cars 

Project Announced: June 5, 1995 

Construction Began: August 1995 

Grand Opening: April 22, 1998 

Employees: More than 4,500 cast members to date 

Animals: About 1,500, representing 250 species -- most acquired from zoos accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. 

Landscaping: More than 4 million trees, plants, shrubs, vines, grasses, ferns, etc. representing 3,000 species. 

Entry Garden:The Oasis -- A lush botanical garden designed for guests to explore habitats of fascinating creatures including iguanas, tree kangaroos, several species of colorful birds and other animals. 

Lands

Africa - Journey through the "wild" savannah that seems to put you in the heart of Africa with lions, zebra, giraffes and other magnificent animals roaming freely. There's also an authentic African village filled with sights and sounds of the mysterious continent. 

Camp Minnie-Mickey - Now closed, but was originally the site to meet many of the lovable Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse and friends from classic Disney films. Live shows included "Festival of the Lion King." 

DinoLand U.S.A. - Here's where the world's fascination with dinosaurs and jungles comes to life: race back in time to save the last dinosaur on the thrill ride DINOSAUR; The Boneyard Dig Site lets kids dig, swing and giggle through a prehistoric playground; and the live stage show "Finding Nemo The Musical". 

Discovery Island - The park hub and home of the towering icon, The Tree of Life, which houses within its trunk "It's Tough to be a Bug," a humorous 3-D and special-effects show in the Tree of Life Theater. Discovery Island also features gifts and food emporiums and the bright tropical colors of hand-carved animal architecture. 

Asia - Home of Expedition Everest, the parks biggest and newest thrill ride. Kali River Rapids, a white-water raft adventure through a threatened rainforest; Maharajah Jungle Trek, a surprising walking journey past Asian ruins and live exotic animals; and the thrilling "Flights of Wonder" exotic bird show. 

Attractions

The Boneyard (DinoLand U.S.A.) 
DINOSAUR (DinoLand U.S.A.) 
Cretaceous Trail (DinoLand U.S.A.) 
Character Greetings (Camp Minnie-Mickey) 
Expedition Everest (Asia)
Kali River Rapids (Asia)
Maharajah Jungle Trek (Asia) 
Kilimanjaro Safaris (Africa) 
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail (Africa) 
Wildlife Express (Africa/Rafiki's Planet Watch) 
Rafiki's Planet Watch (near Africa) 
"It's Tough to be a Bug!" (Discovery Island) 
The Tree of Life (Discovery Island)

Shows

"Finding Nemo - The Musical" (Asia)
"Festival of the Lion King" (at 1,375-seat theater/Camp Minnie-Mickey)
"Flights of Wonder" (at 1,000-seat Caravan Stage/Asia)

Where To Eat

Flame Tree Barbecue (quick dining, outdoor seating/Discovery Island) 
Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery (quick-service counter/Africa) 
Pizzafari (quick dining/Discovery Island) 
Rainforest Cafe (full-service/Entrance Plaza) 
Restaurantosaurus (quick dining/character breakfast/DinoLand U.S.A.) 
Dawa Bar (cocktails/Africa) 
Tamu Tamu Refreshments (snack shop/Africa) 
Tusker House Restaurant (character breakfast and non-character buffet dinner/Africa) 
Yak and Yeti (table service/Asia)
Yak and Yeti Local Foods (counter service/Asia)

Essential Services

Baby Care Center (Discovery Island)
Banking ATM (Entrance Plaza)
First Aid (Discovery Island)
Guest Services (Entrance Plaza)
Kennel (Entrance Plaza)
Lockers (Entrance Plaza)
Lost and Found (Discovery Island)
Lost children (Discovery Island)
Package pickup (Entrance Plaza)
Stroller rental (Entrance Plaza)
Wheelchair rental (Entrance Plaza)