{"id":15357,"date":"2024-07-29T15:30:16","date_gmt":"2024-07-29T15:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/secondstogo.net\/wordpress\/?p=15357"},"modified":"2025-01-07T19:15:19","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T19:15:19","slug":"25-secrets-of-animal-kingdom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/secondstogo.net\/wordpress\/25-secrets-of-animal-kingdom\/","title":{"rendered":"25 Secrets of Animal Kingdom: Facts Disney World Doesn’t Want You to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Disney\u2019s Animal Kingdom park is part zoo, part amusement park, and all fun for everyone. Explore these secrets of Animal Kingdom<\/a>, and then be sure to check some of them out during your next visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Disney’s Animal Kingdom?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Animal Kingdom is Disney\u2019s take on a zoo. The park is part zoo, part Disney theme park, with a large focus on conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The park features several lands themed to different countries or ideas. These include: Discovery Island, the Oasis, Asia, Africa, Dinoland USA, Pandora, and Rafiki\u2019s Planet Watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Africa, Discovery Island, the Oasis, and Rafiki\u2019s Planet watch, you will find more animals and fewer rides. In Pandora, Dinoland USA, and Asia, you will find a greater focus on rides and attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secrets of Animal Kingdom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Secret Entrance at Animal Kingdom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are arriving at Animal Kingdom during peak times, you may find a long wait to get through the ticket scanners and into the park. But, one of the secrets of Animal Kingdom is its secret entrance. If Rainforest Caf\u00e9 <\/a>is open, or more specifically, their gift shop, you can cut through there and access the park from the turnstiles at the back of the gift shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Secret to Seeing Active Animals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The animals of Animal Kingdom are most active first thing in the morning, and close to sundown. During the midday heat, the animals often take refuge in the shade, and move around less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best time to walk around the animal exhibits, and ride the safari is early, or later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, keep in mind, each time you will have a different experience, so be sure to visit the animals more than just once!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Secret of Animal Kingdom\u2019s Size<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Animal Kingdom is the largest park inside of the Walt Disney World resort. One of the secrets of Animal Kingdom is that Kilimanjaro Safari<\/a> is about the same size as the entire Magic Kingdom park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next time you board one of the safari vehicles, keep in mind you are covering as much ground as Magic Kingdom takes up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secrets of Animal Kingdom Rides and Attraction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Secret Soaker<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Another Secret of Animal Kingdom is that guests can add to the fun riders have on Ka\u2019li River Rapids. On the bridge above the ride, guests can push a button to have the elephants spray riders with a barrage of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expedition Everest\u2019s Cost<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Expedition Everest <\/a>holds one of the costliest Secrets of Animal Kingdom. When built, this rollercoaster had the title of most expensive rollercoaster in the world. The coaster cost a whopping 100 million dollars to build.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secrets of Animal Kingdom\u2019s Tree of Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Hurricane-Proof Tree of Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Tree of Life is the icon of the park. But, the secret of Animal Kingdom\u2019s centerpiece is that it can handle hurricane force winds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tree of Life is indeed not a real tree, but a manmade structure created to look like a tree. Inside the trunk is an upside down oil rig that serves as the platform for the tree, which can handle hurricane force winds, something that is a high probability in Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, did you know the Tree of Life has over 300 animals which were hand carved into it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jane Goodall Helped with the Tree of Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One surprising Secret of Animal Kingdom is that Jane Goodall helped the Imagineers with one of the carvings on the Tree of Life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jane Goodall, noted conservationist and primate expert, was surprised to realize there was no Chimpanzee on the tree, so the imagineers worked with her to carve one. They modeled the carving to look like David Greybeard, the first wild chimpanzee Jane ever observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dinoland Secrets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Dinoland<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dinoland USA Road Signs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dinoland USA hosts a few of the secrets of Animal Kingdom. As you walk through this section of the park, keep an eye out for road signs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of these signs say Route 498, indicating that Dinoland USA is a town on that route. But, why the number 498? This number was chosen because Animal Kingdom, and Dinoland USA, opened in April of 1998, meaning the 4th<\/sup> month of 98.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secrets of Animal Kingdom\u2019s Real Dinosaur<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Dinosaur<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Okay, so technically the dinosaur is not real, but a replica of a real one. Inside the queue for the Dinosaur ride, you will see a large T-rex skeleton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This skeleton is an exact replica of the real version named \u201cSue.\u201d Sue is the most complete T-Rex skeleton ever discovered and can be found in a museum in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Countdown to Extinction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A little known Animal Kingdom secret to newbies is that the ride Dinosaur is actually a retheme of a different ride. When Animal Kingdom opened, the ride was called Countdown to Extinction, and according to those who rode it at this time, it was much much more intense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the movie Dinosaur debuted, Disney quickly made plans to retheme the ride to tie into the movie. During this retheme, the ride was also tamed down a bit to accommodate younger riders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Animal Kingdom Helps the Environment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Conservation and Animal Safety<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the Secrets of Animal Kingdom is the commitment to recycling and conservation. For example, all of the benches in Animal Kingdom are made from recycled milk jugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about Animal Kingdom\u2019s conservation efforts, head over the Rafiki\u2019s Planet watch, where there are interactive exhibits, and hands on activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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