Animal Kingdom

News

Several Disney Parks Receive Industry Awards

Several Disney parks around the world were recognized for attractions and guest entertainment options.

The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) recently announced the annual Thea Award winners and it's a small world at Disneyland was the recipient of the Thea Classic award. This award honors theme park attractions that have endured for 20 year or more.

World Rhino Day Celebrated with Art Auction

Each year on September 22, World Rhino Day is celebrated as a chance to raise awareness about the plight of rhinos in the wild and the rise of rhinoceros poaching.

‘Festival of The Lion King’ Celebrates 1 Million Guests

The Festival of The Lion King at Disney's Animal Kingdom has been visited by one million guests since it reopened earlier this summer.

The popular live show reopened in June in the new Harambe Theater after being closed for several months.

The show originally opened in 1998 in Camp Minnie Mickey but that location was closed this year as part of the ongoing construction for the new Avatar area of the park.

Recipients Announced for the 2014 Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Grants

The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) has announced the recipients for its 2014 grants.

One hundred and forty one organizations were chosen to receive grants from the DWCF. Including the grants for 2014 the DWCF has contributed more than $25 million in grants to organizations to study wildlife, create community conservation projects, and protect habitats around the world.

Select Walt Disney World Restaurants Testing Allergy-Friendly Menus

Several restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort are testing new "allergy-friendly" menus for guests with food allergies and intolerances.

The allergy friendly menus are being tested for a limited time at the World Premiere Food Court at the All-Star Movies Resort, the Flying Fish Cafe at the BoardWalk, and Captain Cook's and the Kona Cafe at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.

Starbucks Opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in February 2015

Another Starbucks location is opening at the Walt Disney World Resort.

The new Starbucks will be located at Disney's Hollywood Studios and is scheduled to open early next winter.

The new location at Disney's Hollywood Studios will be named The Trolley Car Cafe and is being built in the former location of the L.A. Prop Cinema Storage merchandise store on Hollywood Boulevard.

Disney Parks and Resorts Inspire New Line of Coffee from Joffrey’s

Even if you can't wake up at your favorite Disney theme park or hotel every morning you can enjoy a cup of coffee inspired by those locations thanks to Joffrey's.

The Tampa, Florida based specialty roasting company recently introduced the Disney Parks and Resorts Specialty Coffee Collection featuring nine blends inspired by the theme parks and hotels.

Joffrey's head roastmaster collaborated with top Disney chefs to create the specialty blends.

Growth of Disney’s Theme Parks Means Stable Cash Flow for Company

The Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort is the most-visited theme park in the world.

Just last year the park logged 18.6 million visitors which was a growth of 6 percent over 2012. As a whole, the Disney theme parks around the world had more than 132 million visitors last year.

These numbers translate into cash flow for Disney. It has been estimated that the Disney theme parks in the United States account for close to 20 percent of the company's stock value and 25 percent of the company's revenue.

Walt Disney World Resort Announces Two New VIP Tours

The Walt Disney World Resort recently announced two new VIP tours for guests.

The Ultimate Day of Thrills: A VIP Tour Experience is for those guests seeking a thrilling visit to the Disney theme parks. The tour lasts six or seven hours and includes riding attractions at the Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom in addition to lunch at a table service location.

Attractions for this tour include Toy Story Midway Mania, Expedition Everest, and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

New Animal Experience ‘It All Started with a Mouse’ Now Open Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom has a new animal experience demonstration at Rafiki's Planet Watch.

'It All Started with a Mouse' features the Animal Kingdom's "animal ambassadors" and showcases Walt Disney's love of the animal world and his belief that "what everyone will learn who studies it is a renewed sense of kinship with the earth and all its inhabitants."

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Where to Get Your Coffee Fix at the Walt Disney World Resort

Coffee at the Walt Disney World Resort used to mean a not-so-great cup of something resembling coffee but it wasn't exactly good. It was unlikely that many folks were overheard exclaiming "Wow! What a great cup of java!" unless of course you were lucky enough to score a French Press pot of coffee at certain restaurants. But lately, a good cup of coffee has become the norm at Disney.

More Details Revealed on Rivers of Light at Disney's Animal Kingdom

As recent guests have experienced while playing at Disney's Animal Kingdom there's a lot of construction going on. One of the most obvious projects is the groundwork that have been being laid on the wide Discovery River Lake, between Discovery Island and Expedition Everest. This will be the new home of a spectacular evening extravaganza called "Rivers of Light."

Find Great Food and Exotic Décor at the Yak and Yeti Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The next time you find yourself making plans to visit Disney's Animal Kingdom and you're looking for a great table service option, you'll want to add Yak and Yeti Restaurant to the list. This is one of our favorite table service spots at the Animal Kingdom, where your choices are somewhat limited when it comes to table service dining.

Good Food and Fun Themeing at Restaurantosaurus in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom is home to some great dining spots whether you're looking for table service or quick service. We love exploring the park for new things to eat and the quirky theming you'll find at many of the locations. From the animal-eats-animal "circle of life" theme at Flame Tree Barbecue (look at the signs closely the next time you visit) to the outdoor market theme at Tusker House, it's worth it to look around while you dine at the Animal Kingdom.

Pizzafari: A Quick Service Spot for Lunch or Dinner at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

If there is one thing Pizzafari at Disney's Animal Kingdom is known for it has to be the gorgeous decor. You thought I'd say pizza, right? Nope. This spot serves your standard Walt Disney World theme park pizza, but the design of the restaurant's murals and overall themeing is what keeps us coming back for more.

Top 10 "Coolest" Attractions at the Walt Disney World Resort

As the temperatures continue to soar during the Coolest Summer Ever at the Walt Disney World Resort it seemed like a good time to talk about the "coolest attractions" in the theme parks. And we're not talking about 'Oh man, Space Mountain is so cool!' but rather we're talking about the attractions that are "cool" and where you won't melt into a puddle on the sidewalk.

Meeting the Characters at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

You can see an array of wild animals at Disney's Animal Kingdom from the wild animals of Africa on Kilimanjaro Safaris to the tigers and giant bats on the Maharajah Jungle Trek. But the Animal Kingdom is also home to a cast of Disney characters including Mickey, Minnie, Baloo, Donald Duck, and more.

Touring Tips for Disney's Animal Kingdom

We've updated our previous tips for Disney's Animal Kingdom bringing you more expert advice on this Park than ever. By far is one of the most unique theme parks that Disney offers, Disney's Animal Kingdom themed entirely around animal conservation, it showcases the love and dedication that Walt Disney himself had to conservation of our natural world.

Enjoy a Delicious Meal with Character at Tusker House in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Character meals are a fun way to dine when you're at the Walt Disney World Resort and one of our favorites is the Tusker House at Disney's Animal Kingdom. This character meal buffet is often thought of as "off the radar" for some folks, but with its delicious food and incredible themeing, this spot rivals any of the more "popular" character meals in our book.

Zuri’s Sweets Shops Now Open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

If you're looking for a place to satisfy your sweet tooth when you're visiting Disney's Animal Kingdom you can now stop by Zuri's Sweets Shop in the Harambe Market. You'll find candies, cupcakes, popcorn, and even the now infamous "poop candy." And everything is inspired by the flavors of Africa.