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What is Disney's Animal Kingdom?
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
Disney's Animal Kingdom is the fourth theme park of the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Centered on animal and environmental themes, the park combines the traditional ride elements of the Disney franchise with an opportunity to get up close with animals from around the world. Even though the park places emphasis on conservation and respect toward animals, some animal rights activists protest keeping animals in captivity, particularly near the loud environments of theme park rides. Despite protests, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has become a popular park, bringing in nearly 9.5 million guests in 2007.
In 1998, Disney's Animal Kingdom opened as the largest Disney Park in the world. At a cost of over $1 billion US dollars (USD), the park spans over 500 acres (2 km sq,) much of the space being dedicated to animal habitats. The resort added Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge in 2001, a premier hotel that allows guests views of the animals from their rooms and common areas. Although park officials insist that the park is not a zoo, it does have accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which certifies that they have met or surpassed required animal care standards.
Like all parks in the franchise, Disney's Animal Kingdom offers a selection of rides to entertain visitors. In the DinoLand USA section of the park, guests can zoom back into prehistoric eras on the time-travel themed roller coaster Primeval Whirl. One of the most popular attractions is Expedition Everest, a snowy mountain thrill ride that takes visitors to the edge of a dilapidated track before plummeting backward through the ride and facing a terrifying Yeti. Despite these and other well-received attractions, the focus of Animal Kingdom is on the animal inhabitants that lurk around every corner.
Disney's Animal Kingdom is divided into seven segments, most of which contain animals that fit the themes. In the Africa area, guests can take a safari trek aboard open cars to see giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs and flamingos in natural savannah environments. Many of the animals are allowed to roam freely, approximating the patterns of their wild ranges. In the Asia section, a wildlife trail leads adventurers through lush exhibits featuring peacocks, tigers, komodo dragons and other native Asian creatures.
Originally, the park was planned to feature a section dedicated to mythical creatures called Beastly Kingdom. Although plans were scrapped due to budget cuts, some of the original features for the area remain scattered around the park. Some remaining elements are a dragon-shaped fountain and statue, and a car park area known as the Unicorn parking lot.
The park insists that it is not a zoo, instead offering highly themed treks through wildlife exhibits. The entertainment goal of Animal Kingdom is to provide guests with a magical experience of the natural world, with messages of conservation being closely worked into many attractions. While critics suggest that exhibiting captive animals can be harmful to them, and can give the false impression that conservation is being well-taken care of, many animal experts feel that parks like Disney's Animal Kingdom are beneficial to both science and in extending a pro-conservation agenda.
Jessica Ellis
With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a WiseGEEK writer.
Learn more...
Jessica Ellis
With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a WiseGEEK writer.
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![The Asia section of the Animal Kingdom includes peacocks.]()
By: Evgeniya MorozThe Asia section of the Animal Kingdom includes peacocks. -
![Tigers can be found in the Asia section of Disney's Animal Kingdom.]()
By: MingisTigers can be found in the Asia section of Disney's Animal Kingdom. -
![Animal rights activists protest keeping animals in captivity, particularly near an amusement park environment.]()
By: Jose GilAnimal rights activists protest keeping animals in captivity, particularly near an amusement park environment. -
![In the Africa area, visitors can see animals like the flamingo in an environment similar to their natural habitats.]()
By: naturelightIn the Africa area, visitors can see animals like the flamingo in an environment similar to their natural habitats.
Discussion Comments
@MrsPramm - Honestly, what conservation needs is a little bit more exploitation. I'm in favor of any commercial enterprise that makes money and serves an altruistic purpose at the same time.
People are far more likely to go for holidays at Disney World parks than they are to give money to conservation. If they can do both at the same time, so much the better.
@irontoenail - I'm sorry, but I don't have the same kind of faith in AZA that you seem to. They have accredited Sea World, even though it is notorious for not providing its captive animals with the space they need (which would be almost impossible, since whales need huge amounts of space).
And I just generally distrust any organization that tacks animals on as an exhibit in order to make money, rather than having conservation as their main purpose. It's too easy to head down the road to exploitation.
I'm an animal lover, and I can understand why people might object to places like this, but I really think that they are a good thing overall. They can foster a love of animals and nature in children who might otherwise never be exposed to them and they can play a huge role in conservation.
I'd be much more wary if this park wasn't certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, but they are fairly conservative and careful about who they recommend. If I was planning a Disney vacation I would include this park.
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