Tag Archives: Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom’s Earth Day Birthday

Posted on by

It’s Earth Day – and that means it’s also Animal Kingdom’s birthday!  Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomed its first guests on April 22, 1998.  From that Earth Day Birthday to today, this fourth jewel in the Walt Disney World park crown has been near and dear to my heart for everything that it is (and also for what it is not).Animal Kingdom-Entrance

Animal Kingdom’s Earth Day Birthday

Even before I visited Animal Kingdom for the first time, I was fascinated by everything I’d heard and read about this unique Disney park – I could not wait to see how live animals, ultra-themed lands, and Disney magic would come together.  Once I saw it for myself, Animal Kingdom instantly became (with Magic Kingdom) one of my two favorite parks.  Where Magic Kingdom welcomes guests into whimsical lands full of charming make-believe characters, Animal Kingdom immerses visitors in exotic locations, both past and present, from around the world.MM-Animal Kingdom Everest

Back in 2014 on this very day, I posted 16 best things about Animal Kingdom.  They are each still part of what keeps me visiting this absolutely-a-full-day park again and again.  Since that time, Animal Kingdom has changed for the better – with even more new additions coming in the near future and beyond.Animal Kingdom Thirsty River

This week Animal Kingdom has been in the news a good bit – and not all of the press was positive.  Rivers of Light has been delayed indefinitely (replaced in the meantime with a Jungle Book themed show) and other nighttime attractions and shows are set to premier later than originally hoped.  I realize that for many Disney fans with upcoming vacations, this is a huge disappointment.  Let’s focus today instead on the many positive and exciting aspects of this incredible park – I’m convinced that delays only mean that all the kinks will be worked out in due time and the final product will be well worth waiting for!Animal Kingdom Animal Carvings

Happy Birthday, Animal Kingdom!  I love everything you are, everything you aren’t and everything you are about to become.  Best wishes for many happy returns of the day!

Are you an Animal Kingdom fan?  What are you most looking forward to in this park’s future?Maharajah Jungle Trek Artistic Details

 

 

Still Loving Expedition Everest

Posted on by

RM-Expedition-EverestStill Loving Expedition Everest

In the early days of this blog, I waxed poetic about my favorite Disney World attraction, Expedition Everest.  Now, a couple of years later, I’m reevaluating my attraction rankings.  I’ve changed my mind about the Country Bears over time (I love them now!), I’m still anti-Stitch’s Great Escape, and my favorite Walt Disney World attraction is….still Expedition Everest.

So many to choose from, so many fantastic, amazing experiences…EE (as I like to call it) edges out all competition in my mind for a few simple reasons:

  1.  The Location!  Biggest and bad-est thrill ride in Animal Kingdom.  EE’s got a great lead-up going for it.  Like walking down Sunset Boulevard towards the Tower of Terror in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the approach to Everest is full of interesting and amazing, well-themed atmosphere.  There’s a tendency to rush to this attraction.  You’ll see folks bookin’ it and you’ll want to get swept up in the excitement.  Resist it, friend, take your time on the approach.  It’s worth it.  Especially if you’ll be heading for the stand-by line.RM-Expedition-Everest-Sign
  2. The Queue!  There are some absolutely amazing waits in the World, but nothing beats the queue for Expedition Everest.  It’s interesting, mood-setting, and so heavily detailed you would swear you’re in both a yeti museum and a Yeti-hunting outfitters.  If you see me in this line, please don’t rush me.  I like to take my time.RM-Expedition-Everest-Queue-Statue
  3. The Anticipation!  You’ll weave your way in and out of all the amazing displays while you wait in line.  During this time, you’ll see and hear the tea-trains heading up (and down) the Forbidden Mountain.  Excitement builds.  By the time you board the train yourself, you are SO excited, you can hardly believe it!  (Or maybe it’s just me.  Holler at me in the comments if you are completely unmoved by the build up to this ride!)RM-Expedition-Everest-Yeti-Museum
  4. The Broken Yeti!  Oh, sure, the whiners and haters are gonna hate.  The Yeti used to be both more visible and more active.  His/her dreadlocks were spectacularly displayed as a gigantic simian arm took a swipe at you as you passed by.  Now we have Disco Yeti and I don’t care.  I may fondly recall the early days when the original Yeti was visible, but now?  Disco Yeti has grown a cult following of epic proportions.  Fix it now and I predict much protesting will ensue.RM-Expedition-Everest-Tea-Train
  5. The (I can’t believe I’m going to say this) Gift Shop!  It’s one of the best.  The unique merchandise and fun atmosphere make this one hard to pass through without browsing at least a little bit.  I especially like the tee-shirts here and find a great selection for tweens and teens looking for the perfect souvenir.

EE fans!!!  Who’s with me?  What do you love most about the best Walt Disney World attraction?!?!?!?!

Disney World’s Future – My Two Cents

Posted on by

RM-Disney's-Hollywood-Studios-EntranceI want to ride on a Slinky Dog roller coaster.  I absolutely do!  That’s one of my most favorite of the many recent announcements about what we can expect next at Walt Disney World.  I’ve spoken about change before, and the importance of being open to new technology, themes, characters, and experiences.  As much as we think we’d like our favorite vacation destination to remain the same every time we visit, like ourselves and our children, it has to grow up too, so to speak.

Disney World’s Future – My Two Cents

Closures make us sad.  Think about this:  If we had happy childhoods, with glowing, happy memories, we instinctively want to recreate those experiences again and again.  That’s human nature.  When a component of our fondly remembered past no longer exists, we tend to believe the future (of that particular circumstance) will not be as good.  The value is diminished.  This is not necessarily true!  We can create new, happy memories with a new set of circumstances.  We just have to be open to the opportunity. (Insert “Let it go” sequence here while viewing Maelstrom photos.)Malestrom / Norway Pavilion / World Showcase

We’re naturally apprehensive of the unknown.  I will not argue with the naysayers who cannot understand how the heck Avatar belongs in Animal Kingdom.  It hasn’t opened yet – nobody’s experienced any of the attractions or the environment Pandora will have to offer.  It might not matter how you feel about the movie, the immersive experience might just be incredible on its own.  Similarly, Star Wars, I’m sad to say, is not universally appealing to everyone.  I grew up with Star Wars – it’s part of my own happy childhood memories and I’m over-the-moon-excited for the new Star Wars Land.  Not so for everyone, I get that.  Celebrate a Dream Come Trup ParadeI’ll also add that, if I ruled the Disney World, the Toy Story Land slated for the Studios would have been a broader Pixar-based area.  Not because I don’t love Toy Story, but because a more inclusive focus would have offered more potential.  What’s important is that we’ll have new, expanded Disney-imagineered environments and experiences to enjoy.  Or not.  Let’s keep an open mind and give it all a try before we categorically dismiss something as no good.

I can’t think of a single deal-breaker.  I realize I’m more accepting of change than the average person, but there are no rides or attractions that could change or close that would keep me from choosing to vacation at Walt Disney World.  Disney fan message boards are full of folks who constantly bemoan any and all changes as something that will make them vacation elsewhere.  They will not allow Disney to have one more cent of their vacation dollars.  To those folks I say, fine!  By all means, move along and find somewhere else to spend your money.  Disney World is (and will be) crowded enough without you.RM-Animal-Kingdom-Construction-Walls-Tree-of-Life

I listen to analysis, but not too closely.  I love hearing Disney fans discuss their opinions on Disney World’s future.  There are some mighty deep, in-depth theories on Disney’s expenditures versus returns, crowd figures (and traffic patterns), the perceived value of certain attraction/land additions, and the effect on future park ticket prices.  I find most of it interesting and some of it completely ridiculous.  I take it all with a grain of salt!  If the Disney Company feels pressure from Universal Orlando (Comcast) to create clever, entertaining, more immersive guest experiences – we can only benefit from competition!

I welcome all the changes – until I’ve seen, heard, and experienced all the new rides, attractions, restaurants and themed areas coming to Walt Disney World over the next several years.  I welcome more, better, and different opportunities to expand my love for Disney in all its forms.  Bring it on.  I’ll be anxiously waiting.

How about you?  What upcoming changes are you most excited about?

Interested in hearing various opinions on upcoming Disney World changes?  Try these podcast episodes:

 

 

 

 

Disney Attractions I Love (More Than I Should)

Posted on by

RM-Country-Bears-HenryYou know I love a Friday Five and today’s no different.  I have, at any given time, about 27 blog post ideas running around in my head vying for attention, but this one was completely off the radar and sprung up out of nowhere!  In my Disney geek-ery, I usually shout from the mountain tops (like Expedition Everest, Space, Splash and Big Thunder Mountains) about those E-Ticket attractions that (most of) you and I find irresistible.  But what about the less popular stuff?  What makes my little heart pitter-patter among the non-headliners?  You KNOW you’ve got at least a couple of favorite rides that you have to fight for – nobody understands the passion, it’s yours and yours alone.

Disney Attractions I Love (More Than I Should)

The Seas With Nemo and Friends (Epcot) – I have no explanation other than I’m crazy about pretty much any and all omnimovers.  Combine that with how much I have always loved Finding Nemo and I’m dragging my family aboard a clam-mobile on every single visit!  There I ride, sitting on the edge of my…what…mollusk-innards?  Soaking up the tiny details and listening to the comments by my favorite Nemo characters as we glide along.  I love this thing!  Don’t try to talk me out of it.  Just get in the clam or get out of my way.RM-The-Seas-Mr-Ray

Primeval Whirl (Animal Kingdom, Dinoland U.S.A.) – About the most ridiculous attraction in all the World, right?  Wrong!  For me, it’s not too fast, not too spin-ny, not too jerky – just a big bunch of weird fun.  The vehicle is like something the Jetsons would own, the queue is akin to waiting in a cartoon.  If I could explain this ride’s magnetic draw, I’d break the spell and avoid the ridicule.  I. Cannot. Resist.RM-Primeval-Whirl-Sign

Country Bear Jamboree (Magic Kingdom, Frontierland)- I blame Curtis Stone (Geekin’ on WDW Podcast) for my semi-newfound addiction to the Bears.  I wouldn’t have made a visit to this ride ever-for-the-rest-of-my-life but for Curt waxing poetic about its allure.  If you avoid over-analysis of certain song lyrics and just enjoy the Wild-West-Saloon style of entertainment, you’re bound to notice the genius of this particular brand of Disney magic.  Seriously, I love the bears…baby Oscar in particular.RM-Country-Bears-Baby-Oscar

Jungle Cruise (Magic Kingdom, Adventureland) – Cheesy, eye-rolling, sheer perfection in pun-delivery.  What’s not to love?  From the queue’s announcements to the names of the boats to the unbelievably adorable animatronics, this attraction’s got a lot going for it.  Add comic artistry in the form of boat captain commentary and this ride is hard to beat!  No, really!  Where else on earth can you experience the backside of water?  Classic Disney fun!RM-Jungle-Cruise-Backside-of-Water

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros – I’m stealthy about this one.  I act all nonchalant about going into the Mexico pavilion in Epcot.  It’s not a family favorite, but I’m getting on this ride if I can manipulate the situation properly.  I love Donald Duck!  He’s my favorite character (in case you hadn’t heard) and I’m going to check times for possible Fiesta Donald meet-and-greets when we’re in Epcot.  Once we’ve paused at the Mexico pavilion for my moment with Donald, I’ll just casually suggest we take a small detour and hit the Gran Fiesta Tour.  Works every time.  The chances of my family reading this today are slim, so shhhhhh.  Don’t ruin this by telling them.RM-Gran-Fiesta-Tour

Now you go.  Which not-so-popular attractions are your own personal favorites?