Tag Archives: Animal Kingdom

Disney World Attractions I Could Live Without

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Inside MaelstromI’m about to say some painful things.  I’m going to make statements you won’t agree with – that’s okay!  We can agree to disagree and still be friends.  In fact, I would LOVE for you to weigh in on this particular issue either with a comment here or on Facebook or Twitter.  This is what’s so great about Walt Disney World (and the Disney fan community) – everyone enjoys the Disney parks in their own way and for different reasons!

I started thinking about Maelstrom, The Studio Backlot Tour, The American Idol Experience and the swirling rumors about what attractions may be next on the chopping block.  I thought – HEY!  There are plenty of rides I could happily live without – sacrifices I’d be gladly willing to make to the gods of change.  In return, I’d want my most beloved attractions to remain untouched, but I’ll save that list for another day.  If the Disney Company needs to free up some real estate for new and exciting innovations, I’d be happy to help with…

Disney World Attractions I Could Live Without!Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland

1.  Stitch’s Great Escape (Tomorrowland, Magic Kingdom) – Sure, I put the most obvious choice first.  I figure most of you will agree with this one and I can ease you into the rest of the list.  I’m a pretty hearty girl and I actually almost threw up once in this “experience” when I was hit with the chilidog belch.  It was touch and go there for a few minutes.  Guests are exceptionally well-restrained for the duration and I’m pretty sure that ‘s what saved me – I liked my outfit a lot that day and jerked myself back from the edge by concentrating on what the loss of my lunch would to do my cute ensemble.  I hear that Disney’s since removed that part of the attraction, but I still don’t care.  I was traumatized and have been unable to bring myself to ever visit Stitch again.  12 minutes of my life I can never get back!  I don’t even have a picture of this attraction to show you which speaks volumes about my feelings – I pretty much have a picture of everything.

2.  Magic Carpets of Aladdin – What the heck is this thing doing smack in the middle of Adventureland?  We’ve got double Dumbo’s now in Magic Kingdom and we don’t need the rugs, spitting camels, or garish color scheme tacky-ing up the beloved home of the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean.  Fly away Carpets, fly away!

Mission: SPACE3. Mission: SPACE (Future World, Epcot) – I know!  The queue is cool, but if you don’t have the right stuff, why bother.  If you’ve got to ride the Green, don’t waste your time.  If you’re going for the Orange Team, you’d better have some strong constitution.  I rode the Orange (before the Green version was invented) and lived to tell about it.  Now I can look back fondly – which actually, if they’d go on and close this thing, I could blow up into an even bigger deal.  A fish story for the future grandkids.  This one begs to be a nostalgic story full of bragging and exaggeration!  No matter what happens to it, a memory will remain all it is for me since I’m not planning to ever ride it again.

4. Dinosaur – I ride it, I like it, I can live without it.  It’s just meh.  I’m not thrilled by it.  I don’t Dinosaur Ride Photothink the dinosaurs are a great representation of Disney Imagineering’s best work.  It is ever so much better since they turned down the volume and toned down the jerkiness of the ride.  I would not shed a single tear if this attraction moved on to make room for something (anything!) more spectacular.

5.  Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show – I didn’t just dislike this experience.  I loathed it.  I thought it was boring.  I think I wanted to see more people and fewer vehicles.  Some of the stunts were…interesting, but the attraction takes up valuable property in the Studios that could be put to much better use.  I haven’t seen the show since Mater and the Cars’ stars joined the fun…not sure even they could make me like it.

Here’s what you should do…for every one on my list you don’t agree with, offer up an attraction to take its place on the pretend chopping block.  I’d love to hear your thoughts!

 

 

Disney World’s Flights of Wonder

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Birds in Flights of WonderThere’s not much I don’t love about Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom!  Here lately, I’ve had a lot to say about this oh-so-much-more-than-a-half-day park.  Today’s no exception.  I want to talk about Flights of Wonder.  Over along the walkway between Africa and Asia, you pass right by the theater for this very special show.  Sometimes there’s a Cast Member outside the theater’s entrance with a bird – talking about what makes that bird special, how they live, what they eat and so on.  Sometimes there’s just a sign posting the daily show times.  It’s pretty easy to just keep waking, but then you’d miss out on something pretty special and unique.  Unless you’re afraid of birds…but we’ll get to that in a minute.

Flights of Wonder is worth a spot in your touring plan at Animal Kingdom.  If you took the kidsOwl / Animal Kingdom / Flights of Wonder out of school to visit Walt Disney World and they need something educational to make the teachers feel better about their absence – See Flights of Wonder.  If your feet are tired and you need a place to sit and relax for a few minutes –  See Flights of Wonder.  Do you love learning about animals or have a special fondness for birds?  See Flights of Wonder.  It’s a great show for the whole family!  Unless you’re afraid of birds…but we’ll get to that in a minute.

Animal Kingdom / Flights of Wonder / PerformersThe show, which lasts about 25 minutes, begins with a Cast Member speaking about birds – suddenly, they are interrupted by the amazing Guano Joe – tour guide extraordinaire!  Guano Joe is quite a character and as it happens…is afraid of birds!  The rest of the show involves the Cast Members teaching Guano Joe (and the audience) all about different types of birds.  Several different bird behaviors (I hate to say “tricks”) are demonstrated while Guano Joe learns how and why birds behave they way they do – once he begins to understand, he starts to overcome his fear (fake, hokey, cheesy – you name it… embrace the experience).  It’s cute, funny and straight forward.  Birds fly overhead (quite low above spectators’ heads) from trainer to trainer, but birds also perform on stage.  It’s engaging, entertaining, and, for 25 minutes out of your day, a nice break from the sun and crowds.

If you are afraid of birds:  This show may not be for you – In case I’ve not been perfectly clear:  birds frequently fly close to the audience.  If you’re feeling brave (please, try to set a good example for the children) – Animal Kingdom / Flights of Wonder / Bald Eaglesit mid-way between the first and last row to the very outside.  Based on my last visit, this will minimize close encounters of the bird kind.  (OMG!  I KILL me sometimes.  I’m laughing so hard I have to end here…..)

So?  Flights of Wonder – Yea or Nay?

If you’re really afraid, check out one of many YouTube videos of the show to get the gist.

 

Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Maharajah Jungle Trek

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Details along the Maharajah Jungle TrekA visit to Animal Kingdom just wouldn’t be complete for me without a walk along both of the two fantastic animal trails there.  These trails boast a wide array of exhibits that allow guests unforgettable opportunities for some close-up animal viewing in gorgeous, highly detailed settings.  The trail in Animal Kingdom’s Africa section is the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail.  The trail in Asia is called the Maharajah Jungle Trek – that’s the one I want to talk about today.

The trail’s backstory sets the mood and an impressive (spectacular, unbelievable, insert favorite-adjective-of-wonder here) number of amazing Disney details make a visit to the Maharajah’s jungle into a mysterious, magical experience.  As I tend to like to do, allow me to give you…Komodo Dragon at Animal Kingdom

Five Great Things about the Maharajah Jungle Trek

From  the Walt Disney World web site, “Venture into the mystical Anandapur Royal Forest, a tropical paradise of trees, ruins and wild animals. Legend has it the area was at one time the hunting ground of wealthy maharajahs; today, it exists as a preserve that you can explore.”

1.  Komodo Dragon – Yep, a giant lizard!  What else do you need?  Seeing this guy is like looking at a living dinosaur and Komodo Dragons are the Animal Kingdom - Bats on the Maharajah Jungle Treklargest living lizards on earth.  As he sits there with his tongue darting in and out to “smell” the air while basking in the sun, it’s incredible to think about the fact that Komodo Dragons are venomous and capable of taking down large prey.  An adult Komodo Dragon can consume up to 80% of its own body weight in a single meal!  Go here for some other cool Komodo Dragon fun facts.

2. Rodrigues Fruit Bats and Malayan Flying Foxes – The way this section of the trail is designed is genius!  The bats are on display (sleepily hanging around) in a wide-open viewing area – which makes it seem as if there is absolutely nothing separating you from the bats!  Those Flying Foxes are enormous and so cool!  (Read all about them here.) I like to Asian Tiger - Maharajah Jungle Trekimagine what it would be like if the sun set and they got to go free all night – Those huge bats with their leathery wings flying overhead would be quite a scary sight!  Hands down, this is one of my all time favorite exhibits.

3. Asian Tigers – Usually we get here too late to see the tigers doing anything besides napping, but they’re huge and beautiful to see – even if they are asleep.  Because windows are used in this area instead of bars, it seems as if you could practically reach out and pet one of these big cats!  Even snoozing, they’re amazing.

4. The Aviary and Birdhouses – I never know which gets more of my attention in the aviary – tBird in Animal Kingdomhe colorful and unusual birds- or the equally beautiful bird houses.  Spotting guides help visitors identify a variety of different bird species and the Asian bird houses located every few feet throughout the aviary are as beautiful as the  Birds House in the Aviary in Asia / Animal Kingdom Animal Kingdom Asian Aviary Bird Spotting Guidebirds!  If you’re afraid of birds, this probably isn’t the best place for you…especially since they’re kind of friendly and will walk right up to you sometimes when you’re not paying attention and make you jump.  Not that I’d know from personal experience or anything.  I’m not afraid of birds at all.

5.  The Ruins – I know, weird that I’m such an animal lover and I’ve named decaying walls as one of the five best things about the Maharajah’s jungle, but it’s true.  And I make it a point to be honest with you here at the Living a Disney Life blog.  So….in all honesty – you won’t find a better example of the wonder and genius, the unique artestry of Disney imagineering than among the ruins of Anandapur.

Because of the location of the Maharajah Jungle Trek, this trail is almost always less crowded than the Pangani Forest trail.  There are also plenty of Hidden Mickey’s to find along the way!  We try to hit this trail in the morning before the day heats up too much.  Our touring plan at Animal Kingdom usually starts with Expedition Everest, then Kilimanjaro Safari, then the Pangani Forest Nature Trail, and finally the Maharajah Jungle Trek.

Do you enjoy the trails at Animal Kingdom?  Which is your favorite?  What animals do you find the most fascinating?

Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Pangani Forest Trail

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Animal Kingdom GorillaI’m a little perplexed about something.  (If you can clear up my confusion, please do!)  Why do so many people skip the exploration trails at Disney’s Animal Kingdom?  Is it because they think it’ll be too much like a typical zoo experience and they want more “Disney” things to do?  Maybe some folks are afraid there will be unpleasant animal smells? (There aren’t)  Is it because there are so many other things at Animal Kingdom to see and do they think they don’t have time? (That one I could sort of understand)  I have a theory about it…I think people skip the trails because they don’t think they’ll be exciting or that there’s nothing new or different to see.  Of course, if that’s the case, they’d be WRONG!  Perhaps I could dispel that nasty rumor once and for all…Naked Mole Rats at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give to you, FIVE great things about The Pangani Forest Exploration Trail:  (Don’t worry, I will devote an entire future post to the Maharajah Jungle Trek).

1.  Naked (Nekkid!) Mole Rats.  Somewhat (okay, VERY) disgusting, always fascinating!  Along the trail you’ll come to a research building full of fascinating exhibits – none more interesting than those mole rats!  They’re like some sort of horrible oddity – you know what I’m talking about – the kind of thing you can’t look away from but you’re freaked out by.  Want to know more?  See these Fun Facts at the Smithsonian’s site.

Meerkat at Animal Kingdom2.  Meerkats – These little guys (and girls, I suppose) are so fun to watch!  Popping up and down, playing sentry for their mob.  They are cute and funny and wonderful to see.  Why would anyone pass up this opportunity?  Need more convincing?  Check out National Geographic’s Meerkat facts for kids here.

3. Hippos!  There’s an underwater viewing area.  You can see hippos in the water on Kilimanjaro Safari, but seeing them from below the water’s surface is just spectacular!  Really!Hippos at Disney's Animal Kingdom

4. The Aviary – Birds take so many different shapes and sizes!  They’re also smaller than some of the other animals on the trail, so the stroller set may find them more interesting.  Of course, if you’re scared of birds you should avoid this area at all costs!  Me?  I think they’re just ducky.  (See what I did there?)

5.  THE very best part of this experience – Western Lowland Gorillas.  Incredible.  Fascinating.  Also so fun to watch as they go about their day – and seem to be interested in watching you go about yours.  If you’ve ever Disney's Animal Kingdom Gorillabeen to a stinky primate house at a zoo, forget about it!  These amazing creatures are right there in front of you – with no bars or glass obscuring your view.  See the gorilla in the picture?  He had a metal dish/bowl for drinking water, but he stopped drinking to stare at me…while I looked at him.  I think we really connected there for a while.

So, those are my reasons for visiting Animal Kingdom’s Pangani Forest Exploration Trail on every visit.  You should give it a try!  Especially if you’re looking for any sort of educational opportunities on vacation (if you took the kids out of school to visit Walt Disney World, these trails are the stuff research reports are made of!)

Have you explored the Pangani Forest trail?  What was your favorite animal along the way? 

 

Western Lowland Gorilla at Animal Kingdom Disney's Animal Kingdom - Naked Mole Rat Sign