Animal Kingdom is Disney's newest park and opened in April 1998. With it's emphasis on nature and conservation it represents a completely different Disney experience. The park has a very relaxed atmosphere, elaborate theming and a lush tropical feel.

Disney has made a great success in combining animals, nature, conservation and thrill rides all in one wonderful package. The center piece of Animal Kingdom is the spectacular Tree of Life which is 145ft high, and covered in 325 animal carvings which represent the "Circle of Life" from lions to dolphins.

Animal Kingdom can get very crowded and it also seems to be a "hotter" park, so make the most of the earlier opening time. Animal Kingdom is split into 7 distinct areas.
Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade, one of Disney's liveliest parades also takes place here.

Arriving at Disney's Animal Kingdom
The signs for Animal Kingdom are well laid out and you can follow these from the US-192 or I-4 to the Animal Kingdom Toll Plaza where you can purchase a Car Park ticket. Once past the Toll Plaza you will soon be at the Car Parks. You will be directed by the CM's as to where to park.

Make a note of where you parked, these car parks are vast and it's easy to forget where you left your vehicle.

You can either walk to the entrance or wait for one of the Trams, this will depend on where you are parked.

Once at the entrance you can purchase tickets if you do not already have them, if you do you can head straight for the turnstiles.

• Backstage Safari - Take a backstage walking safari for an insider's look at the innovative ways that Disney's Animal Kingdom cares for its special inhabitants.
• Wild by Design - Discover how Disney's creative wizards looked at a huge Florida swamp, envisioned it as an exotic and untamed wild animal wonderland and led the effort to turn that dream into Disney's Animal Kingdom Park.

• There are some 850 species of trees, 2,000 species of shrubs, and 260 different types of grasses growing in Disney's Animal Kingdom®.
• There are 27 hidden Mickeys in the mural in the Animal Kingdom Conservation Station.
• Look out for "Wes Palm" the moving, talking Palm Tree. Usually appears near the entrance and can be quite amusing.
• Look out for "Devine" she is a living vine, be careful, if she isn't moving you'll probably just walk right past without realising.
• At the bridge between Camp Minnie Mickey and Discovery Island look towards the water and you can see dinosaurs and a dragon waterfall
• Construction of Animal Kingdom started August 1995
• Grand opening of Animal Kingdom was 22nd April 1998
• Animal Kingdom has about 1500 Animals, representing 250 species of which most were acquired from zoos accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association

• Google Map of Disney's Animal Kingdom
• Windows Live Local Map of Disney's Animal Kingdom
• Flash Earth Map of Disney's Animal Kingdom

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