Most people only look down when they are afraid of tripping. At the Disney parks you should look down a lot so you don’t miss any cool designs that have been added to the walkways, roads, and sidewalks. I find that the paths at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are the most creative anywhere. One reason is that they are not straight. The Imagineers don’t want you to run to your favorite ride the minute you enter the park. They want you to meander through the lands and see everything around you and under your feet.
Three fun things to see under your feet:
In The Oasis. When you first enter the park slow down and look down. There are lots of animal footprints going your way. It shows that you are entering a wild place, a home for animals.
In Africa. Look down at the ground and you’ll see the outline of a building. It shows where the old fort was when Harambe (the village in Africa) was a British colony. I think it is cool that the Imagineers can tell a story without using words.
In Dinoland. If you go play in the Boneyard you’ll find some dinosaur footprints. Don’t just look at them. They make cool noises when you step on them. Grrrr!
One of the things I love most about the Disney parks is the attention to detail. I think the Imagineers spend as much time designing the ground as they do everything else. Keep your eyes open so you don’t miss a single bit of fun. Happiness squared.
Goofy Tip: While the main path between the lands is the fastest way to get one area to the next I suggest taking the side paths. It will take you longer to get where you want to go, but you’ll see more animals and less people. You may even find a surprise or two.
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Did you like the movie Avatar? Lots of people did but I am not one of them. I saw it in 3D and was bored through most of the movie. The parts I didn’t find boring I thought were too predictable. So when I first heard that Avatarland was being built at Disney’s Animal Kingdom I groaned with disappointment. I would have preferred the Moon of Endor from Return of the Jedi.
But I can see the good in just about anything and I have decided that even though I never plan to visit Avatarland I am glad they are building it. Why? Well, there is the good, the bad (a little) and the Yeti.
The good – They are turning Camp Minnie-Mickey into Avatarland. This was an underused section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The only reason to visit this area was to see the Festival of the Lion King. In order to get to the theatre you had to walk all the way to the far end of the land which was underwhelming. Due to Avatarland coming the Imagineers are building a new theatre in Africa. This is the perfect place for it and the new theatre is designed for this one show so it will be even more amazing.
The bad – Even though I did not like Avatar lots of people did and a lot of them will visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom to play in Pandora. This will bring more people to a park that tends to have low attendance. While that sounds good it will be a big change for those of us who visit the park because it is not crowded. I like not having to look around hundreds of people to see the animals and that might become a thing of the past.
and The Yeti – My favorite attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. I always try to ride it first thing in the morning before the lines get long. When Avatarland opens the lines for Expedition Everest may be shorter for a while. That means I can see the Yeti more often. Awesome.
So bring it on. I have no problem with tall blue people invading Disney’s Animal Kingdom. And who knows, maybe it will be so amazing that I’ll want to visit it, too. Happiness squared.
Goofy Tip: Do you have a special dinner planned during your trip? If it is an evening reservation plan to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom the same day. The park closes early so you won’t be missing anything in the evening. Also it is not an overly busy park so you won’t be tiring yourself out during your visit.
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Image from Disney Parks Blog
Last week I did a post about the first Masai giraffe born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This little fella needed a name so the Disney Parks Blog let its fans vote for one. And the results are in. Okay, so my first choice didn’t win, but that’s okay because my second choice did win. The next time you ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris you can say hello to Mosi, which means first. I guess that is a fitting name. Welcome to the tower, Mosi! (A tower is a group of giraffes…who knew?!) Happiness squared.
Goofy Tip: The next time you ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris you might be wearing a MagicBand and using your smart phone to make your FastPass+ reservation. These are two of the options in MyMagic+. This new program promises to be awesome and confusing. Touringplans.com completed a test weekend with the MyMagic+ and explained how it works. Even if you don’t read this post now bookmark it so you’ll know about the changes the next time you hit the parks. And knowing is half the battle.
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Image from Disney Parks Blog
As part of my Safari Stars series I like to update you whenever something important happens to one of the animals found on Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Today I get to talk about giraffes.
Everyone is talking about Prince George, the newest royal baby. I am more excited about a baby born recently at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The first Masai giraffe calf was born at the park and it’s a boy! Disney Parks Blog has a great article about the two types of giraffes at the park and unlike Prince George you can help name this baby giraffe. Click here to see the post and vote for your favorite name. I like two or three of the names so it will be a hard choice for me. They’ll announce the winning name on July 31. He’ll be spending time at Kilimanjaro Safaris soon and I’m sure he’ll be treated like royalty by Guests and Cast Members alike. Happiness squared.
Goofy Tip: Disney’s Animal Kingdom does more than just raise animals in captivity for Guests to see. Through the The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund endangered animals are reintroduced into the wild and ongoing education programs help promote animal welfare. You can support this important work while you are visiting the park. Simply make a donation of a dollar or more when you make a purchase. Along with the satisfaction of helping the amazing animals that inhabit this world with us you get a cool button. There are several different colors of buttons so you could start a collection by making lots of donations. A royal baby giraffe thanks you.
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Image from Disney Parks Blog
Happy Father’s Day to every guy who is important to a child. I found a wonderful example of a good dad on the Disney Parks Blog. It has to do with my favorite primate, the siamang.
You can see siamangs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. They live in the enclosure that looks like a ruined tower with lots of ropes just as you enter Asia. I could stand there all day and watch them swing around. They also make an incredibly loud noise that I like to imitate. (Usually people beg me not to.)
Check out this post to learn about Kenny, a male siamang, who cares for his two twin daughters, Violet and Veruca. The picture is very charming. You can also learn some fun facts about siamangs.
So to all the dads out there of any species, I say thanks for all you do for your kids. Happiness squared.
Disney Craft: Do you need a last-minute Father’s Day card? Do not go running out to Hallmark. Instead make one of these awesome cards that are sure to make Dad smile.
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Image from Disney Parks Blog
One of my favorite memories from my last trip to Disneyland was meeting Mickey Mouse at his house in Mickey’s Toontown. We had entered the park early and were in Mickey’s Toontown just as the park opened for the general public. Mickey was standing on his porch waving at Guests. There was no line and we got a lot of great pictures. It was a magical way to start the day.
I had not had my picture taken with Mickey Mouse for many years because I didn’t want to stand in line. I mean there are other characters around, right? Well, yes and no. There are other characters who might have a shorter line, but here is only one Mickey Mouse. I look forward to visiting him again.
Mickey and Minnie have a fun new spot to greet Guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. At the Adventurers Outpost you can get your picture with both of them against a postcard backdrop. This sounds like a great memory making opportunity. The line and the meet and greet are all inside so you can be cool while you wait. There are fun items to look at in line, plus there is a Fastpass option if you want to skip the line. And last it sounds like you get to spend time with the famous duo before your picture is taken. That is how great memories are made.
My favorite part of this new meet and greet is that Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a slower park so I won’t mind taking the time to see Mickey and Minnie. I can’t wait to visit and add more great pictures to my scrapbook. Happiness squared.
Goofy Joke:
Q: How did Mickey feel when he first saw Minnie?
A: It was glove at first sight.
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One of Walt Disney’s dreams was to have an attraction in his parks that used live animals. His dream came true on Earth Day 1998 when an entire park was build around his idea. Disney’s Animal Kingdom combines fun rides with awesome views of animals in wild surroundings.
The first time I visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom I was not impressed. There was not much to see, the lines were long, and the park seemed rather boring. I have since changed my mind. This is a park that has grown and improved over the last 15 years and now I never miss it.
5 reasons I always visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
1) Expedition Everest. I like roller coasters, but Expedition Everest is something special. Besides the fact that it is a fast thrilling ride it takes you to such heights that you feel like you are climbing Mt. Everest. The theming in the queue helps bring you into the adventure. And this ride goes backwards, which is just another reason that it is always my first stop.
2) Kilimanjaro Safaris. I’ve been on lots of safari rides throughout the United States but this is the only one that tells a story. I like the adventure that the story provides and I also like the effects that have been added to make you feel like you really are on an African safari. But my favorite part is the animals. It seems that every time I go on this ride I see more and more variety. It is an amazing attraction.
3) Festival of the Lion King. Disney creates great shows, but this one is Broadway worthy and I never miss it. The music is powerful, the stunts are thrilling, and I love the fact that the audience is included in the show. Oh, and did I mention the costumes. Incredible! This show is moving to a new location in the park to make room for Pandora (the world of James Cameron’s Avatar) and I am sure it will be more amazing in a new theater designed especially for this show.
4) Asia and Africa. Disney is an expert at theming an area so you feel like you are in a different place and time. The best example of this is Asia and Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. When you enter Asia on your way to Expedition Everest you feel like you have entered another world filled with exotic smells and unusual items. I always think this is what explorers must encounter as they head out to climb Mt. Everest. It even feels cooler.
Africa may be next door, but you will feel like you have left one continent and landed on another. This land always has a busy feel about it and you can sense the unrest as cultures are changing. It is much warmer and noisier. I like to grab a snack and absorb the energy as I take a break.
5) Pangani Forest Exploration Trail and Maharajah Jungle Trek. It’s fun to see animals from a vehicle, but when you take these two animal walks you get to see the animals up close and learn more about them. I never miss Pangani Forest because I love to see the swimming hippos. And I love getting close to the tigers on the Maharajah Jungle Trek. They live among the ruins of a palace and I always feel like I have entered the Jungle Book. Awesome.
To celebrate 15 years Disney’s Animal Kingdom is having a week long celebration. There will be special ceremonies and parades along with lots of educational booths to explore. A commemorative map will be passed out and special merchandise will be for sale (I really want the safari hat.) For all the details check out touringplans.com. When I was a kid I used to go to Disneyland anniversary events and I really wish I could be at Disney’s Animal Kingdom this week. I look forward to visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the next 15 years. I’m sure it will only get better and better.
Goofy Tip: I always encourage everyone to try every attraction at least once and that includes Expedition Everest. This is an amazing roller coaster but I know a lot of people who close their eyes and wait for it to end. If you do than you’ll miss an amazing sight. As you climb the mountain at the beginning of the ride keep your eyes open. The view from the top is spectacular! You can see much of Walt Disney World and all of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Okay, now close your eyes.
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Pocahontas is not a traditional Disney princess movie, which may be why I love it so much. Pocahontas is a strong girl who tries to stradle the line between the traditions of her family and the new ideas of the colonists and John Smith. It also does not have a traditional princess ending, but I would say it has one of the most powerful endings of any Disney movie.
5 fun facts about Pocahontas:
1) This is one of the few Disney animated films inspired by real events.
2) Originally Meeko (the raccoon) and Flit (the hummingbird) were to speak, but it didn’t seem fitting.
3) This is the first time Mel Gibson sings in a movie (as John Smith)
4) Over 100,000 people came to the movie premier in Central Park. It holds the record for being the largest movie premier ever.
5) Production for Pocahontas started at the same time as The Lion King, but took 5 years to finish.
Another way this princess movie is different is the relationship between John Smith and Pocahontas. It is more a meeting of the minds rather than a boy sweeping a girl off her feet. I especially like that fact that not only does he change her ideas, but she changes his. Before meeting her John Smith thinks that he can do anything he wants in nature and it doesn’t matter. She opens his eyes to see the wonder, beauty, and magic of the natural world. I think we all need to experience nature and Pocahontas is the ideal princess to teach us how.
5 ways to enjoy nature like Pocahontas:
1) Go for a walk. This should be a daily event. Whether you walk in a park, or a National Park, try to walk in a natural space. Since I live in the northwest I go for many walks in the forest, but nature is everywhere. Take a walk in the desert and discover how many plants and animals live in this seemingly barren place. Or walk by water and listen to the music it makes. Every walk can be unique even if you walk the same path.
2) Experience different seasons. It’s easy to visit nature in the summertime, but nature is amazing year round. Why not take a walk in the spring and try to find the first flower? Or admire the bare trees in the wintertime. The road I like to walk goes along a very twisty creek, but I can only see it in the wintertime when the leaves are off the trees. The path in the summertime is like a tunnel. It is amazing year round.
3) Learn something. There are thousands of books and apps about nature topics. Pick one and go outside to learn. From identifying flowers to learning bird calls, nature can become much more special when you know what you are seeing and hearing.
4) Be quiet. Humans are noisy people. Even if we turn of the Ipods and smart phones we still make noise. We talk to each other, our clothes rustle, and our feet clop along. Once you have walked a while stop and try to listen to the world around you. Close your eyes and enjoy the silence. It probably won’t be as quiet as you think.
5) Paint with all the colors of the wind. This is my favorite song that Pocahontas sings. She means use your senses to experience nature, but it could be taken literally. Why not bring the beauty of nature back to your home by painting a picture, taking a photograph, or writing about what you see. There are endless ways to capture nature without harming it.
It is easy to get busy and never step outside. My daily task list is very long, but I make sure to put “go for a walk” on it. I always come back refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of my day. Make a plan to experience nature every day, by yourself and with your family. Just beware of sneaky raccoons. Happiness squared.
Goofy Tip: Pocahontas is not a regular character at most of the meet and greets in the parks. I really wanted to meet her and get her autograph since she is one of my favorite princesses. I caught up with her at the Conservation Station at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This tucked away area should not be missed, although it often is because you have to take a train to get there.
For great tips that you can take with you on your tablet or smart phone download the Kindle app and buy a copy of Goofy Tips for a Happy Disney Vacation
Pete’s Dragon. The Reluctant Dragon. The dragon in Fantasmic!. The dragons that were to habitat Disney’s Animal Kingdom. There is no doubt that dragons and Disney go together. But I was still surprised when Gary Buchanan, one of the bloggers at the Disney Parks Blog, wrote about a dragon that had nothing to do with Disney.
Now, I consider myself a bit of a skeptic. If you show me a picture, or film, of a ghost, UFO, or Bigfoot and I am going to assume it is fake. Disney magic? Fine. Real E.T.’s? I don’t think so. So when I clicked on this video I figured I’d be dismissing it immediately. But instead my heart soared. It looks like a flying dragon.
Now, before I lose my skeptics club card I want to say that it probably isn’t a dragon. I mean, really. The film is horrible and it’s very fuzzy (can anyone say Bigfoot photo). However, it looks just like what I would expect a fuzzy video of a dragon would look like.
So, I leave it up to you. This is a fun video by a crazy Disney guy. (That is a complement. Gary Buchanan gets filmed doing all sorts of bizarre things at Walt Disney World. I love his videos.) And who knows? Maybe dragons are real and we are finally seeing one. Either way, I’m going to watch this video again. I want to be wrong. Happiness Squared.
Goofy Trivia: Have you ever heard of Beastly Kingdom? Do you know where it was going to be built? If you need a hint look at the different park signs at Walt Disney World. One of them has a dragon on it. Can you guess? I’ll give you a moment. That’s right - Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Originally the park was going to celebrate all animals, both real and imaginary. But Beastly Kingdom was never built and now we have to go to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see a dragon at Fantasmic!
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As part of my Safari Stars series I like to update you whenever something important happens to one of the animals found on Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Today I get to talk about elephants again.
I love elephants and I especially love baby elephants. Have you ever seen Hatari with John Wayne? The baby elephants in that movie make me laugh every time I see them. If you want to see baby elephants up close then catch a ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris. One of the African elephants just had his first birthday.
Jabali was born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in August 2011. He was the sixth elephant born at the park. Check out this post at the Disney Parks Blog for all the details. My favorite fact is that he weighed 311 pounds at birth and one year later he weighs 1,090 pounds. I’m glad humans don’t grow that fast. He is still a little guy in the elephant world so keep a sharp eye out and maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of him hanging out with the other young elephants. Happiness Squared.
Goofy Trivia: Jabali is a Swahili name that means “strong as a rock.” I think that is a perfect name for an elephant.
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