Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
“We inherited this earth from our parents and are borrowing it from our children.” This is the important message Disney strives to convey in this environmentally conscious theme park. It’s quite a beauty with over 4,300,000 lush, towering plants, making it difficult to believe the park has only been open since 1998. Although Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park is five times the size of Magic Kingdom® Park, don’t panic; it won’t take two days to see everything. Remember, much of the land is an enclave for the animals; the rest is easily conquered in a day. Along with the main attractions are great hidden nooks and mysterious trails just waiting to be discovered. If you see a path leading off the main walkway by all means follow it; it may just take you to a place of sheer enchantment. Take time to explore and discover the many marvelous natural settings throughout or risk leaving a bit disappointed when you haven’t grasped the true significance of this magnificent theme park.
The Lay of the Land
The Oasis is a main street of sorts of Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. It’s a winding series of pathways leading to the hub, Discovery Island®, whose focal point is the Tree of Life®. Each of the lands in Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park — Asia, Africa, DinoLand U.S.A.®, Rafiki’s Planet Watch®, and Camp Minnie-Mickey is accessed from Discovery Island®. To enter the lands, cross one of the bridges spanning the Discovery River, encircling Discovery Island®. Africa, Asia, and DinoLand U.S.A.® are connected by pathways and Africa and Rafiki’s Planet Watch® by train, making it unnecessary to first return to Discovery Island®. A simple layout.
