JAMBO!

Jambo friends and welcome to another edition of Muting and The Mouse. Hope you enjoyed the must do’s from Disney’s Hollywood Studios last week. For those who might need a translation, Jambo means hello in Swahili. Since you can hear this at our next theme park, it seemed like a fitting way to welcome you into this week’s must do’s at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. The newest of the theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort, this park has a lot to offer. From live animals, to thrilling roller coasters, to a step into life with the dinosaurs, to the wonderful world of Pandora; this really has you living amongst the animals. We will be entering into the park and covering the major lands one by one with a ride and food option, just like in the previous posts. Each land is unique in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and they all have really authentic themes and atmospheres which further you into the story. You are fully immersed in the land around you. Now, you might be thinking, “I have heard you cannot spend the entire day at Animal Kingdom” or “there is not much to do”. I had this thought for years, until my wife Abby introduced me to everything the park has to offer. It is easy to want to thrill-seek at Animal Kingdom and then want to leave the park. I really feel the need to say: go and see all of the animal exhibits. It is like a huge zoo and should be explored. In each part of the park, there are multiple animal exhibits and you should explore them all. From monkeys, to gorillas, to tigers, to birds, to reptiles and everything else you could imagine, these animal exhibits look magnificent (as do the animals). These exhibits might not be on my must do lists below, but trust me, take the time and explore them. The trails are fun and authentic to the land you are in. The architecture is stunning and you find yourself looking at educational aspects without knowing it. That leads us to our first must do. While not a large enough area of the park to write a review on, I want to mention the Oasis. This is the area of the park as soon as you walk through the entrance. You can typically go left or right, and either way, is fine. The must do here is looking at some of the first animal exhibits the park has to offer. There are some on each side, so keep your eyes open and look at the many animals along the way. Now let’s continue to dive into the magic that lies ahead as we enter Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. 

DISCOVERY ISLAND

As you continue to walk up the path from The Oasis, you come across a bridge and the sight before you is beautiful. The remarkable Tree of Life lies ahead and is the park icon for all to take pictures with. The tree also hosts an attraction, which makes it very unique like Epcot where the park icon hosts attractions for guests to experience. As you walk closer, you cannot help but take in the awe of how massive the tree is. The market place around it acts as the main hub for the park and has some shops and music that add to the ambiance of the area. The first must do in Discover Island is the attraction It’s Tough to Be a Bug. This is where Flik and the gang from Bug’s Life take you on the journey of what it is like to be a bug. You walk the trails into the tree of life and take in the animal sculptures on the tree. Once in the tree, you are presented with “bug eyes” (3D glasses) and enter into a theater for a 3D show. The show is in the dark and has all kinds of creepy crawlies as well as some effects that may be scary for little kids, but all in all, it is a good show for the family. As you exit the theater, you continue on the paths around the Tree of Life, where I cannot stress enough- look at the animals around the tree. As you come back to the main drag, our next must do is some of the best BBQ food. Highly recommend Flame Tree Barbecue. A quick service restaurant experience that has a lot of different options for adults and for kids. My favorite item here is the ribs, chicken, and pulled pork sampler. Coming in as a little more of an expensive option, this can be split between two if needed. The portions they give you are good and the food tastes amazing. They also have sauces you could try or just eat it as it comes with their dry rub. I have tried both and suggest, get the sauce on the side and eat it both ways (with and without sauce.) It is one of my all time favorite BBQ places I have ever eaten. Now, it is on to the age of the dinosaurs.

DINOLAND USA

As you continue into the park, you come across some bones, some music, and then it hits you, you enter Dinoland USA. The theme is one of an old time carnival feel. It has games, and fun roller coasters that remind you of a carnival. The games and the atmosphere of the little food carts make you feel like you are a kid again. The land is great for kids. There is games, a playground, character meet and greets, and more kid friendly rides. Dinosaur is the attraction I suggest here. A fun ride for kids and adults, this dark journey on the hunt for a dinosaur is rocky. If you get disoriented easily, maybe pass. If your kids are afraid of the dark, this ride is not for them. If you love the dark, bumpy rides, and dinosaurs; this ride is for you! The ride offers everything from the old dino exhibits, to a pre-show video that explains the new way to see dinosaurs and learn about them. It even includes an on ride photo for the fun memory of coming face to face with the magnificent creatures. Once off the ride, my food suggestion is at a little cart just as you enter Dinoland USA. The cart is called Trilo-Bites. It offers ice cream and some other snacks. My snack item to try is the buffalo chips. Kettle cooked chips with some buffalo chicken, ranch, blue cheese, and celery make this a crunchy, spicy snack that is delicious on a day among the dinos. As you walk through the land, make sure to see some of the favorite Disney Characters in their Dinoland attire. Some of the meet and greets are cool because the costumes they have on add so much ambiance to the land. Continue on the path for our next must do items in Asia. 

ASIA

You pass over a bridge and hear the screams coming out of Mount Everest. This extremely realistic mountain towers over you as you inch closer. This is the must do ride in Asia, Expedition Everest.  The line queue is super cool. It has a lot of exhibits of old artifacts that are breathtaking. Take a look at all of the things around you on this first part of the ride. Up the lift, you pass through an old temple, check out the awesome paintings on the inside. The ride takes you through the mountain and on a journey that gets halted due to an unforeseen circumstance. Once again, like other rides, this one has a photo that takes place on the ride for an unforgettable memory. The roller coaster provides the thrill of dips, turns, and drops while searching for a yeti. Keep your eyes open because you might just come face to face with the yeti. After descending from Mount Everest, make your way down the path a little further and you will come up to a little bus/truck. Here is our next must do! Stop and get a sweet treat and you will not be disappointed. This truck is called Anandapur Ice Cream Truck. They have some seasonal items and different treats but for some reason, the soft serve ice cream here tastes better than anywhere else on the resort. Having tried some of the seasonal options (like the one you see above) or the regular cone, you cannot go wrong with an ice cream cone from this truck. Be sure to eat it quickly, as the Florida heat can melt it pretty fast. As you continue to walk through the land, you will come up to a gathering of people, stop here as it is the perfect backdrop for a picture with Expedition Everest in the background. An extra little tip I will give you is to make sure you go back at night to ride Expedition Everest. This ride is so much fun at night and provides a different experience for riders. Continue through the land and past some outdoor exhibits of some animals; you will find yourself entering the next land in the park, Africa. 

AFRICA

Entering Harambe village, you find yourself in an African market with music and dancing filling the street. The area is always jammin’; you cannot help but dance along with the performers. It takes you to simpler times seeing how the cast members live their day through dance. After you have had a chance to clap to the beat, stop over at Tamu Tamu Refreshments for our next must do. This one is for the adults and kids as well. This quick service stand has a variety of cold snacks and also some special edition items when they come out. You cannot go wrong with any of the choices. Photoed above, is the alcoholic Dole Whip. That is my suggestion for those of age to consume. You can choose the classic Dole Whip with either dark or white rum added in. The combination is wonderful and the citrus and rum work very well together as the ice cream melts. After your cold treat, head back into the land and hit up one of the most breathtaking rides in the park. This ride is called Kilimanjaro Safari. This one of a kind ride may be the closest you will come to a real safari. The ride vehicle takes you through different forests, savannas, and exhibits giving you facts about all the animals you encounter along the way. You have a guide who is driving the trackless vehicle that tells you all about the animal kingdom along the way. No ride is the same, as it is live animals in their exhibits. Take pictures and video, but know it is a bumpy ride, so hang on to belongings. This ride always amazes me because each time, you see something new. If you are lucky, you may be stopped by an animal who has decided to camp out on the path, this gives you extra time to take in the marvelous animals and habitat they live in. From lion roars to elephants playing in their pond, this ride provides guests with awesome pictures and memories. As you keep following the path, you will come to a train station. Now, this area of the park offers a train ride to Conservation Station. Go check out the area, it has a children’s petting zoo and an area where you can see animals having procedures. Also, in that same area, they offer the Animation Experience. This is where they teach you to draw some of your favorite animal Disney Characters. I highly recommend this experience because no matter if you are a good artist or not, the picture comes out looking like the character. This has been a must do on my last two trips. Above you can see a photo of me finishing up Timon!  After you enjoy a one of a kind safari, drawing, and a sweet treat; make your way out and follow the path, we will be entering Animal Kingdom’s newest land, Pandora (The World of Avatar).

PANDORA (THE WORLD OF AVATAR)

Sivako, as the Navi would say in the world of Avatar. It simply means rise to the challenge. Disney rose to the challenge in this land because it was not easy to build, but it is absolutely gorgeous. The land is so stunning, the plants, the pathways, and the atmosphere are everything in this land. The land was made for night, so if you have a chance to see the wonderful neon colors, make sure you stroll through at night. The must do attraction in Pandora is Flight of Passage. The ride combines a 3D ride and a simulated ride. Giving it a Soarin’ feel, the video is a bit more intense. It moves faster and drops to give you the feeling like you are flying on the back of a banshee. The line can get long, so try and make this a priority in the morning or later in the day. This ride brings you into the middle of Pandora. It takes you through the water, forests, and deep dark depths of caves. You get to see everything the land has to offer, all in one ride. Once again, this is one of the best rides Disney has to offer. After you come back to the actual themed land after the ride, head over to Satuli Canteen. This is the food option for Pandora. They have a version of chicken or shrimp bowl. You can choose a protein, a veggie/starch, and then a sauce to make your bowl. They are all very good and you can ask for a couple different sauces in your bowl. For the kids, they have the unique and very good cheeseburger pods. That consists of hamburger meat and toppings in a bao bun. The food here is good, and the unique dining experience makes it one of a kind and different. This is why I highly suggest Satuli Canteen for your dining in Pandora. 

Headed out of Pandora, take it in, because it is so beautiful. Once back to the main hub, you have your fun filled day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Recently, this park has hopped up on my list because of all it has to offer. You will never get the same feel in the park because there are so many different shops, food, and experiences based on how you walk through the park. There are different shows, music, and mini celebrations in all areas of the theme park. One minute you feel like you are in a zoo, another in a dance party, and another a prehistoric carnival. The zoo-like features make it one of a kind, because each time it is different. The animals are unpredictable and that is what makes it fun. Each themed land has their own unique trails for animal exploration. I urge you to do those, as they offer fun pictures and theming. The food options are endless and unique to the areas of the world they are trying to portray. Mini carts and quick service restaurants leave you trying to decide what to try. Sometimes the carts are not always open, but look up multiple options because you can find things all throughout the park. Take pictures, take videos, take long strolls because they have a lot of hidden Mickey’s along the way. Well, that concludes our trip into the animal kingdom. I hope you enjoyed my must do’s. If I missed anything let me know, as we hope to include as much as we can to let everyone know what you cannot miss! This also concludes my must do’s for each of the four parks. Hope you have enjoyed the journey!