Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
246
Dehydration Alert!
Tips
Animal Kingdom (and the other parks, too) can get very hot, especially during
summer, and despite all the foliage, shade can sometimes be hard to come by.
Bring bottled water (freeze it the night before to keep it cold), refilling at the
fountains inside the park. Remember to bring sunscreen and wide-brimmed hats
for the whole family,
and plan to ride Kali River Rapids during the hottest part of
the day (be sure to bring a change of clothes—you will get wet . . . and possibly
soaked).
you can wander the village streets and head out on safari (you'll find the largest concen-
tration of animals here);
Asia,
with Mt. Everest looming on the horizon (within it, the
coolest thrill ride in the park), includes a raging river ride, exotic animal exhibits (includ-
ing Bengal tigers and giant fruit bats), and a bird show; and
DinoLand U.S.A.,
filled
with carnival-style rides and games, a large play area, and a herky-jerky thrill ride that
transports you back in time.
The park covers more than 500 acres, and your feet will tell you that you've covered
the territory at the end of the day.
Most of the rides are accessible to guests with disabilities, but the hilly terrain, large
crowds, narrow passages, and long hikes can make for a strenuous day if there's a wheel-
chair-bound person in your party. Anyone with neck or back problems, as well as preg-
nant women, may not be able to enjoy rides such as
Expedition Everest, Kali River
Rapids,
and
Dinosaur.
The 145-foot-tall
Tree of Life
is in the center of the park. It's an intricately carved
free-form representation of animals, handcrafted by a team of artists over the period of a
year. It's not nearly as tall or imposing as Spaceship Earth, which has come to symbolize
Epcot, or Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom. The tree is impressive, though, with
8,000 limbs; 103,000 leaves; and 325 mammals, reptiles, bugs, birds, dinosaurs, and
Mickeys in its trunk, limbs, and roots. For more on the tree, see “Discovery Island,”
below.
ARRIVING
From the parking lot, walk or (where available) ride one of the trams to
the entrance. If you do walk, watch out for the trams and autos, because the lot isn't
designed for pedestrians. Also, make certain to note where you parked (section and row).
Lot signs aren't as prominent as in the Magic Kingdom, and the rows look alike when
you come back out. Upon entering the park, consult the handout guide map for special
events or entertainment. If you have questions, ask park staffers.
HOURS
Animal Kingdom is open at least from 9am to 5pm, but it sometimes opens
an hour earlier and stays open an hour or so later.
TICKET PRICES
The ticket prices are $79 for adults, $68 for children 3 to 9. See “Tick-
ets,” earlier in this chapter, for information on the Magic Your Way ticketing system.
6
SERVICES & FACILITIES IN ANIMAL KINGDOM
AT M S
Animal Kingdom has an ATM near Garden Gate Gifts to the right of the
entrance as well as in DinoLand across from the Primeval Whirl. It accepts cards from
banks using the Cirrus, Honor, and PLUS systems.
