Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lot or commute by bus. Guests at Epcot resort hotels can reach the Studios by boat or
on foot.
Disney's Animal Kingdom
About five times the size of the Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom com-
bines zoological exhibits with rides, shows, and live entertainment. The park is ar-
ranged in a hub-and-spoke configuration somewhat like the Magic Kingdom. A lush
tropical rainforest serves as Main Street, funneling visitors to
Discovery Island
, the
park's hub. Dominated by the park's central icon, the 14-story-tall, hand-carved
Tree
of Life
, Discovery Island offers services, shopping, and dining. From there, guests
can access the themed areas:
Africa, Asia
, and
DinoLand U.S.A
. Discovery Island,
Africa, and DinoLand U.S.A. opened in 1998, followed by Asia in 1999. Africa, the
largest themed area, at 100 acres, features free-roaming herds in a re-creation of the
Serengeti Plain.
Camp Minnie-Mickey
, the park's former character-greeting area, closed in 2014
tomakewayforanew“land”basedonJamesCameron's
Avatar
films,withconstruc-
tion ongoing until 2017.
Disney's Animal Kingdom has its own parking lot and is connected to other Walt
Disney World destinations by the Disney bus system. Although no hotels lie within
Animal Kingdom proper, the
All-Star Resorts, Animal Kingdom Lodge & Villas
,
and
Coronado Springs Resort
are all nearby.
THE WATER PARKS
DISNEY WORLD HAS TWO MAJOR
water parks:
Typhoon Lagoon
and
Blizzard Beach
.
Opened in 1989, Typhoon Lagoon is distinguished by a wave pool capable of making
6-foot waves. Blizzard Beach is newer, having opened in 1995, and it features more
slides.Bothparksarebeautifullylandscaped,andgreatattentionispaidtoatmosphere
and aesthetics. Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach have their own adjacent parking
lots and can be reached by Disney bus.
