Animal Kingdom Opening "Ceremony"?

[cux2]

Animal Kingdom is my favorite of all of the parks and I am always trying to find something new to experience there. I have heard that when the park opens that Rafiki and other characters do an opening "ceremony" I think that I heard called "The Awakening". We have never been at AK right at opening. Does anyone know does this still take place?

 

[BLBCB]

Just bumping this one up.

 

[HillPete]

We were there in January of last year. We got to the toll booths in the front of the parking lot in PLENTY of time to park and see the Awakening. They held us there for almost 20 minutes before we could go in and park. There was no opening ceremony that day!! Maybe they only do it during busier times??
--H

PS - they held the busses, too. No one got into the lot until after the scheduled park opening time.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

When I was there in October, DH and I actually got to the park before it opened. Everyone was qued up in front of the Tree of Life and there were ropes blocking the entrance. We didn't know they did this (we're usually an hour late to all the openings because DH can't get moving in the morning!) but Minnie and Goofy rolled in on a big jeep/truck thing. You could hear Mickey talking and then we saw him...but I won't tell you where!! You'll have to see it for yourself!! Being a sentimental softie, I actually had tears in my eyes in anticipation!

Enjoy! I don't remember much of the rest of it.

 

[mwerner2]

We also experienced what gypsydoodlebug did in January. It was one of the most magical moments of the day.

 

[estnh]

We experienced the park opening ceremony last April. Weren't even aware fo it at the time--we just happened to be early that morning and came across it in front of the Tree of Life as we entered the park. It is well worth getting up for, and from now on we have reduced sleep time on AK day!