Animal Kingdom Wildlife and ASD

[Tinkerbell_n_neverland]

I have a question about the animals at Animal Kingdom. I will be taking my DS there for the first time next month. However I have some concerns. I myself have not been to Animal Kingdom since the week it opened. I have heard that there are now animals that wander freely around the park. My son is terrified of animals in general and lately animals have been trying to attack him. (I know that sounds crazy) At the pet store the other day a parrot that was loose charged at him. Last week at a pet adoption center a large dog was growling at him through the cage. Also, he had a visit to the Childrens Hospital last month, they had a dog that went from room to room to visit the children and this dog wanted nothing to do with my son. Has anyone ever experienced this before??? I need some insight to where the loose animals are in Animal Kingdom (if anyone has an idea). I dont want to chance anything. Am I the only person that finds this strange? My son is a very loving and gentle boy. I don't understand why this keeps happening and I want to prepare us for Animal Kingdom. Does anyone have advice????

 

[kaffinito]

They have a variety of birds that walk around the park. There are a lot of ducks. The animals are on trails in enclosures that for the most part appear to be open, but are not. You have the experience of being close to the animals, without that zoo like experience. Maybe you could try taking your son to the local zoo for a pre-trip primer?

 

[disneydeb]

dont forget in epcot as you come out of mexico and down that little trail in back they have macaws that are overhead and in the open .

 

[livndisney]

I have a question about the animals at Animal Kingdom. I will be taking my DS there for the first time next month. However I have some concerns. I myself have not been to Animal Kingdom since the week it opened. I have heard that there are now animals that wander freely around the park. My son is terrified of animals in general and lately animals have been trying to attack him. (I know that sounds crazy) At the pet store the other day a parrot that was loose charged at him. Last week at a pet adoption center a large dog was growling at him through the cage. Also, he had a visit to the Childrens Hospital last month, they had a dog that went from room to room to visit the children and this dog wanted nothing to do with my son. Has anyone ever experienced this before??? I need some insight to where the loose animals are in Animal Kingdom (if anyone has an idea). I dont want to chance anything. Am I the only person that finds this strange? My son is a very loving and gentle boy. I don't understand why this keeps happening and I want to prepare us for Animal Kingdom. Does anyone have advice????

I went through this with my DD, she was TERRIFIED of animals. Ak does not have animal walking on the paths with guests. The animals are generally behind a fence.

The affection section has goats roaming around. It is a hands on area where kids go in and brush them, so you may want to avoid that area. Also at the conservation station (the place where you take the train to), the CM's bring animals out and talk about them. The kids are then given a chance to touch them.

In random places around the paths in the park you may find a CM with an animal (usually in a plexi glass type box). It is usually easy to avoid them.

You may want to stay away from the Flights of Wonder show. The birds fly over the crowd. They also make "noise" my DD did not like that.

The Safari has roaming animals. But it is rare for them to come near the truck you are riding in.

The ducks we saw at Flame tree were very agressive and roamed around in the foutain there.

 

[bookwormde]

There are some birds wandering around at AK but they can be avoided. One thing to remember is that food attracts birds (especially seagulls) at all parks so it is important not to walk around with food or eat in uncovered areas or you may have aggressive unwanted visitors

bookwormde

 

[Tissa]

There are no animals that walk around the park freely except for birds not on the payroll. My ds has always been afraid of animals of any kind. He is 13 and still will not be in the same room with our dogs that are older than him.
He has no problems in AK even doing the safari. I do not take him to conservation station or on the trails because he does not even want to look at them behind glass. He hates the zoo. Very strange, I was hoping he would grow out of it but he has not.

We just go to the AK for the rides.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Animals can sense fear, so that is likely why the animals have been behaving abnormally around your son. Not much you can do about it beyond therapy that gets him over his fear (and keeping him away from animals until then, of course).