1. One of the most enchanting, yet most overlooked, experiences at Disney's Animal Kingdom occurs about 15 minutes before the park even opens -- The Awakening. Rafiki, the wise old baboon from The Lion King, rewards early risers with a greeting of the new day and is soon joined by many costumed characters, such as Terk, Timon and King Louie, as well as real creatures and their handlers. All this great start to the day costs you is a little early morning sleep -- it's worth it!
2. At the Animal Kingdom if there's a long line to get in try going through the Rainforest Café; there's a park entrance at the rear of the gift shop.
3. Wes Palm is an eccentric and entertaining palm tree teases guests throughout the morning in the Oasis. Take a few minutes and try to spot Wes Palm's "traveling companion" -- he's really quite clever at blending in with the oblivious crowds. (I hear there's also a talking recycling can, called Pipa, that performs at Conservation Station, but I've never seen it myself -- definitely worth keeping an eye out for!)
4. At the Tusker House Restaurant in AK you can hear kitchen noises, if you sit in the outside dining area. It sounds like dishes clanging together, sweeping up broken glass, etc.. This is a recording, but it's funny to see how people react, when they first hear the sounds.
5. I've seen a talking trash can at AK. Take the train, get off and walk all the way down the path till you come to the first building and if your timing is right, the trash can usually roams around the entrance to the first building. There is also a talking tree at the entrance to AK . I don't know if there is a particular schedule for these things. I think you just have to luck out.
6. Another crowd-pleaser that you may walk past without realizing it is DeVine -- creeping kudzu never looked so good! DeVine is really a performance artist dressed in foliage from the top of her green-painted head to the bottom of her stilt-wearing toes. She rests unobtrusively against a tree or a wall, suddenly springing to life to tease an unsuspecting passerby or chase down disrespectful teenagers or others who dare make light of her art.Finding one of the 27 hidden Mickeys in the mural in the Animal Kingdom Conservation Station.
7. If you like looking for Hidden Mickeys, you won't be disappointed here. There's one in Mr. Panika's back yard (look for the Mickey shirt!) at Kali River Rapids, as well as several in the beautiful gilded murals along the Maharajah Jungle Trek (check out the one prince's earring).
8. Want to wreak revenge on someone, anyone! after getting drenched on the Kali River Rapids? Be sure to stop on the bridge after exiting the ride. You'll find two elephants whose trunks will spout water at the unsuspecting riders below if you push their buttons.Listening to the bug show tunes in the Tree of Life.
9. In the AK if you stand facing Tusker house and listen you can hear the landlady banging on the door in the room upstairs trying to get in.
10. Has anyone mentioned that the red, yellow, and white pipes above the load area at "Dinosaur" are for Ketchup, Mustard, and Mayonnaise and that the letters on each pipe are their chemical formulas?!?!?!?
11. If you walk up the path to the left, toward Harambe, you'll pass by the counter service restaurant, Pizzafari, one of the most brilliantly decorated buildings in the Animal Kingdom. The bright colors are eye-catching, of course, but stop in *before* the lunch crowds gather so that you can study the different rooms with their ornate murals, walls and ceilings. Can you identify which room is which? The Home Room, Nocturnal Room, Upside-Down Room, Camouflage Room, Four Seasons Room, and Bug Room.
12. Stop and look down at the walkway under your feet. Did you know, for example, that the leaf prints and mud cracks were made by a mold? The Imagineers actually took a large patch of mud, made a cast of it, then reproduced it for the walkways of Disney's "Africa." They even distressed and widened the naturally occurring cracks by squirting them with a hard stream of water from a hose.
13. In Harambe you might spy a genuine Coke bottle perched atop a utility pole as an insulator for a power line.
14. Across from the Dawa Bar is what appears to be an old fort. Don't assume that the area's off limits -- there are actually tables and chairs in there! There is also a hidden Baloo on the wall in here! If you are walking from Flights of Wonder and you take a right into this area, the hidden Baloo will be on the wall inside the area to your left.
15. The mythical land of Anandapur in Asia - note the authentic prayer trees, draped with both faded and new scarves that commemorate dead loved ones.
16. Kali River Rapids queue- don't miss Mr. Panika's office -- the owner of the "business" may be "out to temple" as the signs indicate, but the two resident geckos who reside in his gecko cabinet are in all the time. Children will enjoy spotting the little critters, which are very much alive!
17. Dinoland Boneyard -- the play area is specially made for kids to blow off some steam. If they look off to the right, behind the jeep, they'll see a row of fossils set into the wall. Just hit one and find out what happens -- its musical! If you can't find the so-called "xylobone," a Cast Member will point it out to you.
18. Conservation Station there is so much for you and the children to see and touch. If you get there early enough in the morning, you might be able to see an operation on one of the animals. During the day inside Conservation Station, they put on little hands on shows with animals that are great for children of all ages. Also there are tables set up with items about the animals and always someone there to tell you about the articles on the tables. Outside is the petting area. They do not let you feed the animals, but have grooming brushes that you can use to brush the animals. It is great because the animals do not start eating you clothes or knocking the little ones down to get food. Next to that there is a small stage where during the day they put on cute little shows. They are trying to train animals to do certain things. The best part of this is that they are not the usual animals. You get to talk with the trainers and it is a great little show. Also, on the walk from the train to Conservation Station there is a garden on the right hand side for kids. They are given cards and have to find the bugs in the garden. Needless to say the bugs are not real.
19. This one is for the inside of the theatre of It's Tough To Be A Bug. The announcer says something to the effect of "Will all honorary bugs please remain seated so the beetles, magots and cockroaches may exit safely." If you look up at the ceiling you will see "swarms" of lights. They all fly toward the doors. Look to your left at the exit signs and you will see little firefly type creatures lighting up the exit sign as they exit the theatre.
20. There are approximately 320 animals carved into the Tree of Life.
21. When you walk down the path to the Tree of Life that there are places where you walk through "tunnels". If you look up at those "ceilings" you can see a lot of "critters" up there. I saw a pterodactyl and I can't even remember what else. Just look up when you go through those "arches".
22. In the Boneyard there are several large wooden boxes with handles on top. If you can find one without parents crashed on it, pull the handle up, and the boxes will growl, and may make other animal sounds
23. While walking on the way to Camp Minnie-Mickey, there are two talking bushes called Herb and Flora that pass the time by talking to passers-by and very loudly people-watching with each other. They were very funny, but seem to only be "alive" for short periods of time. Check 'em out the next time you're there, they had us crackin' up!
24. Karuka, a group of limber, limboing Kenyan acrobats, are exceptional, as is the percussion group Kobake. Both groups can be found performing around the Dawa Bar. (Check Steve Soares' unofficial WDW Entertainment site at
http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/ for show times for these and all the live acts that perform at Animal Kingdom.)
25. Ok, who can make the most Manure? Of all the informational exhibits at Conservation Station, perhaps the most entertaining ones are the signs youll discover hanging inside the bathroom stalls and/or over the urinals. The statistics listed here, though admittedly not appropriate for dinner conversation, are fascinating nonetheless.
26. Kids Discovery Club: Informal, creative activity stations offer kids ages 4 8 a structured learning experience as they tour the animal kingdom. Set up along walkways in six them areas, Discovery Club station s are manned by cast members who supervise a different activity at each station. A souvenir logbook, available free, is stamped at each station when the child completes the craft or exercise. Children enjoy collecting the stamps and working on the puzzles in the logbook while waiting in lines.
27. Animal Encounters: Throughout the day, knowledgeable Disney staff conduct impromptu short lectures on specific animals at the park. Look for a cast member in safari garb holding a bird, reptile, or small animal. (From the Unofficial Guide book)
28. Goodwill Ambassadors: A number of Asian and African natives are on hand throughout the park. Both gracious and knowledgeable, they are delighted to discuss their country and its wildlife. Look for them in Harambe and along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail in Africa, and in Anandapur and along the Maharaja Jungle Trek in Asia. They can also be found near the min entrance and at the Oasis. (From the Unofficial Guide book)
Last time i was at WDW, they were still building the Animal Kingdom. I was wondering what the best rides or shows are in the park. I also heard that the garbage cans talk to you. Is this true, and if so is it cool or just freaky. Any info on AK is greatly appreciated. 
