Happy 18th Birthday Animal Kingdom!

[disneysteve]

18 years ago today, my wife and I woke up stupidly early, drove over to the brand new Animal Kingdom park, and were in line for the parking lot while it was still dark. We wanted to be sure to get in early for the park's Grand Opening day.

We had actually already seen the park a few days earlier when we attended an Annual Passholder preview and we fell in love with the place. We spent hours and hours exploring every nook and cranny, following every path and trail, photographing hundreds of details in the buildings, rock work, carvings, and, of course, the Tree of Life.

Opening day was actually rather subdued, which matched the environment of the park. No loud music or fireworks. Just an excited buzz as most people entering were seeing it for the very first time. It is a very unique experience to have the opportunity to see a brand new Disney park.

Animal Kingdom has evolved a lot over the years. The focus has definitely shifted from animals, conservation, and education, to thrills, which is unfortunate, but that's what the public demanded. Still, we love the park. The level of detail is phenomenal, even if the average guest blows right past it all on their way to Expedition Everest. My advice? Next time you are there, dedicate a couple of hours to just walking around and soaking in the details. Read the stuff written on the walls. Look at the posters. Examine the artifacts in the restaurants. Check out the carvings in the gift shops. And don't forget to watch the animals, too.

 

[rteetz]

That's so cool you got to be there!

Animal kingdom is my favorite park.

 

[KingLlama]

Congrats to Animal Kingdom for now being old enough to vote in the polls that @Tonyz creates on here. I mean, it will totally be cheating because AK will get to vote for its own attractions, restaurants, and resort, but this is the DIS board and WE DON'T PLAY BY SOCIETY'S RULES.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Very nicely done, thanx for sharing your memories,Steve - you should have submitted it as an article! I was not there, but I have several friends who were fortunate enough to be. I can surely say AK has changed the way I think of "Walt Disney World Florida" in a good way forever.

 

[disneysteve]

Congrats to Animal Kingdom for now being old enough to vote in the polls that @Tonyz creates on here. I mean, it will totally be cheating because AK will get to vote for its own attractions, restaurants, and resort, but this is the DIS board and WE DON'T PLAY BY SOCIETY'S RULES.

Of course, the 3 other parks are all older, so they'd get to vote too and would cancel out each other's votes.

 

[disneysteve]

Very nicely done, thanx for sharing your memories,Steve - you should have submitted it as an article!

Ooh, I didn't think of that. I wonder if it's too late (not that I have time to write an article right now).

 

[KingLlama]

Of course, the 3 other parks are all older, so they'd get to vote too and would cancel out each other's votes.

Hollywood Studios wouldn't bother to vote. It knows better.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Ooh, I didn't think of that. I wonder if it's too late (not that I have time to write an article right now).

I personally think this would have done nicely, if just "fleshed out" a bit. But - I'm not the publishing board, what do I know? (As somebody in another thread pointed out to me so nicely).

 

[disneysteve]

That's so cool you got to be there!

Getting to be among the first to experience Animal Kingdom remains one of my all time favorite Disney experiences. There's just something really magical about seeing a brand new park like that. I visited both Epcot and MGM very soon after they opened (less than 2 months for MGM) but even that wasn't the same as being one of the very first.

 

[Princess Jes]

Leigh told me last week: "I'd be happy if we didn't go to Animal Kingdom this time. It was crap.
I told him too bad, we'll go in the morning again like last time and then hop to a water park. I need me some Everest and dinosaur.
Plus, we need to see it at night!

Hollywood Studios wouldn't bother to vote. It knows better.

I think Hollywood studios is over 21 and therefore drunk at the moment. They need to go home and rest for a while till hey get their s.... Stuff... Together.

I personally think this would have done nicely, if just "fleshed out" a bit. But - I'm not the publishing board, what do I know? (As somebody in another thread pointed out to me so nicely).

Who said that to you?! Want me to sort them out my dear? *punches fist into other hand threateningly*

 

[disneysteve]

Leigh told me last week: "I'd be happy if we didn't go to Animal Kingdom this time. It was crap.

Other than football, what does Leigh like? What's he into? I think AK has a lot to offer if you know how to approach it. It's certainly the least "Disney" of the parks. As a landscaper, I would think he would appreciate the massive accomplishments in that area to build that park. I'm sure there are a ton of sites that list facts and figures about how many trees and species and grasses and such that have been planted there and how they made it work in the Florida climate, for example.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Who said that to you?! Want me to sort them out my dear? *punches fist into other hand threateningly*

Thanx, my friend. Believe me, I paid them about 2 seconds of credence.

 

[Princess Jes]

Other than football, what does Leigh like? What's he into? I think AK has a lot to offer if you know how to approach it. It's certainly the least "Disney" of the parks. As a landscaper, I would think he would appreciate the massive accomplishments in that area to build that park. I'm sure there are a ton of sites that list facts and figures about how many trees and species and grasses and such that have been planted there and how they made it work in the Florida climate, for example.

Cricket.
Beer.
Will Ferrel movies.
And that's about it.

He's a greenskeeper, so plants don't interest him in the slightest.
He is too active to slow down to watch the animals for any period of time so he rushes through any animal exhibits at places like a zoo etc.

 

[disneysteve]

Cricket.
Beer.
Will Ferrel movies.
And that's about it.

He's a greenskeeper, so plants don't interest him in the slightest.
He is too active to slow down to watch the animals for any period of time so he rushes through any animal exhibits at places like a zoo etc.

Beer! They have that in Animal Kingdom. That's a start. They also have some of the most unique food you'll find in any of the parks. Plan on lunch at the Harambe Market for some spice-rubbed ribs and a Safari Lager (or other beer choice - I know zilch about beer so I can't really help there).

What are we going to do with that boy?

 

[Princess Jes]

Beer! They have that in Animal Kingdom. That's a start. They also have some of the most unique food you'll find in any of the parks. Plan on lunch at the Harambe Market for some spice-rubbed ribs and a Safari Lager (or other beer choice - I know zilch about beer so I can't really help there).

What are we going to do with that boy?

He does love ribs and buffalo wings, how could I forget those?!
We ate at flame tree last time and neither of us really rated it.
We're booked at Tusker house for a late breakfast, so if we head back for the evening festivities, we may hit up the marketplace!
He's a bud light guy. He's not a craft beer type. He finds one he likes and sticks to it.
He never was very adventurous with food, but after 11 years, I've managed to mostly change that.

I don't know. We'll have to give him a taking to in August over a family dinner at Carmine's

 

[Alicenwonderment]

I still have my cast member free ticket. Never been used.