Wilderness Explorer locations

[practicallyperfect77]

I've searched, but coming up empty so thought I'd ask....do any of you have a list of the Wilderness Explorer locations in AK? I'll be down in Oct with my niece (5) and nephews (6). They LOVE animals and exploring and am already planning on spending a full day at AK. We do have a Tusker House ADR around 10:30, but figured we can play the rest of the day. Would love to see a list of the locations ahead of time though so I can sort of get a game plan. Is it possible to do them all in one day? Only planning on one AK day and this will likely be a one n done trip for them so I'm hoping we can get all the badges in one day. And of course experience the safari, EE, Dino, Nemo, FOLK and Flights of Wonder too.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I'm not sure if it's feasible to get all the badges in one day...it's meant to be a multiple-day game and there are 30 badges to collect. Unless you run from station to station, hurry through each activity, and do nothing else in the park, I just don't see how you could complete them all in one day. My kids had a great time with it, even though they didn't finish their booklets. My daughter is looking forward to finishing up on our next trip!

I'm sure Google would reveal someone who has compiled a list of all the stations, but to me, a game plan kinda takes away from the "exploring" part of the game.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Thanks. I googled and came up empty too but didn't go thru all the articles either. I do get your point about having a game plan taking away the exploring part but I don't see my niece and nephews ever getting back there and I think it'd be fun for them.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Thanks. I googled and came up empty too but didn't go thru all the articles either. I do get your point about having a game plan taking away the exploring part but I don't see my niece and nephews ever getting back there and I think it'd be fun for them.

The badge stations are so numerous, and none are too far apart, that it's not hard to figure out where to go next, IMO. As you're exploring the park, just stop and pick up a badge. The game is really built into the park, so as you're exploring, you'll find the badge stations. It really is a neat game, and really part of the park rather than seeming like some afterthought that was added later, if that makes sense. I think that Disney was genius in developing it...it forces you to slow down and enjoy a park that so many people rush through (AK is no "half day park" if you're trying to complete this!) AND it seems that they purposely made it so long so that it can't be done in one day, thus almost forcing you to revisit the park.

 

[Sector7G]

There is a total of 31 badges that can be collected.

In a half day at AK - rope drop to just before 2 pm - my daughters, 8 and 5, were able to complete 14 Challenges.

Here is a list of the badges and their approximate locations:

1. Wilderness Call Badge - as you enter Discovery Island at Wilderness Explorer's HQ
2. Flamingo Badge - At the flamingos on Discovery Island (on the right side)
3. Animal Find Badge - Can be collected on the way out of the park as you cross from Discovery Island, but really all around Disney's Animal Kingdom (most stations can give out this badge)
4. Insect Badge - Discovery Island behind the Tree of Life, near the exit of It's Tough to be a Bug
5. Music Badge - Africa on the main path toward Asia - you'll know when you see the drums/tam tams
6. Safari Badge - Africa - Kilimanjaro Safaris
7. African Culture Badge - Africa - At the warden's front porch on the Kilimanjaro Safari's exit path
8. Ham Radio Badge - Africa - At the Entrance to Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
9. Hiking Badge - Africa - Pangani Forest Exploration Trail (Collected at Trail marker #10. You must get info at Trail Markers #1, #2, #3, and #10 for this badge)
10. Birding Badge - Africa - At the aviary on Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
11. Tracking Badge - Africa - At the Savannah overlook on Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
12. Gorilla Badge - Africa - At the Gorilla troop leader post, along Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
13. Habitat Badge - Rafiki's Planet Watch - At the troop leader post along the trail to Conservation Station
14. Conservation Badge - Rafiki's Planet Watch - At Conservation Station
15. Animal Nutrition Badge - Rafiki's Planet Watch - At Conservation Station
16. Veterinary Badge - Rafiki's Planet Watch - At the Veterinary Window at Conservation Station
17. Recycling Badge - Rafiki's Planet Watch - Inside Conservation Station
18. Hand Washing Badge - Rafiki's Planet Watch - At the Affection Section outside Conservation Station
19. Asian Culture Badge - Asia - Near Yak and Yeti Restaurant
20. Forestry Badge - Asia - Near the troop leader post in Asia
21. Animal Call Badge - Asia - Near the troop leader post in Asia
22. Explorer Badge - Asia - Near the entrance to Maharajah Jungle Trek
23. Bat Badge - Asia - At the Bat House in Maharajah Jungle Trek
24. Tiger Badge - Asia - At the tigers along Maharajah Jungle Trek
25. Currency Badge - Asia - At Mandala Gifts in Anandapur
26. Telescope Badge - Asia - At the telescopes near the photo spot across from Expedition Everest
27. Mt. Everest Badge - Asia - At Expedition Everest
28. Yeti Badge - Asia - Outside Expedition Everest
29. Fossil Badge - Dinoland U.S.A. - At the troop leader post in Dinoland U.S.A.
30. Dinosaur Badge - Dinoland U.S.A. - In the Boneyard
31. Signaling Badge - Dinoland U.S.A. - Near the main entrance to Dinoland U.S.A.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Sector - thank you much. I greatly appreciate the list. I am definitely planning a whole day at AK. My niece and nephews love animals and we're not hopping so I figure this can be an early night for us since AK I think will likely close at 5. Hoping since it's early we can get by with no afternoon break too.

 

[michelle06]

This website has a photocopy of each page of the WE book so you can see what's involved. This particular link shows a map of where to earn each badge. Hope it's helpful. I have not done this but have been researching it a bit myself. My research says to allow 5-10 minutes per badge and there are 31 badges. I am hoping to intersperse the badges in with our touring and expect to complete the book as well as everything we want to do at AK (which is most of the park) in 2 days at AK.
http://****************.com/animal-kingdoms-wilderness-explorer-game-is-now-live/#jp-carousel-3530

 

[NY Pirate Princess]

We did probably 10 or 11 spots during a hot half day tour. Some were better than others, but almost all the cm's except for one were really into it. I think you should go with the flow and not stress getting certain ones done, or getting it all done. You never know what will turn on a kid's imagination until it happens. One family at a bug exhibit had gone back to AK one more time JUST to see the cm and the bugs, it was their 9 year old daughter's favorite thing in all of Disney World. My girl was sad that she didn't finish but the cm's on the way out made a big deal of how much she HAD done, and that made her happy.

You get the books right inside at a little place just over the bridge. Grab one for yourself too and take a moment, maybe over breakfast, to let the girls decide what to do. Enjoy yourself, we did!

 

[think-like-tink]

How fun.

We did something like this at MT.Rushmore and at Devils Tower. My kids LOVED it.

It would be nice if you could do this at AKL to. (Thats where we are staying this time)

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Thank you all for the additional information. "Game plan" probably wasn't the right choice of words as I don't want to really run and only do these things but as others have mentioned fit them into our day. But also wanted to know roughly where they were so we wouldn't miss them either. I have no idea how obvious they are.

Do kids need to be able to read? My niece isn't yet - she'll turn 5 in Sept and be in preschool. My nephews do read some but just in kindergarten now so not sure if they know big words.

 

[think-like-tink]

Thank you all for the additional information. "Game plan" probably wasn't the right choice of words as I don't want to really run and only do these things but as others have mentioned fit them into our day. But also wanted to know roughly where they were so we wouldn't miss them either. I have no idea how obvious they are.

Do kids need to be able to read? My niece isn't yet - she'll turn 5 in Sept and be in preschool. My nephews do read some but just in kindergarten now so not sure if they know big words.

My DD couldn't read well when we went to Mt Rushmore, (we did something like this there ) I had her read the words she could and I followed along with her. Sometimes I had to re-word it, or just gave hints.

 

[ebenmax]

Has anyone done this with an 11 year old? Is it too young even though my DD is within suggested ages?

Thanks!!

 

[Wendybird55]

DS enjoyed doing this, but as PPs said there are ALOT of stations and for some you need to go on an attraction to finish (like spot animals on safari).

We found it best to just tour the park and when we were in a particular area seek out the Wilderness stations in that area. I still have DS's book from our trip last summer that is not completely filled...I plan to take it with us when we go again in Aug. and he can continue where he left off.

 

[think-like-tink]

Do they get a sticker for riding Exp.Everest? We want to ride first thing.

 

[think-like-tink]

Do Dug and Russell meet at one of these locations?

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Do they get a sticker for riding Exp.Everest? We want to ride first thing.

Oh I hope we don't have to ride to get one. My niece is only 39 3/4 inch tall. I know she can get the 1/4 inch so she can go on other rides but 44 isn't gonna happen.

 

[SpringSprite]

this looks like SO MUCH FUN!!! I love UP

 

[practicallyperfect77]

this looks like SO MUCH FUN!!! I love UP

Me too but man does that movie make me cry. Like full out sobs and then I end up with red puffy eyes. I mean I cry in all Pixar movies but Up.....man that one gets me bad.