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Tag Archives: Animal Kingdom

March 1

Posted on March 1, 2015 by disneydetail

March 1, 1999 – The Animal Kingdom Attraction Kali River Rapids Opens

Kali River Rapids

“Adventure awaits!”

On March 1, 1999, the thrill ride attraction Kali River Rapids opens in Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom park. The attraction takes guests on a whitewater rapids adventure through the Chakranadi River, exploring scenery found in the heart of Asia. Guests sit inside a wooden pagoda that seats 12 and go up a 90-foot knoll, pass by several waterfalls, go through a raging current, and cascade down a 20-foot plummet near the end of the attraction. Guests are warned that they will get soaked on this attraction, so it is best to ride when the weather is warm. The attraction, like many others in this park, carries the message of being kind to the environment, as illegal logging is destroying nature and leaving hazardous materials in their wake.

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November 5

Posted on November 5, 2014 by disneydetail

November 5, 2006 – Previews Begin for Finding Nemo – The Musical

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“Hey Dad, hey Dad, wouldn’t it be cool if I maybe met a shark when I’m at school?”

On November 5, 2006, previews of the Disney Park musical Finding Nemo began, with the show officially opening in January, 2007. Based on Pixar’s hit animated feature film of the same, the musical features the songwriting talents of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (who would later go on to fame for Frozen), and a look reminiscent of the Broadway musical The Lion King, including the use of bunraku and shadow puppetry. The 40-minute show is located in Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Park in the DinoLand USA area. This also marks the first time Disney has created an original musical of a non-musical film in their library.

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August 4

Posted on August 4, 2014 by disneydetail

August 4, 1995 – The New Walt Disney World Park Animal Kingdom Has its Groundbreaking

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“With a combination of thrilling rides, exotic landscapes and close encounters with wild animals, we are creating an entirely new experience for our guests.” – Michael Eisner, former chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company

On August 4, 1995, the newest addition to the Walt Disney World Resort, the Animal Kingdom Park, had its official groundbreaking. Plans were announced on June 21, 1995, with the park already called the largest theme park yet. The original name was the Wild Animal Kingdom, with the first word later dropped during production. Although many attractions were changed from 1995 to its opening in 1998, the centerpiece known as the Tree of Life was the one constant in its construction. The purpose of the park was to ramp up excitement about conservation with guests, as many members of the parks’ advisory board were conservationists and distinguished professors in the field of wildlife.

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April 22

Posted on April 22, 2014 by disneydetail

April 22, 1998 – The Live-Action Show Festival of the Lion King Opens at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom

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“Go ape for the pageantry and puppetry as this big-as-Broadway show celebrates Simba, the lion cub who would be king!”

On April 22, 1998, the live-action show Festival of the Lion King opened in Walt’s Disney World’s Animal Kingdom. It was located in the Lion King Theater of the Camp Minnie-Mickey area of the park, a formerly open-air theater that was enclosed in 2003. The show was a different interpretation of the hit 1994 film The Lion King, featuring several songs from the show in a revue format. Guests enter the show and sit in one of four sections: elephant, warthog, giraffe, and lion. Guests are then prompted to make the noises of their respective animals, and are led by four performers in traditional African dress. On January 5, 2014, the show was closed; it will reopen in the Africa section of Animal Kingdom in the summer of 2014 while the Camp Minnie-Mickey area is transformed into a new area based on the film Avatar.

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April 18

Posted on April 18, 2014 by disneydetail

April 18, 2002 – The Attraction Primeval Whirl Opens in Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom

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“Spin and slide on a time-machine coaster back to the dinosaur age through a madcap maze of curves and drops.”

On April 18. 2002, the thrill-ride attraction Primeval Whirl opened in Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom, in the Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama amusement park area. The ride is a rollercoaster with a time-machine feel, taking guests back to the time of dinosaurs. The ride has many twists and turns, but is safe for younger children.

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April 7

Posted on April 7, 2014 by disneydetail

April 7, 2006 – The Attraction Expedition Everest Opens in Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom

Expedition_Everest

“Careen through the Himalayan mountains on a speeding train while avoiding the clutches of the mythic Abominable Snowman.”

On April 7, 2006, the thrill attraction Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain opened in Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom park. The attraction is based on the legend of the Yeti, a fierce monster that guards the mountain and caused several accidents on the railroad that travels through the Forbidden Mountain pass. The story has it that the Royal Anandapur Tea Company used to use the line, until there were too many accidents and the railroad was closed; the railroad was reopened by the Himalayan Escapes, Tours, and Expeditions group that takes tourists through the mountain. While walking to the attraction, guests travel through a museum dedicated to the legendary monster before boarding a train to travel into the mountain. The attraction is the tallest mountain in Florida, reaching a height of just under 200 feet. The attraction is also home to a RunDisney event, the Expedition Everest Challenge.

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September 27

Posted on September 27, 2013 by disneydetail

September 27, 2008 – The Inaugural Expedition Everest Challenge Takes Place

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“Race through Disney’s Animal Kingdom park on a unique course filled with obstacles, clues and wild scenery!”

On September 27, 2008, the inaugural Expedition Everest Challenge took place at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom park. The challenge is a 5K, an obstacle course, and scavenger hunt through the park near the Forbidden Mountain; finishers were awarded a special compass medal. Participants could take the challenge in teams, or try out for the solo challenge. More than 3,000 competitors participated in this inaugural challenge, which took place at night. The winner of the challenge was Thomas Kish from Woodstock, Georgia, finishing the course in 45 minutes, 22 seconds, beating the nearest competitor by at least three minutes.

 

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