Tag: animal kingdom

A Baby Eland Was Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Yesterday
The family at Disney Animal Kingdom just got a little bit bigger. A baby Eland was born on Sept. 4 as the park returned to normal activities after being spared from the affects of Hurricane Dorian.

Early yesterday morning, an eland in Disney’s care gave birth to a healthy calf named Doppler in honor of its post-storm arrival. Gender is not known as of yet.

The photos below were taken in the first few hours after the birth, and the calf has already taken its first steps.
The calf was born as part of a species survival plan in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Mom and baby are bonding well, and the team will conduct a neonatal exam in the coming days to get a gauge on the calf’s weight, height and gender. The pair will remain backstage for the next several weeks before venturing out onto the savanna with the rest of the herd at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
September 5, 2019
Construction Worker Falls in Hole in Animal Kingdom Parking Lot

A construction worker was injured while working Tuesday near Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The worker fell into a hole outside Disney’s Animal Kingdom, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. He was working near a trench box used for excavation when the ground gave way, dropping him into a 5-foot-deep hole.

The worker was able to free one leg, but the other was buried up to his hip, according to officials. Orange County Fire Rescue crews dug him out and took him to a hospital.

Deputies and Orange County Fire Rescue crews responded just after 2 p.m. to assist Reedy Creek firefighters with an “industrial accident” call at the park.

The worker was a third-party construction worker and was safely removed, according to a Disney official.

July 9, 2019
New Dining Experience Coming to Animal Kingdom

Beginning July 24th, 2019, select nights at Animal Kingdom Theme Park guests will be able to experience a special Dining Experience celebrating the animals of Africa!

Circle of Flavors: Harambe at Night will be a family-friendly progressive dining experience drawing inspiration from the many facets of African cultures.

This event will be perfect for all the animal lovers in your family, because it will feature an appreciation for animal conservation along with delicious flavors, fun activities, and live music.

After enjoying a welcome reception at the train station in Harambe, you will hop on the train and journey to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. While there you’ll have the opportunity to try out a virtual reality 360-degree safari experience like they’ve never seen before! This will be available exclusively during Circle of Flavors: Harambe at Night! During the VR portion you’ll to be invited to “Join our Pride” and get up close and personal with the sights and sounds of Pride Rock, coming face-to-face with our amazing African lions. There will also be character meet and greets with Lion King favorites Timon and Rafiki.

In between all this fun there will plenty of snacks and refreshments! The welcome reception will featuring meat pies, Durban chips and dip, and a hand-selected array of meats and cheeses. Lion cubs will have cheese, fruit, and Tofaa (chocolate caramel-dipped green apples) to nibble on.

Once you arrive at Rafiki’s Planet Watch there will be spiced crisp plantains, South African oat and coconut bars, and Sundowner Safari Mix with spiced nuts and dried fruit. Cubs can enjoy seasonal fruit and Trail Mix Bites with granola, chocolate chips, raisins, and honey.

This event also includes Adult Beverages!
The welcome reception will feature Harambellini, a specialty beverage featuring sparkling South African wine blended with a bright burst of passion fruit, orange, and guava juices.
At Rafiki’s there will be two specialty beverages: the Chief’s Shandy (Tusker beer blended with lemonade), and Wanjohi’s Dawa, a refreshing blend of tequila, pineapple, mango, and Ancho chile.

After all this fun it will be time to hop back on the train and ride to your final stop of the evening – Harambe Market.
You’ll partake in a delicious dinner while enjoying upbeat music from African musicians, a dance party, and captivating storytelling. On the menu is an array of hearty dishes and yummy desserts inspired by the five featured African animals. All these options looks delicious and there are plenty of vegetarian options!

During dinner children will also be encouraged to pick their favorite “Big Five” animal which they can then learn more about at each stations and collect pieces to make a bracelet or necklace to take home!

The African Lion Station:
– Char-Grilled Steak with Herb-Infused Mealie, Chakalaka, and a Red Wine Sauce
– Chicken with Fingerling Potatoes, Kool Slaai, and Mango Sambal
– Chicken Tenders (Kid’s Option)
– Assorted African-inspired Non-Alcoholic Beverages (Also available at the Welcome Reception and Rafiki’s Planet Watch Train Station)

The Cape Buffalo Station:
– Shrimp Curry with Sustainable Shrimp, Cape Malay Green Coconut Curry, and Fragrant Basmati Rice
– Grilled Sweet Corn with Farmer’s Cheese, Chili-Lime Spice, and Citrus Aioli
– Barbecued Ribs (Kid’s Option)
– Macaroni and Cheese (Kid’s Option)

The Rhinoceros Station:
– Vegetable Curry with Roasted Seasonal Vegetables served over Basmati Rice
– Vegetarian Potato and Pea Samosa, Pickled Vegetables, and Tamarind Dipping Sauce

The African Elephant Station:
– Smoked Honey-glazed Pork Belly with White Bean Purée, Caramelized Apple-Bacon Chutney, and Curry-Apple Gastrique

The Leopard Station:
– Sustainable Fish with Coriander-Fennel Slaw and Dhania Chutney
– Grilled Lamb with Goat Cheese Polenta and Roasted Garlic Sauce
– Mini Corn Dog (Kid’s Option)

Harambe Market Courtyard Station:
– Petite Greens, Local Tomatoes, Cucumber, Sweety Drop Peppers, Citrus, and Citrus Vinaigrette
– Boerie Roll with South African Farmers’ Style Sausage, Peppadews, and Pickled Vegetables
– African Spiced Popcorn

Dessert Station:
– Honey-Caramel Candy Bar with Crispy Pearls
– Animal-inspired Cupcakes
– Lions S’mores Pop with Chocolate and Graham Cracker Crumbs

Dinner will also feature another great selection of Adult Specialty Cocktails:
– Talking Monkey – Coffee Liqueur, Banana Liqueur, and Espresso-infused Snow Leopard Vodka
– Marketplace Sangria – Blend of African Wine and Rooibos Tea finished with a Citrus and Mint Infusion
– Safari Sunset – Passion Fruit, Strawberry, Orange, and Guava Juices blended with Rum
– Assorted African Beer and Wine (Also available at the Welcome Reception and Rafiki’s Planet Watch Train Station)

Pricing Details:
Circle of Flavors: Harambe at Night begins on July 24, 2019 on select nights from 6-9 p.m. for a limited time at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Pricing is $125 plus tax for adults and $99 plus tax for children ages 3-9 and separate park admission is required.

Contact Kimberly to book this amazing dining experience!

July 1, 2019
New Holiday Decor Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The magic of the holidays meets the magic of nature in a whole new way this year at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with festive new entertainment and holiday décor in every land!

It all begins when you cross the bridge to Discovery Island, finding yourself in the midst of a celebration of winter, hand-crafted by the eclectic community of artists who make the island their home. The village is filled with sparkling white holiday decorations. Colorful, animal-inspired luminaries line the rooftops, and wireframe lanterns in the shape of beautiful birds can be found perched throughout the area. And during the day, Discovery Island springs to life with a holiday gathering of winter animals, realized in the form of life-size, artisan-sculpted puppets. Reindeer, foxes, polar bears, penguins and more interact with guests, accompanied by serenading musicians as they create a playful atmosphere of festive fun.

As day becomes night, the rooftop luminaries and bird lanterns all around Discovery Island bring a warm and festive glow to the entire village. At the center of everything, the Tree of Life awakens with a series of wintry tales, complemented by a familiar and heartwarming holiday-inspired musical score. Between awakening moments, the Tree of Life continues to shimmer and sparkle throughout the night, alive with the magic of nature and the spirit of the holidays.

Over in Dinoland, U.S.A., all the Disney character friends gathered for Donald’s Dino-Bash! get into the spirit with colorful holiday decorations in the style of Donald Duck and each of his pals, and at night, you’re invited to gather ‘round Truck-O-Saurus for the Holiday Hoopla Dance Party with Chip ‘n Dale and plenty of interactive fun and games.

In Asia, the residents of Anandapur have decorated the theatre district in celebration of Diwali, the holiday festival of lights in India. Glowing flowers, lanterns and more illuminate the square between Anandapur Theater and the waterfront stage, home to authentic cultural performances.

The village of Harambe in Africa welcomes visitors with a unique holiday presentation, blending the inspiration and style of western traditions with the colors and textiles of authentic African celebrations. The various groups appearing throughout Harambe introduce holiday-inspired enhancements, including costume additions and new music, to their performances. The holiday fun continues inside Tusker House for dining with Disney friends, where Mickey and his pals spread holiday cheer throughout the meal.

The holiday spirit even reaches Pandora – The World of Avatar, where the ex-pats living and working on the moon of Pandora bring a little Christmastime fun to their alien home, with a display at Pongu Pongu of kitschy holiday décor, combining vintage pieces from Earth with items handcrafted from materials indigenous to Pandora.

It’s going to be an extra magical holiday season at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and across Walt Disney World Resort, filled with wonder and delight in all four parks! The festivities begin November 8, 2019.

May 21, 2019
VIDEO: New Baby Gorilla Born at Disney World

The family at Disney Animal Kingdom just got a little bit bigger. a healthy baby western lowland gorilla was born on May 1 at the park to mom Kashata and dad Gino.

Both mom and baby are doing well and bonding onstage at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail with the rest of the family troop. The entire family even joined in the celebration of the new baby’s arrival with a special enrichment tactic to reveal the baby’s gender.

Turns out, it’s a girl! And her name is Grace! Check out the video of Kashata and Grace’s first moments bonding onstage at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail below:

Kashata and the baby’s father, Gino, were chosen to breed through the Species Survival Plan (SSP). The program is overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and ensures responsible breeding of critically endangered species, such as western lowland gorillas, so they will have healthy, genetically diverse populations for years to come.

The team of Disney animal care experts has decided to name the baby Grace after the GRACE gorilla sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is dedicated to helping gorillas orphaned by poaching. Animal care experts from Disney’s Animal Kingdom have spent more than 10 years helping the GRACE team and local community rehabilitate orphan gorillas and protect the species in the wild.

Guests visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom can join in the celebration of the baby’s arrival by visiting Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail and may catch a glimpse of Kashata and the baby. Exclusive photo opportunities are also available, as well as a specialty cupcake, available for purchase at Tamu Tamu Refreshments.

May 2, 2019
Man Points Gun at Guests Over Parking Spot Dispute at Animal Kingdom Report Says

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, a Lake Mary couple allegedly had a handgun pointed a handgun at them by an elderly man during a dispute over a parking space for the disabled at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The man’s name wasn’t released and he wasn’t arrested, because there were conflicting stories about what happened, according to the report. The Sheriff’s Office has forwarded the case to the state attorney’s office to decide whether to file charges.

According to the OCSO, The altercation happened on Sunday while the 60-year-old man and his 62-year-old wife were visiting the theme park.

The woman, who was driving, told deputies that she was waiting for a car to back out of a parking spot so she could pull into the space. That’s when a man driving a gray SUV came from the opposite direction at a high rate of speed and cut in front of them to take the spot.

The driver was described as in his 70s with a full, gray beard. She claims he almost crashed into them and when her husband raised his right fist at the SUV driver, he responded by lifting a handgun and pointing it at them over the steering wheel. The passenger of SUV driver disputes their claim.

The SUV driver was found at the theme park security checkpoint. He was with his passenger, a 65-year-old North Carolina woman who admitted to authorities that the man did make an angry gesture back, but she said it was with his wallet in his hand and not a gun.

She told deputies that they were concealed weapon permit holders and there was no gun in the vehicle. A search warrant from a judge was obtained by the sheriff’s office to search the man’s vehicle, but the incident report was redacted and it’s not clear if anything was found.

February 16, 2019
New Baby Masai Giraffe Born at Disney World

Today, Walt Disney World welcomed the newest member of the Animal Kingdom Family! A newborn Masai giraffe calf arrived today around 2 p.m. on the Kilimanjaro Safari Savanna.

Mom, Mara, gave birth to the newest member to the park who stands at about 6 feet tall.

It will nurse for about a year, and then, as a herbivore, it will move to the lush vegetation available throughout the savanna. When full grown, it will use it’s 18-inch tongue to strip leaves off thorny branches from the tops and sides of trees to consume up to 75 pounds of food a day. That’s a tall order!

The Masai giraffe is a vulnerable species found primarily in Kenya and Tanzania. There are believed to be roughly 32,000 Masai giraffes left in the wild, and their population continues to decline because of poaching and habitat loss.

The calf’s gender has not been determined yet, but the mother and offspring are already within view of Animal Kingdom guests.

Two giraffe calves were born at Disney World last year. Lilly gave birth to Aella in July, and Amira was born to mom Kenya in October

January 14, 2019
Disney Worker Accused of Voyeurism in Animal Kingdom Employee Restroom

A Disney World employee is accused of video voyeurism in a men’s restroom for employees, according to a Orange County Sheriff’s Office report.

Charges of video voyeurism against Eric King, 21, of Polk City, have been filed with the state attorney’s office for its consideration after he was caught using a cell phone in an employee-only bathroom at Animal Kingdom.

The victim, also a Disney employee, alerted authorities that another worker had filmed him at a urinal with a cellphone from underneath an adjacent stall.

The police report says the employee confronted King, who told him that he had dropped the phone and was picking it up from under the stall when the employee saw the phone pointed at him.

Authorities did not see any videos or photographs on King’s phone, although the report questioned whether he might have deleted them. Later, King confessed to video voyeurism, according to the report.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 was confiscated and taken as evidence and a computer forensic analysis, the report said.

A Disney spokeswoman says King is on unpaid leave pending the results of the investigation.

December 14, 2018
Newborn Abandoned at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Baby is Left With a Guest

An abandoned newborn baby was found at Walt Disney World early Sunday morning, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Around 2 a.m. an unknown person walked up to a guest at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and handed them a newborn while they were outside. The guest then brought it into the lobby, deputies said.

Reedy Creek firefighters were able to take the newborn baby to Celebration Hospital and the baby is in good health.

Investigators with the Department of Children and Families and the Sheriff’s Office are investigating.

There is no word if any surveillance video of the woman was recovered or if they have identified the newborn’s parents.

Florida’s Safe Haven law allows a parent to drop off a newborn at any fire station or hospital in the state, no questions asked

November 4, 2018
Guests Will Get A Chance To Touch A Rhino At Animal Kingdom Starting Nov. 1

As the second largest-land animal on Earth, the rhinoceros is a massive sight to behold – from their horns to their hoofs and thick armored skin – all of it. Disney announced today, that guests will have a chance to make a real connection with white rhinos at Disney’s Animal Kingdom through an exciting new backstage animal experience called “Up Close with Rhinos.”

Starting Nov. 1, this 60-minute guided adventure will give guests a behind-the-scenes look at how our dedicated animal team cares for the white rhinos on Kilimanjaro Safaris and how Disney is helping save endangered rhinos in the wild.

As part of this intimate experience, guests may even get a chance to touch a rhino. It is an appreciation like no other, and Disney hope it will inspire guests to aid in their conservation.

The keepers are as excited about “Up Close with Rhinos” experience! “I love talking to guests about how unique each individual rhino’s personality is. I know once guests come and meet the rhinos, they are going to see just how amazing they are and will want to help us secure a future for them,” said rhino care team member Caitlin Miller.

Rhinos in the wild are found in bush country and open grassy flatlands in Africa and Southeast Asia. They are among the most endangered animals in the world due largely in part to poaching. Disney is proud to support rhino conservation efforts around the world, including those of Sumatran rhinos, which are found only in Indonesia and are critically endangered. To date, the Disney Conservation Fund has provided more than $2 million to support rhino conservation efforts around the world.

The tour of “Up Close with Rhinos” will be offered each day. The booking window for the one-hour experience opens Sept. 22, which is World Rhino Day. Guests must be at least 4 years old to participate, and the cost is $40 (plus tax). Discounts are available to select passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members.

September 19, 2018