Disney's Animal Kingdom
The Tree of Life is the icon of Disney's Animal Kingdom. | |
Location | Walt Disney World Resort, Bay Lake, Florida, United States |
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Coordinates | 28°21′29″N 81°35′24″W / 28.358°N 81.59°WCoordinates: 28°21′29″N 81°35′24″W / 28.358°N 81.59°W |
Theme | Natural environment and Animal conservation |
Owner | The Walt Disney Company |
Operated by | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts |
Opened | April 22, 1998[1] |
Operating season | Year-round |
Website | Official website |
Walt Disney World |
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Theme parks |
Other attractions |
Resort hotels |
Disney's Animal Kingdom is a zoological theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. Owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks and Resorts division, it is the largest theme park in the world, covering 580 acres (230 ha).[2][3] The park opened on Earth Day, April 22, 1998, and was the fourth theme park built at Walt Disney World. The park is dedicated and themed entirely around the natural environment and animal conservation, a philosophy once pioneered by Walt Disney.[4]
Disney's Animal Kingdom is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, meaning they have met or exceeded the standards in education, conservation, and research.[5] The park is represented by the Tree of Life, a sculpted 145-foot-tall (44 m), 50-foot-wide (15 m) artificial boab tree.
In 2015, it hosted approximately 10.9 million guests, ranking it the fourth-most visited amusement park in the United States and seventh-most visited in the world.[6]
Dedication
Welcome to a kingdom of animals... real, ancient and imagined: a kingdom ruled by lions, dinosaurs and dragons; a kingdom of balance, harmony and survival; a kingdom we enter to share in the wonder, gaze at the beauty, thrill at the drama, and learn.
Areas
Disney's Animal Kingdom is divided into six themed areas.
Oasis
The Oasis is the park's main entrance, providing guest services. It features several animal habitats, including African spoonbills, babirusas, giant anteaters, hyacinth macaws, muntjacs, northern pintails, and wallabies. The main paths lead deeper into the park, and onto Discovery Island.
A Rainforest Cafe is located at the entrance prior to entering Oasis and the park proper through the turnstiles.
Discovery Island
Discovery Island is located at the center of the park, in the middle of the Discovery River waterway. It is the "central hub" connecting the other sections of the park, with the exception of Rafiki's Planet Watch. It was originally called Safari Village, as Discovery Island was the name for the small zoological park located in Walt Disney World's Bay Lake, but renamed after that area closed in 1999.
The Tree of Life, the park's sculpted, man-made Baobab tree, is located in this section and is surrounded by trails and animal enclosures showcasing black crowned cranes, cotton-top tamarins, collared brown lemurs, crested porcupines, Galápagos tortoises, lappet-faced vultures, Lesser flamingos, macaws, Oriental small-clawed otters, red kangaroos, ring-tailed lemurs, roseate spoonbills, saddle-billed storks, and white storks.
The park's largest gift shops and two of its major restaurants are on Discovery Island, each with a different design theme, such as décor based on nocturnal animals, insects and so forth.[11] The island's other major draw is It's Tough to Be a Bug!, a comical 4D film featuring appearances by Flik and Hopper from Disney·Pixar's A Bug's Life.
Africa
Africa is one of the original areas of the park. Set in the fictional east African village of Harambe, this area contains several animal exhibits.[11]
The village is the namesake of the Harambe Wildlife Preserve, the fictional home of Africa's main attraction, Kilimanjaro Safaris. Guests climb aboard an open-sided safari vehicle for an expedition to see numerous African animals freely roam through acres of savanna, rivers and rocky hills, including African wild dog, antelope, baboons, black rhinos, cheetahs, crocodiles, elephants, gazelles, giraffes, greater flamingos, hippopotami, lions, okapis, ostriches, spotted hyenas, warthogs, white rhinos, wildebeests, and zebras.
On the adjacent Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, visitors trek into the forest where animals such as black-and-white colobus monkeys, gerenuks, gorillas, hippos, Kenyan sand boas, kori bustards, meerkats, naked mole-rats, okapis, tarantulas, and yellow-backed duikers, as well as an aviary, are located.
In 2014, Festival of the Lion King, an attraction that originated in the now-demolished Camp Minnie-Mickey section of the park, was reopened in the newly built Harambe Theater. This is part of a wider expansion of Africa which will include a new path, restrooms, and new restaurant opportunities.
Rafiki's Planet Watch
Rafiki's Planet Watch is a section for young children and with families and the only section of the park not connected to Discovery Island, and is instead connected to Africa. Guests board the 3 ft 4 in (1,016 mm) narrow gauge Wildlife Express Train for the short trip to and from the area, which consists of three sub-areas. Guests first encounter Habitat Habit!, where they can see cotton-top tamarins and learn about the efforts to protect these endangered primates in their natural homes. Along the way, guests can also learn how to provide animal habitats in and around their own homes.
Conservation Station showcases the various conservation efforts supported by the Walt Disney Company. It also gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Disney's Animal Kingdom's animal care facilities, including a veterinary examination room complete with a two-way communications system so the veterinary staff can answer guest questions. Outside, Affection Section is a petting zoo featuring goats, sheep and other domesticated animals.
Other animals seen are ball pythons, blue-and-yellow macaws, blue-tongued skink, boa constrictors, butterflies, central bearded dragons, chinchillas, chinchilla rabbits, citron-crested cockatoos, common brushtail possums, corn snakes, Costa Rica zebra tarantula, death's head cockroach, Dexter cattle, Dominique chickens, Eleonora cockatoos, emperor scorpions, eclectus parrots, fennec foxes, ferrets, giant African millipedes, golden lion tamarins, gray rat snakes, green tree pythons, Guinea hogs, Gulf Coast Native sheep, hermit crabs, hyacinth macaws, kinkajous, llamas, Madagascar day geckos, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, Madagascar tree boas, Nigerian Dwarf goat, Nile monitors, North American donkeys, opossums, pygmy goats, rats, rat snakes, red-and-green macaws, red-cockaded woodpeckers, red-crested turacos, roughneck monitor lizards, San Clemente Island goats, savannah monitors, Solomon Islands skinks, spectacled owls, striped skunks, tamanduas, tarantulas, tawny frogmouths, tawny owls, tenrecs, Tunis sheep, two-toed sloths, uromastyx, variable hawks, and vasa parrots.
Asia
Asia, the first expansion area added to Disney's Animal Kingdom, first opened in 1999. Like Africa, the section's attractions are part of a fictional place, the kingdom of Anandapur (which means "Place of many delights" in Sanskrit and is named after the Kendujhar district's Anandapur municipality in India.
Anandapur comprises two villages: a riverside village that is also called Anandapur and Serka Zong (which is in the foothills of the Himalayas). Portraits of Anandapur's royal family (consisting of the maharaja and his wife) can be found in most of the businesses within the two villages, a map of the kingdom featuring both villages and their location relative to the mountains and river can be found on the wall of the Disney Vacation Club kiosk located there. Much like Harambe, Anandapur is now a center of animal research and tourism. At the Caravan Stage, these two "worlds" meet in Flights of Wonder, a live bird show where one of Anandapur's bird researchers educates a tour guide with a fear of birds about natural bird behaviors and the effects of habitat loss and conservation efforts on bird species, such as the black crowned crane and bald eagle.
The Maharajah Jungle Trek leads guests through the forests and ruins outside the village, which are home to species such as bantengs, bar-headed geese, Bengal tigers, blackbucks, Eld's deer, gibbons, Large flying foxes, Komodo dragons and over 50 bird species.
Nearby, Kali River Rapids is a river rapids ride along the Chakranadi River through a rainforest, past an illegal logging operation and down a waterfall.
In the distance behind Anandapur is the Forbidden Mountain, the home of Expedition Everest which is a roller coaster ride through the Himalayas where passengers encounter a Yeti.
DinoLand U.S.A.
DinoLand U.S.A. is inspired by the public's general curiosity about dinosaurs. The fictitious Dino Institute and its surrounding facilities attract those with a scientific interest in the long-extinct animals, while Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama recalls the many roadside attractions that were once scattered throughout the United States. Like the other sections of Disney's Animal Kingdom, there are animals on display. The animals, such as the American crocodile, red legged seriemas, Abdim's stork and Asian brown tortoise, have evolutionary links to the age of the dinosaurs. They are animal species that have survived since the dinosaur era and can be found along the Cretaceous Trail along with a collection of Mesozoic plants. At the edge of DinoLand U.S.A. is the "Theater in the Wild", which hosts Finding Nemo – The Musical, a live-action musical stage show based on the story of the Disney·Pixar feature film.
The Dino Institute is the home of Dinosaur, a thrill ride featuring a trip through time to the Late Cretaceous Period. Just outside the Institute is "Dino-Sue", a casting of a Tyrannosaurus rex fossil that is the most complete yet found. At the nearby Boneyard, there is a multi-leveled playground area with a Columbian mammoth fossil to be uncovered, and a cast skeleton of a Brachiosaurus.
Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama, has the TriceraTop Spin ride, while Primeval Whirl is a spinning roller coaster. Throughout the area are carnival games and gift shops, as well as chances to meet Disney characters, And also a giant Argentinosaurus.
The area was sponsored by McDonald's until 2009 when the contract ran out.[12]
Future
Pandora – The World of Avatar
So here's an opportunity ... to bring this world to life and get you to wander in it and see things you didn't see in either in the first film or the subsequent two.
–James Cameron[13]
In September 2011, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts announced plans to partner with filmmaker James Cameron, his Lightstorm Entertainment production company, and Fox Filmed Entertainment to develop attractions based on Cameron's Avatar film series exclusively for Disney theme parks.[14] The first installation is planned for Disney's Animal Kingdom in the form of an Avatar-based section of the park. While no specifics were announced, the new area was described as being several acres in size and costing an estimated $400 million to build, a scale similar to Cars Land at Disney California Adventure in California.[13] Components from the upcoming second and third films in the Avatar series will be featured, along with new designs not seen in any of the films.[13] Construction began on January 10, 2014.[15]
At the 2015 D23 Expo, Disney confirmed two attractions for the area: Avatar: Flight of Passage, a flying E ticket simulator attraction where guests will learn to fly with a mountain banshee, and Na'Vi River Journey, a D ticket boat ride attraction showcasing the native fauna and flora of Pandora that may include small drops.[16][17][18]
Nighttime entertainment
A new nighttime event, entitled Rivers of Light, similar to World of Color from Disneyland Resort, was to debut at the park's Discovery River in early 2016, featuring mist screens, floating lanterns, music, and lighting. However, it was delayed indefinitely and quickly replaced with the temporary The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic, featuring the mist screens intended for Rivers of Light, as well as live performers on stationary stage like barges.[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]
Former and unbuilt areas
Camp Minnie-Mickey
Camp Minnie-Mickey was themed as a rustic summer camp, built as a placeholder on the location where Beastly Kingdom was intended to be built. It served as a meet-and-greet for Disney characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Koda, and Thumper. The area's main attraction was the Festival of the Lion King, a live stage show featuring acrobatics and musical performances inspired by The Lion King. It currently plays in Africa's Harambe Theater. Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends, based on the 1995 animated film, was a live stage show that ran from April 22, 1998, to September 27, 2008. The area closed on January 5, 2014, and is currently being developed into Pandora–The World of Avatar.[27]
Beastly Kingdom
When conceived, Disney's Animal Kingdom was to focus on three broad classifications of animals: those that exist in today's reality; those that did exist, but are now extinct (i.e., dinosaurs); and those that only exist in the realm of fantasy.[28] The original design for Animal Kingdom included a themed section called the Beastly Kingdom (possibly spelled as "Beastly Kingdomme"), devoted to creatures of legend and mythology. Camp Minnie-Mickey was built instead of Beastly Kingdom and was meant to serve as a temporary placeholder until Beastly Kingdom could be built.
Beastly Kingdom was to feature mythical animals such as unicorns, dragons, and sea monsters, featuring realms of both good and evil creatures:
- The evil side was to be dominated by Dragon Tower, a ruined castle home to a greedy fire-breathing dragon who hoarded a fabulous treasure in the tower chamber. The castle was also inhabited by bats who planned to rob the dragon of his riches. They were to enlist the guests' help in their scheme and whisk them off on a thrilling suspended roller coaster ride through the castle ruins. The climax of the ride was to be an encounter with the evil dragon himself, resulting in a nearly barbecued train of guests.[29]
- The good side was to be home to Quest of the Unicorn, an adventure that would send guests through a maze of medieval mythological creatures to seek the hidden grotto where the unicorn lives. Finally, the Fantasia Gardens attraction was to be a musical boat ride through animal scenes from Disney's animated classic, Fantasia. The ride was to feature both the crocodiles and hippos from "Dance of the Hours" and the Pegasus, fauns, and centaurs from Beethoven's "Pastoral."[28][30]
Remnants of Beastly Kingdom were seen when the park opened, some of which are still extant:
- The parking lot contains a section named "Unicorn."
- The silhouette of a dragon appears in the park's logo.
- A detailed dragonhead statue sits atop one of the ticket booths at the park's entrance. (The other two booths are topped by an elephant head and a triceratops head.)
- One of the McDonald's Animal Kingdom-themed Happy Meal toys was a winged purple dragon.
As Expedition Everest features the mythological yeti, the park now features at least one attraction based on each type of animal (living, extinct and legendary).
In 2000, Walt Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde said: "We had a vision and now it's become a place holder. We have all kinds of ideas and not all of them fit with the theme of Beastly Kingdom. I'm not even convinced there will be a Beastly Kingdom."[31]
Restaurants and shops
The park contains three table service restaurants along with one more under construction:
- Rainforest Cafe, a themed restaurant chain operated by Landry's, located just outside the main entrance (also accessible from inside the park).
- Yak & Yeti, an Asian-themed restaurant located in the park's Asia section (operated by Landry's Restaurants) that opened on November 14, 2007.
- Tusker House, located in Africa and one of the park's original quick-service restaurants, was converted into a buffet restaurant and re-opened on November 17, 2007.
Tusker House hosts "Donald's Safari Breakfast" and "Donald's Dining Safari Lunch," a character-dining event where guests enjoy a buffet while meeting Donald Duck and other Disney characters.
- Tiffins is to be located on Discovery Island and is scheduled to open in 2016.
There are six quick-service restaurants located throughout the park:
- Flame Tree Barbecue, on Discovery Island
- Pizzafari, on Discovery Island near where Camp Minnie-Mickey was.
- Restaurantosaurus, in DinoLand USA
- Tamu Tamu Refreshments, in Africa
- Harambe Market, in Africa
- Yak & Yeti Local Foods Café, in Asia
As with other Walt Disney World theme parks, Disney's Animal Kingdom has other locations and carts that offer snacks and beverages.
Operations
Much concern was brought to the animals' well-being when the park originally opened.[32] The park typically closed earlier in the day than other parks in the Walt Disney World Resort; beginning May 27, 2016, Animal Kingdom will stay open into the evening.[33]
Disney does not allow plastic straws, lids, or balloons to be used in the park, unlike the rest of the Disney parks. This is so that plastic does not inadvertently enter an animal's habitat and hurt them. The park uses paper straws instead and offers lids for hot drinks only.[34]
Conservation efforts
As a zoological park, Disney's Animal Kingdom is engaged in research and conservation efforts involving its animal species. Since the park's opening in 1998, the resident elephant herd has produced six calves, with births in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008,[35] 2010,[36] and 2011. In 2008, the park's giraffe herd produced four newborns, raising the total number of giraffe births since opening to eleven.[37]
In 1999, one of the park's white rhino gave birth to a female calf named Nande.[38] In 2006, Nande and Hasani, another of the park's rhinos, were transferred to Uganda's Ziwa animal sanctuary, in the first attempt to re-introduce white rhinos to the country. Due to civil strife, the white rhinoceros had become extinct in the area.[38] In June 2009, Nande gave birth to a male calf, the first such birth in Uganda in over 25 years.[38] By January 2010, eight white rhinos had been born at Animal Kingdom since the park's opening; the most recent was born to another Animal Kingdom-born mother.[39]
Controversy
Even in planning stages, various Florida based animal rights groups and PETA did not like the idea of Disney creating a theme park where animals were held in captivity. The groups protested, and PETA tried to convince travel agents not to book trips to the park.[40] A few weeks before the park opened, a number of animals died due to accidents. The United States Department of Agriculture viewed most of the cases and found no violations of animal-welfare regulations.[41] On opening day, the Orange County Sheriff's office sent about 150 deputies; about two dozen protesters showed up. The protest lasted two hours, and there were no arrests.[42]
One year after the park opened, Animal Rights Foundation of Florida complained that a New Year's Eve fireworks show could upset the animals. A USDA inspector came to the park and found no problems with launching low-noise fireworks half a mile away.[43]
In January 2015, an animal rights group listed the park at number 10 on its 2014 "list of worst zoos for elephants."[44]
Incidents
On October 2014, an Alabama family's trip went wrong when a snake dropped out of a tree and bit a boy which led to the death of his great-grandmother who suffered cardiac arrest as a reaction to this attack. A lawsuit was threatened because of this incident, but was never filed. The park confirmed that the snake that bit the boy was a non-venomous indigenous snake, and that did not escape from an enclosure.[45]
Attendance
2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | Worldwide rank |
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9,540,000[46] | 9,590,000[47] | 9,686,000[48] | 9,783,000[49] | 9,998,000 [50] | 10,198,000[51] | 10,402,000 [52] | 10,922,000[6] | 7 |
See also
- Disney's Animal Kingdom attraction and entertainment history
- Rail transport in Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
- The Kingdom Keepers - The second book of this fiction series is set in the Animal Kingdom.
References
- ↑ "Disney's Animal Kingdom". wdwinfo.com. Werner Technologies, LLC. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ↑ Kowalczik, Christopher; Kowalczik, Carol (2008). Simply Disney: Vacation Planning Made Easy 2008. Lulu Publishing. p. 107. ISBN 9781435710054. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
- ↑ Robert Niles (2013-05-26). "Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World". Retrieved 2016-03-22.
- ↑ "Environmentality: Disney and the Environment". The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ↑ "List of Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
- 1 2 "TEA/AECOM 2015 Global Attractions Attendance Report Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
- ↑ Finnie, Shaun (2006-08-01). The Disneylands That Never Were. Lulu.com. p. 135. ISBN 9781847285430. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ Sandler, Corey (2007-03-01). Walt Disney World Resort: Also Includes Seaworld and Central Florida. Globe Pequot. p. 203. ISBN 9780762741694. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ Rutherford, Stephanie (2011). Governing the Wild: Ecotours of Power. U of Minnesota Press. p. 48. ISBN 9781452932811. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ↑ Kowalczik, C. Simply Disney: Vacation Planning Made Easy 2008. Lulu.com. p. 137. ISBN 9781435710054.
- 1 2 The Imagineers (2007-05-22). The Imagineering Field Guide to Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Disney Editions. ISBN 978-1-4231-0320-2.
- ↑ Spence, Jack (2009-05-04). "Dinoland U.S.A. - Disney's Animal Kingdom (The "World" According to Jack)". Land.allears.net. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- 1 2 3 Ryan Nakashima (2011-09-21). "Disney to build 'Avatar' attraction in theme parks". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Newspapers. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
- ↑ 49min (2011-10-18). "'Avatar' Land Coming To Disney World". Wesh.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- ↑ "AVATAR Coming To Disney Parks « Disney Parks Blog". Disneyparks.disney.go.com. 2011-09-20. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- ↑ Martens, Todd (August 15, 2015). "Disney reveals plans for 'Toy Story Land' and 'Avatar' and more 'Star Wars'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ↑ Graser, Marc (February 26, 2015). "Disney 'Pushing Boundaries' with 'Avatar' Land at Animal Kingdom Theme Park". Variety. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
- ↑ Graser, Marc (December 10, 2014). "'Avatar' Ride Coming to Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Variety. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
- ↑ Garcia, Jason; Dewayne Bevil (12 October 2013). "Disney details "Avatar" land for Animal Kingdom". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
- ↑ Shawn Slater (2 May 2014). ""Rivers of Light" Nighttime Spectacular Coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom". Retrieved 10 July 2014.
- ↑ Smith, Thomas. "Update on Nighttime Experiences at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Disney Parks Blog.
- ↑ Bevil, Dewayne. "Disney: 'Rivers of Light,' other Animal Kingdom attractions delayed". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ↑ "Rivers of Light and nighttime attractions delayed". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ↑ Fernandez, Surya. "Opening date delayed for Rivers of Light, nighttime experiences at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Inside the Magic. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ↑ Busdeker, Jon. "Rivers of Light opening at Disney's Animal Kingdom postponed". WESH. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ↑ Fickley-Baker, Jennifer. "Disney's Animal Kingdom Awakens at Night With New 'Jungle Book' Show, Parties & Attractions Starting Memorial Day Weekend". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ↑ "Access - D23". D23.
- 1 2 "Disney Plans Wild Animal Kingdom in Florida". Associated Press. 1995-06-21. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ↑ "Dragon Tower". The Neverland Files. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- ↑ "Fantasia Gardens". The Neverland Files. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- ↑ Byrd, Alan (2000-10-06). "Grand Prix out of gas; hotels to fuel land's future". Orlando Business Journal. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ↑ Mireya Navarro (1998-04-16). "New Disney Kingdom Comes With Real-Life Obstacles". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ↑ "Disney's Animal Kingdom Park at Night".
- ↑ "Disney says 'NO' to plastic straws for the animals". IS Foundation. Ian Somerhalder Foundation.
- ↑ Dewayne Bevil (2008-07-01). "Baby elephant born at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ↑ Ogden, Jackie "New Baby Elephant, a Girl, Arrives at Disney’s Animal Kingdom", Disney Parks Blog, 2010-05-21. Retrieved 2010-8-27.
- ↑ Dewayne Bevil (2008-10-10). "Disney's Animal Kingdom welcomes baby giraffe Bonsu". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- 1 2 3 Dewayne Bevil (2009-07-13). "Landmark rhino has roots at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ↑ Thomas Smith (2010-01-25). "Animal Kingdom Welcomes Endangered White Rhino To Herd". DisneyParks Blog. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
- ↑ Shenot, Christine (December 10, 1995). "The Captivity Question Disney's Proposed Park Makes an Attractive Target For Animal-Rights Groups". Orlando Sentinel. p. 9.
- ↑ "Death of Wildlife At New Disney Park Is a Worry to Experts --- Four Cheetah Cubs Succumb To a Chemical, and Cranes Are Killed by Tour Buses". New York, N.Y.: Wall Street Journal. 7 April 1998.
- ↑ Lancaster, Cory (April 24, 1998). "Protesters at Disney Had Sheriff on Guard Talk of A Major Animal-Rights Demonstration Brought Almost 150 Specially Trained Deputies to the Opening of Animal Kingdom". Orlando Sentinel. p. 9.
- ↑ Lancaster, Cory (January 18, 1999). "Tragedy at Disneyland Leads to Beefed-up Checks Here". Orlando Sentinel. p. 9.
- ↑ "Bronx Zoo, Disney's Animal Kingdom Make List Of The '10 Worst Zoos For Elephants'". The Huffington Post. 13 January 2015.
- ↑ "Disney's Animal Kingdom Faces Lawsuit After Escaped Snake Scares Woman To Death".
- ↑ "TEA/AECOM 2008 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
- ↑ "TEA/AECOM 2009 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 2, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
- ↑ "TEA/AECOM 2010 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
- ↑ "TEA/AECOM 2011 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
- ↑ "TEA/AECOM 2012 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
- ↑ "TEA/AECOM 2013 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
- ↑ Rubin, Judith; Au, Tsz Yin (Gigi); Chang, Beth; Cheu, Linda; Elsea, Daniel; LaClair, Kathleen; Lock, Jodie; Linford, Sarah; Miller, Erik; Nevin, Jennie; Papamichael, Margreet; Pincus, Jeff; Robinett, John; Sands, Brian; Selby, Will; Timmins, Matt; Ventura, Feliz; Yoshii, Chris. "TEA/AECOM 2014 Theme Index & Museum Index: The Global Attractions Attendance Report" (PDF). aecom.com. Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). Retrieved 4 June 2015.