Disney's Animal Kingdom park is a celebration of all living things. With over 500 acres of land, you can let your imagination for nature run wild. You will find yourself immersed in African, Asian, and American cultures throughout the park. Your exploration of The Oasis and Discovery Island starts when you first enter the park, and includes an array of restaurants, shopping, character spots, shows, and more!
Please note, due to the nature of this park and for the safety and well-being of the wildlife, glass items and plastic straws are strictly prohibited in Disney's Animal Kingdom.
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The Oasis
Imagine it...you step off the Disney bus at Animal Kingdom, enter through the front gate and are immediately greeted with an animal viewing area in the Oasis! Walk to either your left or right and you will see more animals as well as lush tropical gardens! These exhibits are a great place to find rare feathered friends and smaller wildlife such as the anteater and babirusa. As you explore this area, keep an eye out for DiVine, a vined character who occasionally makes her appearance in the Oasis.
Ready to eat but don't want to leave the beauty of the wild? Just a short distance from the entrance gate is Rainforest Cafe. Here, you will dine in a rainforest atmosphere with life-like animals at every turn; but beware, the volcano could erupt at any moment! If you don't have an opportunity to visit Rainforest Cafe during your day at Animal Kingdom park, no worries. You can enter this restaurant just outside of the entrance gate as well, so no park ticket required for this dining experience!
Discovery Island
Coming out of the Oasis, you will reach a bridge that brings you to Discovery Island. If you have young explorers in you party, take a moment to stop at the Wilderness Explorers booth. They will have a chance to earn adventure badges and become an official Wilderness Explorer, Ka-Ka!
As you continue, there are two multi-room souvenir stores here with a wide variety of items to help you remember your day at Animal Kingdom. From apparel and accessories to toys and Disney collectibles, there is something for everyone. You can also find special edition magic bands! During the holiday season, this is the area where you can see the Merry Menagerie. These beautiful, playful, life-size winter animal puppets help celebrate the season with an interactive performance.
Straight ahead and you will be greeted with a magnificent view of the iconic Tree of Life. This is a great place to stop for a group photo and let The Tree of Life make a beautiful background! As you work your way around Discovery Island, you will find several trails that lead to the base of the Tree of Life. Be prepared for a real treat as you get closer, as there are beautiful carvings in its trunk and branches as well as wildlife viewing areas, and be sure to visit the Tree of Life after dark to watch its Awakening. Think the tree is beautiful during the day? You haven't seen anything yet! Inside the Tree of Life is It's Tough to be a Bug, a fun 3D experience for the whole family based on the movie A Bug's Life. As you leave this experience, keep your eyes up and watch for Winged Encounters, where Disney makes their own rainbow in the sky with free-flying macaws! This sight is truly breathtaking!
Dining - The majority of the dining in Discovery Island are to the left of the bridge as you enter the island from the Oasis. If you just want a quick bite, Pizzafari is a fun place that is sure to satisfy all appetites. There is also a Starbucks near the entrance to Africa for those who need a pick-me-up...let's be honest, who doesn't? If you need a break from your wilderness trek, try Tiffins, where you can relax and dine on dishes inspired by African, Asian, and Latin flavors in a more upscale atmosphere.
While both Pizzafari and Tiffins offer alcoholic beverages, Nomad Lounge is a specialty location where you can enjoy unique cocktails and smaller appetizers featuring ingredients and flavors from all over the world.
To the right side of the bridge is Flame Tree BBQ, where you can find American cuisine such as smoked chicken, ribs and pork, along with traditional barbecue side dishes. Right next door is the Isle of Java, where you can find their signature Island Cappuccino. Coffee, white chocolate, AND rum? Dreams really DO come true!
Characters and Entertainment - Animal Kingdom has some of the most unique entertainment, and is the only park where you can meet certain Disney characters.
Right across the street from Flame Tree BBQ is home to the Viva Gaia Street Band! Let the rhythm of the islands move you in this Caribbean street party. After you've shown off your best dance moves, head down the path next door to the Discovery Island Character Landing where you can meet Pocahontas and Meeko. Just make sure to cover your bags...Meeko likes to browse for snacks! Sometimes you can find other characters in this spot as well. Afterward, head on over to Adventurer's Outpost where you can see Mickey and Minnie in their special safari attire! We can't forget about Dug and Russel. They can be found right outside the entrance to Bug's Life, but don't get distracted by the SQUIRREL!!!
As you can tell, there is much to do in Discovery Island. But that's just the beginning of this beautiful park. Check out our other posts about more to see and do in Disney's Animal Kingdom park, as well as the other parks around Walt Disney World Resort.
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