Tag Archives: Wild Africa Trek

Happy 15th Anniversary to Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

Happy 15th Anniversary to Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Fifteen years ago today, on April 22, 1998, Walt Disney World’s newest park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened! This celebration also happens to coincide with Earth Day 2013.

Animal Kingdom has celebrations planned throughout the entire day. The day’s celebration began with a special opening ceremony led by Josh D’Amaro, Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, along with Dr. Jackie Ogden, Vice President of Animals, Science and Environment. The ceremony was highlighted with a fun performance of “Circle of Life” from the park’s “Festival of The Lion King” show. Other special activities planned for the day include special Earth Day “Party for the Planet” festivities as well as unique merchandise and food & beverage offerings.

When the park originally opened in 1998, it featured several lands that were each dedicated to exploring wildlife and wild places – Africa, Discovery Island, Oasis, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, and DinoLand, U.S.A. An additional land, Asia, was added to the park in 1999. Animal Kingdom has seen many exciting additions since its debut in 1998, including TriceraTop Spin in 2001, Primeval Whirl in 2002, Expedition Everest in 2006, “Finding Nemo – The Musical,” which grand-opened in 2007, and Wild Africa Trek in 2011.

What do you think of Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Is this one of your favorite Disney parks? What is your favorite attraction at Animal Kingdom?