As any Disney Parks fan knows, there are an endless amount of things to learn and uncover that make a visit truly magical. Especially now with the pandemic restrictions in place, guides and tips can enrich the park experience of any visitor. But, the behind-the-scenes secrets of the parks add an extra level of wonder, especially the ones that are easy to miss.
From secret menus with exclusive drinks and dishes to musical fossils and hidden backstories of characters, Disney's Animal Kingdom offers a wide variety of treasures to discover. Though it's not hard to believe there are stones left unturned;the kingdom is over 580 acres, making it the largest theme park in the world.
Jane Goodall Was There
Given Animal Kingdom's message of animal conservation, it's no surprise that world-renowned primatologist, Dr. Jane Goodall, was invited to the park during its construction. Her visit led to the creation of a beautiful carving of David Greybeard, the first wild chimpanzee Dr. Goodall observed, hidden among the other animals on the Tree of Life.
While passing through the science lab in the Avatar Flight of Passage line, guests can also find the book, Reason for Hope by Jane Goodall, sitting on a workstation.
Unlocking The Tree of Life
This iconic landmark is instantly recognizable to any fan of Animal Kingdom, but very few have seen every one of the 325 animals carved into the artificial baobab tree. The secret to getting a closer look at these creatures is to walk along the Discovery Island Trails that surround its base.
The tree was constructed by repurposing an oil rig, so it would be capable of withstanding hurricanes, and it has more than 103,000 hand-placed leaves on its 7000 plus branches. After dark, the tree has a light show inspired by The Lion King, which occurs every ten minutes.
Helping Hands
When entering the memorizing Pandora: The World of Avatar with its colorful plants that become bioluminescent upon nightfall, it's easy to miss the smaller details like Na'vi footprints in the cement. Flight of Passage holds quite a few secrets, including an homage to science fiction writer Douglas Adams, as well as a hidden mickey on a cave wall.
While exiting the ride on the lowest level, guests can see the handprints of Avatar director James Cameron, producer Jon Landau, and lead Imagineer Joe Rohde. Another nod to James Cameron is the company logo for JC Shoring with the number 081654 below, which is of course his initials, as well as his birthday.
Elusive Hidden Mickeys
Every year, hundreds of fans go on a mission to find the thousands of Mickeys hidden throughout the Disney Parks. Each park has about 1000, and Animal Kingdom is no exception. The Conservation Station mural alone has 27 Mickeys, but the most elusive is the one that can only be seen from above.
Passengers of the Kilimanjaro Safari probably won't be able to tell from their angle, but the bright pink flamingos on the tour are actually bathing in a Mickey-shaped wading pool. Another Mickey can be found in Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, along with a couple of hidden Godzilla figurines.
The Animals Behind Animal Kingdom
All the animals inside Disney's Animal Kingdom are rescued from zoos no longer able to house them, who are now unable to survive in the wild after being in captivity for so long. The animals' behaviors are observed and used to conduct scientific research on things like mating rituals and eating patterns.
Inside the park, no balloons, plastic straws, or cup lids are allowed in an effort to conserve, but also to protect the animals from consuming or choking on them. Several parts of the park are composed of repurposed items, including the benches and tables made from recycled milk jugs.
Pizzafari Adventure
This is much more a place to eat. Each room features a different theme, indicated by its name, such as the Nocturnal Room, Camouflage Room, or Bug Room. Inside the Upside-Down Room, all of the animals are, as one would expect, upside down, except for one, making it a fun activity for kids to find the one that's out of place.
But, what makes this dining experience truly worth the visit are the Alebrijes. These brightly-painted wooden sculptures are in the traditional style of Mexican folk art and depict a variety of mythical animals.
More Than A Sign
From the movies to the parks, it's very rare to see a sign that doesn't have a hidden meaning when it comes to Disney, much like Pixar's A113. For Animal Kingdom, its reoccurring number of significance is the day the park opened: Earth Day, April 22, 1998.
All over the park, guests can find Route 498 signs, as well as license plates on cars and trolleys with the same number, including the display car near the park entrance. There are also references to a couple of the lead Imagineers and beads sign in honor of Joe Rohde.
New Ways to Explore
Though not technically a secret, many Disney park-goers are unaware or have yet to discover the apps associated with the parks. Using the ACE Guide to Pandora: Valley of Mo’ara Edition or interacting with the Art of Animation exhibition on the app opens up a variety of new opportunities for exploring and discovering.
Another method is participating in the Wilderness Explorer challenges, which provides kids with activities to earn badges all over Animal Kingdom until they have filled their souvenir guidebooks with what they've learned.
Decoding The Pipes
While waiting in line to go on the Dinosaur ride in Animal Kingdom, be sure to look up; the pipes running along the wall are painted in several different colors, and each features a different chemical formula on them. The red pipe has the formula for ketchup, the white pipe has the formula for mayonnaise, and the yellow pipe has the formula for mustard. This is a nod to McDonald's, the former corporate sponsor for DinoLand back when Restaurantosaurus served their food.
Abandoned Kingdom
The lost world of Beastly Kingdom is one that will always cause fans to wonder what could've been. Originally, Animal Kingdom was designed with this land for mythical creatures in mind and later scrapped, but not before hints of it were embedded into the park. The large dragon head on the ticket entrance is one of the most noticeable, along with the dragon on the park's logo and a stone dragon statue with water pouring out of its mouth near a now-closed ride. Glimpses of unicorns and griffins can also be found on some trash cans and lamps throughout the park, making them a treat to spot for guests of any age.