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GOHA BriefDisney's Animal Kingdom is a zoological theme park at Walt Disney World Resort, themed around the natural world, with hundreds of live animal exhibits alongside rides and shows.
Animal Kingdom sits on the far west side of the Walt Disney World property in Bay Lake, near Orlando, which makes it the most isolated of the four Disney World parks. It opened on April 22, 1998, and at 580 acres it was the largest theme park in the world at the time. The park mixes real animals and places with imagined ones, and it is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
You enter through the Oasis, an area of animal habitats set among lush plants, streams and waterfalls. From there the park opens into themed lands, with Discovery Island and the Tree of Life at the center. Kilimanjaro Safaris is a roughly 20-minute animal ride, the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail is a self-paced walk of about 30 minutes, and in the Asia area you can take the Maharajah Jungle Trek through ancient-style ruins or ride Kali River Rapids, a raft ride through jungle scenery.
For something bigger, Avatar Flight of Passage lets you fly on a mountain banshee over Pandora – The World of Avatar. There are also Broadway-style musicals, animal shows and character meet-and-greets, including Mickey and Minnie in safari outfits at Adventurers Outpost. The Up Close with Rhinos tour goes into the behavior and biology of white rhinos. Plan for a full day or more.