Guest Captures ‘Lion King’ Moment During Animal Kingdom’s Kilimanjaro Safaris

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

Via DisDining.com

Walt Disney World Resort is home to four amazing theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT.

Each Disney Park is known for something different, and no two will give Guests the same experience. Magic Kingdom is the classic and most popular Park, Hollywood Studios is home to some of Walt Disney World’s most thrilling adventures, and EPCOT is known for celebrating cultures worldwide.

As for Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World doesn’t get any wilder. Between areas to explore such as Discovery Island, real animals along the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, and attractions such as Avatar Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, this theme park is one of Disney’s most diverse.

The environmentally conscious themes of conservation and informative attractions go hand in hand. But the attraction that really focuses Guests’ attention onto conservation is Kilimanjaro Safaris.

Kilimanjaro Safaris takes Guests on a safari ride around Animal Kingdom’s 110-acre space, which has been divided into environments mimicking African Savannas, wetlands, and forests. The Walt Disney Imagineers have done a fantastic job designing these biomes out of Florida’s diverse environment.

On this open-aired adventure, Guests can see real-life animals of the African Savanna, such as giraffes, zebras, elephants, and of course, lions.

Out of all 34 species that call this attraction their home, the lion may be the most exciting…if you’re lucky. Because the entertainment at this attraction is made up of live animals (not animatronics like in Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Cruise attraction) all encounters will be different. Some will be more lively than others, and much of it depends on the time of day to visit.

One Guest recently visited during the evening and caught something straight out of Disney’s The Lion King (1994).

@ournextgreatadventure_

Those evening safaris really are the best! #animalkingdom #distok #disneyparks #disneyride #disneyrides #kilimanjarosafari

♬ original sound – Jimmy | Travel•Dad Life•Disney

In this video, the lion repeatedly vocalizes and growls as the safari vehicle rolls past, giving Guests a Kilimanjaro Show of a lifetime! Seeing as lions are nocturnal predators, they are most active during dusk or dawn, explaining why this lion was giving Guests a performance on the evening this video was taken.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Ride Replacement for TriceraTop Spin?

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

Via DisDining.com

Out with the old, in with the new? We’ve seen changes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, such as the addition of the popular land, Pandora: World of Avatar, and the demolition of the Primeval Whirl roller coaster. Still, it looks like Walt Disney World Resort isn’t done perfecting its fourth theme park.

It’s no secret that of the seven lands in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including The Oasis, Discovery Island, Pandora: The World of Avatar, Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia, and DinoLand U.S.A., its DinoLand that stands out as the lackluster portion of the Park. And during a presentation at the 2022 D23 Expo, Disney was clear on its plans to give this portion of the Disney Park a much-needed update.

While Disney executives spoke of two possibilities for Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s next big expansion, including touches of animated Disney films, including Zootopia (2016) and Moana (2016), Moana is shining through as the possible star of the expansion.

So, when Disney releases concept art… we can’t help but take a closer look! Not only do we spot a log flume-style Moana attraction, similar to something like Splash Mountain, for DinoLand U.S.A.’s replacement, but we also see what may be a family-friendly spinning attraction that takes flight.

Sound familiar? Well, it should! Magic Kingdom Park has the nostalgic Dumbo The Flying Elephant and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin attractions. Additionally, in DinoLand U.S.A. Guests can enjoy TriceraTop Spin at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

We’ve taken many flights on TriceraTop Spin with the family, but it looks like Moana by be taking over in the most interesting way!

Disney's Animal Kingdom Expansion

As you’ll see in the up close of the concept art above, the attraction seems to copy the concept of TriceraTop Spin. It looks like Guests are seated in wooden barrels instead of triceratops dinosaurs. The art rendering even shows water jets squirting at the ride vehicles, much like the camels spitting water on The Magic Carpets of Aladdin ride at Magic Kingdom.

How does this look match the Moana theming? Not only do the flags in the area have the iconic Moana swirl imprint, but Disney executives may have leaked more about the experience.

Remember the fight scene in Moana when Moana and Maui, the demigod, must fight off the Kakamora? In the brief video clip below, look at how similar the above art rendering is to the Kakamora’s ship:

Additionally, when Disney executives spoke of the Moana addition, Guests could one day “help Moana save her people” and “fight off Kakamora” as Guests journey to meet “mysterious animals and creatures of the deep.” By the looks of the art rendering, this storytelling could easily be created with this new Disney’s Animal Kingdom attraction.

While the “Dino Ride in the Sky” currently offered with TriceraTop Spin in DinoLand U.S.A. is a sweet ride for young and old, it would be wonderful to see Disney’s storytelling shine through with Moana and the Kakamora when Disney’s Animal Kingdom expansion unfolds.

Now, we await a concrete timeline from Walt Disney Imagineering, in hopes details will be shared soon enough about what’s to come for Disney’s Animal Kingdom attractions such as TriceraTop Spin.

Disney Shares Behind the Scenes Look at Te Fiti Now in World Nature at EPCOT

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

While not opening until late 2023, progress is being made with Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, coming to World Nature at EPCOT. Te Fiti has been installed, and Disney has shared some behind-the-scenes details.

We recently welcomed Te Fiti to the World Nature neighborhood of EPCOT in Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana and we are thrilled to be celebrating this moment! Our team of Imagineers have been working to bring Te Fiti to life for years and we are excited to share this sneak peek of her as work continues to happen along the waterways and landscape areas within Journey of Water.

The development of Te Fiti and her pose was a close collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios and its Creative Legacy team. As guests walk along the trail, they will come across Te Fiti, who is seen protecting water as it travels through the water cycle.

Along with Moana as a steward of water conservation, Te Fiti is a symbol of how we should protect and nurture water wherever we find it. This is an important theme in Journey of Water, where guests will learn more about how water travels from our skies to the ocean, and back again. This story will unfold along a lush trail inspired by the environments and art style of the beloved Walt Disney Animation Studios film.

The World Nature neighborhood is dedicated to the awe and wonder of our natural world, and we are excited to continue that theme within Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. This will be a place where guests can engage with water and learn more about the impact we have on our natural world. We will even learn how to become better stewards of nature just like Moana!



We look forward to welcoming guests in late 2023 to see Te Fiti, engage with magical water, and learn more about conservation and the cycle of water!

The Honor of Splash Mountain’s Emotional Final Ride

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Splash Mountain has taken its final bow and with it a piece of Disney history is gone forever. Thousands flocked to the ride yesterday to be among the last to ride the beloved classic. None of them got to be the last though, that honor went to a very special group of people who absolutely deserved it.

It was a late night at Magic Kingdom last night as people flocked to Splash Mountain all day long and well into the night. Disney’s policy is “anyone in line before the ride closes get to ride.” While Cast Members will cut off the line once the park is closed to prevent others from joining the line, they will not make guests who were already in line leave the queue once the park is closed. When Magic Kingdom closed at 11:00 pm last night, the ride still had a 175 minute wait. Once the last guest exited the ride, at nearly 3:00 am (per social media reports), it was time for the laughin’ place to welcome one last group to its briar patch.

The Cast Members who worked the ride got to hop on board and be on the very last logs to take the plunge! After working tirelessly all day to make magic for guests hoping to experience the nostalgia one more time, we can’t think of anyone more deserving to enjoy that last ride before Splash Mountain closed forever. These Cast Members have worked day in and day out to make magic for us, and we are so glad that they got to have their very own special moment.

They had quite an audience too! Scott Gustin posted a video on Twitter showing crowds of people cheering for the Cast Members as they rounded the bend after that final drop. You can check out the video above, but fair warning: you may want a box of tissues nearby!

Full TRON Details Released

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

The opening date of TRON Lightcycle / Run, the brand new headliner ride at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, is almost here. We can wait to ride! In preparation for launch, Disney World has released details on how guest will get access to the attraction via a virtual queue or Lightning Lane, PhotoPass, required lockers for belongings and more. 

Via a Disney Cast Member;

We are counting down the days to the ultimate race across the Grid when TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise opens at Magic Kingdom Park on April 4.

Before you board your very own Lightcycle and enter this race as the newest members of Team Blue, here are the top 4 things to know:

1 – JOIN TEAM BLUE VIA THE VIRTUAL QUEUE

When TRON Lightcycle / Run opens it will use a virtual queue, allowing guests the opportunity to experience the attraction later in the day and enjoy all that Magic Kingdom Park has to offer while they wait to enter the Grid. Guests with a valid ticket or pass and a theme park reservation for Magic Kingdom Park on the same date will have the opportunity to request to join the virtual queue via the My Disney Experience app*. A standby queue will not be available.

Stay tuned to disneyworld.com/virtualqueue for details about when and how guests will be able to request to join the virtual queue for TRON Lightcycle / Run.

2 – INDIVIDUAL LIGHTNING LANE ENTRY

Guests may also have the option to purchase individual – or à la carte – Lightning Lane entry in the My Disney Experience app*. On the day of their visit, Team Blue recruits with a valid admission and a park reservation for Magic Kingdom Park on the same date may visit the Disney Genie Service Tip Board in the app to choose an arrival window and make their purchase before joining the high-speed race against Team Orange. Guests may check the app on the day of their visit for pricing and availability.

3 – NEW LOCKER SYSTEM

New to TRON Lightcycle / Run, a double-sided and digitized locker system will be used to store bags and loose items while you race your Lightcycle. Inside the attraction queue, these complimentary lockers pair directly with your MagicBand, MagicBand+ or ticket media so you can easily lock and reopen your locker with a quick tap. Guests without a MagicBand or other ticket media (such as a card) will be provided with a card to assign their locker. All items must be placed either in a locker before you board your Lightcycle, or in a small compartment located on the attraction vehicle that can hold items such as cellphones, glasses or wallets.

4 – DISNEY PHOTOPASS PHOTO AND VIDEO OFFERINGS

You can relive your race through this dark, computerized world when you preview an onboard photo and video automatically linked to your My Disney Experience account through one of the following methods:

    • Use your eligible mobile device, enable Bluetooth® for the My Disney Experience app* before riding, ensure you’ve logged into the My Disney Experience app* sometime earlier that day, and keep your device out of low power mode. Make sure your mobile device boards your Lightcycle with you and is safely stored in the small Lightcycle compartment to use this method.
    • Wear a MagicBand or MagicBand+ that’s linked to your My Disney Experience account.

We’ll see you in the Grid, Team Blue recruits. Countdown protocol initiated. End of line.

*Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset, service provider or otherwise. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.