Disney’s Animal Kingdom Gorillas Go Viral After Snake Enters Yard

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

Via DisDining.com

While many guests visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom rush off to ride Avatar Flight of Passage or take on the Yeti with Expedition Everest, there is one especially favorite place of ours that is often overlooked. If you haven’t before, you’ll want to take time to check out Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail located in the Africa portion of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Well, now the gorilla residents of Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail are going viral… as a snake entered their yard.

In the first video, TikTok user Bearded Kraken (@silkystrokesurvivor) captures “Gorilla vs. Snake”, as the snake is first discovered by the gorillas. The video has gone viral with 10.5 million views:

@silkystrokesurvivor

Gorilla VS Snake #disneyworld #animalkingdom #gorilla #snake #3minutes #3minutevideo #SilkyAF #embracethesilk

♬ original sound – Bearded Kraken

The gorillas aren’t exactly sure what to do! In the second video @silkystrokesurvivor captures “Gorilla VS Snake Part 2!” which now has almost 780,000 views:

@silkystrokesurvivor

Gorilla VS Snake Part 2! #disneyworld #animalkingdom #gorilla #snake #SilkyAF #embracethesilk #chestbeat #gorillasoftiktok #gorillaglue

♬ original sound – Bearded Kraken

While we aren’t exactly sure what ended up happening to the snake, it was interesting watching the whole gorilla troop curiously check out the snake. And if you want to see that chest beat one more time, @silkystrokesurvivor put out a third TikTok video, “Chest Beat Alert!” which has almost 600,000 views:

@silkystrokesurvivor

Chest Beat Alert! #disneyworld #animalkingdom #gorilla #snake #SilkyAF #embracethesilk #chestbeat #gorillasoftiktok #hititchallenge #hitit

♬ Hit It – Yung Skrrt

The troop of western lowland gorillas are some of our favorite to watch at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! They seem like gentle giants and watching them inspect something like a snake entering their enclosure is interesting to see.

Disney Park Hours Released With Extra Hour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

The Walt Disney World website now shows parks hours have been released through September 11! Plus, several previously posted hours have been changed to accommodate the return of fireworks, the arrival of the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, and Disney After Hours Boo Bash events. You’ll also see guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios in August and September now have an extra hour in the park. As you plan your vacation to the most magic place on earth, here are the current posted park hours for June 27 – September 11, 2021.

Magic Kingdom:

  • June 27 – 30: 8:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
  • July 1 – 10: 9:00am to 11:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 11pm)
  • July 11 – 31: 9:00am to 10:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 10pm)
  • August 1 – 13: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
  • August 14: 9:00am to 6:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 6pm)
  • August 15 – 31: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
  • September 1 – 6: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
  • September 7: 9:00am to 8:30pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8:30pm)
  • September 8 – 9: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
  • September 10: 9:00am to 8:30pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8:30pm)
  • September 11: 9:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)

EPCOT:

  • June 27 – 30: 11:00am to 10:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 10pm)
  • July 1 – 31: 11:00am to 10:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 10pm)
  • August 1 – 31: 11:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
  • September 1 – 11: 11:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

  • June 27 – 30: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
  • July 1 – 31: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
  • August 1 – 31: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm) *Previously park closed at 7pm
  • September 1 – 11: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm) *Previously park closed at 7pm

Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

  • June 27: 8:00am to 5:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 5pm)
  • June 28 – 30: 8:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
  • July 1 – 31: 8:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
  • August 1 – 31: 8:00am to 6:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 6pm)
  • September 1 – 11: 8:00am to 6:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 6pm)

Keep checking the My Disney Experience App before visiting as Disney has been known to add extra hours as dates draw nearer. Just be sure to snag your Park Pass reservations as soon as you know which date you are looking to experience a select parks.

Disney KiteTails Daytime Show Coming to Animal Kingdom

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

Disney announced a new daytime show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom this morning set to debut on October 1 for the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World.

Check out this artist rendering of “Disney KiteTails,” which will come alive several times daily at the Discovery River Amphitheater beginning Oct. 1. Performers will fly windcatchers and kites of all shapes and sizes, while out on the water elaborate three-dimensional kites – some stretching to 30 feet long – will depict Disney animal friends, including Simba, Zazu, Baloo and King Louie. These colorful creations will dance through the sky to the beat of favorite Disney songs in an uplifting, vibrant experience for the whole family.

Baby Masai Giraffe Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

Another Masai giraffe has been born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which welcomed two Masai giraffe calves last year.

The calf was born on June 10 and is six feet tall and weighs 183 pounds. According to Scott Terrell, Director of Animal & Science Operations, he’s “playful, curious and pretty chill” and has been spending lots of time with mom, Lily. He has a unique butterfly marking on his right shoulder and heart-shaped markings throughout his coat.

giraffe-calf-2

Due to poaching and habitat destruction, there are only 35,000 Masai giraffes currently in the wild with a declining population. This birth is another success for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan Program.

giraffe-calf-1

Lily and her calf will join the herd on Kilimanjaro Safaris in the coming weeks.

Another Disney Attraction Returns to Pre-COVID Experience

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

In just this past week, we’ve seen an increase of pre-COVID experiences returning to Walt Disney World. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway pre-show is back, Haunted Mansion’s Stretching Room has returned, and Living with the Land’s boat dividers have been removed. Another attraction is joining the list of returning to a pre-COVID experience!

One of the most popular attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Kilimanjaro Safaris, has removed the large plastic dividers between each of their seats on the safari vehicles. As you can see in the photo above, with the dividers in place, it was difficult to see what was up ahead leaving guests sticking with the view to their immediate left or right.

We’re loving watching the return of all these experiences! We’ll keep you posted as Disney continues to return more and more attractions and experiences to their pre-COVID state.