Happy Earth Month, Disney fans! Disney PhotoPass Service is celebrating by launching their newest “Tiny World Magic Shot” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. These “Tiny World Magic Shots” are a fun way to capture the moment with friends, family, or even if flying solo!
As shared by Disney: “This exciting new photo opportunity is a 360-degree capture experience that’s sure to delight your entire family tree. It’s available daily starting today from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (weather permitting) from the Disney PhotoPass photographer located close to the exit of It’s Tough to be a Bug! on the Tree of Life Trails. You can capture this photo (which is located at the base of the Tree of Life) after exiting the attraction, or you can reach it by following the walkway across from Adventurers Outpost or the walkway next to the Africa entrance gate.”
Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle has shared on Instagram that “A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King” will debut in mid-May at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Earth Day is right around the corner and Disney is celebrating! While we’re enjoying all the celebrations of Earth Month Disney is currently offering throughout April, we’re thrilled to learn Disney is bringing an extra dose of fun to Earth Day with the My Disney Experience App!
As shared by Disney: “On Earth Day, April 22, be sure to check out the My Disney Experience app to learn all about different projects from Disney destinations around the world and how you can participate through activities at home that can help make a difference. From recycling plastic bottles in Florida to creating pollinator gardens in Paris, we’re finding new practices that help the environment and we invite you to join us wherever you may be!”
On the app you’ll come across activities such as a new series of mini games that will test how well you know the sounds of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You’ll even have a chance to meet the adorable Nigerian dwarf goats of Kilimanjaro Safaris! Disney will offer downloadable wallpaper, virtual backgrounds, and more. And if you’re a fan of all things trivia, get ready for an Earth Day trivia challenge which launches on Friday, April 23!
Be sure to download the My Disney Experience App if you haven’t already so you’ll be able to enjoy these experiences right from the comfort of your home, or while spending the day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Happy Earth Month, and soon to be Earth Day, Disney fans!
The Walt Disney World website now shows parks hours have been released through July 3! As you plan your vacation to the most magic place on earth, here are the current posted park hours for April 18 – July 3, 2021.
Magic Kingdom:
April 18 – 30: 8:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
May 1 – 31: 8:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
June 1 – 26: 8:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
June 27 – 30: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
July 1 – 3: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
EPCOT:
April 18 – 24: 11:00am to 11:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 11pm)
April 25 – 30: 11:00am to 10:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 10pm)
May 1 – 8: 11:00am to 10:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 10pm)
May 9 – 31: 11:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
June 1 – 30: 11:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
July 1 – 3: 11:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
April 18 – 30: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
May 1 – 31: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
June 1 – 18: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
June 19: 9:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
June 20 – 26: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
June 27 – 30: 9:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
July 1 – 3: 9:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
April 18 – 30: 8:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
May 1: 8:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
May 2 – 31: 8:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
June 1 – 26: 8:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
June 27: 8:00am to 5:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 5pm)
June 28 – 30: 8:00am to 6:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 6pm)
July 1 – 3: 8:00am to 6:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 6pm)
There’s a new addition to the Kilimanjaro Safaris family at Disney’s Animal Kingdom: a baby mandrill named Ivy!
From Disney Parks Blog:
A baby mandrill has joined the family at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. And what better time than during Earth Month?
In the spirit of the mystical mandrill Rafiki, join us in honoring the circle of life as we celebrate the arrival of this adorable newborn. The little girl was born on Saturday, April 10, to first-time mom Hazel and dad Linus. Cast members named the infant Ivy to fit in with the rest of her colorful family – Olive, Scarlett, Snow and Hazel.
We’re so excited to share this news and report that mom and newborn are healthy and bonding. Be on the lookout, because both have already been spotted by guests on Kilimanjaro Safaris. You might see the shy baby clinging to Hazel’s stomach, a natural bonding behavior. But this will change soon as the baby begins to walk within weeks of being born, spending most of the time walking underneath mom. The baby joins the troop of seven other mandrills that call Disney’s Animal Kingdom home.
Here are some interesting facts about one of the most colorful mammals found in nature. Mandrills typically have a six-month gestation period. In the mandrill social structure, females take on the majority of parental responsibilities, including grooming, nursing, and carrying the young. When you spot the mandrills, you may see them grooming one another, a behavior that promotes social bonding.
While our new arrival weighed in between 1-2 pounds, mandrills are actually the largest species of monkey. They’re also a vulnerable species found in African rainforests along the equator where their habitat is disappearing because of deforestation and poaching.
This birth is an example of how our dedicated and highly trained team of Disney animal care experts works with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums on Species Survival Plans. With this birth, the troop at Disney’s Animal Kingdom now includes four generations of mandrills from the same family, mirroring the social system of mandrills found in the wild.
Can’t get enough of Ivy? Be sure to check her out in the video below! And if you want even more baby animals, be sure to check out our look at the white rhinoceros calf Ranger who also calls Kilimanjaro Safaris home!
