The holidays have officially arrived at Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Disney has released information for what to expect beginning today and throughout the holiday season at Disney’s Animal Kingdom as shared by DisneyParksBlog below.
Holiday fun returns to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, bringing unique seasonal décor and a flurry of festive flotillas with favorite Disney characters sailing down the Discovery River to a jolly holiday soundtrack.
“Donald’s Dino Bash Festive Flotilla” takes its seasonal celebration to the water, with character friends waving to everyone as they pass, and Chip ‘n’ Dale jingle through the jungle, bringing their own style of holiday flair to the river. The Discovery Island Drummers cruise along, too, entertaining guests on the shore with an energetic holiday beat. And when Santa Claus makes the trek to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, he’ll spread the joyous spirit of the season to all he sees along the way.
Another baby has been born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and he is super cute!
From a Disney Cast Member;
Rhinoceros may be the world’s second-largest land animal, but I’m happy to announce we have a tiny new one at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park! Early this morning, our beloved Kendi gave birth to a beautiful baby boy white rhino.
Typically, a rhino calf can weigh up to 140 pounds at birth, and as expected, this baby was nursing, standing and walking around right by mom within the first hour of being born. The two will spend the next several weeks bonding backstage before joining the rest of the herd.
Kendi was paired with dad Dugan through one of the Species Survival Plans, which are overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to ensure the responsible breeding of endangered species. White rhinos are an endangered species with a near-threatened status. Some of their adventures in pairing will be featured in an upcoming episode of the “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom” series now streaming on Disney+.
This is the first of several rhino births on the horizon. Two other rhinos at the park are also expecting; Jao is due fall 2021, and Lola will likely give birth in fall/winter 2021.
The holidays will be here before we know it! Here are the posted hours for Disney Parks through Christmas:
Magic Kingdom:
December 1 – 19: 9:00am to 8:00pm
December 20 – 26: 9:00am to 7:00pm
EPCOT:
December 1 – 3: 12:00pm to 9:00pm
December 4 – 6: 11:00am to 9:00pm
December 7 – 10: 12:00pm to 9:00pm
December 11 – 13: 11:00am to 9:00pm
December 14 – 17: 12:00pm to 9:00pm
December 18 – 19: 11:00am to 9:00pm
December 20 – 26: 12:00pm to 8:00pm
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
December 1 – 26: 10:00am to 7:00pm
Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
December 1 – 3: 9:00am to 5:00pm December 4 – 6: 8:00am to 6:00pm December 7 – 10: 9:00am to 5:00pm December 11 – 13: 8:00am to 6:00pm December 14 – 17: 9:00am to 5:00pm December 18 – 19: 8:00am to 6:00pm December 20 – 26: 9:00am to 5:00pm
Keep in mind, you’ll want to check the app before planning your visit as Disney has been known to add an extra hour or two on select days due to higher crowd levels. Happy Holiday planning Disney fans!
Did you know yesterday, September 22, was World Rhino Day?! That’s right! Yesterday, we celebrated rhinoceros in a special way as Disney shared the exciting news that currently at Disney’s Animal Kingdom they have not one, not two, but THREE pregnant rhinos! Check out the details below as shared by DisneyParksBlog.
As shared by Dr. Mark Penning, Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Disney Parks: I’m always struck with awe at the sheer power and size of rhinos, so of course, I couldn’t let World Rhino Day go by without taking time to appreciate and promote the protection of this magnificent endangered species. Did you know rhinoceros are the world’s second largest land animal and among the most endangered animals in the wild due to poaching?
Today, I’m thrilled to share that Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park has big news for the future of rhinos – we have three pregnant white rhinoceros in our care. It’s the first time we have ever had this many horns and hooves on the horizon.
Kendi, who was the first rhino born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 1999, is the first due, with a calf expected to be born sometime this October.
Jao is expected to give birth sometime in fall 2021.
And rounding out the “crash,” which is what we call a rhino herd, Lola is due in fall / winter 2021.
Dr. Natalie Mylniczenko, one of our veterinarians, has been along on the journey with our moms-to-be. Through routine checkups and ultrasounds, Dr. Natalie has worked closely with the rhino keeper team to keep a close eye on how the pregnancies are progressing. She may be one of the only people in the world that has seen a rhino at 2 centimeters.
Planning for a rhino birth requires time and patience for all involved. Rhinos have a long gestation period, approximately 16-18 months, so each of these births are roughly 1 ½ years in the making. Add to that the time that goes into research to pave the way. All three rhinos were chosen to breed through Species Survival Plans (SSPs), which are overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to ensure the responsible breeding of endangered species. Dugan, the herd’s bull, is the father of all three calves.
Our animal care team is eager and ready to help welcome these rhino calves upon their arrivals. Once born, they acclimate quickly – rhino calves weigh between 88-140 lbs. at birth and can stand up within the first hour. They stay very close to their mothers for the first three years of their life.
We are so excited about these new additions coming soon to our rhino family and we’ll continue to keep you updated here and at @drmarkatdisney on Instagram and @DisneyASE on Facebook.
Want to learn more about how Disney cares for rhinos and helps protect these species in the wild? In addition to our social channels, check out “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom” streaming on Disney+ starting September 25.
“The One and Only Ivan” is now available on Disney+! Did you know Disney’s Animal Kingdom inspired “The One and Only Ivan” filmmakers? Check out the details and photos as shared below by Dr. Mark Penning, Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Disney Parks.
Gorillas have always held a special place in my heart, so I’ve been deeply touched by the award-winning book “The One and Only Ivan,” which tells the true story of Ivan, a 400-pound silverback gorilla who was raised by humans for the first 27 years of his life in a communal habitat in a suburban shopping mall. While there were several other animals there, such as Stella the elephant and Bob the dog, there were no other gorillas. Ivan did not know what it was like to be a part of a gorilla family until he moved to Zoo Atlanta, a fellow Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited institution that oversaw giving him the best possible care.
“The One and Only Ivan” has been adapted for the screen premieres August 21, streaming exclusively on Disney+
You may see some familiar sights from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park in the film, as the park served as an inspiration to the filmmakers. Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, with its lush greenery, was used as a model for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Filmmakers also spent time studying the behaviors of our western lowland gorilla troops, learning about their family dynamics and observing how they forage for food, play with one another, and sleep. We are very fortunate to have an exceptionally dedicated team of animal care experts who invest a lot of time in building trust with these gorillas, and all the 5,000+ animals in our care, which allows us to work closely with them.
In fact, our work with gorillas goes far beyond caring for the troops at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, through the Disney Conservation Fund, we support the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE), the world’s only sanctuary for orphaned Grauer’s gorillas, a critically endangered species. GRACE provides the sort of storybook ending that Ivan dreams about in the movie. Rescued gorillas join an adoptive gorilla family and get to live together in spacious natural forest enclosures. Our animal care team members provide resources and share their expertise with staff at GRACE, which has been imperative in saving the lives of gorillas and helping ensure they thrive.
I’m very proud of the work our teams have done to support “The One and Only Ivan” and their dedication to ensuring gorillas are well cared for each and every day. I encourage you to watch this heartwarming story on Disney+, and be sure to check out our free downloadable activity packet with all you need to know about the care and conservation of these wonderful animals.
