Disney celebrated the 20th anniversary of Animal Kingdom park at Walt Disney World Resort yesterday.
Gathered at the Harambe Theatre in Animal Kingdom, drummers, dancers, stilt performers and Disney characters joined Disney executives in a ceremony observing the anniversary.
Joe Rohde, creative portfolio executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, led the creation of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
“We created this park out of a set of ideals that we believed were relevant and meaningful,” he said. “As the years have passed, those ideals have only become more relevant and more meaningful. Our lives are bound to the lives of all creatures.”
Animal Kingdom had its grand opening on 22 April 1998. The 230-hectare park is themed around the natural environment and conservation with more than 2,000 animals living there. It received 10.8 million human visitors in 2016.
Djuan Rivers, vice-president of Animal Kingdom, noted how it has grown over the last two decades.
“Since 1998, we have been extremely conscious that what we have here is a new species of theme park,” he said. “And while it has undergone an amazing transformation in the past few years, it will always be dedicated to helping our guests create a personal connection with the natural world.”
In May last year, Pandora – The World of Avatar debuted at the park. The new themed Avatar area is set a generation after the human-Na’vi conflict in the Oscar-winning 3D film from James Cameron.
The lush 5-hectare Pandoran landscape recreates a land 4.4 light years away from Earth. It features two main attractions, Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey.
Just this month, Disney introduced the Pandora Utility Suit, a mech suit from the Avatar film universe, to the area. A performer pilots the suit around the park, portraying a scientist explaining conservation and the flora and fauna of Pandora to guests.
Animal Kingdom timeline
June 1995
Plans for “Wild Animal Kingdom” announced.
August 1995
Groundbreaking for Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
April 1998
Grand opening for Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
January 1999
Accreditation from Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
March 1999
Grand opening of Asia, which includes Kali River Rapids and Maharajah Jungle Trek.
June 2001
Colobus Monkey Habitat opens on Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail.
November 2001
First phase of Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama opens with TriceraTop Spin attraction and midway games.
April 2002
Primeval Whirl opens at Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama.
May 2005
Lucky the Dinosaur, the first audio-animatronics figure capable of walking and moving independently, makes special appearances.
April 2006
Expedition Everest opens.
January 2007
Grand opening for Finding Nemo – the Musical.
January 2011
Wild Africa Trek opens.
June 2014
Festival of the Lion King debuts in its new home, the Harambe Theatre.
May 2015
Harambe Market opens.
May 2017
Pandora – the World of Avatar opens.
April 2018
Animal Kingdom celebrates 20th anniversary.
