Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom
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Name	Disney's Animal Kingdom
Location	Walt Disney World, Florida
Owner	The Walt Disney Company
Operator	Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Theme	Wildlife conservation, Animal welfare

Disney's Animal Kingdom is a theme park located at the Walt Disney World resort in Florida, United States. The park is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company and is dedicated to the preservation of wildlife conservation and animal welfare, with a focus on education and research in partnership with organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The park is home to over 1,700 animals from around the world, including Asian elephants, African lions, and Giant otters, and offers a range of attractions and exhibits designed to promote conservation and sustainability, in collaboration with National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute. The park's design and operations are guided by the principles of ecotourism and environmental stewardship, as outlined by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Tourism Organization.

History

The concept for the park was first announced in 1990 by Michael Eisner, the then-CEO of The Walt Disney Company, with a planned opening date of 1995, but was delayed due to various factors, including the death of Frank Wells, the company's President and COO, in a helicopter crash in Nevada. The park finally opened on April 22, 1998, with an estimated cost of $800 million, and was designed by Imagineer Joe Rohde in collaboration with architects from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and landscape architects from EDAW. The park's opening was attended by Al Gore, the then-Vice President of the United States, and Robert Redford, the actor and environmentalist, who is also a trustee of the Natural Resources Defense Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Park Layout

The park is divided into seven themed areas, including Africa, Asia, Discovery Island, DinoLand U.S.A., Oasis, Pandora - The World of Avatar, and Rafiki's Planet Watch, which are connected by a network of walkways and waterways, designed by landscape architects from EDAW and HOK. The park's layout is designed to resemble a wildlife reserve, with naturalistic habitats and landscaping created by horticulturists from the New York Botanical Garden and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The park's iconic Tree of Life is a 145-foot-tall artificial tree that serves as the park's centerpiece, and was designed by Imagineer Joe Rohde in collaboration with artists from Walt Disney Imagineering and engineers from Arup.

Attractions

The park features a range of attractions, including Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, and Kali River Rapids, which are designed to simulate wildlife conservation and adventure travel experiences, in partnership with National Geographic and the World Wildlife Fund. The park also features several live shows, including Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Musical, which are produced in collaboration with Disney Theatrical Productions and Cirque du Soleil. The park's attractions are designed to promote conservation and sustainability, and to provide education and entertainment for visitors of all ages, in accordance with the principles of ecotourism and environmental education outlined by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Tourism Organization.

Lands

The park's themed areas are designed to resemble different parts of the world, including Africa, Asia, and North America, and feature naturalistic habitats and landscaping created by horticulturists from the New York Botanical Garden and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The park's Africa area features attractions such as Kilimanjaro Safaris and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, which are designed to simulate wildlife conservation and adventure travel experiences, in partnership with National Geographic and the World Wildlife Fund. The park's Asia area features attractions such as Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain and Kali River Rapids, which are designed to promote conservation and sustainability, and to provide education and entertainment for visitors of all ages, in accordance with the principles of ecotourism and environmental education outlined by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Tourism Organization.

Conservation Efforts

The park is involved in various conservation efforts, including the Disney Conservation Fund, which provides grants and support to conservation projects around the world, in partnership with organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The park also participates in breeding programs for endangered species, such as the Sumatran tiger and the Amur leopard, in collaboration with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria. The park's conservation efforts are guided by the principles of ecotourism and environmental stewardship, as outlined by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Tourism Organization, and are designed to promote sustainability and biodiversity.

Entertainment

The park offers a range of entertainment options, including live shows, parades, and character meet-and-greets, which are designed to promote conservation and sustainability, and to provide education and entertainment for visitors of all ages, in accordance with the principles of ecotourism and environmental education outlined by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Tourism Organization. The park's entertainment options include Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Musical, which are produced in collaboration with Disney Theatrical Productions and Cirque du Soleil, and feature music and costumes designed by artists from Walt Disney Imagineering and engineers from Arup. The park's entertainment options are designed to promote conservation and sustainability, and to provide education and entertainment for visitors of all ages, in partnership with organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Category:Disney theme parks