Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park hidden attractions

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park may not be a zoo (as the early slogan of DAK pointed out), but it is filled with endless things to do – rides to go on, animals to see, places to eat and shop, and much more. And while everyone may immediately run right to the most popular attractions, including Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain or Festival of the Lion King, there are many small animal trails and other attractions that give you an up-close and personal view of the real stars of this park – the animals.

When you enter Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, you will first come upon the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is more than just a focal point for the park – this 14-story mammoth tree features carvings of 325 different animals along its trunk and more than 103,000 man-made leaves on the 8,000 branches. While you are walking down to the It’s Tough To Be A Bug 3-D show, be sure to take a closer look at this stunning centerpiece of the park. Or, to get a more detailed view, trek through the Discovery Island Trails, which will take you down pathways to see The Tree of Life in an even more intimate view.

Once out of Discovery Island, it’s off to see the rest of the park. One of the shows you won’t want to miss (they are all fantastic, but the other ones have vastly more populated crowds) is Flights of Wonder. This live show features bird handlers showcasing over 20 species of exotic birds, including vultures, hawks and the American Bald Eagle.
 
There are many trails for guests to walk through, and if you want to see all the different animals housed at this park, you should take time to visit them all. While the Cretaceous Trail takes you along a path of plants and animals that have been on this planet since the days of dinosaurs, you can see wild animals native to Asia on the Maharaja Jungle Trek, including Komodo Dragons and Bengal Tigers. Finally, the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail offers exhibits of gorillas, colorful African birds, hippos and 35 different species of exotic birds, and you can enter this trail as soon as you exit the Kilimanjaro Safaris.

Another section of the park that is less visited is Rafiki’s Planet Watch. Just hop on the Wildlife Express Train for the short ride over. Once there, don’t miss the Affection Section, featuring a petting zoo full of sheep, pigs, goats chickens and more, or the Conservation Station, which is a facility that houses hands-on displays, live-animal exhibits and a behind-the-scenes look at where some of these precious animals are taken care of.