Plans for Animal Kingdom’s 20th anniversary announced
Plans for Disney’s Animal Kingdom 20th-anniversary celebration will include an expanded Party for the Planet celebration, special backstage experiences and special photo opportunities, and of course, merchandise.
The anniversary kicks off on Earth Day, April 22, the day Animal Kingdom opened in 1998.
Here are some of the highlights:
• The Party for the Planet celebration will run from April 22 to May 5 when there will be conservation talks by animal-care experts and enhanced animal interactions. This includes six different Tiffins Talks – themed dinners hosted by animal experts at Tiffins, the theme park’s signature, full-service restaurant.
• Rafiki’s Planet Watch will offer backstage experiences with experts about animal nutrition, the veterinary hospital and how Disney promotes global wildlife conservation.
• The various photo opportunities include an oversized picture frame celebrating the park’s 20th anniversary. Other photo frames support Disney’s “Reverse the Decline,” an initiative created to help protect 10 threatened animal species.
• Kids will be able to earn a limited-edition badge as part of the Wilderness Explorer program. The badge is one of many that youngsters can earn by completing activities throughout the park.
• A commemorative adventure guide and limited-edition merchandise will also be available.
• A special-edition print created by renowned Walt Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde. will be available. He will be at the park on April 22 from 1 to 4 p.m. to sign prints at Discovery Trading Company
• The brand-new show, UP! A Great Bird Adventure featuring Russell and Dug from the Disney-Pixar animated comedy-adventure film “UP” will start April 22. In the show guests will get a chance to see Senior Wilderness Explorer Russell and his fuzzy friend Dug in a new adventure that includes encounters with exotic birds from around the world.
