What to do for an Animal Lover?

[GoofyJoofy]

I'm pretty sure that at Rafiki' s Planet Watch, they have a "petting zoo" for young kids
They also sometimes have a CM come out into the open area with a small animal

 

[JennyDrake]

As a fellow animal lover, here is my feeble suggestion--I would skip the horseback riding as it will take a big chunk of your time for a rather limited expereince. Instead, I would allot much more time at the AK and SLOW DOWN. If you are going during the heat, I would plan at least 2 mornings there and allow her to linger and explore and spend ALL the time she wants at each exhibit; most exhibits will have a CM "in the know" right there that she can ask questions. Rafiki's Planet Watch is not to be missed! Plan it for later in the day when everyone needs an escape to the air conditioning.

Maybe let her pick out a couple of books on the animals of Africa BEFORE the trip? It would be neat to have the CMs sign by the animals they "tend" at each exhibit.

 

[mshanson3121]

As a fellow animal lover, here is my feeble suggestion--I would skip the horseback riding as it will take a big chunk of your time for a rather limited expereince. Instead, I would allot much more time at the AK and SLOW DOWN. If you are going during the heat, I would plan at least 2 mornings there and allow her to linger and explore and spend ALL the time she wants at each exhibit; most exhibits will have a CM "in the know" right there that she can ask questions. Rafiki's Planet Watch is not to be missed! Plan it for later in the day when everyone needs an escape to the air conditioning.

Maybe let her pick out a couple of books on the animals of Africa BEFORE the trip? It would be neat to have the CMs sign by the animals they "tend" at each exhibit.

This is exactly what we are doing. We are planning two mornings (probably 9-1). Though, do not wait until later in the day for Planet watch - if you want to watch the live veterinary procedures, they are only done in the morning, so if you get there anytime much past 11 or so, you'll have missed them, is what I was told. I have Touring Plans for our two mornings, I'll share to give you an idea how we're splitting AK up:

Morning 1 (arrive at RD):

Tour Oasis Gardens
Meet Daisy Duck
Tour Pangani Forest Trail
Safari
Festival of Lion King (11:00 show), this will be a nice a/c break
Have a snack/lunch at Harambe Market, watch Tam Tam Drummers
Tour Maharajah Jungle Trail
Kali River Rapids

Morning 2 (arrive early for reservation):

Breakfast at Tusker House, 8:45
Conservation Station (Affection Section, watch any procedures, meet and greets etc... allowing 2 hours for this)
Safari
Tour Discovery Trail
Flights of Wonder - either the 11:45 or 1:45 show depending on when we get done the Conservation station. If we get done in time we'll do this first, then the Safari.

Then, any of the following are optional:

- Dinosaur or Tough to be a Bug
- Cretaceous Trail
- Triceratop Spin
- Boneyard Playground

 

[GoofyJoofy]

Also remember, AK is not just Africa, but Asia too
Tigers are in Asia

My kids linger through the trails, and pick up the identification sheets. Then they try to see how many animals they can identify

 

[ZoZo]

Be sure to arrive for Flights of Wonder at least 15 minutes early. They often have a zookeeper outside the entrance with a Eurasian Eagle Owl. You can ask lots of questions!

Definitely go to Conservation Station/Rafiki's Planet Watch. You can often catch live veterinary procedures first thing in the morning (when I was there last year, they did the procedures most days except Wednesdays). You can talk to animal keepers about the animal food prep/diets (they're the acual animal keepers and are happy to answer questions). Be sure to check the schedule for the small stage next to the goat petting area. The keepers schedule "close encounters" where they bring animals onstage and talk about them. I've seen several different types of birds, a hedgehog, a porcupine, and othere animals. They'll stay afterward for questions, too.

Be sure to stop and talk to the animal keepers whenever you see them. They often have people posted in front of exhibits and they're there to answer questions.

And I also highly recommend Lunch with an Animal Specialist at Sanaa. Great food, and you can completely pepper them with questions!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I agree with the Dine with an Animal Specialist at Sanaa. Last time I did it, we had several young Animal lovers, and I think they had an especially good time.

 

[maryandtyson]

I think Jenny Drake said to SLOW DOWN! I totally agree! You might also want to experience the Wilderness Explorer hunt. You get a booklet from the kiosks and stations. CMs in the different areas will lead her in an activity related to wild animals (tracking, noticing details...) and you can earn badges. My 13 year old enjoyed it though I think it's for younger kids. The CMs are very knowledgeable, so ask questions, watch and listen.

 

[bumbershoot]

Take her to Gatorland. She will love it.

Hmm.

 

[karmacats]

Discovery Cove? It's very expensive (i think the package DH and i got was about $1000, though it included printed pictures and DVDs, and a cabana) but you get a dolphin swim (about a 45 min program), snorkeling with fish and turtles, a really cool walk-through aviary (which the lazy river also floats through), and some other animals like otters, as well as all your food. They have a "trainer for a day" program with the dolphins, but i'm not sure of the age limit.

The price also includes 7 days of admission to sea world and aquatica (the water park). sea world has a lot of land animals and birds in addition to marine life - i've never been anywhere with so many animals and handlers out for guests to see (and sometimes touch, depending on the animals). the handlers give out trading cards to the kids with each animal they see - we got a couple and had fun trading them with some kids (we ultimately gave them away). we did a behind the scenes tour there where we got to pet sharks (baby ones) and penguins, too. so if you had a couple of days after disney, you could do discovery cove one day and sea world the other. i believe you can do sea world first, if you want - you don't have to do discovery cove first, sea world just has to be within 7 days of discovery cove.

i was a little hesitant to try sea world - we went shortly after that "black fish" film came out - but i have to admit i was pleasantly surprised, and discovery cove is hands-down one of the most fun things i've ever done. DH loves animals and he was in heaven.

 

[karmacats]

and i forgot to second (or third or fourth) the dine with an animal specialist lunch at sanaa. great information about animal care, they will answer all of your questions (about the animals, their care, how the specialists got their jobs, working for disney - pretty much anything), and then take you outside to meet an animal or two (you can't touch them, but the specialist will bring you right over to them).

 

[lroger01]

Another thing to do is not at AK but still might be fun for your daughter. At Magic Kingdom if you get there early you can ask to ride up front next to the horse drawn trolley driver. My horse loving daughter really enjoyed that!

 

[DISNEY1975]

Maybe let her pick out a couple of books on the animals of Africa BEFORE the trip? It would be neat to have the CMs sign by the animals they "tend" at each exhibit.

Fantastic idea!

 

[DISNEY1975]

I think Jenny Drake said to SLOW DOWN! I totally agree! You might also want to experience the Wilderness Explorer hunt. You get a booklet from the kiosks and stations. CMs in the different areas will lead her in an activity related to wild animals (tracking, noticing details...) and you can earn badges. My 13 year old enjoyed it though I think it's for younger kids. The CMs are very knowledgeable, so ask questions, watch and listen.

Oh! I didnt know about this either! Sounds great!! I think with all the ideas posted above she'll get a few days of animal fun / learning!

I really appreciate all the ideas! I here I was thinking AK was just for the rides and parade!!

 

[disnut8]

Hmm.

Gatorland is a good half day park. There is a lot more there than just gators. I learned a lot and we had a very good time. But we are animal lovers.

 

[maryandtyson]

Oh, there's no parade at AK. The shows are all wonderful!!

 

[Best Aunt]

Some of the cast members at the gorilla exhibit are extremely knowledgeable. Others... not so much. If you get a knowledgeable one, they can tell you all kinds of information about the gorilla family there. Which female is dad's favorite? Which bachelor male was jealous when Lilly's mom hooked up with Lilly's dad? How do the moms' parenting styles differ, and why? Now that Lilly has a baby brother and a baby half brother, how does her Mom treat her, and how does the other mom treat her? It's like a gorilla soap opera. If that would be of interest to your daughter, ask questions of the cast members.

 

[Belle in TX]

Following. We are taking two animal lovers next Summer and y'all have made some
great suggestions!

 

[lovetotraveltx]

Thinking of doing Lunch with an Animal Specialist at AKL for my 24 year old daughter and my husband as an early bday present. It's not available to book online. Is that the norm, or does that mean it is not available to book the one wednesday we will be there in November?

 

[pfalcioni]

You'll need to call to book this. You can find all the current information about it here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/dine-with-an-animal-specialist/