Animal Kingdom Secrets

Animal Kingdom was the last park in Disney World to open. While it features many obviously great things, there are also some hidden details. Here are some to look for next time you’re in the park.

1. Tree of Life carvings

The Tree of Life sits near the entrance of Animal Kingdom and is a well-known emblem of the park. But did you know there are animals carved on the trunk? There are- 325 of them! It took a year and a half for 3 Imagineers and 10 artists to carve them!

2. Route 498

On a road sign near the entrance to Dinoland USA, it says that it is Route 498. This is because Animal Kingdom opened on April 22nd, 1998. The 498 means the fourth month, April, and 1998. This is a fun hidden secret to spot next time you’re in Animal Kingdom.

3. JORODI

In Africa there is a sign that says, JORODI. What does it mean, you may ask? Well, it is a nod to Imagineer Joe Rhode, whose name is pronounced like that.

4. Ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, oh my!

In the queue for Dinosaur, you can look up to spot some red, yellow, and white pipes with strange chemical formulas written on them. You may think they are random, but they actually have a hidden meaning- those are the formulas for ketchup, mustard, and mayo! This is probably because McDonald’s used to sponsor Dinosaur.

5. Lions need AC too!

In the Kilimanjaro Safari, the lions reside on Pride Rock. But did you know the ledge of that is air conditioned? This is for two reasons- to encourage lions to come onto the ledge and just to keep them cool.

I hope you enjoyed today’s post and will make sure to look out for these secrets next time you’re in Animal Kingdom. That’s all for now, and have a magical day!

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