Walt Disney World to Celebrate 25th Anniversary of Disney's Animal Kingdom on April 22

On April 22, the Walt Disney World Resort will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of one of the most ambitious Disney theme parks ever built: Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park! Here you are some details about what's to come:

SPECIAL OFFERINGS AVAILABLE ONLY ON APRIL 22:

• 25th anniversary ceremony – A celebration honoring Earth Day and our 25th anniversary will be held in front of the Tree of Life featuring entertainment and Disney executives.
• Entertainment
• Moana – Just in time for the 25th Anniversary of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Moana will greet fellow voyagers on Discovery Island for the first time, starting April 22.
• Special character visits – Guests can find special characters by the Tree of Life and cruising on the Discover River Flotillas.
• Food & Beverage – In addition to unique offerings for Earth Month, there will be special food & beverage items for purchase on April 22 only (while supplies last).
• Merchandise – Special commemorative items will be available at Island Mercantile, Discovery Trading Company and Mombasa Marketplace, starting on April 21.

SPECIAL OFFERINGS AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT APRIL:

Entertainment – Just in time for the 25th Anniversary of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Moana will greet fellow voyagers on Discovery Island for the first time, starting April 22.

Mickey, Minnie, and Scrooge McDuck are just some of the Disney Characters to be found on flotillas along the Discovery River in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Plus, from April 16 through 23, there will be unique Character appearances on the Discovery River Character Cruise—so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for these and additional Character experiences and sightings

The Animation Experience at Conservation Station – This April, as part of the Disney Earth Day Celebration, you may learn to draw characters like Dumbo, Terk from Tarzan, Crush or Bruce from Finding Nemo, Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, or Simba from The Lion King! 

Limited-time Wilderness Explorers badge – From April 16 through April 23, experience a limited-time activity that lets you earn a special nature badge!

Special Food & Beverage Offerings:

1. Gorilla Falls Trail Sundae | Tamu Tamu | NOW – April 30

Brownie with scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream, Caramel Sauce, and Trail Crunch Mix. Topped with a White Chocolate image of Kejan

2. The Elephant and the Bees Cocktail | Tiffins / Nomad Lounge | NOW – April 30

Cruxland Gin, Bitters, and Soda Water are combined in this cocktail, creating the gray shades of an elephant while a Lemon Wheel and Honey Simple Syrup represent the work of pollinating bees, here made of sugar and buzzing around the drink.

Inspired by the use of strategically-placed beehives to protect the crops of African farmers from elephants–ensuring farmers do not harm the elephants–as the beehives create a natural fence, protecting the farmers’ crops from elephants and the elephants from danger.

3. Elephant Cupcake | Pizzafari, Restaurantosaurus | NOW – April 30

Graham Cracker Cake, Pineapple Filling, with a jungle of Matcha Buttercream, Crispy Pearls, and a stunning White Chocolate Elephant Celebrating Earth Month and the magnificent, intelligent elephants, this Cupcake features a delicious , edible White Chocolate Elephant atop a Graham Cracker Cupcake with Pineapple Filling and a jungle of  Matcha Buttercream and Crispy Pearls

4. Bee Hive Mousse Dome | Creature Comforts | NOW – April 30

Honey Mousse on top of a brownie base, with sugar bees and white chocolate honey comb

5. Fizzy Flamingo (Alcohol and Non-Alcohol Version) | Flame Tree Barbecue

Strawberry Lemonade, Sprite, Kiwi Monin Syrup (also available with SVEDKA Vodka). Version with pink glow cube available in non-alcohol variant only.

6. Flamingo Cupcake | Flame Tree Barbecue

Strawberry Cake, Strawberry Compote Filling, Guava Buttercream, pink Crispy Pearls, Sugar Flamingo, and White Chocolate Wings. Known for their pink plumage, Flamingos are actually a light grey color when born. (They turn pink due to the food they eat!)  And though Flamingos might strike you as the fanciest of birds, they’re actually pretty down to Earth: they build their nests out of mud!

7. Bahari Breeze | Dawa Bar | NOW – April 30

Parrot Bay Blue Curacao Sour Mix Pineapple Juice Garnish with Pineapple Slice/Wedge. Showcasing the ocean as part of our Earth Day/Earth Month celebration, the drink takes its name “Bahari” from the Swahili word for “Ocean”.

8. Viva Gaia Tonic (Alcohol and Non-Alcohol Version) | Pizzafari

Minute Maid ® Zero Sugar Lemonade, Sprite, Cotton Candy-flavor with Mint Leaves. Glow Cube only for only non-alcoholic version. This blue-hued beverage represents the water that surrounds 70% of the planet  while Mint Leaves represent the planet’s continents.

9. First Magnitude Draft

• Tiger Eye Gold | Thirsty River Bar, ODV Ice Cream Carts, Isle of Java, Terra Treats
• Refreshing, light Golden Ale brewed with blend of malt and rice and finished with Hops from the Pacific Northwest that import a hint of Citrus flavor and the aroma of Mandarin Orange Blossoms.
• Honey Bee Citrus Blonde Ale | Thirsty River Bar, Dawa Bar, Trek Snacks, Warung Outpost, TriloBites, Restaurantosaurus Lounge, Eight Spoon Café, Dawa Bar
• Celebrating our pollinators, this ale is a light, slightly sweet honey ale with a crisp clean finish. Refreshing Blonde Ale brewed with solar-grown Honey  (harvested from Bee colonies located at solar farms) and Citrus Zest.

10. Roasted Mushroom & Leek Pizza | Terra Treats | NOW – April 30

Plant-based offering with Impossible™ Meatballs, Roasted Mushrooms, Braised Leeks, and a dash of Truffle Oil. This “From the Earth”-style plant-based pizza takes Guests on a whimsical journey through the forest, foraging for ingredients, just as our ancestors did. Earthy mushrooms, sweet and subtle leeks, pungent garlic, and aromatic truffle oil all pair wonderfully with Impossible™ plant-based meatballs in a celebration of nature’s bounty.

Photo opportunities – Available April 16-23

• Magic Shots – Have a Disney PhotoPass photographer add a special effect to your photos, including ones created to celebrate Earth Day.
• WALL-E Photo Ops – Ask a Disney PhotoPass photographer about enhancing your photo with a special effect inspired by WALL-E, in addition to a delightful, new WALL-E Disney PhotoPass Lens.
• Recycled Material Photo Ops – In honor of Earth Day, strike a pose with fun props made from 100% recycled materials.
• National Geographic Photo Frame – Snap a pic with a National Geographic photo frame, found outside the main entrance to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.

Merchandise:

1. Limited-Edition Trading Pin – Don’t miss this limited-edition pin, available beginning April 4 (while supplies last).

2. 25th Anniversary Merchandise – Special commemorative items will be available at Island Mercantile, Discovery Trading Company and Mombasa Marketplace, starting on April 21.

Looking to plan and book an Orlando-area vacation? Contact Destinations with Character Travel Services, LLC., specialists in all things Orlando, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld! Destinations with Characters is a Disney EarMarked agency and the official travel agency of Orlando Theme Park News!

PHOTO: © Walt Disney World Resort. All Rights Reserved.