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Photo tour starts here.
DAK - The Oasis
This is Main Street?
DAK - Safari Village
Tree of Life
DAK - It's Tough to Be A Bug
A 3D action show
DAK - March of the ARTimals
The non-parade.
DAK - DinoLand
Countdown to Extinction; the Boneyard.
DAK - Discovery River
The Taxi (formerly Boat Ride).
DAK - Asia
DAK's newest area.
DAK - Africa
Harambe village.
DAK - Kilimanjaro Safaris
Safari animal pics
DAK - Pangani Forest
Exploration Trail: Gorillas
DAK - Conservation Station
Take the Wildlife Express.
DAK - Camp Minnie-Mickey
Festival of the Lion King; Characters; Pocahontas.
DAK - Beastly Kingdom
Plans, rumors and construction updates on DAK's next land
DAK - Frequently Asked Questions
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DAK - Frequently Asked Questions - 3
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DAK - Guidebook
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DAK - News Clips 1
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DAK - News Clips 3
Press clips 98/99
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Saito Family News - March
More Animal Kingdom personal pics.
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Orlando area coaster construction.
Tasha's GSD Sports page
Home page for our German Shepherd Dogs.
North Halton Schutzhund club
Tasha & Killian's training club.
Ward 9 News
Pat's Mississauga Ward 9 Website.
Andrew's World of Motion site
Memories of the Epcot World of Motion Pavilion.
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04/08

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Animal Kingdom FAQs 2!

Disney's Animal Kingdom Resources
DAK FAQs 2

More Frequently Asked Questions about Disney's Animal Kingdom!

 

Touring DAK in Peak Season?

If you're going during peak season, all of the parks will be busy. Since DAK has the fewest 'e-ticket' attractions, the lineups for the popular attractions get longer quicker than the other parks. And since DAK is open earlier, it tends to be quite crowded by 11am.
Remember that DAK is open from 7am (gates usually open at 6:30am) to 8pm (possibly later if they are running "Night Safaris"). So if your primary intention is to cover DAK in one day, then it could be done if you are at the park by 6:30am. (I would advise against celebrating at Pleasure Island all night)

Here's my touring suggestion for peak times:
1. Plan to arrive at Animal Kingdom's entrance gates by 6:30am.
2. While you're waiting in line for the gates to open, get the DAK Guidemap and check for the first performance of Lion King, and for the closing times for Kilimanjaro and Maharajah.
3. As the gates open, head for Kilimanjaro Safaris first - through Oasis, then stay to the LEFT at Safari Village, which leads directly into Africa and into KS.
4. After you've ridden the Safaris, bypass Pangani. If Lion King is soon, head there for the first show, then to Maharajah. If not, head for Maharajah Jungle Trek.
5. After Maharajah, do Lion King if you haven't earlier. If you like water raft rides, do Kali River Rapids (but bring a change of clothes and put your valuables in watertight bags).
6. If you like rides, go to Countdown to Extinction.
7. The park is probably busy now, so check the Attractions Wait Times board in Safari Village. It will give you a good idea where the queues are shortest. My suggestions are: Tough to Be A Bug (continuous show) Pangani Falls Exploration Trail Pocahontas Flights of Wonder DinoLand Boneyard Conservation Station Explore the Tree of Life Garden Explore The Oasis gardens Jungle Book Show (lowest priority unless they change it)
8. Or head for the Rainforest Cafe and enjoy a leisurely lunch. Or if you've got a Disney hotel room, go back and head for the pool or nap.
9. About 3-4pm, head back to Safari Village and check the Wait Times. Fill in those you couldn't get into earlier. Queues for most attractions (other than the shows like Lion King) generally get shorter as the day goes on.
10. Take a late day Maharajah Trek and try to ride Kilimanjaro near the end of the day; the animals are more active around sunset. (If they're doing Night Safaris, then queue for this - it's quite a different attraction.)
It's a long day, but you can probably see most of DAK this way.

Discount condos?

I will be trying to put up a new WDW Accomodations web page, however I have some hotel/accomodation hints at: https://members.tripod.com/~SaitoNews/hotels.html
There are URLs to websites for Sunsplash Travel(www.sunsplash.com/1-800-505-1359) that has quite a few rental homes in subdivisions about 15 minutes south-west of WDW property. We've used them and referred several people as well. It's always nice for everyone to have a bedroom and to have multiple bathrooms (especially if you have daughters). Most of their homes are 3 bedroom and have screened pools. Good size homes, clean, well furnished, good kitchens and quiet neighborhoods. Not really walking distance to anything, however.
I've also listed one private home, and Den's rates are usually a little less than Sunsplash.

For condos, the best deals are using discounts from Entertainment, Quest, AAA and the Orlando Magicard. You should be able to get a 2 bedroom condo/villa that sleeps 6 (with a sofabed) about $100 per night in high season (June-Aug).
This year, AAA has Fantasy World Villas at $109.
Last year's Orlando Magicard had the following discounted rates - call the number and ask for the Orlando Magicard rate. You can call 800-643-9492 to ask for a current Magicard and brochure. Bright Star Resorts 2br condo from $89 peak, 3br house from $109 peak 800-373-8455 Condolodge 2br condo from $76 800-866-2660 www.condolodge.com Island One Resorts 2br condo from $89 800-634-3119 Caribbean Villas 2br condo from $79 800-327-4730

Renting Strollers?

Renting Wheelchairs?


Guests may bring their own wheelchairs or rent one at any of the four Parks. Wheelchair rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Rental wheelchairs may not be transferred from Park to Park. Guests planning to visit more than one Park on the same day should retain their wheelchair deposit ticket from the first Park they visit. This will enable them to obtain a replacement wheelchair on the same day, if available, at the next Park at no additional charge. Parks

Price:
 $5 rental + $1 deposit (wheelchairs)
 $30 rental + $10 deposit (motorized vehicles)

Magic Kingdom® Rental Locations
 Mickey's Gift Station at Ticket and Transportation Center (limited quantities)
 Stroller and wheelchair shop inside Magic Kingdom entrance (also rents ECVs)
 Tinker Bell's Treasures in Fantasyland (replacement location)
 Frontier Trading Post in Frontierland (replacement location)
 Ursa's Major Minor Mart in Tomorrowland (replacement location)

Epcot Rental Locations
 Gift Stop just outside the Epcot Main Entrance (limited quantities)
 Stroller and wheelchair shop location inside Main Entrance (also rents ECVs)
 Glas und Porzellan in Germany (replacement location)
 International Gateway

Disney-MGM Studios Rental Locations
 Oscar's Super Service inside Main Entrance (also rents ECVs)
 Endor's Vendors at Star Tours (replacement location)

Disney's Animal Kingdom® Park Rental Locations
 Garden Gate Gifts inside Main Entrance (also rents ECVs)
 Creature Comforts (replacement location)

Guests visiting more than one Park during the day, or leaving and returning to the Park, may have their deposit ticket validated and obtain a replacement wheelchair at no charge.

ACCESS
Methods of accessibility vary from attraction to attraction within the Parks. The Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities and Park guide maps (available at Guest Relations) use symbols to indicate boarding procedures for each attraction. In addition, Guests should contact a host or hostess at each attraction before entering. Some attractions have auxiliary entrances for Guests with disabilities. These are intended to offer Guests in wheelchairs or with service animals a more convenient entrance to the attraction. They are not designed to bypass waiting lines. Guests with disabilities and up to five members of their party may enter through auxiliary entrances. The rest of the party should use the standard entrance.
Certain attractions require Guests to transfer from their wheelchairs to a ride system either by themselves or with the assistance of a member of their party. Walt Disney World hosts or hostesses are not permitted to physically transfer Guests from their wheelchairs.

PARADE ROUTE AND SHOW VIEWING AREAS
Due to Guest demand, viewing spaces cannot be reserved or guaranteed. Parties larger than six will be asked to separate and reunite afterwards. Guest Relations can provide information on parades, show times, and other special events on the day of each visit.

MAINSTREAM QUEUES
The Walt Disney World Resort strives to provide mainstream access whenever possible; that is, to have all Guests utilize the main entrance to the attraction. However, accessibility varies from attraction to attraction within our Parks. The Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities and Park guide maps use symbols to indicate boarding procedures for each attraction. In addition, Guests should contact a host or hostess at each attraction before entering. Attractions providing mainstream queue access include:

Magic Kingdom Park
 Pirates of the Caribbean
 The Enchanted Tiki Room
 Splash Mountain
 The Hall of Presidents
 Legend of the Lion King
 Donald's Boat
 Mickey's Country House
 Toontown Hall of Fame
 The Barnstormer of Goofy's Wiseacres Farm
 Astro Orbiter
 The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter
 Tomorrowland Speedway
 Space Mountain
 The Timekeeper
 Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress
 Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin

Epcot
 Future World
 Horizons
 Wonders of Life -- All Attractions
 Universe of Energy
 The Living Seas
 Test Track
 World Showcase
 Norway -- Maelstrom Theater
 Friendship Boats

Disney-MGM Studios
 Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D
 "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™"
 The Great Movie Ride
 Star Tours
 Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour
 Backstage Pass
 The Magic of Disney Animation
 Voyage of the Little Mermaid
 Fantasmic!

Disney's Animal Kingdom Park
 It's Tough to Be a Bug!
 Grandmother Willow's Grove
 Countdown to Extinction
 The Boneyard
 Theater in the Wild
 Kilimanjaro Safaris
 Caravan Stage
 Lion King Theater
 Maharajah Jungle Trek
 Kali River Rapids

ATTRACTION ACCESSIBILITY LIST
Magic Kingdom Park
These attractions require Guests to transfer from a wheelchair to a ride vehicle:
 Main Street Vehicles
 Jungle Cruise
 Pirates of the Caribbean
 Swiss Family Treehouse -- walk-through
 Big Thunder Mountain Railroad -- health, age, and size are considerations
 Splash Mountain -- health, age, and size are considerations
 Tom Sawyer Island
 The Haunted Mansion
 Mike Fink Keelboats
 Cinderella's Golden Carrousel
 Dumbo the Flying Elephant
 Mad Tea Party
 Peter Pan's Flight
 Snow White's Adventures
 The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacres Farm -- health, age, and size are considerations
 Astro Orbiter
 Tomorrowland Speedway
 Space Mountain -- health, age, and size are considerations
 Skyway
 Tomorrowland Transit Authority

Guests may enter and enjoy these attractions in a wheelchair or ECV:
 The Enchanted Tiki Room
 Country Bear Jamboree
 "Diamond Horseshoe Saloon Review"
 Frontierland Shooting Arcade
 The Hall of Presidents
 The Liberty Belle Riverboat
 Mickey's Country House
 Minnie's Country House
 Donald's Boat
 Toontown Hall of Fame
 The Timekeeper
 Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress
 Tomorrowland Light & Power Co.
 The Legend of the Lion King
 Ariel's Grotto

Epcot
These attractions require Guests to transfer from a wheelchair to a ride vehicle:
 Spaceship Earth
 Horizons
 Body Wars in Wonders of Life -- health, age, and size are considerations
 Maelstrom Theater in Norway
 Double-Decker Buses in World Showcase
 Test Track

Guests may enter and enjoy these attractions in a wheelchair or ECV:
 Cranium Command at Wonders of Life
 "The Making of Me" at Wonders of Life
 "Goofy About Health" at Wonders of Life
 Innoventions
 The Living Seas
 The Circle of Life at The Land
 Food Rocks at The Land
 Art of Mexico Gallery in Mexico
 Stave Church Gallery in Norway
 Wonders of China in China
 "Dragon: Ruler of Wind and Waves" Gallery in China
 The American Adventure
 Bijutsu-kan Gallery in Japan
 "Treasures of Morocco" exhibit in Morocco
 "Impressions de France" in France
 O Canada! in Canada

Disney-MGM Studios
These attractions require Guests to transfer from a wheelchair to a ride vehicle:
 Star Tours -- health, age, and size are considerations
 "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror" -- health, age, and size are considerations

Guests may enter and enjoy these attractions in a wheelchair or ECV:
 "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" Movie Set Adventure
 Backlot Theater -- "Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame -- A Musical Adventure"
 Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D
 Indiana Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular!
 The American Film Institute Showcase
 Backstage Pass
 The Walt Disney Theater -- "The Making of ..."
 Disney-MGM Studios Backstage Tour
 Voyage of the Little Mermaid
 Theater of the Stars - "Beauty and the Beast" -- Live on Stage
 Fantasmic!
 "Disney's Doug Live"

Disney's Animal Kingdom Park
These attractions require Guests to transfer from a wheelchair to a ride vehicle:
 Countdown to Extinction (health, age, and size are considerations)
 Kali River Rapids (health, age, and size are considerations)
Guests may enter and enjoy these attractions in a wheelchair or ECV:
 The Tree of Life Garden
 It's Tough to Be a Bug!
 Grandmother Willow's Grove
 The Boneyard
 Cretaceous Trail
 1998 Dinosaur Jubilee
 Theater in the Wild
 Fossil Preparation Lab
 Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
 Wildlife Express to Conservation Station
 Affection Section
 Caravan Stage
 Interactive Fun at Conservation Station
 Lion King Theater
 Maharajah Jungle Trek

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