Random Thread & The Interchangeable Inside Joke

[nerdylightbulb]

 

[nerdylightbulb]

 

[DisneyRockstar]

"Weren't you the bad guy in Goldfinger?"

 

[AmandaSparks730]

1 vs. 100!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

The Adventure Begins at Animal Kingdom - Each morning, 15 minutes before the schedule opening time, you can go through the turn styles and head to the Tree of Life area. Soon, Minnie, Pluto, and Goofy arrive to welcome you to the park! Soon Mickey appears and gets on the truck and you can follow them into Harambe as the Adventure Begins in the Animal Kingdom!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Disney's Animal Kingdom is a spectacular theme park unlike anything you have ever experienced.

In January 1990, Imagineering Concept Designer Joe Rohde met with Michael Eisner about a proposal for a new animal park. His concept was simple: a traditional theme park, an Epcot style pavilion, and a nontraditional zoo. Disney's Wild Animal Kingdom Project was announced June 5, 1995 and ground was broken in August 1995. The name changed a bit during the next couple years and the Grand Opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom was held on April 22, 1998. Animal Kingdom celebrated its 10th Anniversary on April 22, 2008!

Animal Kingdom has an afternoon parade Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

OVERVIEW

The Tree of Life, an impressive icon, stands tall in the distance as you emerge from the entrance, called the Oasis. Then think of the park as a bicycle wheel, the Tree of Life is the hub and the various lands stretch out like spokes.

Animal Kingdom opened with the Oasis, Safari Village (renamed Discovery Island), Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Conservation Station (renamed Rafiki's Planet Watch), Dinoland USA and a small portion of Asia. Before the park's first birthday, a larger portion of Asia opened to complete the circle.

Some say Animal Kingdom is only a half day park and not worth the price of admission. I disagree, yet there is a fair group of visitors that feel that way. I tend to think those are the folks who run from attraction to attraction, with the sole purpose of checking off what they have done and to hurry and get to what is left. By doing so, you'll miss much of what Animal Kingdom is about.

"Disney's Animal Kingdom won't be for everyone. The difference will largely be in one's expectations. Come expecting "rides" and you're bound to be disappointed. That's why Disney is advertising it as "a different kind of theme park". If you come expecting to learn a bit about animals, to view them in as natural a situation as any zoo in the world, to experience a themed environment as convincing as Main Street or Hollywood Boulevard, and to be awed by the many fantastic details from the walkway design to the Tree of Life, you'll love it!" (ZaZu)

The exquisite detail that Disney is known for shines through in Disney's Animal Kingdom where landscaping and attention to details dominate the 500 acre park.

Two "Behind the Scenes Tours" are offered for you to learn more about Animal Kingdom. A special Wildlife Discovery Excursion is available to any Disney Resort Concierge Guests. Your itinerary planner can assist you with reservations.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

On the southwestern edge of the Walt Disney World Resort, Imagineers have created a nature rich and protective environment for exotic animals. Most of the barriers between the animals and you are natural looking or invisible.

Disney craftsman had the difficult task of making something brand new, look very old - with crumbling walls and roots sticking up into the walk ways. To create just the right feeling, buildings are a maximum of 30 feet tall, while many of the trees are over 40 feet tall.

The park is beautiful with wondrous vegetation, a broadway class show (Festival of the Lion King), a 20 minute journey into an African savannah (Kilimanjaro Safaris), an adventure to find the Yeti (Expedition Everest) time travel back to the Cretaceous Period (Dinosaur), and lots of exotic birds and animals to discover.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Willow safely arrived at her new home in Disney's Animal Kingdom on Tuesday, October 12, where she will join a herd of seven young Masai giraffe. This herd will eventually be released onto the kingdom's multi-acre safari ride where they will form a new breeding nucleus for the species. Willow is nearly 1-year-old and was born at the Virginia Zoo who was sad to lose her, but she was transferred from the Virginia Zoo to Disney based on the recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a national committee of experts who make recommendations for placement of specific animals to ensure high-quality genetic management for animal populations.

Disney understands what it's like to say goodbye to one of their babies. The year old twin brothers Bolo and Bruehler were transfered to the Naples Zoo, but they know the twins are already loved in their new home, just as they have opened their hearts to Willow.

 

[DisneyRockstar]

Soulja boy off in this oh
Watch me crank it
Watch me roll
Watch me crank that soulja boy
Then super man that oh
Now watch me you
(crank that soulja boy)
Now watch me you
(crank that soulja boy)
Now watch me you
(crank that soulja boy)
Now watch me you
(crank that soulja boy)

 

[AmandaSparks730]

It's your first, your fifth, or maybe you've lost count of how many trips you've made to Disney's Animal Kingdom. As you pass through the turnstiles you are immediately caught up in all the activity -- people getting strollers and lockers, grabbing maps and times guides, making quick stops at the rest room, and zeroing in on exactly how to get to that first attraction they want to see.

You obtain what you need for your day and then you focus on what's behind the huge area of lush vegetation -- where the Tree of Life, about which you've heard so much, is located -- and your footsteps quicken.

Perhaps a Cast Member, holding a see-through case containing a small animal, a spider (such as the Costa Rica Zebrane Tarantella), or a snake will get your attention; but even if you stop, it's just momentarily. Parents are just as anxious as their children to get to their first show or ride, not realizing that they are actually in the midst of the first real attraction at Animal Kingdom -- the Oasis. In fact, on a recent trip I saw a youngster, about 10 years old, stop at a viewing area. His father kept urging him to keep going, saying, "There's nothing to see there." Au contraire...

With its colorful lush vegetation, rays of sunshine filtering through the trees, and the sound of water running down rocks, the Oasis is a peaceful transition into Animal Kingdom. The winding paths intersect but also go off in their own directions, so be sure to explore this area carefully. I find this to be one of the most beautiful and peaceful areas in the park and have spent well over an hour on each of my last several visits to Animal Kingdom exploring the paths and viewing areas.

And, while I admit that on my first few visits to this park I rushed through to the Tree of Life, I've since learned how much I missed by doing so.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

A Tour of the Oasis - Part I

To begin your tour, head back to those turnstiles for a moment. As you enter the park, look straight ahead -- in front of you is the African Spoonbill. The African Spoonbill is a long-legged bird (grows up to 36") that likes to wade in shallow waters. They are not born with the full spoonbill, but rather a short beak that develops into the spoon shape with age. The African Spoonbill makes its home in Southern Africa.

Photo Tip: Morning is a good time to capture the Spoonbill. Be aware of the shadows however, as they can take away from the vibrant coloring.



At this point you can take a path on either the left or right and you'll wind past more than a dozen bird and animal viewing locations. You may be drawn to the sound of water because there are small waterfalls in the Oasis as well.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Heading left, your first encounter may be with the Military Macaw, found in Central and South America. They have olive to emerald green bodies with a red forehead, and their diet consists mainly of fruits, berries and nuts. In researching this column I found differences in opinion as to how they obtained the name "military." One source said that military personnel brought the birds over to Europe, hence the name. Another said it was because their coloring resembles military uniform from the colonial times. The field guide to Disney's Animal Kingdom explains the name is from the macaw looking like an army sergeant in olive green.

Photo Tip: Macaws are generally easy to photograph as they stay perched on a tree limb.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Next you'll see the Giant Anteater, a very solitary creature. Although often sleeping, you can sometimes see the anteater scurrying around near the back of the area under the dense green leaves. Found in Central and South America, the Giant Anteater can grow to 9 feet from head to tail. Their tongue is as long as 24 inches and can be retracted up to 160 times per minute! Though their eyesight is very bad and they have no teeth, they make up for it with their sense of smell, hearing and their clawed hands, which can open a termite mound in one swipe. Giant Anteaters have been known to eat as many as 30,000 termites in one day!

Photo Tip: The anteater is hard to photograph, as it is often mostly hidden from view. You really have to look to find the anteater, so try and wait a bit.

 

[Mrs. Chamberlain]

Guitar Dude is one of the greatest TV characters ever. FACT.
He should have a bigger role. FACT.
He's totally a stoner. FACT.

Like I said, Stoner Dude XD

Takes off glasses. Looks 4832084980213 times manlier.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

To the right of the Ibis and Spoonbill are the Patagonian Cavy as well as the Mandarin and Lesser Whistling Ducks. The Cavies are long-legged rodents native to South America. They eat a variety of grasses and herbs and can run 28 mph and leap more than 6 feet. They are active during the day and love to bask in the sun.


Photo Tip: You're likely to find the Cavy enjoying the Florida sunshine, so it is fairly easy to photograph!

The Mandarin Duck is a brilliantly colored duck, sporting a dark red beak and orange-gold wings, with small tufts of blue and chestnut. This Asian duck is monogamous and highly regarded as a symbol of marital fidelity by the Japanese and Chinese. They eat at dusk and dawn. The Lesser Whistling Duck is native to Southeast Asia and India and eats mostly water plants, insects and aquatic invertebrates. They are also known to dive underwater for food.

Photo Tip: These ducks move about quickly as they dive in and out of the water, so be sure to have a quick shutter speed (or high speed film) to capture them.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

As these two paths connect, you'll find several viewing spots along the horizontal path. One interesting creature that you'll likely encounter is the Rhinoceros Iguana, named because of the horned-like scales on its face and because the end of its snout looks like a rhino's horn. With the scales running along their back, they actually look like mini-dinosaurs! Their diet consists of insects, plants and other invertebrates. Their grey and green colors provide great camouflage in the woods. Their home is the Dominican Republic and Caribbean. You can find the Animal Kingdom pair often basking on a rock.

Photo Tip: The Rhinoceros Iguana's sedentary behavior makes them very easy to photograph!

The Bufflehead, Indian Spotbill and Rosybill Pochard ducks are in this area, too. The Bufflehead is actually the smallest diving duck in North America. You can generally tell the male from the female, as the male has a huge white patch on his cheek. The name Bufflehead is because of their large head -- they were once referred to as Buffalohead. They are found in Northwestern North America, but do migrate south in the winter. Texas is a favorite migrating spot.

Photo Tip: Males are difficult to photograph because they attract the female by showing off their diving skills, bobbing in and out of the water.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

The Indian Spotbill have orange and yellow markings on their bills. They are fairly sedentary and feed on aquatic insects, worms and vegetation. They are found, as the name implies, in India. The Rosybill Pochard is easy to identify with its red-colored bill. This color intensifies during breeding season. They are found in the swamps and marshes of South America.

As you wander from one area to the next, it's impossible to ignore the lush tropical vegetation. Disney's Animal Kingdom has plants from every continent except Antarctica and the most exotic plants and flowering trees are located in the Oasis. The careful planning and design by the Imagineers really sets the stage for your transition from "the real world" to this new species of theme park. According to a pre-opening Disney Company press release, which notes that the first tree was planted onsite in December 1995, "...the overall plant numbers are astounding: 40,000 mature trees, 16,000 of them grown right at the Walt Disney World Tree Farm, including 850 species of trees (40 species of palm trees alone). There are 2,000 species of shrubs -- 2.5 million in all -- and 260 different types of grasses. And there are enormous collections, like the third largest cycad collection in all of North America -- more than 3,000 of the ancient, fern-like plants." The plant life can be quite colorful and includes pink and red Bromeliads, yellow Burbidgea blooms, colorful Plumeria, delicate white, purple and yellow vines, and a variety of orchids. In fact, you could have quite a beautiful photo collection just of the plants.

Remember that animal and bird-watching often require patience and quiet. Stop to enjoy the fragrance of the plant life and the beauty of the species that live in Animal Kingdom's Oasis.

This is only just a fraction of what there is to see in The Oasis -- I'll revisit the area to tell you about the rest of the creatures there in a future issue of ALL EARS®, so be sure to look for it!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

With its colorful lush vegetation, rays of sunshine filtering through the trees, and the sound of water running down rocks, the Oasis is a peaceful transition into Animal Kingdom. The winding paths intersect, but also go off in their own directions, so be sure to explore this area carefully. I find this to be one of the most beautiful and peaceful areas in the park and have spent well over an hour on each of my last several visits to Animal Kingdom exploring the paths and viewing areas.

If the above sounds familiar, it's because a few weeks ago (ALL EARS®, Issue #266) I wrote about the beauty of Animal Kingdom's Oasis -- that area of the park that most folks tend to rush through, excited to see the Tree of Life and reach their first attraction. This week, I continue my exploration of the Oasis.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

A Tour of the Oasis - Part II

Did you know the Oasis had both a "pig deer" and a "barking deer?" I didn't, until recently.

On a recent visit, I found along one of the paths on the right side of the Oasis a number of animals I hadn't seen before, such as the Reeve's Muntjac. This small member of the deer family lives mainly in Eastern Asia (Taiwan and China). Their height when full-grown is around three feet and they weigh 20 to 30 pounds. They are mostly nocturnal and eat in the early morning or during the night. Their diet consists of grasses, tender leaves, and shoots. The males have antlers (the females don't) as well as a black V pattern on their forehead. The pattern on the females is a diamond shape. The unique thing about the Reeve's Muntjac is that when they are alarmed, they can emit a deep barking noise, which you might mistake for a large dog. This has given them the nickname of "barking deer."

Photo Tip: Besides being nocturnal, the Reeve's Muntjac is very timid and shy. Patience is the key to getting a photo that isn't blurry.