Leisure … more than a word, it's a lifestyle

Halloween Horror Nights is the premiere Halloween event annually held at the Universal Orlando theme park. Hundreds of thousands of horror fans from all over the globe look forward to this event every year and it is the largest event of its kind on the planet. The event features haunted houses, “scarezones” and live entertainment, many of which utilize Universal’s classic monsters (Wolf Man, Frankenstein), exclusive characters (Jack, The Director), and other licensed properties (Saw, Freddy, Jason).

Initially the event featured just one haunted house but as the event has grown; up to eight haunted houses have been used in conjunction with the ever popular “scarezones” which feature costumed characters, including the World famous Chainsaw Drill Team, and superb themes, costumes and makeup effects to scare people who walk from one area of the park to the next.

Halloween Horror Nights officially launched in Florida in 1991 under the name “Fright Nights.” It was renamed “Halloween Horror Nights” in 1992 and initially began as a three night event but is now a 24 night “horrible” extravaganza that has grown bigger and bigger every year.

The event was held at Universal Studios Florida from 1991 to 2001, but then moved to Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 2002. In 2004, Universal experimented with a dual-park format, which connected and utilized parts of both parks but in 2006, the event made its return to Universal Studios.

The first unofficial icon was Crypt Keeper, from the TV series Tales from the Crypt and since then some of the other icons have been Jack the Clown, The Caretaker, The Director, The Storyteller, Bloody Mary, The Usher and Fear.

2010 marks the 20th installment of the event at the Orlando park, titled “Twenty Years of Fear”, and features the embodiment of Fear itself as the event’s icon.

It’s a lot of fun so why not take yourself along for a day at Universal Studios Florida® theme park this September / October and watch as the park is transformed by day into Halloween Horror Nights at night and see why this is event is always crowned “The Best Haunted Attraction.” There are many ways to enjoy the event, with Frequent Fear Passes for non-peak nights and also VIP Unmasking the Horror tours as well. Our concierge department will be only too happy to help you decide how to enjoy the maximum amount of fear.

September is a busy month in Central Florida with lots of events happening. Here’s the highlights:

First off is Orlando Magical Dining month that runs from 1st to 30th September. I covered this event in a blog last week here. Over at the theme parks “Halloween” seems to be the thing on everyone’s mind even though the day itself isn’t until 31st October.

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Night of Joy

September 10 – 11, 2010: One of the top contemporary Christian music events in the country, the Night of Joy now at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will feature some of the best Gospel Music singers.

DISNEY’S MAGIC KINGDOM

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

September 14 – November 1, 2010:  Disney characters are decked out in their Halloween finest, and guests are invited to do the same on 23 evenings when Magic Kingdom hosts this popular after-hours event. September 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30, October 1, 3, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, November 1, 2010.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

Rock the Universe
September 10-11, 2010: Chart-topping Christian music stars from across the nation highlight the annual concert.

Halloween Horror Nights
September 24, 25, 30, October 1-3, 7-10,1 4-17, 20-24, 27-31, 2010:  Possibly the world’s most elaborate Halloween celebration with specially designed haunted houses, inescapable scare zones and hundreds of street performers.

Elsewhere, there’s a lot to choose from:

• September 02, 2010
  1st Thursday’s
  Themed happy hour on the first Thursday of each month at the Orlando Museum of Art from 6pm – 9pm.
  For more info: 407-896-4231
  Admission charge.
• September 03, 2010
  Date Night at Leu Gardens
  Bring a picnic basket and a blanket to enjoy a movie under the stars at beautiful Leu Gardens.
  More info: 407-246-2620
  Admission charge: $7 for adults, $2 for children
• September 03, 2010
  Friday Night Live
  Friday nights at Uptown Altamonte, from 7 – 9 pm enjoy outdoor entertainment in a beautiful setting. Local artists perform Jazz, Pop, Big Band and Contemporary music weekly.
  More info: 407-571-8180
  Free admission
• September 04, 2010
  Jazzed in Sanford
  Monthly Jazz Concert series held the first Saturday of the month in Magnolia Square, downtown Sanford from 4 – 7pm.
  More info: 407-688-5004
  Free admission
• September 05, 2010
  “Music at the Casa”
  Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum in Winter Park, open house and live music on Sundays from 12 – 3pm.
  More info: 407-628-8200.

• September 06, 2010
  Storytelling at Leu Gardens
  Stories at 3 times for different aged children on the first Monday of the month.
  More info: 407-246-2620
  Free admission
• September 09, 2010
  Popcorn Flicks in the Park
  Each month the Enzian Theater features free movies on the second Thursday of the month at Central Park.
  More info: 407-629-1088
  Free admission
• September 09, 2010
  Alive After Five
  The second Thursday of each month, enjoy themed entertainment and activities.
  For more info: 407-302-2586.
  Admission charge
• September 10, 2010
  Movie in the Park
  On the second Friday of the month, the city of Mount Dora presents a free outdoor movie at Donnelly Park on the corner of Donnelly Street & 5th Avenue.
  More info: 352-735-7183
  Free admission
• September 10, 2010
  Friday Night Live
  Friday nights at Uptown Altamonte, from 7 – 9 pm enjoy outdoor entertainment in a beautiful setting. Local artists perform Jazz, Pop, Big Band and Contemporary music weekly.
  More info: 407-571-8180
  Free admission
• September 10 – 11, 2010
  Night of Joy
  Listen to some of today’s most powerful voices in Contemporary Christian music at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
  Admission charge
• September 10 – 11, 2010
  Rock the Universe
  Excitement and inspiration for music fans as Universal Studios showcases the best Christian rock performers.
  Admission charge
• September 10 – 12, 2010
  Orlando Home & Garden Show
  Hundreds of vendors will be on hand at the Orange County Convention Center during this annual show. There will be plenty of remodeling ideas for your home.
  Admission charge.
• September 11, 2010
  Cranes Roost Sunset Cinema
  Bring your blankets and chairs and enjoy a family friendly movie on the lawn in front of the tower. Bring the entire family for a fun, free evening together under the stars. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Sorry, no pets are allowed in the Plaza area.
  More info: 407-571-8180
  Free admission
• September 12, 2010
  “Music at the Casa”
  Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum in Winter Park, open house and live music on Sundays from 12 – 3pm.
  More info: 407-628-8200.
• Free admission
• September 17, 2010
  Friday Night Live
  Friday nights at Uptown Altamonte, from 7 – 9 pm enjoy outdoor entertainment in a beautiful setting. Local artists perform Jazz, Pop, Big Band and Contemporary music weekly.
  More info: 407-571-8180
  Free admission
• September 18, 2010
  Children’s Expo
  Orlando’s annual expo for parents and kids sponsored by Winn-Dixie with FREE ADMISSION! Featuring exhibits, entertainment, parent seminars, children’s safety information, face painting, games, child safety ID cards, car seat check stations, bicycle helmet fitting, character visits, book readings, bounce house, special offers and free product samples! Attendees can save 50% on parking by pre-registering.
  More info: 407-889-8902
  Free admission, parking charge
• September 18, 2010
  Jazz Jams Uptown
  The City of Altamonte Springs and WLOQ Smooth Jazz 103.1 present a jazz concert series at the Eddie Rose Amphitheater from 7pm – to 10pm at Uptown Altamonte.
  More info: 407-571-8180
  Free admission
• September 18, 2010
  Cinema in the Park
  Family movies on the third Friday of each month at 9th Street and Park Avenue in Sanford. Bring the family and a blanket or chairs for the 7:00pm showing of this month’s movie.
  More info: 407-688-5004
  Free admission
• September 18, 2010
  Celebration Art and Wine Stroll
  The streets of Downtown Celebration will transform into 60+ art galleries on one special night between 6:30 and 10pm.
  More info: 407-566-4007
  Free admission
• September 18 – 19, 2010
  Jazz at the Winery
  Lakeridge Winery has live jazz, food and of course wine at this annual event.
  More info: 1-800-768-WINE.
  Admission charge of $2.00.
• September 19, 2010
  Music at the Casa
  Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum in Winter Park, open house and live music on Sundays from 12 – 3pm.
  More info: 407-628-8200.
  Free admission

• September 21 – 26, 2010
  Global Peace Film Festival
  Celebrate the art of film and its power to promote new understanding. Held in conjunction with the UN’s International Day of Peace, the festival promotes the art of motion picture to further the goal of peace on earth, beyond anti-war, ideology and activism. Events will take place at Gallery at Avalon Island, Rollins College, Winter Park Public Library and the Orlando Science Center and will include film programs, panels, parties and a special concert.
  More info: 407-224-6625.
  Admission charge
• September 24 – 26, 2010
  New Smyrna Beach JAZZ Festival
  Music fills the air along the seaside streets during this annual Jazz Festival. Various performance venues along Flagler Avenue.
  More info: 386-423-9760
  Free admission
• September 24, 2010
  Friday Night Live
  Friday nights at Uptown Altamonte, from 7 – 9 pm enjoy outdoor entertainment in a beautiful setting. Local artists perform Jazz, Pop, Big Band and Contemporary music weekly.
  More info: 407-571-8180
  Free admission
• September 25, 2010
  Museum Day
  Free admission to Orlando area museums including:
  > Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens in Winter Park
  > Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales
  > Gillespie Museum of Minerals at Stetson University in Deland
  > Maitland Historical Museum and Telephone Museum in Maitland
  > Mennello Museum of American Art in Orlando
  > Mount Dora History Museum in Mount Dora
  > Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando
  > Waterhouse Residence Museum in Maitland
• September 25 – October 3, 2010
  Fashion Week at The Mall at Millenia
  Preview spring 2011’s hottest fashion trends with a week-long series of in-store events, such as trunk shows and in store specials.
  More info: 407-363-3555
  Free admission
• September 26, 2010
  “Music at the Casa”
  Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum in Winter Park, open house and live music on Sundays from 12 – 3pm.
  More info: 407-628-8200.
  Free admission
• September 30, 2010
  Velvet Sessions
  Rock & Roll Happy Hour held the last Thursday of the month.
  Admission charge

It’s that time of year again. Central Florida schools will be back in session starting tomorrow, 23rd August and there’s a good side and a bad side to this.

If you’re dashing off to a theme park them you might get delayed a little by the yellow school buses that will be sure to be clogging the highways. On the other hand, the theme parks will be quieter.

It’s this time of year that international visitors love the most. Orlando’s kids are back in school and that means anyone flying in from around the globe to enjoy Central Florida’s attractions are going to have an easier time. Lines will less and getting around the theme parks is so much nicer. It’s certainly a great time to visit Orlando’s newest attraction “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” for example but you can also expect fewer people at all the area’s favorites; Disney World, Sea World, Gatorland, Discovery Cove, etc.

Yesterday Walt Disney World announced that they saw slight declines in park attendance over the past few months. Theme park attendance at the company’s domestic parks fell 3 percent overall in the three months ending on July 3, the Walt Disney Company said as it announced third quarter financial results. Walt Disney World attendance dropped 2 percent while Disneyland saw a 4 percent decrease in visitors.

Disney said the fall in park attendance was in part due to a shift in timing of the Easter holiday in relation to the company’s financial reporting periods. Disney estimated that park attendance only fell one percent from year-to-year after the holiday period is taken into account.Park guests did spend 5 percent more in Q3, which the company attributed to higher average ticket prices.Revenue from Disney’s parks and resorts increased 3 percent to $2.8 billion in the quarter, while operating income decreased 8 percent to $477 million.

Over the past few months, Disney has attempted to scale back promotional offers for theme park visitors, a strategy the company reiterated during Tuesday’s earnings conference call. Jay Rasulo, Disney’s chief financial officer, said the company expected to see fewer visitors as discounts were scaled back.In May, Rasulo pointed to more guest spending in exchange for lower attendance.

In the second quarter, Disney said occupancy rates at the company’s hotels fell 8 percent, but both guest and room spending increased by the same amount. Rasulo said the company expected to be back at “normalized” pricing by 2011.One year ago, Disney reported that occupancy at its Orlando hotels was 91 percent, which it attributed in part to promotional discounts. In the past two quarters, occupancy has been 81 percent.Walt Disney World saw a slight increase in hotel occupancy in the most recent three months, to 83 percent.

Overall, Disney’s revenue grew 16 percent from last year to $10 billion.Disney credited its success in large part to the success of film releases “Toy Story 3”, “Iron Man 2” and “Alice in Wonderland”. Studio entertainment revenue grew 30 percent from year-to-year in the third quarter.Disney’s largest segment of growth was interactive media, which grew 74 percent from a year ago.

So, now would appear to be the right time to make a trip to Orlando and Disney World. The parks will be more enjoyable as lines are less and Disney are still offering some promotional offers. There hotel figures are interesting and maybe it’s a sign that people don’t want to stay at overpriced hotels, no matter how convenient, when there’s a better option just 5 to 10 minutes from the parks in the form of a vacation home?

One of the best ways to cool off this Summer is to visit a water park. Here in Orlando we are a little spoilt for choice.  There’s Wet ‘n’ Wild on International Drive, Sea World’s Aquatica and then the two Disney water parks of Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.

Today we’ll explore the very popular 56 acre Typhoon Lagoon with its twisting tides, roaring rapids, wonderful waterways and relaxing rivers. As you enter Typhoon Lagoon you walk up a short hilly path past an old beach patrol ‘woody’ station wagon and some live macaws. As you reach the top you’ll see Placid Palms Resort with its storm damaged thatched roof buildings. Leading from here are palm lined pathways that meander off to the left and the right.

It’s now your choice as if you take the path to the right you’ll pass Singapore Sal’s Beachwear Gifts and Sundries where the whole front wall appears to have blown away. Near here is the High ‘N Dry Towel and Locker hut and a small wooden footbridge that leads to Castaway Creek.

The water all over the park is heated to 75 to 80 degrees and on hot days it feels fabulous…but be warned, on cooler days, it can feel a little chilly!

The centerpiece of Typhoon Lagoon is the Surf Pool and it’s here you can have a lot of fun just bobbing up and down as the waves crash into you. Be warned, some of the waves can reach 6 feet tall and can be powerful! As you look up you’ll see Mt. Mayday and stranded on the mountain’s summit is Miss Tilly, one of the shrimp boats that was caught in a storm out of Safen Sound, FL. Streams flow down the mountain and from time to time a 50 foot geyser of water erupts from Miss Tilly’s smokestack as the foghorn from the boat sounds at the same time.

The beach at Typhoon Lagoon literally surrounds the lagoon on three sides and it’s a wonderful area to grab a chair and relax for a while before running off to the next thing to do. On the left side of Mt. Mayday you will find three raft rides, Keelhaul Falls ( tube ride), Gang Plank Falls (family raft ride) and Mayday Falls (the wildest tube ride!)

On the right side of Mt. Mayday you’ll find the body slides. Humunga-Kowabunga is the first and it has three triple slides that drop you 50 feet at roughly 30 mph! Next up are the three Storm slides which wind their way back down the mountain.

Crush ‘N’ Gusher is a white knuckle roller coaster type of tube ride and it has a choice of three different routes… Banana Blaster, Coconut Crusher and Pineapple Plunger and you twist and turn through tunnels and spillways before plunging into Hideaway Bay.

On the more gentle side is Shark Reef…seriously, here’s where you get to swim with real sharks! You probably won’t be allowed too much time in the water in this area but don’t worry too much as the sharks are small and usually harmless.

I jest.  I am told the sharks really are harmless and the real reason you won’t be allowed much time in the water is not because they’ll bite you, it’s just the fact the snorkeling experience is usually very popular! It can also be pretty chilly as well  because as you enter the water you’ll notice that it’s actually much cooler salt water that you’re entering rather than the warmer water located elsewhere around the park.

Finally, there’s a really cool kids area called Ketchakiddee Creek. It’s located on the far left side of the park and provides wading pools, bubbling fountains, mini slides and raft rides for the little ones. Remember that children under 10 should be accompanied at all times by an adult and if you have kids of diaper age, they are required to wear snug-fitting rubber pants over their diapers or special swimming diapers.

Excited? Want to go? Watch this short video as Rebecca, the Florida Leisure concierge, takes you on a trip to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon…

July was one of the warmest months on record in the Central Florida area but it seems the weather has now done a complete turn around. Cooler temperatures and overcast days seem to be in our upcoming forecast this week and it seems we are going to get a lot of rain in the next few days. With that in mind, I thought I’d put together a list of some of the things you can do during the wet weather.

1. Visit A Museum

Museums are educational as well as fun! The Orlando Science Center and the Orange County History Center have lots of activities to occupy all the family for the day. On the cultural side you can visit the Orlando Museum of Art which has a nice selection of American Portraits and Landscapes.

2. Go to the Movies!

Your vacation home is a great place to while away the rainy hours with it’s games room, large screen TV, internet access and other fantastic amenities but sometimes you just want to get out and about. A visit to a local movie theater to catch the latest flick is a great way to spend some time. Downtown Disney, The Loop and the I-Max theater at Point Orlando are all great places to enjoy a movie and have some fun.

3. Wander the Malls.

When its raining is a great time to visit the Malls. Mall of Millennia, Florida Mall, Orlando Premium Outlets and many of the other malls are always an enjoyable place to visit and get that shopping bug out of the system. Orlando has some great shopping and dining places..go out and explore them!

4. Visit the ‘Distraction Attractions’

Sounds odd but the ‘distraction attractions’ are a great place to visit when the bad weather arrives and when wandering the main parks is no longer any fun. Places like the Titanic Exhibition, Orlando Science Museum and Wonder Works all have interactive exhibits that will amuse you for hours.

5. Visit the Library

The Hart Memorial Library at 211 Dakin Avenue, Kissimmee or the West Osceola Library at 6070 W Irlo Bronson Highway, Kissimmee are two great places to visit to find some great reading material. You can surf the web, browse through magazines and newspapers or  simply hang around and enjoy a great book.

6. Disney Quest

DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive theme park is a one-of-a-kind gaming experience in the Downtown Disney area. Discover 5 floors of cutting-edge technology, virtual reality and 3D encounters fueled by Disney innovation and imagination.

Don’t miss Pirates of the Caribbean, Virtual Jungle Cruise, CyberSpace Mountain, Buzz Lightyear’s Astroblasters, Animation Academy and much more!

7. Visit the Theme Parks

Lots of folks take a look at the weather and decide to visit the theme parks on another day. However, visiting the theme parks when it’s raining can be fun and it almost always means the lines will be shorter. Remember, most attractions and shows are indoors or in covered pavilions…it’s only getting to them that may cause you to get a little wet. So break out the poncho or the umbrella and go for it!

Disney & Universal Orlando have both announced their theme park ticket prices are rising a few dollars. Disney announced their price increase first and two days later Universal followed suit. A one day, one park ticket has now gone from $79 to $82, a 3.8 percent raise.

Annual ticket price increases have been a normal occurrence for all the theme parks in Central Florida during the last several years. Traditionally Disney is usually the first to announce increases and they are then followed by Universal and SeaWorld, although both claim their ticket increases aren’t tied to what Disney does. Yeah right!

When asked the reason for increased gate prices, Disney gives the same answer each time, “We continuously monitor the marketplace to ensure pricing that reflects a strong entertainment value.” They also say that nearly 9 out of 10 guests rate the value of the Disney parks as good, very good, or excellent.

Theme parks generally also raise their rates this time of year to ensure next year’s guidebooks and travel companies have the correct information.

Here’s a breakdown of the Disney price increases:
One day: $79 to $82
Two day: $156 to $162
Three day: $219 to $224
Four day: $225 to $232
Five day: $228 to $237
Six day: $231 to $242
Seven day: $234 to $247
Park hopper option: $52 to $54
Premium Annual Pass: $619 to $629
Regular Annual Pass: $489 to $499
Premium Annual Pass, Florida resident: $489 to $499
Regular Annual Pass, Florida resident: $369 to $379
Seasonal Annual Pass, Florida resident: $249 to $259

Universal Orlando announced most of their ticket prices are also going up today, Aug. 7, 2010. A one day, one park ticket is going from $79 to $82, the same as at Disney.

Similar to what a Disney spokesperson said, Universal spokesman Tom Schroder was quoted in the Orlando Sentinel saying 94 percent of their guests tell them they deliver good to excellent value for their dollar.

Here’s a breakdown of Universal’s price increases:
One Park Tickets
One day: $79 to $82
Two day: $119.99 to $124.99
Three day: $134.99 to $139.99
Four day: $144.99 to $149.99

Park to Park Tickets
1-day: $109 to $112
2-day: $149.99 (unchanged)
3-day: $149.99 to $154.99
4-day: $154.99 to $159.99

Annual Pass ticket prices stayed the same. These are at the gate ticket prices. Universal offers special deals for most tickets if you order online. All of the major theme parks in Central Florida also offer special deals to Florida residents.

The question is, how long can the annual increases continue before attendance significantly drops? At this rate it won’t be too much longer before guests are asked to pay more than $100 per day for a day of fun.

Good news for fans of The Main Street Electrical Parade at Magic Kingdom.  In early June, as part of Disney’s Summer Nightastic, The Main Street Electric Parade resumed. It was supposed to end on Aug. 14 with the Spectromagic nighttime parade’s returning but the Electrical Parade has been so popular with guests, that it’s now had its run extended at the Magic Kingdom.

While no  end date has been announced for the Electrical Parade  all the other elements of Summer Nightastic — Summer Nightastic Fireworks Spectacular, Tower of Terror Re-Imagined and the Rock ‘N’ Glow Dance Party are still due to end on August 14.

I sent my eldest daughter, Rebecca,  out to take a look at some of the going’s on at the theme parks just recently and she reported back to say that most parks still seem to have a lot of people in them. So much for the economic downturn.

It’s interesting that years ago in economic depressions we used to have food stamps and lines after lines just to get the basic necessities yet today the lines we see are for I-pads! At the end of the day, money is important but so is living life to the fullest and that seems to be the major mind shift I see . In the past people would scrimp and save to be able to afford a vacation whereas today, folks seem entitled to one and often run up their credit cards to do so. It worries me and I want to help do something about it… and you can help me by suggesting some things we can do at Florida Leisure to make sure you still enjoy your vacation but you don’t put yourself in economic jeopardy. Just leave a comment after this blog post with your ideas.

Back to Animal Kingdom. if you haven’t been then you are missing a treat. The park opened on 22 April 1998 and is actually the largest Disney theme park in the world coming in at around 500 acres. The park is themed around animal conservation and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. If you don’t know, it means they have met and exceeded the standards in education, conservation and research.

The Tree of Life is the center piece of the park and everything leads from that. The tree is 14 stories high at 145ft tall and 50 feet wide and the park is made up of seven themed areas; Oasis, Discovery Island, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia and DinoLand USA.

To enter the park you go through Oasis and it’s here you’ll encounter spoonbills, ducks, muntjacs, wallabies and giant anteaters. The Rainforest Cafe is also located near the entrance but be careful if you decide to eat here because you’ll need to present your ticket again to go back into the park.

Discovery Island is located at the center of the park  and it’s here you’ll find the Tree of Life. The parks biggest gift shops and largest restaurants are located here and each has a different design theme. Also at Discovery Island is “It’s Tough To Be A Bug!” , a comical 4-D film featuring appearances by Flik and Hopper from “A Bug’s Life”.

Camp Mickey is a themed rustic summer camp and it’s here you can meet Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy and many others. The live stage show “Festival of the Lion King” is also located here.

Africa is my favorite area of the park. It is set in the fictional east African village of Harambe and this is where you’ll find some of the fabulous animal exhibits. The village is the namesake of the Harambe Wildlife Preserve which is the fictional home of Africa’s main attraction, Kilimanjaro Safaris and you’ll get a fabulous tour of that by clicking on the video down below. On the Kilimanjaro Safari you climb aboard an open sided safari vehicle and you set out on expedition to see numerous African animals as they freely roam through acres of savanna, rivers and rocky hills. You’ll see giraffes, hippos, African elephants and lions. Once you’ve done the safari you can then explore the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail and trek into the forest in search of gorillas. It’s really quite amazing.

Rafiki’s Planet Watch is actually the one section of the park that isn’t connected to Discovery Island. It is instead connected to Africa and it’s here that you can board the Wildlife Express Train to visit Habitat Habit, Conservation Station and Affection Section. All great areas to learn more about efforts to protect endangered primates, conservation efforts supported by the Walt Disney Company and animal care facilities.

Asia is home to Maharajah Jungle Trek, where you can visit Komodo dragons, fruit bats, tapirs and tigers. It is also home to the Kali River Rapids and you will get soaked if you venture onto this fabulous ride. Expedition Everest is also located here and its a nerve wracking roller coaster ride through the Himalayas.

DinoLand USA is the place to learn more about dinosaurs and it is also home to “Finding Nemo – The Musical” that is located in the “Theater in the Wild” as well as DINOSAUR, a thrill ride taking you back through time to the late Cretaceous period. There’s also a great playground for the kids called Boneyard.

All in all, Animal Kingdom is a great place to visit and to enjoy. It has a lot of fun stuff but it’s also an educational experience and you can’t help but marvel at all this planet really has to offer when you stop to think about it.  Enjoy the video: