Howdy! Today was a busy day in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and in Disney Springs. I spotted tons of exotic animal friends, and there were a ton of new Disney open-edition pins released featuring some of our favorite pirates and villains.
Good Morning from Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Good morning from Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The Spring Break crowds are here, but it seems like most spring breakers are sleeping in for park opening because it isn’t until mid-morning that the parks get wild. However, Animal Kingdom is one of the better parks for crowds anyway because everyone rushes to Pandora for Avatar Flight of Passage.
Villain Pins – $14.99 each
In Discovery Trading Company I found a bunch of new Disney Villain pins featuring their loyal sidekicks. There were plenty of others featuring Maleficent, Captain Hook, and Dr. Facilier. My favorite from this new collection is Chernabog from ‘Fantasia’.
Let me know which one is your favorite in the comments below. The Headless Horseman is pretty cool too. Neither Chernabog nor Headless Horseman are featured on a lot of merchandise.
Tough to Be a Bug Progress
This morning I noticed that all the directional signs for the now closed It’s Tough to Be a Bug attraction have been removed. There is no coming back from the extermination of this experience. However, I am looking forward to seeing how the new Zootopia attraction comes zoogether together.
Let me know in the comments below if you were traumatized by It’s Tough to Be a Bug as a child, because I definitely was.
Rob Kaz Art Now in Island Mercantile
Rob Kaz, a very accomplished artist, now has prints and paintings available for purchase in Island Mercantile. I love the style of Rob Kaz, and the sweet animals he paints. I love that every animal work he does is so pure and adorably portrayed.
Tree of Life Friends
The Abdim’s Storks and the Cotton-Top Tamarins are all doing very well. Everyone was super active this morning which is always fun as a guest. I love watching the tamarins jump around each other to get treats. I also love when they just stop and watch the guests like, “who are you looking at?”
Photo Shoot with Local Wildlife
The squirrel I ran into next was ready for his photoshoot. This tiny brown squirrel literally stopped and posed in three different positions before I finally walked away to let the fluff enjoy breakfast.
My next friend is a rabbit who lives near the base of the Tree of Life. The little rabbit has grown so quickly. I remember when he was about half this size if it is the same one of course. This is the most chill wild rabbit I have ever encountered. The only time the little guy gets spooked is when kids run up to him.
Giant Galapagos Tortoise
The Giant Galapagos Tortoises are very cool, and a perfect baby step into your animal discoveries. What I like to do is watch how distinctly they move with little waisted energy. Slow and steady wins the race as to story goes.
Gorilla Falls
The animals in Gorilla Falls were much perkier in this 70-degree weather than they were when it was in the 50’s. The Meerkats stole my heart again this week. They have such big personalities. I love the small nod to Dr. William Conway in the Gorilla exhibit. Dr. Conway was the President of the Wildlife Conservation Society for over forty years. He only passed away in 2021 at 91 years old.
Maharajah Jungle Trek
On the Maharajah Jungle Trek, I saw lots of familiar faces. I related most to the Monkey, that face says it all. I am still not a morning person. Bakso, the baby tiger, is now fifty pounds, they grow up so fast. I loved watching him and his mom wrestle and even run around the exhibit. He really has gotten so comfortable out in public without much trouble at all.
I would like to grow up to be an animal in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Bakso’s dad has it made with a nap in the shade.
Dinoland Deconstruction
I noticed that the back wall of Dinoland is now being removed and maybe even expanding out. The crews were actively working this morning moving more concrete. It almost looks like a crater in the center of what was once Dino-Rama. As always be sure to stay tuned to our website for more in-depth updates.
Ciao Cha! Cha!
I’m always tempted to stop into Rainforest Cafe, especially because Cha! Cha!, the treefrog, is everywhere in the Animal Kingdom location. Call it the nineties kid in me, but I love the animatronics, Tracy Tree, and all the Rainforest lore.
Ever After Style Tip
In the early afternoon, I made my way to Disney Springs. Not that I needed an excuse to buy more Create Your Own Headband characters, but the Cast styled their mannequins with the character accessories on shoes. Oh my gosh! Why didn’t I think of that? Other than the rogue rainstorm this is an absolutely adorable look.
Pin Traders
Pin Traders remains one of my favorite shops in Disney World property, and huge and perhaps the only reason for that is the character statues. There is something very nostalgic for the campy side of Disney.
Pirate Pins
In Pin Traders I found a new pirate pin collection featuring some fan-favorite faces.
- Always Bet on Redd Pin – $14.99
- All That Glitters Be Not Gold Fold Out Pin – $22.99
- Skeleton Captain Pin – $12.99
- No Sudden Moves Pin – $14.99
- Shiver Me Feathers Peg Leg Pete Pin – $12.99
- Friends Swine & Good Times Pin – $12.99
I had to get the Barker Bird, Peg Leg Pete, pin, but the Swine pin was a close second. Disney did a great job with this new collection. Let me know if you have a favorite in the comments below.
I hope you enjoyed our brief day through Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs. I adore the animals but was most excited by the standard brown squirrel posing then immediately the rabbit did the same thing around the corner. Let me know if you have a favorite animal or pin from today’s adventure in the comments below.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.