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Disney's Animal Kingdom

A combination of a zoo and a theme park, Disney's Animal Kingdom is enormous. Disney's own website claims that the park covers either 500 acres or 403 acres. More than 4 million trees, plants, shrubs, vines, grasses and more from every contintent on Earth (except Antarctica) were planted during the construction of the park.

Before:

The iconic Tree of Life was topped with more than 103,000 leaves, each of which was individually placed on 8,692 branches. It took 10 artists and three Imagineers around 18 months to create the 325 animals carved into the tree. The sculptors had around 6-10 hours to produce the final image before the plaster hardened.

Tree of Life construction

 

Disney's Animal Kingdom construction (1)

 

Disney's Animal Kingdom construction (2)

 

Dino Institute construction

 

Theater in the Wild construction

 

After:

Tree of Life

Kilimanjaro Safaris

Dinosaur

Expedition Everest:

Dominating the Asia area of the park, Expedition Everest was opened in 2006. Designed to fill a thrill ride-shaped hole in Disney's Animal Kingdom's line-up, it has proven to be immensely popular.

The Forbidden Mountain was created using 5,000 tons of structural steel and 10,000 tons of concrete. A rigid steel structure holds the mountain in place. More than 2,000 gallons of stain and paint were used on the mountain's rockwork and the buildings in the village.

To recreate the lowlands surrounding Mount Everest, more than 900 bamboo plants, 10 species of trees and 110 species of shrubs were planted.

Before:

Expedition Everest construction (1)

 

Expedition Everest construction (4)

 

After:

Expedition Everest (5)

 

Blizzard Beach:

The 60-acre Disney's Blizzard Beach water park opened in 1995, with the enormous Mt. Gushmore at its heart.

Before:

Blizzard Beach construction

 

Blizzard Beach construction (2)

 

After:

Blizzard Beach

 
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Comments

I believe the third photo under Spaceship Earth is actually World of Motion.

I believe you're right. Removed for now.

In reply to by Visitor (not verified)

It isn't. It definitely is Space Mountain. Just look at the foreground, and you'll see Cinderella Castle. You wouldn't see the castle at Epcot.

wow what a great write up that was and to see some old pics of then and now love it

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