Malayan Flying Fox

Image: Disney

Also in Asia is the Malayan Flying Fox. If you’re wondering which animal this could be since you don’t remember ever seeing a fox in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the name can be a bit misleading. The Malayan Flying Fox is actually a bat-- the largest species of bat out there. These creatures can be found on the Maharajah Jungle Trek. And while their location is no secret as the entrance to their enclosure is clearly marked on the trail, many guests choose to skip this portion of the walk due to fears of these animals.

With wing spans of up to about 6 feet, it’s no wonder that some of us humans may find them a bit frightening. The Malayan Flying Fox however does do a lot to help the environment: In the wild, these bats actually help transfer seeds that can regrow valuable forests. They may seem a bit spooky at first glance, but they really are interesting and unique creatures that many cast members would highly recommend seeing during your walk through Asia.

Baby Animals

Image: Disney

A healthy number of animals are born in Disney’s Animal Kingdom each year, and while they do need to spend some time backstage growing up a little bit before they end up in guest areas, many of them do end up on stage while they are still babies. Like human babies however, baby animals can be unpredictable. This may be expected behavior, but for guests it means that you have a good chance of missing them.

If you’re not sure if there are any new baby animals in the park during your visit, ask the nearest cast member. Baby animals are something the whole park is proud of and most cast members would be aware of such newcomers. It may take you multiple visits to their habitats to catch them, but if you have the time to spare during your trip it can be so worth the visit.

Recovering Animals

Image: Disney

Catching Disney’s animal science team working on helping animals at Rafiki’s Planet Watch can be easier said than done. This area tends to close earlier than the rest of the park, and you cannot really predict which animals will need surgeries or check ups on any given day.

Your best chance of seeing some of the staff working on the animals is to come on a weekday in the morning or early afternoon. Many guests head towards some of the busier attractions in the park early on, which makes sense in terms of touring the park, but if you have the time to spare catching some of the veterinarians in action can be very fulfilling!