Walkabout The World - A Disney Podcast - A Walkabout Through Asia In Disney's Animal Kingdom

Episode Date: February 4, 2024

Hello Travelers! Join host Jeremy this week for a tour of the Asia area of Disney's Animal Kingdom! We start in Serka Zong near Expedition Everest, and work our way back through Anandapur, briefly through Harambe, and ending up in Discovery Island for our sign off. We end the day with a little bit of the set from Via Gaia! You also get to be enterained as host Jeremy forgets what the KiteTails show was called, and describes the kites as 'balloons'....twice. As an extra bonus, enjoy an intro by one of our wonderful patrons, Eric Steinhauer - thanks Eric.   As always, use good listening devices as we always record in 4 channel surround sound. We hope you enjoy the episode and thanks so much for following along!   If you like what we do, consider joining our crew on Patreon. These wonderful people help us keep the microphones crisp and the servers warm at night.   Visit us a walkabouttheworld.com - find links to all the things - attraction episodes, Insta accounts of all the hosts, and even how to buy your own Walkabout shirt!   Look us up at @WalkaboutWDW on Instagram and drop us a note to say hi.   You can now also drop us at line at [e-mail]. Say hi, tell us how you found us, and give us some suggestions on things you'd love to hear. Please consider giving us a rating and review wherever you listen - it really helps.   Walkabout The World is a weekly Disney podcast, always recorded on property at Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort with the simple goal of making you feel like you are in the middle of the magic.

Hello travelers, this is Eric from New Hampshire live from Animal Kingdom and you are listening to the best podcast in the world. Hope you enjoy. I listen to this all the time at home when I'm, you know, when I can't be in the parks and I'm working and probably shouldn't be listening to a podcast, but enjoy. Now unfortunately. Okay, this will be a little shorter. It's okay. Ready? Let's go. This is Eric in Animal Kingdom. And you're listening to the most beautiful podcast in the world. Hey, hello there.

Greetings, salutations, and welcome back to Walk About the World from Disney's Animalian Kingdom, the hairiest place on Earth. You know where we are. And right now you're thinking to yourself, ah, it's Jeremy, he's going to start in Discovery Island, but I tricked you.

I decided to start this time over in Circazong, right next to Expedition Everest. Right now, listening to the screams of our fellow travelers. They're having a fabulous time, I'm sure. And right outside of the Circazong Bazaar, which is the gift shop here. And today I thought we would make a trek through Asia, but kind of start within Asia and work our way back towards Discovery Island slowly. It is a bustling and blustery day here at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

I'm sure that's the sound of joy. Anyway, how are you? I know, you can't answer. But I hope you're well. Thanks for joining us this week. And if you are new to our Happy Little Band, this is what we do. We take a walkabout in the Disney parks every this week. And if you are new to our happy little band, this is what we do.

We take a walkabout in the Disney parks every single week, either in Walt Disney World or on the other coast at Disneyland. We have coast-to-coast host coverage. I just rolled off the tongue just now. But this is what we do. Let's take a stroll through Asia, shall we?

So we're currently heading back towards Anandapur, slowly. And we're passing by the Expedition Everest entrance. Standby is 50 minutes. Oh, I'm sorry, little one. Already having a bad day. Himalayan Escapes welcomes Expedition Everest. Facing the Thirsty River Bar and Trek Snacks directly ahead. It's called, is it called something on the other side? I'm not sure. We're gonna find out. I think it is.

It's thirsty river bar on this side. So many details that I've been here forever, well it seems like forever, and things that I don't even notice. here at the entrance to Everest the little signpost that measures how high you are there's a big wooden Yeti footprint thing Thirsty River Bar on our right. To the left is where used to be the viewing area for Rivers of Light. Take a peek out here real quick. Also, please do not try to sleep here. Be advised by order of interior ministry.

Oh, we know who this is it's the drum flotilla This is a beautiful view of the Discovery River Lagoon area out here right now. Lovely. Beautiful crimson and orange lotus. I think it's a lotus painted on this door here that leads into that viewing area. To our left here is a set of three prayer wheels with a sign that says,

Please respect the prayer wheels. And we sure will. This vista from where we are looking back towards Everest is one of my all-time favorites. You have the prayer flags hanging in between the trees and framed in the middle

is the Forbidden Mountain itself. I just love this. I have a piece of art on my desk by our producer Josh of this little vista and I look at it every day I don't know what I was thinking. It's a thirst river bar on both sides. But you do have an area of it over here where it's just snacky treats and stuff.

Hot dogs, blueberry muffin, Mickey bars, pretzels. On the other side is the other little window is the bar. Signs here for Snowman Treks. Yeah T. Y-E-T-E-A. Coming up on our favorite, to the right, the Mandipore Ice Cream Truck. It is indeed open today, even though the weather is... Actually, I think it's up to you.

I have a t-shirt and shorts, and I'm seeing full coats, parkas, and gloves, so just you pick. Whatever makes you comfortable. But the ice cream truck is open i can get the yeti sundae soft serve waffle cone a float beautiful truck blue festooned with all kinds of art Now looking from where we are now, so right across from the Shangri-La, Trekkers Inn, and Internet Cafe in Gupta's gear, looking back towards the Discovery River, we see Anandapur Adventure Touring.

Paragliding from Himalayas. Beauty Lake Kayaking. Now this was the launch area for the balloons. And I'm in a brain fog today, and so my mind has already deleted what that show was called. What was that? I know, you're yelling right now. But whatever that was, this is the area where they would launch the balloons that would eventually come crashing down into the seats. I think that's long gone. No more. But the dock area is still there, and it's wonderfully themed. Booking office, lakeside. It's got a telephone number.

Tons of kayaks down there to rent. A little shack at the end of the dock says, do fishing treks. I would like to go on a fishing trek out there. Gupta's gear to your right. Backpacks, books, oxygen tanks, you know, all that good stuff. Here's the Anandapur Blue Wall, just like Batuu has a blue wall. Anandapur does too. If you look to your right, when you pass Gupta's Gear,

it's the very next building, it's the Yeti Palace Hotel, perpetually opening next season, but has a white cream tan top with a stripe of weathered blue below. Perfect for picture taking. And one thing I've noticed, if you are a long time Animal Kingdom Park traveler, you will have noticed that right near Gupta's Gear is some of the absolute best Asia park ambience that you can possibly get. And that's either now completely gone or playing so softly that you can't even notice it. Food cart.

All right. Now, ah, can you hear them? All right, now. Ah, can you hear them? Let's take a right over here towards Colley River Rapids and hear what we can hear. The Gibbons vocalizing today. They come out to vocalize. Love to hear them. Kali River entrance to your right.

Ahead of us is the outdoor dining area for the Yak and Yeti walk up. Go for it, guys. Check him out! Here we are at the entrance to the Anandapur Royal Forest in the Maharaja Jungle Trek Monkeys, tigers, dragons please enjoy the Anandapur Royal Forest in the Maharaja Jungle Trek. Monkeys, tigers, dragons, please enjoy this walking tour of the old royal forest. Let's take in just a bit of the old Maharaja Jungle Trek. Here we go. Ah. Deep breath in. Out through the mouth. Falls and river flowing by the Komodo Dragon exhibit. Just lots of size back here

This area has just Grown into its own Didn't mean to rhyme there but but just verdant and green and tropical. Loads of stands of tall bamboos, and it's peaceful. Love it. We're coming up on the bat house, which is also Atavica Station number 12. Right before you enter the door, there's a very small sign. I'm going to take a picture of it for you.

It says, Atavika Station, number 12, Anandapur Forestry District. Talk about why that matters here in a moment. Now on the outskirts of Circazong and entering the borders of the Anandapur area. And up and around the corner will be one of my first stops for the day first we come to uh baktapur market hats footwear and spices i actually love this little market. This is the little one room. It's got two open doors, but it's just a little place, but it's got lots of interesting things in here that aren't Disney-specific.

And I guess that's why I like it. Hey, how's it going, guys? Hey! the Royal Anandapur Tea Company across to our left local food cafes to our right and beyond is the Yak and Yeti restaurant in whites

and washed blues and it is a bustling over here lots of hungry theme park travelers man to pour yak and yeti restaurant air- restaurant air conditioned to fine food and drinks and directly in front of it an enormously gorgeous tree with bells and prayer flags attached ruins as it were

to the bottom of the tree beautiful and it is a breezy and blustery day as i've said so leaves are blowing and it just looks lovely but to our left is my my favorite i don't do favorites but definitely one of you know what it is i think you do. It is the drinkwalla. A sign of which

I have replicated in my office. And I think many of you have seen, but I want to pop in here for a frozen Coke, because you know what? we deserve it. So I'll meet you after I have procured said beverage. Be right back. Sorry, little baby.

So what does host Jeremy do when he gets a frozen Coke at Drinkwalla? That's right. We sit down on the stone bench right outside of Drinkwalla, and we watch the world go by and sip our frozen Coke, because that's how it's done. Now, you thought that I had forgotten about Atavica Station No. 12. I know. You're like, he's going to forget that and never mention it again.

Well, ha! So, in the Anandapur area, you can find various signs, especially around the Kali River area, because it's very related to that ride. You can find signs for stopping the TTAC logging company. And those of you, again, that have been around for a few years will remember that in the original incarnation of Collier River Rapids, you go down through the ride a little ways and you hear chainsaws and there's burning trees and actual fire and smoke

and and this is the t-tac logging company that is that is harvesting uh part of the royal anandapur forest and uh chopping down trees and deforestation and all that for profits i mean i mean that's what they do they're a logging company but there's a grassroots effort in the area to stop them. And these signs say there will be a meeting at Atavica Station number 12. And that Atavica Station, as we just saw, well, we heard, walked through, was the bat house on the jungle trail. The more you know. Frozen Coke is sweet, delicious.

Not right now. Actually, is that a... Do they have ice in here? I do believe that fellow traveler almost sat in my lap. Was that loud for you? It was loud for me. My last little comment about this beautiful area is that there used to be very noticeable park ambience and it is no more i just wonder what's up today i don't know if there's been a change if like literally somebody forgot to turn the ambience on i'm not even joking

um but other than the sound of our passers-by it is silent over here and it did not used to be that way kind of strange. So I'm going to sip and savor and rejoin you guys here in just a moment. A young traveler just jumped literally over my arm off of the stone bench here. It's a wild day here at Animal Kingdom. We all miss Chakranati. And if you don't follow him already. There's an Insta account called.

The DAK Guy. Incredible. Animal Kingdom photography. But also he's made posts recently. Related to an idea that he's had. That is a wonderful idea. And that is suggesting to Disney that this area feature, in its background ambience, the songs as performed by Chakranati

in all the years that he was here. And he even lists some places where you can reach out, emails where you can reach out. Let's make that happen. I would love to walk by here and hear Chakranadi still performing. Unrelated, but since my brain is going everywhere, as I was walking in, I heard a fellow traveler, and look, not everybody is familiar with the parks, as are we. I heard a dad say after glancing down at his My Disney Experience app, he's like

is this a zoo or something? And I you're probably beating me to the punchline, but it was all I could do to not turn to him and be like not a zoo! I love it. I love our fellow travelers they're entertaining

let's continue on down through the last little bit of an and a pour here over to our left you can see the backside of Tree of Life with the beautiful waterfall upcountry landing to your left seating area overlooking discovery river and beautiful view of the Tree of Life and to our right is the Warunga outpost get yourself some drinks and whatnot visitors welcome Asia and and poor travel and tourism it looks to me as if the flags have been recently updated once again i'm looking at some visitors here knitted caps coats uh there's gloves on

and um according to my weather app it's 71 so these must be floridians Mr. Kamal's fries to the left Chicken dumplings What? Caravan Road is open to your right selling shave ice not a lot of customers just take that in. Beautiful vista here with the waterfall.

As you can hear, lovely ambience. A lot of times when I'm recording in here, I'm not very self-aware. I'm just with you. Just kind of walk around with you and kind of just forget everything else but I just had like this really weird third-person self-aware moment realizing that there's a giant pile of people passing by rushing to Harambee I am literally the only person standing here enjoying this hey I'll be that guy. As should we all. Stop and enjoy.

Breezy. One more deep breath in through the nose, out through the mouth. We have now exited Anandapur and have officially entered the village of Harambe near the Harambe Market. The sign here says to get lost is to learn the way. I dig that. Namo Amitabha How can you not love it? Love it. All right, from the heart of the village of Harambe, let's give a shout-out to our patrons, shall we? Thank you to Beck Castle, Bill and Aaron Zeese, Brian E. Grant, Debbie Jamala, Derek at Satisfactual Sign Company,

Eric Steinhauer, John Hamilton, Meredith Izzo, Josh Nakano, Hannah Ginn, David Krause, Jessica Davis, Lindsay O'Connell, and Courtney Otter. Thanks so much for giving up a little bit of your hard-earned dollars to help keep the servers warm at night. Really appreciate you. Well, I thought we would wrap up here in Discovery Island, which is normally where we start. Got to change it up a little bit. Hope you enjoyed this brief little in-park family reunion walkabout

that we do here week to week here at Walk About the World. Appreciate each and every one of you for listening. Just glad you're here. Glad week here at walk about the world appreciate each and every one of you for listening just glad you're here glad you're coming along for the ride if you like what you hear you can look us up on instagram at walkaboutwdw drop us a line there we always answer you can also contact us at contact at walkabouttheworld.com. And you can visit walkabouttheworld.com for links to pretty much everything. Accounts for our hosts on Instagram, popular episodes, links to where you can get your own Walkabout t-shirt,

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and join our community there. That's it for me. That's it from Disney's Animal Kingdom this week. Hope you have a great week wherever you are. Hope you're well. And as always, there's a great, big, beautiful tomorrow out there. We'll see you in one of those tomorrows on another episode of Walkabout the World. Bye, everybody.

Hey, since we're here, let's take in a little Viva Gaia. ¡Vamos! Con la cintura, con la cadera Si lo que quieres es bailar, si lo que quieres es gozar Si no quieres bailar, sopa de cabatrón Tantanerico, son los que me invitan a ti Muy bien, muy bien Sí quiero, sí quiero, seek yellow, seek yellow! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

Now that's how you party in the Viva Gaia street band. If you're happy this time, we want to hear it for you. If Viva Gaia Street Fair. And if you're happy with this time, we want to hear it. If Viva Gaia doesn't make you feel better. That's a good idea. Well, thank you for joining and participating. I'm not sure what will. Thank you.