Walkabout The World - A Disney Podcast - Grand Tour Walkabout of Disney's Animal Kingdom with Host Josh

Episode Date: July 20, 2025

Hello Travelers! This week, join host Producer josh for an early morning grand circle walkabout of Disney's Animal Kingdom. You'll enjoy sounds from every part of the park on a warm Florida morning beginning at the entrance and Disneovery Island. Then walkabout Dinoland USA, Asia, Africa, Rafiki's Planet Watch/Conservation Station, and finally Pandora's Valley of Mo'ara.   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, welcome back to Walk About the World. We are your weekly stroll through the parks and resorts of Walt Disney World and Disneyland Hanging out with a friend. That's what we are. You're just hanging out with a friend at the Disney parks and that's the way we like it I'm sure you can tell by the Music that we are currently outside of the Disney's Animal Kingdom Entrance I'm here early in the morning, which doesn't happen very often for me. So I had a somewhat of a rare occurrence, a unicorn occurrence if you will, and actually got to park in unicorn, which is like the first lot. I never do that.

A unicorn parking experience parked in unicorn. Rainforest cafes over there to the left. We've got the one of the only original things here at Animal Kingdom still left is the ticket booths. The middle one of course has the signage, the Disney's Animal Kingdom signage with an elephant the one to the right has a Triceratops dinosaur which is now extinct going extinct very soon and the one to the left you remember what that one is it's a dragon. Which we never ended up seeing here. There's a little bit of the past, a little bit of the original animal kingdom still left. Hopefully it stays there.

Even if people are left wondering why there's a dragon and a dinosaur. At least they're still there for the memories. About to go through the tap styles. Let's head inside the park. Good morning. You know, that must be why it didn't show. Good morning. Thanks so much. Have a great day. You too. Greetings everyone and welcome to Disney's Animal Kingdom. The exciting expedition to wild places in wildlife is about to begin before you rise out of a wondrous oasis. This is the gateway to a fascinating world where mankind, nature and dreams come together in harmony. Look closely, you never know what might appear before you as you begin a day of adventures in Disney's Animal Kingdom. All right.

Good timing on that one you heard the man let's start our adventure Before it gets too hot it's already a balmy 85 this morning Florida summer baby gotta love it. A couple of spoonbill here. Rosy eight spoonbill. One of my favorite Florida birds. Crowds coming in this morning so we're going to do the usual and pick up the middle path here. Get away from traffic for a second as we head into Discovery Island. Let's listen to some waterfalls on the way. Huh? The Out through the cave, right into Discovery Island.

Tree of Life directly ahead. No, no, no! Ready, give me big tiger claws and a big tiger roar. One, two, three. Discovery Trading Company to our right. I think we're gonna, you know what, let's start the morning, just do a grand tour. Let's just walk around the circle of Animal Kingdom. We'll start here in Discovery Island. We're gonna walk over through the remains of Dino Land USA, make our way into Asia, around to Africa, through Pandora, and then back to Discovery Island. How's that sound? Good, because you have no choice.

Ha! Let's go! We've got Doug and Russell's Wilderness Explorers Clubhouse to the left. You've got Doug and Russell out meeting guests this morning. Small line. Perhaps I should get in line. You know what? I will. The wilderness must be explored. Alright, I'm gonna hop in line here and then I'll see you when I'm done. Well I don't always do character meet and greets, but when I do it's because I get to hug a big fluffy dog.

I told him, I told uh, well I told Russell that I was very impressed with his badges. And uh, of course I told Doug that I had just met him, but I loved him. That was cute. No signs of Kevin this morning, at least not yet. Maybe we'll catch her and we can pass by later on. Alright, keeping on our tour. Let's head into Dino Land. Signage is still here. Will be for a little bit longer. Character landing to the right where you can currently meet Moana. I won't be doing that because that requires you to talk to people and that person will talk back and that's not my jam somehow it's More awkward with me when the characters can talk back to you

Yeah, Dino land is very quiet Dino bash signage is all still out Can hear Jimmy Buffet. Under the Olden Gate Bridge. If we go left, we'll get the Boneyard, which is still open. We're going to go right. Where you'll find Restauronosaurus, DinoBite snacks. Nothing's open yet. Still early.

To the left the crocodile enclosure is drained. There's nobody in there right now. It's going to be interesting to see what they do with all restaurantasaurus here. Hopefully it'll be indie themed. I've been to the Tokyo Disney Sea and they have a whole Indiana Jones land, the Lost River Delta land where the Indiana Jones adventure is there and they have a restaurant there and it's all, I mean the whole land is themed to the archaeological digs in South America. So maybe we'll get something similar. I don't imagine they'll do a whole lot, I mean they'll probably keep the restaurant space, maybe just re-theme it a little bit.

Here we are at Dinosaur. Dinosaur of course going extinct soon as well to bring us Indiana Jones. Let's walk around the path and in front of the Dino Institute. Of course the pathway that used to lead from the exit of Dinosaur over to Chester and Hester's is blocked off. Big green wall so it's a dead end says change is good has a little silhouette of Rafiki dreamers at work Disney's Animal Kingdom The Okay, let's try this one. There's a great shadow being cast right now from the morning light. That's casting a dinosaur skull shadow. It looks very Jurassic Park. Grab a picture of it and post it. It's pretty cool.

Cast onto the wall of the Dino Institute. Exit. The gift shop. Had to do a little about face and head out and head toward Asia. So as we head out of Dinoland, The walls are up But you can still see the peak of Everest From here, which you never used to be able to see because there was a giant cementasaurus in the way, so that's new It's actually kind of cool. There's a perfect little window through two tall trees that you can just see the peak. It's like a natural frame the signage on the

big green walls over on this side are all themed to the middle americas and to uh and canto got the yellow butterflies lining the wall let's go read the signs oh shoot here i'll take a picture of this one I'll take a picture of this one. Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes? The first Indiana Jones sighting at Animal Kingdom. That's actually pretty exciting.

Not going to lie. Got pretty excited just then. And there's the casita. It says it's even bigger on the inside? Question mark! Got your party pants on. Got your party pants on? I'm assuming those are quotes from Incanto, but I've only seen that movie once, so... A toucan and a capybara? Of course they can come, it says. Again, embarrassed to say I don't recognize the reference, but... Then we have a directional sign that's all themed.

Dinosaur, Dino Institute shop, restaurant, stores, and restrooms to the right. Asia, finding Nemo, the big blue and beyond to the left. You've got the concept art of the tropical Americas lining the wall, which is pretty cool. Wow. Finding Nemo, the big blue and beyond. I'm gonna love you I see the amphitheater on the left. Feeling a big blast of cold air coming out of the doors from theater. Oh, that was nice On the rustic bridge Head into Anandapur. The The train is now departing from the platform. The Here's a little bit of fun. Alright. My suit! Oh my god. I'm going to try to get a little bit... It goes backwards and then up. We're gonna get a stinky pancake sandwich with softened pork. Passing the ice cream truck and up to Gupta's gear.

Shangri-La truckers inn and internet cafe. I'm going to go to the next one. Thank you. They gotta be 44 inches. Holy crap. Sun is getting higher in the sky which means it is getting warmer. We're gonna keep walking. Doing our Grand Circle Tour. And you know what? I think we'll even hop on the train, head back to Fiki's Planet Watch. That way we get the whole park in one episode. Which I think we've done before but i could be mistaken

sorry pete i will not be riding collie river rapids this morning we'll leave that one for a pete episode passing the old drink walla on the left, yak and yeti to our right. We're gonna keep going straight toward Africa. Let's get a picture babe. I guess it's too early for some of the entertainment. I know, I think there's a new band here where our friend Chakranati used to play. I had to go over and say hi to the big tree. The big banyan tree, as the sign says.

It's very technical. It is a beautiful tree. It is a beautiful tree. It is big. It is a banyan. There's nobody on the stage. They're not set up for anything. So I'm not sure if they'll have entertainment there later or not. But I will be home in the air conditioning by that time. My favorite, very favorite views of the Tree of Life coming up. You can hear the macaws just flew by. Yeah one of my favorite views of the Tree of Life for sure is here on the

outskirts of Asia, in between Asia and Africa over the water through the trees just gorgeous beautiful design and there's never really any people here so it's honestly a better picture spot than the front of the icon spot at the front of the park Got a double back just to sit just a just a little bit a couple steps Just we get back to the path less traveled because get out of traffic Enjoy some of the ambient music here The The I'm gonna go to the bathroom. The And when you come off the path less traveled, we're in Harambe. Take a right toward the market. The first one to be on the boat is the one who goes for the boat ride. The Morning light coming up onto the Mariwengu guest house in Harambe. Beautiful light. Fichois fellow to our right waving. uninitiated that would be the not so hidden Mickey and Harambe

train service this way Oh, it looks like the train is not open yet. There's a big line. Oh, they just opened it. I'll wait. I'll wait behind all these lines. I don't want to be that guy that jumps in front of everyone. And you shouldn't be that guy either, travelers. Be a good Disney guest.

A kind Disney guest. Not a tourist. Alright, to the train station, let's head over to Rafiki's Planet Watch And welcome aboard the wildlife express For a safe journey remember to stay seated keeping your hands arms feet and legs inside the train Sit all the way back against the bench and please be sure to watch your children Asante Welcome aboard the wildlife express Be sure to watch your children. Asante. Bienvenidos a bordo de Wildlife Express. Para que tengan un viaje seguro, manténganse sentados, con las manos, brazos y así piernas dentro del tren. Siéntense hasta atrás, pegados al respaldo de la mano.

Y por favor, vigilen a los niños. Gracias. Greetings, friends, and welcome aboard the Wildlife Express. For a safe journey, remember to stay seated, keeping your hands, arms, feet and legs inside the train. Sit all the way back in the bench. Be sure to watch your shoulders. Asante. Bienvenidos a bordo del Waterline Express.

Para que tengan un viaje seguro, manténganse en estado con las manos, brazos, pies y piernas dentro del tren. Siéntense hacia atrás, pegados al respaldo del trabajo. Y por favor, quédense a la mesilla. Gracias. We're off the train headed to Conservation Station. If we're lucky, we might be able to catch a glimpse of our pal Dr. Ryan treating some sort of animal. Let's see what we can hear. Oh Well, no sign of Dr. Ryan, but I just heard cast members say they'll be working on a soft shell turtle at 1045. I don't think we'll be here at that time because we're just doing that Grand Circle tour, but

if you find yourself over at the conservation station, especially on a weekend come by and see if you can check out the vets working on some of the animals from around the park it's really cool and they talk about it they kind of answer questions and show you the procedure on the camera it's very, very unique to Animal Kingdom for sure. No Dr. Ryan but there is a cast member feeding the frogs and the spiders. They also have the animation academy here in the building where you can sit and draw along with one of the Disney artists. Looks like he's currently warming up drawing Mickey Mouse. It is cool because they have information about various Disney animators from Disney history. There's one on Floyd Norman, Disney Legend, Bub Iwerks, one of the Waltz now animators All right, we're gonna head back to the train

Get back to her on Wave to the goats, the affection section. Let's see if I can interview a goat. Hey goat. Do you want to say hello? Or you just want to eat the microphone? Nope? Alright, he's a silent goat. He ain't saying nah.

Sorry. Not sorry. Okay, back to the train. Thank you, you too. It's about 10 degrees cooler over here than it is over there. It really is with all the vegetation over here. Yes. Much, much cooler than it was when we left Harambee, we're going to head over to Pandora to complete our Grand Circle tour of Disney's Animal Kingdom. It's still too early for any of the musicians or entertainment out here, but it is getting

busy. And the sun is a-shinin'. turning right at the dawa bar headed toward festival of the Lion King theater through this often um say often It's a often overlooked part of Harambe with some really cool details, as one would expect from Animal Kingdom. All of Joe Rodie's incredible story that he's crammed into this park. Like this sign, access after dark at risk, crocodile activity on beach, beware. Don't want to mess with them crocodiles. Just a beautiful view of the river in Harambe As we travel off planet into Pandora Please enjoy our beautiful bathrooms. Clean, it says.

Maybe next time. But thank you for the invitation. Love all the hand-painted signs in Harambe. Club to our right. Hidden away from the peons. Club 33 that is. Under the bridge and onto the boardwalk. You hear very real sounds of very real wildlife in the background chirping

And as we get closer to Pandora in the Valley of Mara those chirps get a little more apparent and a little more alien apparent and a little more alien. Passing the rock work on the left that used to be once upon a time part of the riverboat journey where you would see or at least use your imagination to see a dragon. imagination to see a dragon Thing of the past here we are you can tell much louder, let's enjoy some Pandora Welcome to the Valley of Moara, Andorra. Ongati Kami, ICU. Sivakou. I think this is the way. The So So So So Just taking in the waterfalls.

Walking down the steps around winding pathways. Underneath the floating mountains. And what travelers makes those mountains float That would be a little Disney magic I'm back over by the drums as we head back to Discovery Island. I'm looking sweetie. Now, in addition to recording this episode, I had originally planned to do another painting or two while I was here. But doggone it, it's just so warm and I have started to perspire and that's no fun so we're gonna wrap it up over here in Discovery Island and I will bid you adieu until next time. You know you're back on your home planet once you've crossed the bridge and you see Tiffins and one of my favorite lounges on property. The Nomad Lounge.

Where I once waved at Joe Rhodey. What else, man? Before we go, we do want to thank some of our Walkabout patrons at the beautiful Tomorrow Level. Beck Castle, Bill and Aaron Zeiss, Brian E. Grant, Derek at Satisfactual Sign Company, John Hamilton, Meredith Izzo, Hannequin, David Krauss, Jessica Davis, Courtney Otter, Kara Louise Amudi, Lori B, Randall Lynch, Barbara Torino, Barry Campbell, Norm Disney, RJ Lucia, and Fabian Govinger. At the living laboratory level, thanks so much Debbie Gamballa, Eric Steinhauer, Josh Nakano, Lindsay O'Connell, James Beacham, and Erica Tuso. As always guys, thank you so much for listening.

Your support means so much to us. And of course it keeps us moving forward. If you like what you hear, you want to be a part of the show, check us out at patreon.com slash walkabout.wdw and we'd love to have you as a patron. Thank you so much travelers for being with me today as we made a Grand Circle tour of Disney's Animal Kingdom. That's it for me today but I hope I will see you on the next episode of Walk About the World. We'll see you real soon. Host Jeremy here.

Thank you for joining us this week. Thank you for listening and being part of our theme park found family. If you haven't already, you can look us up on Instagram at walkabout.wdw. You can also find us online at walkabouttheworld.com. Email us there at contact at walkabouttheworld.com. You can also find each of our hosts on Instagram. Find me, Jeremy, at jeremy underscore hunt underscore FL. And we end as we always do with the hope and the promise that there is a great big beautiful tomorrow out there for each of us. We will see you in one of those tomorrows on a future episode of Walk About the World.