Earth Day is a special day at Walt Disney World Resort — not only because it's a day to celebrate our planet's beautiful flora and fauna, raise awareness about the importance of protecting the planet and promote conservation and sustainability ... but because it's also the birthday of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Disney World's youngest theme park opened April 22, 1998, which means, this year, it's turning 26! Animal Kingdom's birthday is sure to be one wild party, with many new, fun and delicious offerings. Whichever celebration you're commemorating, here's everything you need to know about what's hoppening all throughout the month of April at Walt Disney World!
Character Sightings and Disney PhotoPass Service Offerings
From April 21 to 28, 2024, be on the lookout for special sightings of Disney Characters at Animal Kingdom. As always, you can meet world travelers Mickey and Minnie Mouse at their exploration headquarters at Adventurers Outpost and wave to your special Disney friends on the Discovery Island Character Cruise as it sails around the Discovery River.
Additionally, throughout the month of April, Disney PhotoPass photographers are capturing limited-time photo ops — with a Disney twist! Find them at the following locations:
- Wall-E and Eve Magic Shot: at the park entrance
- NEW Flit and Meeko Magic Shot: by the Discovery River between Africa and Asia
- NEW Pocahontas Compass Prop + Magic Shot: by the Discovery River between Africa and Asia
- NEW Heimlich Magic Shot: most Disney PhotoPass locations
- NEW Tiny Tree of Life Prop + Magic Shot: by the Discovery River between Africa and Asia
You can also download new wallpapers featuring Disney World's famous animal inhabitants for your phone, desktop and virtual meetings.
On your way into the park at the main entrance plaza, step into the iconic yellow National Geographic border for a unique photo memory inspired by the upcoming "Secrets of the Octopus" docuseries streaming on Disney+ and Hulu on April 22, 2024.
Commemorative Wilderness Experiences for Earth Month
As part of the Earth Day celebration, you can learn to draw characters such as Dumbo, Trek from "Tarzan," Crush or Bruce from "Finding Nemo," Tigger from "Winnie the Pooh" and Simba from "The Lion King" all throughout the month of April at The Animation Experience at Conservation Station. Each 25-minute class will offer something different. Use real animals as inspiration and let your creativity shine as a talented Disney animator gives you step-by-step instructions on how to illustrate your own version of a popular Disney or Pixar character.
That's not all! From April 21 to 28, 2024, you can earn a special Wilderness Explorer nature badge while learning how to connect with nature around you. Follow in the footsteps of Russell from the Pixar film "Up" as you set out on a series of fun, nature-themed challenges and earn badges around the park. Say it with me now: "The wilderness must be explored! Caw caw! Rawr!"
Earth Month-Themed Sips and Sweets at Walt Disney World
The culinary experts at Walt Disney World Resort are bringing the beauty of planet Earth to the plate with delicious food and drink offerings in April:
Creature Comforts at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park (available April 1-30)
- Honeycomb Mousse: Honey mousse on top of a brownie base with sugar bees and white chocolate honeycomb
Dawa Bar at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
- Wazi Wave: Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, Bols Blue Curaçao Liqueur, sour mix, and pineapple juice garnished with a pineapple wedge
Nomad Lounge at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park (available April 1-30)
- The Pachyderm and the Pollinator: Cruxland Gin, bitters, and soda water with a lemon wheel and honey simple syrup
Pizzafari at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park (available April 1-30)
- Elephant Cupcake: An edible white chocolate elephant atop a graham cracker cupcake with pineapple filling and a jungle of matcha buttercream and crispy pearls
Restaurantosaurus at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
- Elephant Cupcake: An edible white chocolate elephant atop a graham cracker cupcake with pineapple filling and a jungle of matcha buttercream and crispy pearls
Terra Treats at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park (currently available at Terra Treats)
- Roasted Mushroom and Leek Pizza: IMPOSSIBLE meatballs, roasted mushrooms, braised leeks, and a dash of truffle oil (plant-based)
Tiffins Restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park (available April 1-30)
- Zucchini Carpaccio: "The Land" zucchini, marinated tomatoes, candied pistachios, castelvetrano olives, golden raisins, plant-based feta, pomegranate molasses, and crispy sweet potato (Plant-based)
- The Pachyderm and the Pollinator: Cruxland Gin, bitters, and soda water with a lemon wheel and honey simple syrup
Available at Bars and Beverage Carts Throughout Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park (currently available)
- Honey Bee Citrus Blonde Ale
- Tiger Eye Gold Ale
The Mara at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (available April 1-30; mobile order available)
- Raindrop Tart: Chocolate cake, pistachio crumb, passion fruit gel, vanilla cheesecake, and white chocolate mousse
Amorette's Patisserie at Disney Springs (available April 1-30; mobile order available)
- The Plant in The Boot Petit Cake: Layers of carrot cake, cream cheese mousse, and pineapple jam
What are you most excited to experience during Earth Day at Walt Disney World? Let me know in the comments below!
Related: What Not-to-Miss at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Hoppy planning!
