Animal Kingdom Update – May 2019
Animal Kingdom is the next stop for our May 2019 Walt Disney World Construction Updates & Photo Reports. While park has the least work going on, there are a few noteworthy updates this month: Club 33 being built, Pandora – World of Avatar changes, new cupcakes, and more. Oh, and the glorious return of Otter Grotto!
That last one is basically the reason this update exists. After a couple of failed visits trying to see Emmet and friends, we finally found them on a very playful day. By way of background, Otter Grotto (sponsored by none other than Otterbox) recently reopened after about a year-long enhancement project. The otter viewing area is located along the path from the Tree of Life heading towards Africa, right across from Pizzafari.
Otter Grotto features an entire family of Asian small-clawed otters, informational signs, and above-ground and underwater viewing areas. The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species in the world, and the least aquatic, spending most of their days chilling on land.
I love otters. Ever since learning that many otters have a favorite rock that they carry around in one of their underarm pockets, I’ve been sold on the greatness of these little critters. They are cute, amusing, mischievous, and sometimes hilarious. (I’m not much for memes, but I enjoy otter ones tremendously.) Plus, Frogtown Hollow Jubilee Jug Band is one of my all-time favorite musical groups.
Here’s a look at the otter action in Otter Grotto. I think the photos of the adorable creatures speak for themselves, so I’ll spare you my attempts at humorous captions:
Suffice to say, Otter Grotto is fantastic. This is my new favorite wildlife ‘trail’ at Animal Kingdom. The grotto is well-done, with a cave-like environment (I was so busy taking otter photos I forgot to capture this, sorry) and winding above-ground path.
Beyond the otters being adorable and entertaining, Otter Grotto is also much more convenient than other animal viewing areas at Animal Kingdom. You can easily duck in here for a view minutes of shade on your way to Pandora or from Starbucks…or do the same as an escape from afternoon showers this summer. It took a long time (roughly one year!) for Otter Grotto to reopen, but the end result is quite nice. Kudos to Disney for putting those sponsorship dollars from the water-resistant mobile device box empire to good use.
In case you missed the big news, Christmas is Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
We have full details in that post, but we’re very excited and cautiously optimistic that this will be a solid addition. The entertainment and decor on Discovery Island has a lot of potential. If it even lives up to a fraction of the winter-themed, Tapestry of Nations-inspired offering I’m envisioning, it’ll be incredible.
With the important stuff out of the way, let’s resume this update at the front of the park.
Spot any famous animals in the photo above?
In Pandora – World of Avatar, there are new deals on merchandise at Windtraders. At some point in the last couple of months, they also introduced the new Night Blossom banshee at the Rookery.
I’m honestly shocked that some two years after Pandora opened, there’s still so much unique merchandise here. I would’ve expected this all to last like 6 months. Pandora is awesome, but is there really a market for Avatar stuff?
Speaking of which, there’s this little gem.
To be honest, that photo was shot a couple of weeks ago. This “new arrival” could very well be “just in” at the outlet by now.
As much as I enjoy Avatar Flight of Passage, sometimes I hope against getting FastPasses for it. Inevitably, doing that ride means we’re eating at Satu’li Canteen before or afterwards.
Don’t get me wrong, Satu’li Canteen is fantastic, but it’s no Flame Tree.
Here’s a look at the Combination Bowl: Grilled Beef & Chicken, which is currently $16.99–a few dollars more than each of the beef and chicken bowls individually.
In my side by side comparison, you’re definitely getting more meat with this bowl than the other two. I’m not sure it’s double those, but it’s close. I’d definitely recommend going this route if you’re on the Disney Dining Plan.
Heading back by Festival of the Lion King, berm work is visible. This is for construction of Animal Kingdom’s Club 33 lounge.
All three other lounges opened last year, with Magic Kingdom being the last one ready. Even if construction here is speedy, the Animal Kingdom lounge is likely to open over a year after MK’s. Not that it impacts me or anyone reading this, but I’m nonetheless curious as to what caused the delay.
It seems like every time we visit, Animal Kingdom has a new cupcake celebrating something or another.
Sorry, but I’m not dropping $6 on a comically phoned-in cupcake, but here’s a photo of the sign for those who are interested.
Finally, some praise for the performers of Animal Kingdom–specifically, every act that appears in this area of Harambe. We stop every time we see a live performance here, and it’s always entertaining. Burudika is an Afro-pop band that delivers high-energy music. I love their cover of Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al.”
Overall, if you’re looking for the Walt Disney World park with the least construction, Animal Kingdom is it. That should remain the case for the next couple of years, as this park’s big addition has already opened. While we’d still expect some new offerings at Animal Kingdom for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, it’s unlikely they will result in a sea of walls. So, if you want a reprieve from construction or just to see adorable otters, plan on spending a full day at Animal Kingdom!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of the latest changes at Animal Kingdom? Have you seen Otter Grotto in all of its glory? Purchased any Pandora merchandise? Other thoughts about Animal Kingdom? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
We love Animal Kingdom and always spend a full day here! It’s our family’s favorite park. Glad to see they are always updating things here, especially the animal exhibits. We are also big Flame Tree fans! Thanks for the info!
Was there the first half of this month and SO EXCITED to see the otters had returned!! They are my favorite. Also, really love the bowls at Satu’li Canteen – every time I have one, I am reminded how much I enjoy them. Used to just recommend AK as a half day park, but now love spending multiple full days there. My husband and I so miss Rafiki’s Planet Watch and hope they do plan on opening access again since they left the sign up!
I feel like I am the only person that hates Flame Tree Barbecue. Am i? lol
Thank you for the reference to “Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas.” Made me smile! Our family dog was named Emmitt in honor of the movie (and Emmitt Smith – hence the spelling). And the name of our band in the video game “Rock Band” was River Bottom Nightmare Band. Favorite Christmas movie!
How much alike we are! Perhaps we’re long lost brothers?
Loved the update on the otters, one of my favorites!
Otters! I’ve loved them ever since a trip when I was a kid. We were up in Trinidad (on the extreme northern coast of CA) for a day visiting a friend of my Mom’s and went down to the harbor. There was a family of otters and we watched them play and then climb into a small rowboat. When the mother didn’t find any fish inside, she jumped out. Then they all jumped out except one baby got stuck and the mama had to help him out. (By overturning the boat) It was one of the funniest and most adorable things I ever saw. Otter Grotto just makes DAK the park I most want to see at WDW that much more.
Love all of the Animal Kingdom performers/entertainers!
In General, Just Love All of Animal Kingdom……Period !
Dec.6th……….We Return !!!
Otter Grotto is a nice addition to AK. I enjoy watching otters in the wild. Frogtown Hollow Jubilee Jug Band is also one of my all-time favorite musical groups.
Satu’li Canteen is my favorite thing about Pandora and one of my favorite counterservices at WDW. The chicken bowl is so delicious.
Tom! I Fail to see your fascination with Flame Tree
The combo platter for instance is actually small, with condiment size cups of baked beans and slaw, and the meats are mostly bones. Tast wise, it is dome in true barbecue fashion, but I can easily best it on my backyard grill !
And they d/c ed the Cornbread!!!
Kevin!
So, all this time I’ve read your references to Emmet Otter, and I was assuming it was from Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas, and am just realizing it’s probably more for Emmet Otter from Zootopia (which was a reference to Jug Band Christmas) and all the time not realizing there’s an actual otter grove at Animal Kingdom…with an otter named Emmet? Oh, so much I must learn. And, so sorry for run-on sentence. Man those otters are cute.
I’m totally in to catching Burudika.
The references are absolutely to Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas, not Zootopia. I watch Jug Band Christmas every single year (usually twice). I’ve seen Zootopia once.
Unfortunately, there is no otter at Otter Grotto named Emmet. At least, to my knowledge. I hope they change that, though.
Ah, thanks for steering me back on course! I believe the Henson Co. still owns Emmet and the Jug Band muppets? Otherwise, a bronze commemorative statue by the Otter Grotto would most definitely be in order. Visitors could pet his nose for good luck. It would be a no-brainer.
So awesome! I watch it multiple times at Christmas (and might watch sometime in the middle of the year .. don’t judge!) – glad to see someone else has good taste!!
Hi Tom. I love the cupcake… just sayin’.
Thanks for updates!!
🙂
I second your love of otters. Does AK have red pandas or lemurs? That would just complete the trifecta of cute.
I saw the lemurs last year, but no red pandas unless there was a very recent addition… I would love to see Disney expand AK with more animals instead of rides. Pandaland sounds like a good expansion to me 😉
Pandas are my favorite animal in the whole world- both kinds. We have them here in Atlanta. Always fun to visit. Plus we have a back stage panda thing you can do. I did it for my birthday. The pandas are trained like dogs- literally. I think the Asia section would be enhanced with some panda love.
Lemurs, but no red pandas. We have red pandas at my local zoo, but no lemurs anywhere near me so I really enjoy seeing those at AK.
Tom,
Any info on the new Rivers of Light – We Are One that begins this weekend? I thought I read that it will end Sept 30 but can’t find anything to confirm. In your opinion, is the dining/show worth the price? Thanks