Disney’s Animal Kingdom Wilderness Explorers!

“A Wilderness Explorer Is A Friend To All, Be It Plants Or Fish Or Tiny Mole” – Wilderness Explorer Motto

Thanks to Disney’s Animal Kingdom as part of the Monkey Kingdom Event, I was given an opportunity to check out their Wilderness Explorers Experience. Opinions expressed are that of my own.

Based on the film, “UP” and character Russel’s outdoor organization, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Wilderness Explorers is an interactive way to navigate the park through missions, observations, and secret codes.

The coolest part of course is the Handbook and all of the badges AKA stickers that go onto the pages each time you complete a task. Let me just say that now I know this program exists, my kids and I will definitely be doing this on our next visit to the park.

To begin a Wilderness Explorers excursion, simply pick up a book at either headquarters—located on the bridge between the Oasis and Discovery Island—or head over to Wilderness Explorer stops in Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia, and Dinoland U.S.A.

There is a total of 31 destinations on this self guided tour, and visitors will either be greeted at each location by a Troop Leader or see a cast member carrying a Badge Satchel. I immediately earned my first badge by learning the special “Wilderness Explorer Call”.

With the map in tow (located in the front of the book) I then headed out on my adventure with a group. At each stop we either learned interesting facts about the animals or continents, listened to recordings for codes or sounds from the wild, or observed animals in their enclosures like birds, monkeys, and gorillas.

Examples of observations would be: I found out that Bats can eat up to 600 insects in an hour, Flamingos have elevated nests and their eggs are elongated (so they don’t roll off), and the word Jambo is “Hello” in Swahili.

We ran around the park for about 3 hrs and the most exciting part was, I managed to get 25 badges on my first adventure. This made me rank as a “FISH”in the Wilderness Explorers.

Have you ever been a Wilderness Explorer? How many badges did you collect?

My exploration was such a neat way to visit the attractions, see the diversity of cultures within the cast members of Animal Kingdom, and check out the park’s animal inhabitants. I know my kids would get a kick out of this as well. 

Want more information about becoming a Wilderness Explorer? This experience is free with the price of admission, simply visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom Wilderness Explorers for more details.

About Disneynature Monkey Kingdom:

Life is an adventure for Maya, the clever and resourceful blonde-bobbed monkey in “Monkey Kingdom,” Disneynature’s new feature film set among ancient ruins in the storied jungles of South Asia. Maya’s world is forever changed when she welcomes her son, Kip, into her complicated extended family. Like all families, Maya’s has more than its share of colorful personalities—and she’s determined to give her son a leg up in the world. When their longtime home at Castle Rock is taken over by powerful neighboring monkeys, Maya’s whole family retreats, and she uses her street smarts and ingenuity to uncover untapped resources amidst strange new creatures and unsettling surroundings. Ultimately, they will all have to work together to reclaim Castle Rock, where Maya can hopefully realize her dreams for her son’s future.

Featuring a rich variety of characters, including a mischievous mongoose, simple-minded langur monkeys, predatory leopards and monitor lizards, “Monkey Kingdom” is narrated by Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), directed by Mark Linfield (“Chimpanzee,” “Earth”) and co-directed by Alastair Fothergill (“Chimpanzee,” “Bears”). With music from award-winning composer Harry Gregson-Williams (“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” “Shrek” movies).

Monkey Kingdom is rated G and out in theaters NOW!

Want to Help Endangered Animals?

For every ticket sold opening week (April 17-23, 2015) to Monkey Kingdom, Disneynature will make a donation in your honor to Conservation International to help protect monkeys and other endangered species in their natural habitats. For more information on the film visit nature.disney.com/monkey-kingdom.

You can also like Disneynature at Facebook.com/Disneynature and follow along at Twitter.com/Disneynature.

FFM