Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World is a must-see, regardless of whether it’s your first trip to WDW or your 17th. If you have a love for animals, conservation efforts, and Pongo Lupia (Avatar), Animal Kingdom is the place to be. Before you enter the park, the atmosphere and design really make you feel like you have entered another universe. Of course, everyone stops to take that first photo at the Animal Kingdom sign in the bus drop-off area. Beyond is a vision of true awe and transportation to the jungle and safari.
You see intricately designed details on the wood beams of the gift shop. Even the leaves on the trees look life-like, and some of them are. As you pass by the gift shop and Rain Forest Cafe, you see the huge Animal Kingdom welcome over the ticket booth. It’s almost as if the elephant in the middle is waving its trunk at you to say hello.
After you enter through the turnstile, you become immersed in some of the richest animal encounters you will ever have. Ahead are flamingoes as soon as you enter the park. Either pathway side you choose reveals more hidden animal beauty. Especially amazing are the blue, red, and scarlet macaws! Throughout the pathways, there are more pathways with even more interesting wildlife. Some part of the park, some who are just passing by.
Later I will talk about other highlights for Animal Kingdom. For the purpose of this post, it is really about what happens just after you get off the bus at Animal Kingdom that can really make your day!
A Little Bit of Comedy
Normally I write informative posts. However, this time I am writing to provide a little comedic entertainment. Travelers to Animal Kingdom typically have a plan for what they want to do or see for the day. Right down to where they are going to stop for the famous over 21 only Dole Whip. They know what attractions they would like to see and where they are going to eat. What travelers usually do not plan for are the surprises that sometimes “follow” them. This is exactly why I am writing this post.
Surprise!
There are many surprises that pop up throughout the Walt Disney World property. In many of the theme parks you will experience pop-up character meet-and-greets. At times, there are random shows or singers who appear in the streets or pathways. There have even been times when the random bird will join your table as you are enjoying a snack or break. Surprises like these make the day a little more enjoyable and create memories. The surprises I am talking about are totally unexpected. Those that you definitely don’t expect and pop up right behind you. One in particular happened to me on a visit to Animal Kingdom in 2024.
Animal Kingdom June 2024
It was June 2024. I am not sure of the exact date, but I know it was one of my hottest trips to Walt Disney World. It was day two of my vacation. My husband and I had decided to spend the day at Animal Kingdom. We did our usual wake-up routine. We had breakfast, got coffee, and went to wait in the Animal Kingdom bus line at Pop Century Resort. This was one of those mornings when we actually got a seat on the bus and did not have to stand. The ride to the park was relatively smooth and quiet.
The bus pulled up to it’s dedicated spot in the bus drop-off area. I grabbed our bag for the day and my husband and I proceeded to exit the bus. The first thing we saw was the huge Animal Kingdom sign. We knew we had to stop and take the obligatory picture to send home. After the picture we began our trek to the main entrance of the park. As we walked away from the sign, that is when we heard it…
Where is that voice coming from?
We stepped just beyond the first Animal Kingdom sign when my husband said, “Did you hear that?” I replied that I had not, and he just shook his head. He said, “I swear I heard a voice behind me.” I asked what he thought he heard. To my husband, it sounded like a squeaky voice saying, “Hey buddy.” We kept on walking. Then I heard it. Somewhere behind us, there was this high-pitched squeaky voice saying, “Hey you. Yeah, you buddy. Where you going?”
My husband turned to me and said, “See, you thought I had lost my mind.” I was not sure what to think, so we kept on walking. A few seconds later, we heard “Hey buddy. Yeah, you in the North Carolina Tarheels hat. Where you going?” Whoever was talking had it right because my husband was indeed wearing a North Carolina Tarheels hat. Both my husband and I turned around expecting to see someone. There was no one there except for a few shrubs planted in rocks and a palm tree in a decorative base. We both kept walking.
Once again we hear “Hey buddy. North Carolina hat and blue shorts. Where you going?” I could sense my husband was beginning to feel uncomfortable. After all, who was talking to us that we could not see, but they knew what he was wearing.
The Funny Discovery
I was beginning to feel the weird vibe in the air so I decided to turn around quickly before the voice stopped. Hoping to catch someone standing there, I turned around just in time to see that the palm tree in the decorative base had moved closer. I thought to myself ‘there is no way that palm tree moved. there must be multiple of them leading to the entrance.’ I turned around, took another step and that’s when I heard wheels moving behind us.
As I turned around, I saw the palm tree in its base moving towards my husband and me. I did not want to believe it, but putting things together… the palm tree was following us and talking. I turned to my husband and said, “Call me crazy, but that palm tree is the one talking, and it’s following us.” My husband turned around just as the palm tree started moving. His eyes became as big as saucers. He started walking away quickly, and the palm tree followed after him, saying, “Hey, buddy, come back here. I want to talk to you.”
The Palm Tree Chase
I could not help but stand there and giggle as this palm tree was chasing my husband around the entrance path to Animal Kingdom. My husband would go one way and the palm tree would follow. My husband would turn and go another way and the palm tree followed him in that direction. With each pass, the palm tree would say, “Hey buddy, slow down, I just want to talk to you.” My husband finally came back to where I was standing and the palm tree got right up behind him. It bumped him in the foot and said, “Hey, you stopped. Can I ask you a question?”
A Break in The Chase
It was obvious my husband did not want to answer this palm tree for fear of everyone laughing at him. What he did not realize was that he formed a fan group who had watched the palm tree chasing him. They were laughing too. My husband turned around, looked at the palm tree, and said, “Sure. What do you want to know?” The palm tree bumped his foot again and said, “Did you know Animal Kingdom has roaming palm trees?” The entire group that was watching broke out in laughter. My husband, now more amused than anything, says to the palm tree, “I do now because you spent the last ten minutes chasing me.”
The discussion between my husband and the palm tree went on for another five minutes. The palm tree asked why my husband was a North Carolina Tarheels fan and attempted to give him fashion advice about his sneakers. The last question from the palm tree to my husband was, “What do you want to see most in Animal Kingdom?” My husband replied, “Well, I’ve heard the safari attraction is really neat. What do you think about it?” The palm tree replied, “They have a good spot on the Savanna for cheetahs like you. You are a really quick guy.” I have to admit, whoever was behind the voice and controls for that palm tree did an amazing job.
Afterthoughts
As my husband and I were standing there processing what had just happened, we noticed the small group that had gathered was now large. Some were standing there in awe while others were laughing hysterically. I was laughing myself. My husband said “It’s not funny. Me, a 32 year old man, just had a ten minute chase and discussion with a remote control talking palm tree.” I replied with “It’s kind of amazing what they can do with technology in these parks” and I giggled some more. My husband was not sure whether he should laugh or be totally weirded out. He said again “I just had a discussion with a roaming palm tree.”
I do have to admit, it was really funny to watch a grown man running from a three foot tall palm tree. It was even more funny to watch him having a discussion with the thing. It sure did provide a few moments of entertainment for those waiting to get into the park.
The Rest of The Day at Animal Kingdom
My husband and I made our way into Animal Kingdom and began walking through the pathways. We explored multiple exhibits and saw some of the most majestic macaw birds. Eventually we made our way to the bridge that leads to the Tree of Life. After exploring the Tree of Life we made our way back to the safari attraction. The wait was not long to get on the attraction and it started out fine.
The Cheetahs
As we neared the part of the safari attraction where the cheetahs were kept, we heard a voice near the back of our safari vehicle. The voice says, “Hey, you in the North Carolina hat. Isn’t this where the palm tree said you belong?” My husband turned around and here was one of the people who had seen the palm tree encounter at the entrance to the park. The person driving our safari vehicle started to laugh and said, “So you met the roaming palm tree?” My husband acknowledged that we had. The vehicle driver then said, “Well, watch when you go to Magic Kingdom. There is a talking trash can that does the same thing.”
Moral of The Story
I guess it goes without saying…when you go to Animal Kingdom be aware of your surroundings. You never know what “surprise” may be following you until it starts talking. Good awareness that it happens in other parks too. Hopefully this story leaves you with a few laughs for the day!
