Credit: Inside the MagicDid you know that Walt Disney World Resort wanted guests to get lost at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park?
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is Walt Disney World Resort’s fourth theme park, surrounding the Tree of Life. When it opened in 1998, the theme park billed itself as “not a zoo”–although it’s home to a massive wildlife reserve that houses the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction and two exploration trails.
The theme park has evolved in the decades since its grand opening, with additions like Pandora—The World of Avatar and Expedition Everest. In the coming years, the DinoLand U.S.A. area will disappear, making way for a Tropical Americas-themed land called Pueblo Esperanza.
As Walt Disney World Resort guests prepare for the future, some Disney Parks fans are reminiscing about the past. TikTok duo @themouselets recently dove into the history of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park:
@themouselets this secret path is my roman empire #disneyfacts #disneysecrets #disneyhistory #disneyfactmas
“When Animal Kingdom first opened, Disney planned it so that guests would intentionally get lost,” one of the TikTokers began. “…Animal Kingdom was all about exploration, so they didn’t want it to be just like any other park.”
Sharing the opening day map of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, the influencers explained that it was much smaller when it opened. It included Africa, a smaller version of Asia, Camp Minnie-Mickey, DinoLand U.S.A., and Safari Village (now Discovery Island).
There weren’t many signs directing guests around the Disney park in those days. The existing signs were simple yet chaotic, barely pointing guests in the right direction.
“They wanted guests to explore,” the other TikToker explained. “…It’s very tricky to see which direction things are pointing and guests hated it.”
After thousands of complaints from guests, Walt Disney World Resort installed temporary signage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. About a year after the Disney park opened in 1998, they added permanent directional signage. They’ve abandoned the concept of getting “lost” at the theme park.
But as the TikTokers revealed, one part of the original exploration concept for Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park remains–kind of. A “long lost secret path” called the “Buffalo Trail” isn’t included on theme park maps or the My Disney Experience app.
Stepping stones on a stream on the path suggested that Walt Disney Imagineers intentionally created the trail for guest use. Joe Rhode, one of the head Imagineers during Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park’s development, confirmed it.
Unfortunately, Walt Disney World Resort stopped maintaining the “Buffalo Trail” when they realized they didn’t want guests traversing through backstage areas looking for it. The entrance no longer exists, and the entire pathway is overgrown and off-limits to Disney Park guests.
Have you ever gotten lost at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your experience with Inside the Magic in the comments.