Disney Animals – Live and Onstage
Disney’s Animal Kingdom hosts countless species of exotic animals that take up residencies in every nook and cranny of the park. From the moment you scan through the gates you are greeted by parrots, and a giant sloth welcomes you to park that is truly run by the animals!
You can spend an entire day roaming the winding walkways of the Animal Kingdom and still not see each species that reside there- from gorillas to pelicans, everyone in your party is sure to spot their favorite animals while visiting!
While I love searching for new animals each time I visit the parks, I always find myself just as excited to see my favorite animals brought to life in a different way. Disney is known for their top-notch entertainment offerings throughout the parks, and there are ample live shows that feature the most popular animal species! From seeing animals in real life to seeing animals live onstage, read on for a list of where you can find your favorite animals…in real life and where they are portrayed onstage!
Real Life:
- Lions- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Monkeys- Asia, Maharaja Jungle Trek
- Elephants- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Giraffes- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Birds- Entrance, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Tree of Life
You can find all of these animals onstage in:
- Festival of the Lion King, Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Sure, Animal Kindom is where you’ll go if you want to pack your trip full of animal encounters, but did you that animals can be found in another park too? Undersea life take up residency in The Seas Pavilion in Epcot, and you can visit these animals in their natural habitat.
Real Life:
- Sea Turtles- The Seas
- Fish- The Seas
- Sharks- The Seas
- Stingray- The Seas
Sea life takes center stage in two beloved shows playing daily in the parks. Both feature all of the animals listed above, so be sure to take your sea-fairing youngsters to visit the animals at the Seas before you surprise them by taking them to see their favorite animals onstage!
You can find all of these animals onstage in:
- Finding Nemo The Musical, Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
For the cold-blooded animal lovers out there, there are a few reptile-heavy shows out there for you too! Don’t worry, these entertainment offerings boast both cold and warm blooded creatures that are sure to highlight everyone’s favorite animals!
Real Life:
- Komodo Dragon, Maharaja Jungle Trek
- Snakes, Rafiki’s Planet Watch
- Crocodile, Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Flamingo- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Monkeys- Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Asia
Okay you got me, there isn’t exactly a Komodo dragon in this show, but the dragon representation will certainly leave you and your fire-breathing fans satisfied!
You can find all of these animals onstage in:
- Fantasmic!, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
While not a stage show, the animals listed above take a daily march down Main Street USA in a fantastic live entertainment offering! Next time you’re watching this performance, make a list and try to spot all of the animals in:
- Disney’s Festival of Fantasy Parade, Magic Kingdom
We often choose to travel to Walt Disney World to take a step away from reality and immerse ourselves in pure magic, but seeing animals both live and onstage serve as a fantastic reminder that the creatures with which we share the earth- and our backyards inspired so much of the magic created at Disney. Which animals will you see onstage next time you visit? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! For a free quote on your next Disney vacation, fill out the form below!
Special thanks to Maria Salerno for writing this article: Hiya pal! I am a NYC-based writer/musician thrilled to be bringing you all things Disney! I’m a WDW Annual Passholder, so you can find me in the parks regularly throughout the year. In addition to being a Disney Parks loving girl, I’m also a Disney toy and merchandise collector, a runDisney enthusiast, and Disney music and movie aficionado. You can follow me on Instagram: NYCtoAP and find me on YouTube: NYCtoAP. Thanks for reading, hope to see ya real soon!