Going to Walt Disney World with my kids for the first time, I experienced things I had never done before! One of those things was the Wilderness Explorers program at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I highly recommend it! My kids loved doing it and were so proud when they completed it.
Wilderness Explorers is a free interactive scavenger/games hunt at Animal Kingdom. Like Russell, from the Pixar’s Up, Wilderness Explorers of all ages can earn badges (stickers) by completing tasks throughout the park and placing them in the Wilderness Explorers handbook. The badges represent the topic explored at that particular station, such as the bioluminescent flowers in Pandora for the botany badge.
No matter where you begin in the park, the free handbooks are given out at the first station you visit. The hours of operation vary based on parks hours so please check the Wilderness Explorers Headquarters, located by the Tree of Life.
Wilderness Explorer stations are located in the different areas of the park (Africa, Asia, Dinoland U.S.A., Discovery Island, Oasis and Pandora) and could be found on a simplified map in the front of your handbook. The map is easy to read and each station has a Wilderness Explorer sign. You can also ask a Cast Member and they will direct you if you have trouble. My son and daughter loved reading the map and leading us to the next station. They were very eager to collect their badges and looked for the Wilderness Explorers symbol.
At each Wilderness Explorers station, a badge guide led us through an activity designed to deepen our understanding of the natural world and how human interaction affects it. These activities were related to the land we were in and its plant and animal residents. Badge guides use props, ask interactive questions, and have fun activities for the kids to do (such as animal hunts for backyard friends). We were able to complete each station in just a few minutes.
All stations coordinate neatly with the pages in the handbook. Each focuses on a specific topic, and the badges fit neatly into icons on the top right or left corner of the pages. To complete the book, you need 32 stickers from the guides around the park. If you cannot finish it all in one day, no worries! You can still receive a Wilderness Explorer ranking. Earn 5 badges – Tadpole ranking, 10 for Minnow, 20 for Fish and obtain all 32 to be a Senior Wilderness Explorer. My kids were determined to earn all 32 and they did, but it does not have to be completed in a single day. You can bring your handbook back the next time you visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom to complete the program. The handbook also has a few spaces for drawing and a journal at the end to take notes. It also kept my kids busy planning our next stops during lunch and while waiting in lines.
It’s hard to pick a single favorite of all the stations, but one my kids really enjoyed was near the tigers in Asia. My kids have a love for animals and really got into seeing the different animal paw prints!
Another one my son absolutely loved was the station near DINOSAUR, where he was able to match 4 out of 4 dinosaur teeth. He was also able to tell the guide which one was a carnivore, herbivore, and omnivore and what each term meant. I was one extremely impressed mom!
We loved this program! Seeing the excitement on my kids faces when they completed it and got all 32 badges was reward enough for me. My son was so proud – he even wanted to get a Wilderness Explorer hat so he could tell all his friends! I can tell you we will be doing this again because with every trip to Disney, you will always see or learn something different and unique!
A Wilderness Explorer is a friend to all; be it plants or fish or tiny mole!
To book your Disney vacation, contact our friends at Mickey World Travel. They will make sure you have the most magical vacation, by monitoring your booking for future discounts, as well as booking your dining reservations and Fast Passes once they return to the parks.
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Email: KerriT@MickeyWorldTravel.com
