When a Path Less Traveled Becomes a Dream Come True

Tiffini Hensley11.22.18When Animal Kingdom opened in 1998, I was a sophomore in High School with dreams of becoming a veterinarian in a zoo. My family was fortunate enough to visit Animal Kingdom that first year it opened, and I was immediately mesmerized with Rafiki’s Planet Watch, and the ability to learn more about the majestic animals at this park. At that time, and for years following, I longed to go behind the scenes into their hospital and get up close to some of those animals.Imagine my surprise when 20 years later, Animal Kingdom released a tour in honor of its anniversary, that allowed visitors to go behind the scenes in a few different ways. The tour was called A Path Less Traveled, and we were sure to add this on to our family vacation this last April.A Path Less Traveled is a unique tour that has multiple experiences throughout the day. When we first signed in at 10:30am, we were asked to choose which time we’d like to experience Caring for Giants (included with the tour) and what snack and drink we’d like that afternoon. We were then split into a few groups to start on the first adventure of our journey.Each group was limited to 12-15 guests, and we were then given lanyards with our names written in specific colors, so our tour guides would know who was in their group. Our group was then lead to the train headed to Rafiki’s Planet Watch.Once we arrived at Rafiki’s Planet Watch, we were told that we would be unable to take any photos while behind the scenes, however, we could take as many photos as we would like when not backstage. Then we were lead back through the animal hospital to the animal nutrition center, where we witnessed meal preparation for a variety of the parks’ animals and learned why it’s important to keep the diets interesting and nutritious for each inhabitant. The next part behind the scenes was to check on the purple martins’ nests and learn more about these magnificent birds. The wildlife biologists at Disney have been tracking the migration patterns of these birds for years, and have created some unique homes for the birds to nest in. The homes allow the biologists to view the birds from arrival, through the nesting process, and even view and tag each baby martin. It was amazing as the biologist brought around homes in all three stages of the process so that we could see inside.The final part behind the scenes was by far my favorite! We were taken into the veterinary hospital, where we saw some of the medical equipment they use, including an MRI machine big enough to fit a zebra! One of the vets on staff also came in to answer any questions we had, and to show us how much the animals adored the vets on staff. They brought in one of the adorable kunekune pigs, who wandered around us and showed off her skills. The caretakers at Disney only use positive reinforcement, so when the pig decided to wander off all they could do was try to entice her back. It turned out that all she wanted was to nuzzle up to the vet, so in the end the vet had to walk back to her pen, so she would go back in!The second portion of the tour was Caring for Giants. We met with our tour group, and were then lead backstage to load into our air conditioned transportation to take us to a special viewing area for the elephants. We were told that we would be able to take as many photos as we liked once we arrived at the viewing area. During the short drive, our tour guide explained different areas we passed by and how each part of Animal Kingdom serves a purpose. Upon arrival at the viewing area, we were lead up a ramp to the glorious view of an elephant family, complete with an adorable baby! In addition to some amazing photos, we also learned about how farmers in Africa are using different techniques to keep the elephants out of their crops. It was very Buzzzzz- worthy information! Caring for Giants was a wonderful experience, that I’m excited to say is available as a standalone tour!The final portion of our tour was VIP seating for Rivers of Light, which is a nighttime performance that takes place in the lagoon near Asia and DinoLand USA. Though the show doesn’t offer fireworks (that would stress out the animals nearby), the beautiful music and lights more than make up for it.Now, looking back, I realize that although life has taken me on a different path than I expected to go, our passions stay with us and shape us into people who can use their experiences to help others see there is always more to learn and see and do! This tour fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine, but also created a spark that has made me want to learn even more about what goes on behind the scenes of my happy place!If you’d like to see additional pictures and videos from my visits to Walt Disney World, please check out my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/thensley.wft. If you’d like more information, or to start planning your next vacation, please contact Tiffini@wishesfamilytravel.com