Five Things to Know About Asia in the Animal Kingdom

Asia is one of the seven lands in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Once you cross the bridge from Discovery Island, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to another continent. With fascinating architecture, live entertainment, a whole host of animals, and plenty of treats to tantalize your tastebuds, there’s plenty here to explore!

1. Anandapur opens the door to this land of many adventures.

The real Anandapur is a small village that winds in and out of the jungle, through floodplains and the lower foothills of the Himalayas. The name Anandapur means “place of delight” in Sanskrit.

In Animal Kingdom’s Asia, Anandapur (say that five times fast!) has been described as a “collage of Asian themes inspired by the architecture and ruins of India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Nepal. But Asia is the largest continent on earth and to do it justice requires examples from many different cultures and areas. So how could it be otherwise?

In Asia, the Imagineers decided that the landscape architecture would be the star of the show. As is true throughout Animal Kingdom, the underlying theme is the conflict between human beings and respect for nature.

Nature has the upper hand here; you’ll see buildings crumbling as the lush vegetation reclaims its territory. Serka Zong (Fortress of the Chasm) is the little village at the base of Expedition Everest. As you approach, you’ll see a greater use of the color red – the color of protection. Which you’ll need, of course, in the lair of the Yeti! And speaking of the Yeti…

2. Asia is the home of Expedition Everest … but so much more.

The full name of this well-known and very popular attraction is Expedition Everest, Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. This roller coaster is where you’ll encounter the 22-foot-tall Yeti. Since it is so very popular, a lot of people head straight to it. If coasters aren’t your thing, you can have a thrilling adventure and get wet on the Kali River Rapids raft ride. (We recommend that you bring a change of socks.)

But there’s much more to Asia than these two rides. Near the entrance to Kali River Rapids, you can stop and watch the gibbons climb and swing on their island. The Maharajah Jungle Trek  is a self-guided walking tour where you’ll be able to observe tigers, bats, monkeys, wildly colorful birds, and even a Komodo Dragon. For my money, the bats and birds steal the show here!

And as far as our avian friends go, Feathered Friends in Flight! provides you with a remarkable 25-minute show featuring trained free-flying birds. It’s absolutely amazing, well worth your while, and a great way to take a break from all your walking. Altogether, Asia is home to more than 50 species of birds!

Music sets the atmosphere as you take in the land; often it’s live entertainment. You can enjoy Hindustani Raga music in “Beats and Strings”. The two-person band plays every 20 minutes near the Anandapur Theater, weather permitting.

3. There are so many things to eat…

If you want to eat your way through Asia, you need to leave time to make plenty of stops! And while there’s only one Table Service restaurant, the rest offer a plethora of beverages, snacks, and more to enjoy.

Yak & Yeti Local Foods Café is the largest Quick Service spot, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The sausage and egg English muffin has saved me from starvation more than once. The lunch and dinner menu offers a variety of Asian dishes. (Kids can get chicken strips and PB&J Uncrustables here, too.) For your sweet tooth, Caravan Road stand sells shaved ice, including the Japanese Kakigori, flavored with sweetened condensed milk and watermelon.

 

There are a lot of places serving adult beverages (along with non-alcoholic drinks) in Asia. There’s the Warung Outpost, home of the Maharajah Lime Margarita. Drinkwallah serves up frozen Coca-Cola flavors that can be spiced up with rum or whiskey. The Thirsty River Bar offers a variety of cocktails, wine, and beer. And rope droppers can snag their morning coffee (or later-in-the-day coffee) at the Royal Anandapur Tea Company (Joffrey’s) near Kali River Rapids.

Trek Snacks is on the opposite side of the Thirsty River Bar, where you can get Mickey pretzels, popcorn, and ice cream. But for real ice cream variety, check out the Anandapur Ice Cream Cart. Soft serve options include chocolate and vanilla. But the star here is the Yeti sundae: chocolate soft-serve topped with vanilla soft-serve, blue cake crumbs, sweet snowflakes, and a chocolate Yeti!

The only Table Service spot in Asia is the Yak & Yeti Restaurant. A wide range of Asian fusion options are available, including small plates, shareables, soups, salads, noodles and bowls, wok dishes, and more.

4. …and the shopping here is neat!

On our visits, we’ve found a number of wonderful souvenirs and other items in Asia. Mandala Gifts, across from the Yak & Yeti “complex,” is an outdoor gift kiosk where you’ll find Disney merch and Asia-themed items. Nearby is the Yak & Yeti Bhaktapur Market, an outdoor shop featuring Asian-inspired apparel, jewelry, and other items.

But the main shop is the Serka Zong Bazaar. Next to Expedition Everest, it’s the gift shop at the ride’s exit. We’ve spent literally hours in here looking, while the grandkids rode Expedition Everest on repeat. There’s plenty of Disney merch, Expedition Everest merch, and we even picked up a Helly Hansen rain jacket here in the store. So much to look at, we’re glad we took the time to check it all out.

5. Secrets of Asia.

⭐ Pay attention to the paths you’re walking on. The Imagineers have used them as part of the story! You’ll see tread marks from bikes and trucks, footprints, animal prints, and even the imprint of leaves.

⭐ As you near Expedition Everest, notice how the bike tracks in the paths stop – because riding a bike in this region is impractical.

⭐ Throughout the land, you’ll see prayer flags hanging. A common feature in Tibetan culture, they’re believed to bring happiness, prosperity, and long life to anyone who displays them. The colors of the flags are yellow, green, red, white, and blue, representing earth, water, fire, clouds, and sky.

⭐ The shrine in Serka Zong pays tribute to the yeti. When viewed from the front, the shape of the shrine matches the shape of the mountain behind it.

⭐ The shrine also features mani stones. These slate tablets are carved with mantras and devotional designs sacred to the area.

The Bottom Line.

Asia is so much more than a land to pass through as you head for Expedition Everest. Between the remarkable variety of animals, and the amazing plant life everywhere, there’s so much to enjoy that we recommend you leave some touring time to take it all in. The architectural details, the cuisine, and even the sitting areas scattered around are worthy of your attention. While the real continent may not be on your bucket list, Animal Kingdom’s Asia gives you at least a tiny peek into the wonders the world’s largest continent has to offer.

Have you spent time in Asia? What was your favorite part? Let us know in the comments.