If you or your child love watching the animals roam the savanna on Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom ® or exploring the wild on Fort Wilderness’ many trails, wait until you get to actually pet and even ride them at the petting zoo, Affection Section and Pony Rides at Fort Wilderness! The only petting zoo in Animal Kingdom ®, Affection Section allows guests of all ages to really connect with the animal kingdom by getting to know some of the animals that inhabit the park including goats, sheep, donkeys, cows, pigs, llamas and chickens. But the difference between Affection Section and other petting zoos is that guests won’t just get to feed and pet these domesticated animals, they’ll actually get to come inside their home and brush them too!
Affection Section is just one part of Animal Kingdom’s ® Rafiki Planet Watch, an area devoted to the preservation and conservation of animals. Conservation Station within Rafiki’s Planet Watch will also give guests an up-close experience with Animal Kingdom’s animals. Not quite a petting zoo, guests will still be able to watch, learn and interact with the animals with the Veterinary Treatment Room, where you can watch the hands-on care these animals receive; Animal Encounters Stage, which involves the animals as the stars of the show; Nutrition Center, here guests will be able to watch as handlers prepare meals for the park’s animals; Nursery, where you’ll be able to watch the newest creatures to Animal Kingdom ® adjust to their new world and many other animal exhibits.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch will also give guests an up-close view of one of the world’s most endangered primates – cotton-top tamarins. These adorable creatures can be spotted on the self-guided wildlife path in Habitat Habit!
In addition to the petting zoo at Animal Kingdom ®, guests “roughing” it in the wild at The Cabins at Fort Wilderness will be able to enjoy their own close encounters with Walt Disney World’s ® animals. Your little cowboy or cowgirl can saddle up and take an old-fashioned pony ride at Tri-Circle-D Ranch. Guided by an adult or parent, the pony rides will take the littlest adventurers down a short path surrounded by guardrails. After learning the ways of the wild west and riding horseback, your little cowpokes will experience the magic of Disney ® one more time by meeting Cinderella’s own ponies!
For the chance to pet, feed and learn about some of Animal Kingdom’s ® furriest creatures at Affection Section and the rest of Rafiki’s Planet Watch as well as ride ponies at Fort Wilderness Campground, look for discounted Walt Disney World ® tickets right here on Best of Orlando.
Orlando, FL – 02/20/13 | 
