>Walt Disney World was built on 47 square miles of “virgin land” as Walt Disney himself called it. This land was mostly swamp back in the 1960’s before Disney started building on it. Today they still have not developed more than 3/4 of the land and a quarter of it has been designated as a wildlife preserve. Back before Animal Kingdom

was opened, there was an Island in the middle of Bay Lake called Discovery Island. This 11 acre island was only accessible by boat and originally started out as Blackbeard’s Island in 1974 and then was changed over to Animal Preserve type place in 1977. This animal preserve, Discovery Island, housed over 140 species of animals and the 250 species of tropical plants. Late in the 1970’s or early ‘80’s it was accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.
 Discovery Island was officially closed on April 8, 1999 after Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened on April 1, 1998. The Safari Village portion of Animal Kingdom was renamed Discovery Island as a tribute to this great area. When Discovery Island was open, you could go there and see different types of birds and gators and things like that.

Today there isn’t one area where you can go to see wild life like this. Yes, Animal Kingdom does have the Safari and a bird aviary and all, but to see the animals just free to come and go there is no one specific place to go. But you really don’t need to go anywhere to see wild life at Disney. It is all around the parks all the time. This is Today’s Unknown Magic; The Wild Life of Disney World. And by Wild Life I mean truly wild birds and things being able to come and go at Disney.

At all of the resorts, there is little gecko type Florida Lizards running around from tree to tree and bush to bush. It’s fun to see how different people respond to these critters. My Dad a few years ago kept trying to catch one for the grandkids (he did and they found it really cool- creating a Magical Experience for them), while our friend this year didn’t like them at all. In the Water Ways there are fish (you can actually go on a catch and release fishing expedition from different Resorts) and there are many different kinds of birds that are around Walt Disney World. There are even bunny rabbits that show themselves from time to time throughout the resort. Once in a while, there is even a young alligator that can be found in the waters around the resorts, but the Disney Maintenance crews take care of moving these back to areas on property away from the guests.(this could create an Experience whether or not it is Magical would be your choice.)

Many of these animals scurry away when people come by, but a few are accustomed to the people and even come towards you as you are sitting in certain areas. Others make themselves seen, but don’t bother the guests at all. The animals all add to the feeling of comfort in the parks though as it seems natural for ducks to be swimming in front of Cinderella Castle or a Crane to be in the trees above the Rivers of America. Sitting and watching the kids watch the animals can be a Magical Experience, as the animals will be doing their thing and the kids will find this fascinating.

So, now you know, there are Unknown Magics to be found from the wild all around The Walt Disney World Resort. Just take the time to look and watch, it will be Magical.