This page is to help you quickly jump through this picture set. Below you will see a listing of the pages and the captions on that page.

• Page Number: 1
  

  A Disney bus sporting the new color scheme pulled up to take us to Animal Kingdom this morning. Eventually the entire fleet will be repainted to this scheme. We spotted only a couple this trip.
  The inside looked the same so it is just an exterior change on this bus.
  

• Page Number: 2
  

  Today marked the 15th Anniversary of Animal Kingdom. There was a healthy crowd lined up well before park opening.
  They opened the gates after a brief announcement and welcome. Inside a party for the planet table that I glanced toward as I headed for Discovery Island and a spot for the opening ceremony. This looked to be about the same as previous years.
  

• Page Number: 3
  

  As we approached Discovery Island a mass of guests with soem trucks and units from the parade out.
  A closer look at what flanked the stage, while we wait.
  

• Page Number: 4
  

  A better look at where the event will be.
  The mass gathering behind us.
  

• Page Number: 5
  

  As you entered the park this morning there were special time schedules for the day (front/back pictured)
  You also received a button for the occasion.
  And commemorative park maps for the day.
  

• Page Number: 6
  

  A look inside the map.
  The inside featured the opening day map.
  A listing of todays festivities
  

• Page Number: 7
  

  The dedication plaque.
  The other side had the current park map.
  

• Page Number: 8
  

  A video of the full ceremony (the audio is decent but the video is far and a several cameras, etc.. are in the way).
  The ceremony started with a procession featuring banners and cast member representatives.
  

• Page Number: 9
  

  Several characters took to the truck/stage.
  

• Page Number: 10
  

  A couple clips of the opening taken with the SLR so we could get a little closer than the full video. The speaker is Josh DAmaro, Vice President of Disneys Animal Kingdom.
  Dr. Jackie Ogden, Vice President of Animals, Science and Environment
  

• Page Number: 11
  

  The finale featured the Circle of Life from the Lion King.
  

• Page Number: 12
  

  Video of the finale performance, the Circle of Life.
  

• Page Number: 13
  

  Then a giant Earth Ball was brought out and made its way through the crowd.
  

• Page Number: 14
  

  Video of the earth ball.
  

• Page Number: 15
  

  Throughout Discovery Island were guest artists and vendors. Here is the sign for one (more later).
  The banners representing the areas of the park.
  

• Page Number: 16
  

• Page Number: 17
  

  The mass of guests still marching in.
  The largest crowd was heading to Africa. Some for the Safari as usual, but many for the collectible merchandise that was to be sold at Creature Comforts.
  

• Page Number: 18
  

  Signs for the merchandise sale.
  Looking back at the crowd.
  I kept going to Harambe.
  

• Page Number: 19
  

  The crowd thinned going toward the Safari.
  Another guest artist sign.
  Turning around you could see the merchandise line. It stretched down into Africa and wrapped around by the Tusker House.
  

• Page Number: 20
  

  Here you can see it wrapping.
  Moving back toward the store. I heard estimates of a couple hour wait.
  

• Page Number: 21
  

  I did not wait (but will double back later for pictures). So now I had to find the rest of my group.. turns out they went on the Safari so I had some time to kill in Harambe and able to tweet some pictures.
  Waited near the exit and watched the male silverbacks in Pangani while I waited.
  

• Page Number: 22
  

  Next up a train out to Conservation Station.
  Seems like it is time for some new signs along the railway. This film is a couple years old already.
  A White Rhino along the route.
  

• Page Number: 23
  

  Our destination.
  A cast member with a bird out front, I missed what kind it was.
  Arriving at Conservation Station there were some displays, including a Chevy Volt.
  

• Page Number: 24
  

• Page Number: 25
  

  At many of the tables were handouts and gifts, such as these notebooks.
  

• Page Number: 26
  

• Page Number: 27
  

  Your restroom factoid of the day/trip...
  Inside Conservation Station several tables/displays set up talking about various projects.
  

• Page Number: 28
  

• Page Number: 29
  

  A video showing clips from the next Disney Nature film, Bears.
  

• Page Number: 30
  

• Page Number: 31
  

  Some of the buttons that were being given away.
  

• Page Number: 32
  

  Inside the operating room they were examining a small monkey that had a fracture.
  

• Page Number: 33
  

  An X-ray showing the fracture.
  We next headed back to Harambe for a Safari ride. They had one of the rfid poles uncovered at the Fastpass entrance.
  

• Page Number: 34
  

  Some random pictures from the Safari
  The black rhino looked bored.
  

• Page Number: 35
  

  A baby stork (the gray one).
  Looking out on the savanna.
  A sable antelope
  

• Page Number: 36
  

  A water buck.
  Several mandrills were out as we passed by.
  

• Page Number: 37
  

  The male mandrill
  Elephant country.
  

• Page Number: 38
  

  People seem to love duck pictures.. so here are some near the elephant area.
  Cheetahs.
  A white rhino
  

• Page Number: 39
  

  The lions were just laying around.
  

• Page Number: 40
  

  Addax are in the new area at the end (we spotted Zebra back where they used to be on the far hill after the bridge that shakes).
  Next walked through Pangani. More Earth Day activities.
  

• Page Number: 41
  

  Some birds along the way.
  More information tables at the overlook.
  

• Page Number: 42
  

  The male silverbacks.
  A collection of some of the free items that were available at the various tables.
  

• Page Number: 43
  

  The line is shorter.. no more wrapping but it still extended across the bridge and was much longer than my patience.
  There was cookie decoration in the afternoon, I did not go to it.. but several signs up at Pizzafari
  

• Page Number: 44
  

  Some of the vendors/artists around Discovery Island.
  Noticed the Kodak picture spot signs still up everywhere.
  

• Page Number: 45
  

• Page Number: 46
  

  Random merchandise picture.
  They were feeding the cotton-top tamarins
  

• Page Number: 47
  

  Another vendor.
  

• Page Number: 48
  

  Stopped to listen to the Viva Gaia Street Band!
  

• Page Number: 49
  

  Some video clips of the performance.
  

• Page Number: 50
  

  Had a chance to get a great shot of a bird coming down the walkway, instead managed to get the sign.. oops.
  Random look toward the Bugs queue.
  

• Page Number: 51
  

  Closed for the conversion to the meet and greet area.
  Next made my way out to Asia. Stopped to watch the gibbons.
  

• Page Number: 52
  

  A baby gibbon.
  Just hanging around..
  

• Page Number: 53
  

  A tree monitor on the Jungle Trek.
  Some pavement work along the trek.
  An Asian tiger
  

• Page Number: 54
  

  More Party of the Planet activities.
  

• Page Number: 55
  

  The Siamang gibbons were being very vocal as we walked by.
  

• Page Number: 56
  

  The other gibbons were just watching.
  Stopped by Flights of Wonder next. Really wish I was quicker on the focus!
  

• Page Number: 57
  

• Page Number: 58
  

• Page Number: 59
  

  On the way out noticed the stand near by had a lot of alcohol on the menu.. probably always has but I did not notice it.
  Random Tree of Life shot as I walked by.
  Looks like the temp walkway nets are hear to stay for a while.. too bad.
  

• Page Number: 60
  

  The cell phone tree is a little obvious as you head toward Africa.
  The merchandise line only had one switchback outside the store so I decided to get in line. It still took nearly 45 minutes to get through.
  A look at some of the merchandise.
  

• Page Number: 61
  

  More merchandise.
  The process was orderly. You were given this form to fill out (it listed everything that was available)
  The other side.
  

• Page Number: 62
  

  You then circled the store and could see the merchandise and try on sizes if needed.
  

• Page Number: 63
  

  At the Zebra they collected the form and went to fill your order.
  You continued around. And right before the registers they bring your order out to you.
  Some of the collectible Vinylmation (these are originals, 1 of 1).
  

• Page Number: 64
  

  I ended up buying three of the 15th Anniversary pins.
  

• Page Number: 65
  

  As I left the line was still about the same length.
  On the way out a couple Tree of Life pictures.
  

• Page Number: 66
  

  Had to take one classic shot..
  Still a healthy crowd moving around the park as we left.
  But once we reached the trail it thinned out.
  

• Page Number: 67
  

  The new entrances still look so off to me. Very open and I am not used to it.
  Compared to the old.
  A look at the bus lot work at the Transportation and Ticket center. They are changing the parking arrangement.
  

• Page Number: 68
  

  Entering Epcot. Notice the projector booth on the top of the monorail platform, that will be used for the Monster press event on Thursday.
  The entrance topiaries.
  Spaceship Earth
  

• Page Number: 69
  

  The flower beds from the Monorail. Always a great shot this time of year.
  

• Page Number: 70
  

• Page Number: 71
  

  We went round trip on the monorail and returned to the TTC to take the ferry to the Magic Kingdom.
  The Iron Man 3 wrapped monorail.
  

• Page Number: 72
  

  The Grand Floridian DVC work.
  The Iron Man 3 monorail in the distance.
  

• Page Number: 73
  

  The Magic Kingdom bus stop expansion project is well underway with a lot of dirt being moved around.
  

• Page Number: 74
  

  The band out on Main Street.
  It was a quick trip to the MK for us. We left before the rain and headed to the Yacht/Beach Club for dinner. Since we were early roamed the stores a bit.
  The menu at the Beach Club Marketplace
  

• Page Number: 75
  

  Some pics of the food.
  

• Page Number: 76
  

• Page Number: 77
  

  Outside it was pouring.
  

• Page Number: 78
  

  Our destination for the evening.. one of my favorites the Yachtsman Steakhouse.
  A check of the cuts of meat in the meat locker.
  

• Page Number: 79
  

  Nice and quiet in the main dining room as we were seated.
  

• Page Number: 80
  

  A table across from us set up for some guests.
  It was a couple celebrating their wedding anniversary, I did not hear the number but guessing 50th.
  A check of the grill..
  

• Page Number: 81
  

  My dinner
  One other plate at our table..
  The rain had stopped by the time we headed out.
  

• Page Number: 82
  

  But the skies were still threatening as we headed to Epcot.
  Random food booth picture.
  Monsters University topiaries.
  

• Page Number: 83
  

  The flower beds from ground level.
  A walk through the butterfly house.
  

• Page Number: 84
  

  Iridessa
  

• Page Number: 85
  

• Page Number: 86
  

• Page Number: 87
  

• Page Number: 88
  

  By this point it had started to rain again so I had to run for cover.. so no butterfly pictures this time through.
  Hard to tell but the rain is coming down quite hard.
  

• Page Number: 89
  

  I ran into the Character Spot area. The backdrop in the temp location is great.
  They are still working on the permanent spot.
  Also the Fountain View is closed to become Starbucks. Looks to be gutted.
  

• Page Number: 90
  

  The rain let up so time to venture out.
  Monorail Yellow parked for a great photo op.
  

• Page Number: 91
  

  Stopped by the Seas.
  The new Fastpass Plus entrance is done.
  

• Page Number: 92
  

  The door was open but not being used.
  Nemo and the gang.
  

• Page Number: 93
  

  Inside a couple of displays, guessing for Earth day.
  And a game for kids.
  Turtle Talks Fastpass Plus entrance.
  

• Page Number: 94
  

  Hiked out to the entrance topiary for some pictures.
  

• Page Number: 95
  

  Another backdrop for photos, this is to the right as you are entering.
  

• Page Number: 96
  

  The cover was off the Fastpass+ computer by Spaceship Earth.. this is what the screen showed.
  Next up went through Spaceship Earth.
  Buzz and Mission Space this evening.
  

• Page Number: 97
  

  Test Track
  

• Page Number: 98
  

  The Cars topiaries at night..
  
  

• Page Number: 99
  

  Wish they did better lighting for the Lion King group. Spotlights from the corners are not that interesting.
  

• Page Number: 100
  

• Page Number: 101
  

  Went for a quick hike around World Showcase. It was not crowded at all this evening.
  Snow White and the Dwarfs near Germany.
  The temporary stage near Morocco.
  

• Page Number: 102
  

  The changing lights on the prince/princess topiaries were a bit odd.
  All is quiet in the UK.
  

• Page Number: 103
  

  Ready for Illuminations to begin.
  Some random pics from the show.
  

• Page Number: 104
  

  That wraps up my last full day at WDW.. tomorrow is a partial day then head for home.