Wilderness Explorers Scavenger Hunt Review at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
The Wilderness Explorers Scavenger Hunt Opened On: June 2, 2013.
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Wilderness Explorers is a scavenger hunt similar to “A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas” in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom. There is no additional cost to participate.
Willing adventurers may pick up a Wilderness Explorers Handbook on the bridge that connects the Oasis and Discovery Island in front of the Tree of Life. Other pickup locations include Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia, Dinoland U.S.A. and Pandora – The World of Avatar.
Here’s an older list of the handbook pickup and badge locations so you can get an idea about what you’re looking at:
Disney usually staffs the activity from 10am through 7pm, with the potential that the cutoff time will be earlier in the day if the Park closes earlier. The 10am start means picking up a Wilderness Explorers book from one of the peripheral Lands may be more convenient than the main pickup location on Discovery Island. If you have any trouble identifying where the nearest pickup location is located, ask a cast member. They’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.
The handbook also includes a map with the locations of each of the activities. You’ll find a couple of badge locations in Pandora now as well.
Explorers visit each location. There, they’ll interact with a cast member and complete a task in exchange for a badge (sticker). We’ll receive our first badge for reciting the Wilderness Explorer Call as described on the page on the left. Then it’s off to the Flamingos on Discovery Island.
Each task takes about five minutes and takes guests to parts of Animal Kingdom that they might not otherwise visit. This location is in DinoLand, well off to the right of the entrance to DINOSAUR, near some dinosaur fossil recreations.
While the activity is probably aimed at kids, adults are more than welcome to participate. Cast at each of the stations have the ability to adjust the activities based on the ages and intellects of those participating. In the picture above, a number of badges are available along Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. The Wilderness Explorers activity may be a good way to get the kids excited about doing some things that would otherwise hold little interest. It’s sort of like Animal Kingdom’s version of the Kidcot Fun Stops in World Showcase.
The Handbook also makes a great “free” souvenir. There is no time limit on when an Explorer needs to finish collecting their badges. You can return with the book over the course of several days or several vacations. I’ve been working on mine for about seven years. In that time, some of these locations have changed names. Others, like Pandora, have even opened. Talk about getting old.
One of my favorite memories from my DCP was going around and getting all of the badges in one day. It does encourage you to slow down and visit more of the “hidden” areas of the park. I wouldn’t say it’s a first or second visit activity, but a good way to spice up a repeat visit.