Originally Posted By DVC_dad Friends and everyone: ;-p I am right at this very moment in tv Animal Kingdom, literally looking for the secret path. This is my 5th trip looking, never having found it. Could ANYONE PLEASE post detailed instructions and would you reccomend actually asking a CM directly? All help appreciated greatly !!! Even if you see this tomorrow, I will be back in this park late tomorrow, please reply thank you!!!
Originally Posted By tapdancemom I've never been to WDW so I don't have a clue. Being the nosy person that I am, now I have to know what this path is. What does it lead to?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Sorry DVC_dad, it doesn't exist any more. <<Melissa writes: I have seen references in many books and websites to the "secret path" in the Animal Kingdom park, but no one will tell me where it is. Please give up the "secret!" Hi Melissa! Unfortunately, the "secret path" at Animal Kingdom no longer exists. It was closed and allowed to grow over in 2002. I assume this was done as a security measure after 9/11, but it could just be a coincidence. The path was one of those little touches that makes the World the special place it is, and it's unfortunate that it can no longer be enjoyed. When it did exist, it was located on the north side of the main paved path between Asia and Africa, closer to Africa. One end was off a smaller paved path that veers off the main path. This was originally a dining area for the burger stand on the main path and is now a designated smoking area. The dirt path went north into the wooded area, crossed a small stream, turned south again and came back out onto the far end of the paved path near Africa. These days, it's so overgrown that it's almost impossible to see where it once existed. A.A.>> Source: <a href="http://allears.net/aa/aa040907.htm" target="_blank">http://allears.net/aa/aa040907.htm</a> Actually, that just goes to show what the "experts" know (although Deb's site is usually very good). I've located pictures of the Secret Path dated December 2, 2007 so it does indeed still exist. I initially found the path completely by accident my second visit to the AK after Expedition Everest opened. ***************************************** WARNING -- SECRET PATH SPOILERS AHEAD ***************************************** I found the path accidentally when meeting my wife after riding EE. She doesn't like coasters so I decided to do the single rider line while my wife waited. She noticed that the parade was scheduled to begin soon, so she said she would wait for me at the corner where the parade makes the turn after coming across the bridge from Discovery Island. That corner is between "L" and "13" on this map: <a href="http://allears.net/tp/ak/akmap.jpg" target="_blank">http://allears.net/tp/ak/akmap.jpg</a> When I met up with my wife of course that corner was kind of mobbed, and the only place there was for me to stand was too close to the parade for the Line Enforcer CM's preference. So I looked around and saw this little opening into the foliage and told my wife we would just stand back there. The opening looks like this: <a href="http://www.pbase.com/ysic/image/90310038" target="_blank">http://www.pbase.com/ysic/image/90310038</a> We went in and the saw this little gazebo ahead of us. The gazebo looks like this: <a href="http://www.pbase.com/ysic/image/90310037" target="_blank">http://www.pbase.com/ysic/image/90310037</a> We walked back there and sat down at a little table in glorious seclusion just yards away from chaos. The table area looks like this: <a href="http://www.pbase.com/ysic/image/90310039" target="_blank">http://www.pbase.com/ysic/image/90310039</a> Actually, we never saw the "stepping stones" everyone looks for. At the time I did not realize I had found the famous "Secret Path" so I did not look for them. At any rate, they look like this: <a href="http://www.pbase.com/ysic/image/90310033" target="_blank">http://www.pbase.com/ysic/image/90310033</a> Here is the webpage linking to the above photos and more: <a href="http://www.pbase.com/ysic/secret_path" target="_blank">http://www.pbase.com/ysic/secret_path</a> Happy Hunting!!
Originally Posted By barboy I wish I were there too--damn I'm jealous! The problem was Brother, in his infinite wisdom, asked me to join him in late August for the Beach Club---and since I am a Disney/Universal full blown theme park addict I couldn't say 'No' even though that is one really stupid time of the year to go for us 'out of staters' who rely on airplanes. I mean even great students of hitting swing at lowsy pitches. I am Kirby Puckett when it comes to Disney--- if someone throws me a high, out of the stike zone offer to join them at 'The World' I can't lay off the high heat; I just go up ther hacking at anything. Well it looks like it will be somewhere in March for my next Orlando/Fl. Keys trip. BTW I haven't seen you around LP as much as before. Hope you and the family are having a great trip. Oh and as to secret path I'm still wondering what that's all about. There is the Maharajah Jungle trek, Pangani Forest(which are hardly secrets), the path from CTX/Dinosour to Chester & Hester area and the Tree Of Life has a less traveled path on the river side of the tree. I guess I'm pretty curious as to this secret path.
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie The remnants of the path are still there, but they are covered with leaves and it's very hard to see. I found it when we were there in May. The stepping stones ARE still there. There was a chair that probably a CM put back there and there is a fallen tree now along the path as well. Heading from Asia to Africa, just as you walk past the Flights of Wonder show, there is a paved side trail. This area used to be used as a smoking area. Head up there. The path will be on the right as you are heading from Asia to Africa. The path backs up to the track for the train.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Success!!! Well when I asked for DETAILED directions I never dreamed of what you put there Trippy and RMMinnie. I found it, took photos of me and kids on steping stones, the whole 9. At one point me and my oldest son ventured off by accident and nearly got lost. We came to a road and doubled back eventually finding the stepping stones! This puts a five yearquest to bed! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH, but in a way Im sort of sad I've finally found it. It's definately still there but yes very overgrown. I'll post photos when I get back home. You guys are the best!
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Oh there's no chair there, but there is a milk crate with a cigarette lighter there. LOL ! I took the lighter. Awwww
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Gazebo area hummm... We treked all over the general area. I didn't see the gazebo (unless you mean the one just off of the paved area with a pic nix table under it) and I am 100% certain that were it still there, I would have. I know that people want to believe that the secret path is still "open" but honestly I think the spirit of the thing is that it's no longer intended for park guests. Oh don't get me wrong, the path is there, the stepping stones are there just like the photos. But just like Sherry states, there is a deadfall tree lying in the path and the stepping stones are beginning to get overgrown on both sides of the stream. There are not really any leaves as the entire area has just been covered in cypress mulch, which actually makes the path even more difficult to distinguish. But alas based on the photos Trippy linked to, I know for an absolute fact that today we WERE on what once was "The Animal Kingdom Secret Path." Its pretty secluded back there. By the way, I noticed that here happens to be a far easier way to find it, but it's not nearly as fun. AFTER we found it, I asked a CM. She could neither confirm nor deny officially of course...but... I think in another few years the area will become impassable.
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie Well, I'm so glad you finally found it. I doubt it will be very visible in a year or two. I don't recall seeing a gazebo structure either.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad Dude, how do you guys find out about this stuff. Next week I'm gonna see for myself. this is so cool. Secret path rocks!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I don't recall seeing a gazebo structure either.>> It is at kind of one far end of the "Secret Path". Just as I didn't see the stepping stones, those who saw the stepping stones and did not go further would probably not have seen the gazebo. It has to be there… the guy photographed it on the page I linked to!! In my opinion, the gazebo is at the more accessible end of the path. I will have to check it out next time I am at the AK.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Dude, how do you guys find out about this stuff. Next week I'm gonna see for myself. this is so cool. Secret path rocks! << The answer CarolinaDisneyDad is hours of time spent reading every WDW fan site on the net. This takes a long time normally unless you're a Bum like me and have all the free time in the world. Mostly it's just stumbeling across it just like you checking out this post. So now you know the secret of the AK secret path.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad MPierce, You're right. I continue to bee amazed at the details that people discover. Even more amazing is that Disney put this stuff there to be found. That's part of the allure of disney. After 6 straight years, there is still more to be seen. I consistently read LP and Re-imagineering. Are there other good sites I should check out? Although I don't know if I have enough time to read much more and I really like the community here.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Well as for the gazebo, there is a sheltered area on the more accessable end yes, but it is paved underneath and has a couple of pic nix tables under it. It covered the entry to the path where the circular water/utility cover is, you know right there at the entrance to the path. There is no other gazebo, but the stones are all there. We actually left the path, which is east to do since there is fresh cypress mulch covering the entire area, path and non-path. We ended up down at a road of some kind, and the train must have been right on top of us from the sound of the whistle, it gave us a start when it blew. We almost got lost back there at one point and I began to get afraid that we would get asked to leave the park if we were discovered. I am convinced that if there were a gazebo I would have found it, but maybe, just maybe there is one that we somehow missed. I'm now thinking there may be other "accidental" paths at the AK. I noticed that the Pooh characters are in one of the old Boat boarding areas, you guys remember the old boats that were there when the AK first opened? I'm sure there are paths to those and other areas. Also, THE FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL HQ is in the old WONDERS OF LIFE PAVILLION at Epcot. It was neat to LEGALLY visit the inside of this pavillion again. I can't understand why they don't relocate BODY WARS but maybe they ate hoping another Corp sponsor cones along. I need to post a trip report. This is getting too long, but Im standing in line outside the bldg that I will be voting in soon. 2 hour wait "from this point" LOLOLOL
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo 2hrs wait? Seriously? That must be some e-ticket! Though seriously, i am glad to see so many using the right people have died for.
