Originally Posted By mstaft Is this really true? I know its been the subject of some questions for awhile. Where is it and how is it accessed?
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy There are a number of hiking paths on Discovery Island in and around the Tree of Life that aren't marked real well. They are almost discovered by accident. Is this what you're thinking of?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Is this what you're thinking of?>> I don't think so. I've also heard of a "secret path" in the AK that is somewhere along the walkway between the Africa and Asia sections of the park. It supposedly includes stepping stones across a small stream. I look for it every visit but have never been able to find it.
Originally Posted By pitapan16 Well, Animal Kingdom really is mysterious. It took me I think 3-4 visits just to find the hiking trail(forget the name) is Asia. It was like it was'nt even there! And now when we go, it's always a must see attraction. Man I love AK.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<<As you are on your way to Harambe Village keep your eye out for the last path to the right after the Tree of Life and before the bridge to Harambe Village. This is the “SECRET PATHâ€. The front of path is filled with a lot of vegetation so you might have to look hard. Yes it is open to the public. Follow the path for a close look at the Tree of Life and for some great photo spots. Not many people know about this path so you will have a lot of time to yourself and will not be interruptions when you are taking photos. You know those people who ignore the fact that you are taking a picture and walk right in front of you. >>>
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<<for Themeparks.com by Rick and Gayle Perlmutter email Rick and Gayle This tale begins with “Deep in the heart of Africa...†Well, actually it’s really more like “somewhere at Disney’s Animal Kingdom…†there is a delightful little trail that you’ll find neither on any map nor marked by any signpost. Created as part of the park’s sense of adventure, this hidden feature is there solely for you to discover. Of course, we won’t tell you where it is, but we’ll tell you what it’s like and how we found it. Before the park opened, we had visited several times and were organizing our own information so that we could write about it accurately. Amidst our piles of notes and press releases, we found an interview of Joe Rhode, one of the moving forces behind this marvelous place. Late in the interview, he mentioned a “hidden walk†somewhere in the park. It was there, he said, simply for people to discover on their own. No signs, no pavement, and it did not appear on any map. The next morning, we rushed to the park and began a careful search. It didn’t take us too long to find it and, while it is certainly not “an attraction,†it most definitely was a discovery. The small and unpaved loop path runs through the dense “jungle.†If you take it, you’ll know you’ll have found it when you ford several small streams on some well-placed “rocks.†On our visits to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we always take this short stroll both to enjoy the solitude [we’ve never seen another soul on it] and to see how discovered it has become. No doubt, others have found it, for the signs are there to see. Yet, it seems mostly missed by the park’s many visitors and thus, what we call “the secret path,†largely remains one of the Animal Kingdom’s undiscovered adventures.>>>
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Hmmm... I've taken the path described in post #6, but don't think it is the same one as is described in post #7 (I don't remember any stepping stones over a stream). Is anyone familiar with these paths? Are #6 and #7 indeed the same path and I just somehow missed the stream?
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Here is another one. <<<The 'secret path' - There's a small eating area, with picnic tables, on the path between Harambe Village and Asia. If you're walking from Harambe Village, the area is on the left. Just before the picnic tables, you'll see the start of the 'secret path'.>>> I'm going to have to plead ignorant on this one. I didn't even know there were secret paths in DAK till you mentioned it today.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I have GOT to look for this on my next trip [whenever that will be ]
Originally Posted By Crazy4WDW I'll definitely look for it next month. I never even knew this existed.
Originally Posted By brotherdave This path has me intrigued as well!!! I wish I knew of it's existence on our trip to WDW in June! Does anyone know if there is anything 'special' to see along this path? Did the Imagineers apply any theming, animals, or artifacts to see along it? Or is it simply just a scenic path through the vegetation with the streams and stepping stones that were mentioned?
Originally Posted By WDWs Future Heh, wont be a sercret path much longer I, too, knew fairly nothing of this path except for the picnic table area that I did finally notice this past weekend. I will definitely have to check this out next month, woo hoo..always something new!
Originally Posted By CMM1 I believe the path you are talking about is marked on the current AK park maps - its a small loop in the path between Africa and Asia right below the train tracks of the Planet Watch attraction and has a "smoking zone" symbol next to it.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Yes, the secret path is true. However, the path was long ago blocked off and can no longer be done. I did it several times.. it was a cute walk into the forresty are off the path between Asia and Africa. A smoking section now sits nearby where the path began. You could take the path and it would take you to a few stepping stones over a small stream of water then out back to the regular trail.. Rumor had it it was closed due to questionable behavior by guests back there.. and for safety reasons as well. So don't bother looking for it because it is now well conceiled by trees that were planted where the path began and ended.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> questionable behavior by guests back there << Like what? Sneaking a bag of Crystal hamburgers into the park in a camera bag?
Originally Posted By DVC_dad <<<However, the path was long ago blocked off and can no longer be done.>>> We need to get DanYoung on this right away!
