Disney's Animal Kingdom
Frustrated Guest Demands Disney World Tigers “Wake Up” After Paying Hundreds for Tickets
Recently, an incident highlighted the clash between guest expectations and animal behavior at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
During his family’s visit, stand-up comedian Dan Altano became vocally frustrated after encountering the tigers, who were lounging peacefully in their habitat away from public view. The guest’s reaction escalated to demanding that the tigers “wake up” for their amusement.
@dan_altano Someone please wake up the Disney World Tiger! #funny #comedian #disneyworld #standupcomedy #tiger
Altano began by explaining that he spent $750 on his family’s Walt Disney World Resort tickets. He viewed each Disney Park experience through the lens of the costly admission.
“It changed the entire tone of the day,” the comedian said. “My wife would be like, ‘What’d you think of that ride?’ I’m like, ‘It was good. It wasn’t $100 good.'”
Altano’s family visited Maharajah Jungle Trek in Asia to see the tigers. A Disney cast member explained that the animals were sleeping off-exhibit by choice.
“I was like, ‘Oh, okay…wake him up!'” the comedian recalled. “For $750, I want a tiger to come out and do a perfect backflip. I want the tiger to reenact The Jungle Book with all of his animal friends in French. I want a bilingual tiger doing a backflip and reenacting The Jungle Book in French.”
The Disney Park guest claimed he was “screaming” so loud that the tiger woke up and walked outside.
“The tiger… locks eyes with me, we had a moment, we looked at each other,” he recalled. “I started feeling bad about how I was behaving in front of my family and strangers and half of the Animal Kingdom. I would say that that moment is worth$75, maybe…$80, tops.”
Guest Expectations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers a unique blend of experiences that diverges from traditional amusement parks. It creates an immersive environment where guests can enjoy thrilling rides and educational encounters with wildlife.
The Central Florida Disney park showcases various ecosystems and habitats designed to engage visitors in the beauty and complexity of nature. Attractions like Pandora – The World of Avatar and Expedition Everest captivate thrill-seekers, while the atmosphere nurtures an appreciation for wildlife.
One of the cornerstone principles of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is its commitment to conservation. The unique Disney park emphasizes the significance of wildlife protection and the role of humans in preserving ecosystems. It aims to raise awareness about endangered species and the environment through exhibits, educational programs, and carefully crafted attractions.
Despite the theme park’s educational emphasis, there persists a gap between Walt Disney World Resort guest expectations and animals’ natural behaviors. Many visitors may arrive with preconceived notions shaped by media representations of animals, often expecting them to be active and engaging.
However, a deeper understanding of animal behavior reveals that many species, particularly in naturalistic settings, exhibit varying activity levels throughout the day. This discrepancy can lead to frustration among guests when animals, such as tigers, are resting rather than engaging in visible activities.
Were Altano’s remarks inappropriate? Share your opinion with How to Disney in the comments.
