Hello from a busy Animal Kingdom! Our visit found us discovering a new home for otters in the park, a new Himalayan Explorer Drink and Kevin Cupcake, and new merchandise around the park.

Come along with us to see all the new and updated items in the park!

What’s New on Animal Kingdom’s Discovery Island

We have been watching the construction progress on Discovery Island for a few weeks, and this week spotted signage announcing the area will be a new Otter Grotto. We also saw the new home for otters is sponsored by Otterbox!

Hee hee!

We can’t wait to see the otters in their new home swimming and splashing around, how about you? As always, we’ll be sure to keep you posted on the progress of this project as well as when it opens!

Though not on Discovery Island, we also spotted the recently added Otterbox logo and sponsorship on Kilimanjaro Safaris Wild Africa Trek.

Back on Discovery Island, we found the new Starbucks Cloud Macchiato drinks on the menu in Creature Comforts.

You’ll also find an updated Cake Pop selection at Creature Comforts that includes the lemon and chocolate cookie dough cake pops.

What’s New in Animal Kingdom’s Asia

We have had fun seeing Kevin from Up in the Animal Kingdom — and now we get to celebrate Kevin’s arrival in the park with a colorful cupcake at Warung Outpost! We knew we had to try the Kevin cupcake the minute we saw it — read our review here!

The Kevin cupcake isn’t the only new item at Warung Outpost. There’s also an equally colorful (and spiked) Himalayan Explorer slushie, read our review here!

The Upcountry Landing pop-up bar is back as we enter the month of March.

You’ll find a selection of beer and wine here as well as non-alcoholic drinks to quench your thirst on a warm Florida afternoon. We did notice on the day we visited the additional seating that was available when the bar was open before is not back yet.

There is a new Art of Henna stand with a henna artist in the bar area as well.

What’s New Around the Animal Kingdom

We saw the Toy Story alien straw clips and Animal Kingdom souvenir canteen sippers at the various popcorn stands around the park, but the Sulley popcorn bucket was sold out at all of the popcorn stands.

What’s New in Animal Kingdom’s Shops and Stores — New Merchandise!

We were happy to find the Disney World version of Disneyland’s Happiest Place on Earth Mickey ears in the Animal Kingdom! The Disney World version declares Disney World to be the Most Magical Place on Earth. We couldn’t agree more!

Dumbo soars into theaters on March 29, but before then he can soar into your heart and home as a Funko POP! figurine.

You will find all kinds of Dumbo merchandise featuring the flying elephant from the original animated film or today’s live-action remake in some stores now.

How cute is Dumbo along with Timothy Q. Mouse on this new MagicBand?

Here’s a fun way to take a Disney souvenir to school or the office — a new Disney movable pencil grip!

Adding to the Disney snacks themed merchandise is this new Mickey cupcake sequin shirt. The sequins are double-sided giving you either a chocolate cupcake with a pink wrapper or a cupcake with a dollop of frosting on it in a red wrapper!

Which color combination will you choose?

Shopping in Island Mercantile can be educational as well as fun. There are some new signs and posters up around the shop with fun facts about giraffes on them.

We also saw more giraffe-themed merchandise in this area of the shop as well.

How about this tutu for the kiddos’ dress up time? What fun!

There are some giraffe-themed tops for grown ups with some not-very hidden Mickeys on them.

When is your next adventure to the Animal Kingdom? Be sure to stay up-to-date on all of the parks with our What’s New posts. Check out this week’s What’s New in Hollywood Studios here — including close ups of the Skyliner!

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