Lake Buena Vista, Fla. – Disney’s Animal Kingdom is inviting visitors to say “g’day” to a new kind of animal encounter — one that puts guests on foot inside the habitat with some of Australia’s most recognizable marsupials.
The experience is called Jumping Junction, an all-new walk-through located at Conservation Station, accessible by the Wildlife Express Train. Once inside, guests follow a designated pathway through the animals’ space, where kangaroos and wallabies may hop across the trail at their own pace.
“This whole area is the animal space,” said Maggie, an animal care team manager who guided guests through the experience. “If they choose to cross the pathway … they are more than welcome to. But us as humans, as guests in their space, we’re going to stay to the pathway.”
Maggie said the slow pace is intentional, giving the animals room to move between areas.
“As we enter, we’re going to stay on that pathway and we’re going to go nice and slow,” she said. “That way, the animals have plenty of space to cross in between groups of guests if they choose to.”
Which animals you’ll see at Jumping Junction
Jumping Junction is home to a cohabitating “mob” of three species: red kangaroos, western gray kangaroos and Bennett’s wallabies.
“We have quite a few animals here of three different species,” Maggie said. “We have … six wallabies, ten red kangaroos and two western gray kangaroos.”
One of the easiest ways to tell them apart is size — and the habitats they’re adapted to in the wild.
“Wallabies are going to be found more in forested areas … whereas kangaroos … are going to live in the outback of Australia,” Maggie said.
She also pointed out a shaded section informally nicknamed “Wallaby Way,” where wallabies often settle near shrubs and palms.
A habitat designed for animals first
The space is built around animal choice — including access to shade, shelter and areas away from the pathway.
“If the animals choose that, ‘I need a break from watching our guests walk through the environment,’ they have this space … to go to if they would like to,” Maggie said. “So it’s sort of up to them.”
The landscaping is also part of the animals’ day-to-day experience.
“We did vet all of the species of plants … through our nutrition center to make sure that all of it is animal safe and animal friendly,” Maggie said, noting guests may notice some favorite plants nibbled back.
Maggie said Disney grows browse — fresh foliage — so animals can be offered a variety of plant material.
“We have browse fields where we actively grow … things like banana or eucalyptus or willow,” she said.
When to visit for the most activity
Maggie said kangaroos and wallabies are crepuscular, meaning they’re most active around sunrise and sunset.
“This is a great time to be here because they are going to be very active,” she said.
Joy, a trails guide, said watching the animals explore the updated space has been exciting for the team, too.
“It’s new to us and it’s new to the animals too,” Joy said. “Getting to see them explore and find their favorite things in the area is a really cool thing.”
Joeys, marsupials and a moment of inspiration
Visitors may also spot joeys, depending on the day, and Maggie said it has been rewarding to watch their development.
“It’s really been amazing for us to see the development of our joeys,” she said, describing the gradual progression from seeing a tail or leg peeking out of a pouch to watching joeys spend more time exploring outside.
For Maggie, the goal of Jumping Junction is bigger than an up-close photo opportunity — it’s about creating a connection that can lead to conservation-minded choices.
“The biggest thing I hope people take away from this experience … is an inspiration,” she said. “Any time you form that connection with an animal, you’re going to be inspired to do what you can to help conserve those animals in their natural environment.”
Know before you go
- Location: Jumping Junction at Conservation Station in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- How to get there: Take the Wildlife Express Train
- Experience: Guided walk-through on a designated path inside the habitat
- Tip: Visit early for the best chance to see the animals active