Anything & Everything a Chap Can Unload

The tight, winding streets of Anandapur Township, which make up much of the queue for Kali River Rapids, are lined with street vendors peddling their wares to tourists and locals alike. There are farmers, basket weavers, punched tin artists and more.

Most of the props that you see in these vignettes are authentic. So much so, in fact, they were acquired directly from real street vendors in Asian villages where the Imagineering team traveled for research. On more than one occasion, the team actually purchased every single item a vendor had, including his bicycle and even the tiny chair on which he would rest between customers. Don't feel bad for that anonymous entrepreneur, though. The money he earned in exchange likely supported his family for a year.

A common sight in this part of Asia is a bird market, where one can find dozens of bird cages filled with feathered stock. Here in Anandapur, the Imagineers tried to capture the impression of the bird market... only without the birds. While birds can be seen and heard nearby in proper aviaries, it would have been against Disney's animal care practices to keep so many cooped up in such small quarters (no matter how authentic to the story that may have been).

Among the streets and vendors can also be found more of those wonderful place-making graphics, implying a rich and detailed world beyond what we can visit within the park. Need Anandapur currency? There's apparently a "money changer" just around the corner from the bird market.

Looking for a place to stay? May we recommend Ekt's Hotel? They offer cheap prices, a friendly staff, nice views, fans in most rooms and a bathroom with running water on both floors. Of course, for those seeking luxuries, a mattress and toilet paper are "just a little extra."

Religious Traditions and an Environmental Threat

Throughout the village of Anandapur (and the queue for Kali River Rapids), you can find examples of Asian religious artifacts. There are symbols representing both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, along with offerings of all sorts left by the people of the town.

Nearby, a series of stone statues have fallen victim to a landslide (notice that the heads of the statues are all at the same height, since they once sat together on level ground).

This is just one example of the damage being caused by illegal logging activities in the Anandapur District. The cutting of the forest (distant chainsaws can even be heard in this area) means the rains can more easily wash away the soil. A protest against Tetak Logging Company is being planned. Fliers posted around the village invite concerned citizens to attend an upcoming rally. It may be the last chance to stop the destruction and preserve Anandapur, its ancient artifacts and the people's way of life.

The Tiger Temple

Crossing the Chakranadi River, we come to the main part of the village of Anandapur... in what is actually the queue space for Kali River Rapids. This is one of the most spectacularly detailed queues in any Disney Park. The first building we come to in the queue is the Tiger Temple.

The temple demonstrates a reverence for the tiger and for nature in general. A large stone tiger stands at the center of the temple, surrounded by offerings of various kinds.

Throughout the temple, you can find other items used ceremonially to honor the tiger and the gods of nature. There's everything from candles, bells and gongs to shrines and Balinese puppet costumes used in processions.

In the Floodplain

The Chakranadi and Kali are two of the primary rivers that flow down from the Himalayas and through the Anandapur District, feeding into the Bugia Sea. In summer, when the snow on the lower portions of the mountains begins to melt, the rivers overflow and flood part of the neighboring area. Anticipating this, structures built closest to the floodplain have been constructed on stilts, so they'll still be protected when the waters come.

The home beneath which Fastpasses are distributed for Kali River Rapids is one such structure. Power lines feed into the residence, strings of beads provide an element of decor and old shirts create makeshift curtains for a bit of privacy. In dryer months, access to this home is from the steps up the back. In a flood, a small boat would be relied upon.

The ebb and flow of water across the floodplain has affected life here for thousands of years, although the path of the flooding has changed from time to time. In recent decades, the ancient temples near the water's edge have sustained significant damage. A revitalization project is underway to help restore the temple ruins to some of their original glory.

Of course, with the workers away for the day, groups of gibbons and siamangs have wandered over from the nearby jungle to examine the scaffolding. (This story line also affords Disney's Animal Programs team opportunities to provide enrichment for the animals in their care. As long as props, like the pitcher in the photograph below, look like they may have been left behind by project workers, they can be used to create interest and mental stimulation for the apes.)

The floodplain not only helps tell the story of this region, but also contributes to one of the principle themes of Asia at Disney's Animal Kingdom: the balance between the natural and the man made.

More Anandapur

One of my favorite kinds of details in Disney Parks is graphics that refer to things that aren't really there. They serve no other purpose than to enrich the story with layers of depth. We saw a few of these around the Anandapur Local Food Cafes, and there are even more detailed in this article from 2009.

Details like this can be found almost everywhere you look in Asia and Africa at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The signs pictured above are simply tacked to a street post and easily overlooked. The hand painted nature of the signs, the use of Sanskrit and the unusual application of English enhance the storytelling here in subtle, yet powerful ways.

For all the fictional businesses implied through these graphics, there are just as many real establishments. Some of these, like the Disney Vacation Club kiosk and Joffrey's Coffee & Tea stand, have become ubiquitous, but each installation plays a role in the story of the specific area where it's located.

Here in Anandapur, Disney Vacation Club is the Kshana Travel Company ("kshana" translates to "leisure"). Among the details present are a map of the Anandapur region and a portrait of the royal couple. Nearby, Joffrey's becomes the Royal Anandapur Tea Company in a beautifully hand-carved pavilion. While the same coffee and espresso selection is offered here as in other Joffrey's locations at Walt Disney World, the Tea Company carries special Asian blends. Simply the fact that tea is the featured product helps tie to the story line at Expedition Everest, where the trains employed by Himalayan Escapes once serviced local tea plantations.

Another business in this part of town is the Bhaktapur Market (actually the Landry's Restaurants-run shop associated with Yak & Yeti). Named for the city of Bhaktapur in Nepal, the market carries a fairly broad selection of authentic Asian products. These items in and of themselves help tell the story of this place and allow guests a sense of escape into another world.

Sometimes even signs that serve a true, operational function can still tell part of a story. Take this notice at Bhaktapur Market, for example. The shop is small, so it's recommended that strollers and electric convenience vehicles be left outside. This graphic does the job, though, in a very fun and story-authentic way:

Anandapur Local Food Cafes

Additional dining options in Anandapur include the Local Food Cafes. While in the real world of Animal Kingdom we may know that this is simply the quick service extension of Yak & Yeti, within the world of our story of Asia, it's a collection of shops operated by individual proprietors. Each window offers the same menu, of course, but their look and style are unique.

Around the corner from the Local Food Cafes, courtyard seating is provided for patrons. It's a bit tossed together, with different styles of tables and chairs intermingled.

The courtyard is also home to a number of other businesses. None of them are actually accessible to the theme park guest, but each contributes to the story of Anandapur, helping make this feel like a real place.

There's the Association for Tourism, Anandapur District. A sign on the door lets us know they're "Out to Lunch," but will be back soon:

Along one stretch of the courtyard can be found a series of vendors specializing in metal work, including iron and brass. Judging by the wares on display, this is a great spot to pick up a new cooking pot or some ornamental pieces.

Further enriching the story are a series of ads painted and posted on the walls of the courtyard. Kali River Pure Drinking Water isn't a product we can actually purchase, but the presence of the ad both enhances the look of the area and reinforces the Kali River as a real place. Later, we may choose to sign up for an excursion with Kali Rapids Expeditions, taking a raft down either the Kali or Chakranadi River.

There are ads for Yak & Yeti Hotel and Restaurant, No. 1 Toys (such a modest name), the Continental Palace hotel in Anandapur and Arasan's Fireworks Factory in Sivakasi.

You may even come across an ad for the latest offering from Himalayan Escapes Tours & Expeditions. They're now providing rail service on their "Flying Yak" steam locomotives, from nearby Serka Zong to the base camps at the foot of Mount Everest. As their slogan states, you can get "There and Back with the Flying Yak."

Yak & Yeti for Refreshment & Relaxation

For travelers visiting the Anandapur District, the Yak & Yeti is a prime stop for accommodation, refreshment or the news of the day. The proprietor of this establishment, a local man called Arjun, had been a successful merchant, but fallen on hard times. In an effort to turn things around, he converted his home into a hotel and restaurant, finding fortune once again.

The original stone house dates to June 1924, during British Colonial rule of the region. Over the years, though, Arjun has expanded his facilities with eclectic additions from various periods. At the western corner of the structure is an authentic Indian marble pavilion, in which visitors may sit and reflect and enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings. A former garden and patio area, original to the house, can now be found as part of the interior of the building.

Inside, the lobby and bar are warm and welcoming. Even those passing through are encouraged to stop in for company and conversation. Trekkers heading into the Royal Anandapur Forest or out to the foothills of the Himalayas may also leave messages here for members of their traveling party hoping to catch up with them.

As with every business in Anandapur, a portrait of the current rajah and his wife is prominently displayed. Not leaving anything to chance, Arjun has also placed a statue of Ganesha in the lobby. Ganesha is the Hindu deity known to be a "remover of obstacles."

The lobby of Yak & Yeti leads to a series of dining rooms, with beautiful patterns of inlaid tile in the floor and tabletops.

Throughout the space, Arjun also proudly displays his extensive collection of artifacts gathered from around southeast Asia (all of which are authentic, by the way, gathered by the team at Schussler Creative who designed Yak & Yeti for Landry's Restaurants in association with Walt Disney Imagineering). There's statuary, ceremonial costumes and props, puppets, bowls and vases, antique furnishings, cabinets and more.

Additional dining rooms and details can be found upstairs. Look closely, and you'll even come across indications of the hotel portion of the establishment (while lodgings are part of the story being told here, there obviously isn't anywhere for Walt Disney World guests to stay).

In creating the finely-appointed Yak & Yeti, it appears Arjun was inspired by the romance of cinema. On one wall of the interior, he displays several favorite movie posters, including one for the classic Bollywood drama Ekadashi (1955).