There’s a beastly world out there for those with the eyes to see it.Credit: Michael Lehet, FlickrRelated: Disney World Throwing Out Another Big Muppets Landmark, Demolition Officially BeginsThe Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, thus starting an exciting new chapter for both The Walt Disney Company and the theme park industry as a whole. Disneyland had already proven to be a huge success, so expanding made sense. However, constructing a theme park on top of what was essentially vacant swamp land was a bold and challenging move.Ultimately, it paid off, and now millions of guests flock to the Walt Disney World Resort every year to enjoy thrilling roller coasters, classic dark rides, delicious treats, and world-class service.Disney’s Florida resort has expanded in numerous ways over the years. Guests now have four theme parks to enjoy, each featuring its own vibe, aesthetic, and selection of rides. While there’s a lot of debate about which is the best, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is certainly one of the most fascinating to explore and learn about, as the park changed quite a bit during the initial design and construction phases.Animal Kingdom opened on April 22, 1998, becoming the fourth and most recent theme park to join Disney World. Disney went big and bold with Animal Kingdom, both figuratively and literally. The park features the largest amount of land of any of the four theme parks and was designed to be a place of fun and learning.However, the original vision for Animal Kingdom changed drastically, with an entire land being cut from the park prior to its opening. Let’s explore the history, impact, and remnants of Disney’s abandoned Beastly Kingdom.Disney’s “Beastly” Unbuilt Theme Park LandCredit: DisneyRelated: New ‘Jurassic Park’ Experience May Feature Underground Tunnels Like Disney WorldBeastly Kingdom was a proposed land intended to be featured at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on opening day. However, due to budget cuts and other logistical issues, it was cut. The land was to be one of Disney’s most immersive yet, featuring large castles, thrilling rides, and multiple areas to explore.The land was to feature a fantastical medieval aesthetic that looked ripped from the pages of some unmade Disney film about a knight in shining armor. Guests would have the chance to fight dragons, enjoy a hearty meal, and live out their own hero or villain stories.The story goes that due to budgetary restraints, Disney was forced to choose between building DinoLand U.S.A. and Beastly Kingdom. Disney went with DinoLand, leaving Beastly Kingdom on ice. However, as we now know, Beastly Kingdom would never see the light of day. This doesn’t mean there aren’t allusions to this seemingly forgotten land, though.Guests exploring Disney’s Animal Kingdom can still see remnants of Beastly Kingdom if they know where to look.Twitter user @Dr_GrantSeeker recently shared a thread highlighting all of the different pieces of Beastly Kingdom that can still be seen in the park today. One of the largest pieces of Beastly Kingdom that still exists is this creature statue that rests at the base of Animal Kingdom’s waterways.When the park opened, it featured an attraction called Discovery River Boats. Guests could travel around Animal Kingdom and see a number of incredible, even fantastical sights, including this statue.Discovery River Boats at Animal Kingdom haven’t been operating since 1999. However, a lot of the old statues and rock work still stand to this day 25 years later. As you can see, Mother Nature has subsumed most of the architecture, which fits into the park’s messaging.A threadDiscovery River Boats at Animal Kingdom haven’t been operating since 1999. However, a lot of the old statues and rock work still stand to this day 25 years later. As you can see, Mother Nature has subsumed most of the architecture, which fits into the park’s messaging.A thread pic.twitter.com/pYQ7Qh5HZp— Dr. Grant Seeker (@Dr_GrantSeeker) July 29, 2025Along the way, guests could also see a cave that was home to a fire-breathing dragon, as well as some knights who were unsuccessful in their attempt to conquer said dragon.Beastly Kingdom Dragon Cave Then/Now*Bridge goes through the cave now between Africa and PandoraBeastly Kingdom Dragon Cave Then/Now*Bridge goes through the cave now between Africa and Pandora pic.twitter.com/Wyy3lh7vui— Dr. Grant Seeker (@Dr_GrantSeeker) July 29, 2025Related: Disney Quietly Raises More Prices Overnight Affecting 1,000+ Across ParksAll of the effects have since been shut off, but guests can still see this cave and the creature statue in Animal Kingdom today. Both areas are located near the entrance to Pandora—The World of Avatar, where Beastly Kingdom would have been built.Other remnants of Beastly Kingdom include the dragon head at the park entrance and the “Unicorn” section of Animal Kingdom’s parking lot.With DinoLand set to permanently close in 2026, one can only wonder what Animal Kingdom would have looked like today if Disney had chosen to go with Beastly Kingdom instead.Would it have lasted? Would fans love it or hate it? Sadly, we’ll never have the answers to these questions. But we can at least enjoy the remaining pieces of what is perhaps Disney’s most interesting unbuilt theme park project.Would you like to have seen Disney build Beastly Kingdom?The post Disney’s Abandoned Theme Park Is Hiding in Plain Sight – Have You Seen It? appeared first on Inside the Magic.