At a Glance
Duration: 5 minutes
Look Out For: large birds flying overhead and perching nearby
Opening on June 13, 2014, Winged Encounters is an up close and personal look at Animal Kingdom’s Macaws. But how scary is Winged Encounters? Let’s take a look at the stats:
1. Ride Length
Winged Encounters has a duration of approximately 5 minutes. However, because the entire show is reliant on how the animals behave and/or participate, this show often runs as short as 3 minutes and as long as 8 minutes.
2. Height Requirement and Warnings
Winged Encounters has no height requirement or official warnings from Disney. This, combined with the fact that there is no queue, boarding, or seating process for this show, makes it a great choice for the whole family.
3. Ride Vehicles and Restraints
The Winged Encounters show is standing-room only. With its lack of a theater or any ride vehicles of any kind, there are obviously no restraints or moving seats whatsoever.
4. How Does Winged Encounters Work?
Winged Encounters works like a standard animal encounter show, where cast members give you an up-close look at live animals and give you several facts about them. This is very similar to something you might find at your local zoo, but you can expect to see the Macaws flying overhead in a large flock and possibly partaking in a couple of demonstrations with their trainers. In addition, some members of the audience may be asked to participate by holding up a perch (with a cast member, of course). At the end of the show, the host and other trainers will be open for questions.
5. Is Winged Encounters Scary?
Winged Encounters is not intentionally scary whatsoever. Because it lacks any sort of seating or queue, you and your party will simply walk up to the show and can walk away at any time if any part of the show is troubling. Personally, I would consider this attraction extremely mild and family-friendly – perfect for even the most sensitive of guests.
The only things I might consider are the proximity to large birds (though they never get close to touching you), the loud noises Macaws tend to make, and maybe the exciting moment of a large flock flying overhead. However, even guests with sensory sensitivity will most likely not have any problem with this show, and I would recommend it to anyone – as long as standing outside in the heat doesn’t pose a problem for anyone in your party.
6. How High is Winged Encounters?
Winged Encounters does not involve heights. While the Macaws certainly take flight, you and your party will remain safely on the ground at all times.
7. How Fast is Winged Encounters?
Winged Encounters does not go fast. Unlike some Disney shows, there are no moving seats, screens, or rushing visuals – meaning you will of course remain stationary for the entire duration.
8. Does Winged Encounters Have Drops?
Winged Encounters does not have drops. In fact, there is no movement or thrill ride elements whatsoever on this attraction.
9. Does Winged Encounters Cause Motion Sickness?
Winged Encounters should not cause motion sickness for most guests. With its lack of any rushing visuals, screens, or spinning, there is really nothing in this attraction that could cause nausea.
10. Is Winged Encounters Claustrophobic?
Winged Encounters should not feel claustrophobic for most guests. With its entirely outdoor setting and interactive elements, this show does not feel confining whatsoever. As I mentioned before, you can simply step away at any time, without having to alert a cast member or having to worry about bothering the other guests around you.
11. Are There Animatronics on Winged Encounters?
There are no animatronics on Winged Encounters.
Winged Encounters Queue Walkthrough
This attraction is located near the Tree of Life in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. As a standard animal encounter at its core (like you might find at your local zoo,) it has no queue or entrance of any kind – allowing you to simply approach the set and enjoy the show at your leisure. This particular show has specific showtimes, so you simply have to find out when the next show begins and make your way to the set beforehand. While there often isn’t too much of a crowd, it’s never a bad idea to arrive early to get the best view.
Winged Encounters Show Walkthrough
When the show begins, a cast member will welcome you before calling in the Macaws. The beautiful birds will fly to their perches, all accompanied by their own trainers and cast members. The host will then give you several cool facts about the birds and tell you all about their conservation status. If the Macaws are willing, they may even partake in a few demonstrations for the audience.
Towards the end of the show, the host will state how wonderful it would be to see “a sky full of Macaws” and then tell he audience to look up. Right on queue, a large flock of them will fly over the Tree of Life and land on the set next to the other birds. The cast members will then thank you for coming along and the show will come to an end, allowing any questions from the audience
That’s it! Remember, everyone’s riding experience is a little bit different and only you can decide whether to hop on that ride vehicle or not. I just hope this guide helps you be prepared and enjoy every second of your Disney experience!
So what do you think? How scary is Winged Encounters? Leave a comment to help keep this guide up to date!
For a full visual of the ride and queue, be sure to check out this video from JRM Vlogs:
