Zinthorp Village
Disembarking the Wildlife Express at the Glacier Bay Train Station, guests transition into a small Scandinavian town called Zinthorp Village.
The Village itself is situated close to the train station, nevertheless two walking paths allow guests to enter from several vantage points. The first walking path wonders around the Wildlife Express railroad, and transitions into a taiga forest. Slowly the Asian bamboo trees turn to timber trees, and eventually into evergreen and spruce trees that populate taiga forests. Furthermore, a new extension of Serka Zong, creates a walking path around towards the other side of Glacier Bay. A similar transition of trees can be seen from the second walking path. Once guests get close to the entrance of Glacier Bay, patches of snow can be seen on village rooftops and taller trees, smoke coming out of the chimneys, and the sights and sounds of a Scandinavian town. Old and worn street signs and eroding pavement present guests with a realistic impression on the location, similar to the other Animal Kingdom villages of Harambe and Serka Zong.
Disembarking the Wildlife Express at the Glacier Bay Train Station, guests transition into a small Scandinavian town called Zinthorp Village.
The Village itself is situated close to the train station, nevertheless two walking paths allow guests to enter from several vantage points. The first walking path wonders around the Wildlife Express railroad, and transitions into a taiga forest. Slowly the Asian bamboo trees turn to timber trees, and eventually into evergreen and spruce trees that populate taiga forests. Furthermore, a new extension of Serka Zong, creates a walking path around towards the other side of Glacier Bay. A similar transition of trees can be seen from the second walking path. Once guests get close to the entrance of Glacier Bay, patches of snow can be seen on village rooftops and taller trees, smoke coming out of the chimneys, and the sights and sounds of a Scandinavian town. Old and worn street signs and eroding pavement present guests with a realistic impression on the location, similar to the other Animal Kingdom villages of Harambe and Serka Zong.
Entering into Zinthorp, you have many pathways to choose from in order to wind your way through the village to get to your destination. Worn out storefront signs for "Ake's Supplies" and Kollsveinn's Crafts" can be seen, and guests can walk inside these shops as if it were a real village. At Ake's, guests can happen upon the Glacier Bay Adventures, an interactive explorer game within Glacier Bay. At Kollsveinn's Crafts, you can marvel at the precision craftsmanship of Scandinavian weavers and builders, creating works of art that include weaved arctic animals, wooden figurines, paintings, and so much more. Rockar is a nordic coat and winter sailing gear store within the town, continuing the authentic northern sea-town feel. Guests can purchase hats, gloves, jackets, scarfs, all authentically made and imported from Scandinavia.
Adjacent and connected to Rockar is a small ski shop called Åka skidor. Guests can gaze inside a large glass window at the collection of ski supplies, and walk inside the shop for a more in depth look at Scandinavian ski equipment, authentic from the region. In the shop, there is also materials for dog sledding. The connection to Rockar allows guests to walk back and forth between these stores for the full winter experience.
Nisse is Animal Kingdom's version of the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, using the Scandinavian Christmas tradition of Nisse, as the theme of the store. Inside the store, you stroll through looking at the various decorations and merchandise available, authentic to the region.
Walking further into the village towards the lakeside, are smaller food offerings such as Välsmakande, meaning tasty in Swedish, which serves small samples of Nordic traditional foods including pickled salt-salmon, prune tarts, including other delectable seaside offerings.
Glacier Bay Adventures
For guests young and old looking for a little side adventure while visiting Glacier Bay, you’ll want to test your tracking and problem solving skills with an all new interactive game, Glacier Bay Adventures.
Following in the path of one of SEA Explorer Dr. Bastion Berg's expeditions, you’ll be looking for a myriad of things throughout Glacier Bay ranging from animal tracks, expedition tools, and landmarks. The game will be provide you a chance to experience the land in a whole new way and also provide fun and informative information on the sights and sounds around you as you work your way through the animal exhibits, attractions and town.
To sign up, visit Ake's supply shop in town where you’ll be provided one of three expedition maps, each with its own separate challenges. Utilizing an application built into the Disney app for your smart phone, you’ll be given a passcode to begin your journey.
To start you’ll see a brief introduction from SEA Explorer Bastion Berg who will give you some background on this expedition and clues to start you on your way. Utilizing the expedition map and clues provided, your own expedition will take you to various points of Glacier Bay.
For Expedition One, the map and clues will lead you first to the polar bear exhibit where you will be tasked with finding polar bear tracks somewhere around the exhibit. Once located, you will access the game within the Disney App and pull up the camera feature to take a picture of the tracks to document your success in completing the first task.
Utilizing similar technology to mobile check deposits, obtaining the photo shot of the task at hand will register within the game showing successful completion of that objective. After the objective is complete you will then have a new video diary entry available to watch at your leisure congratulating you on your success and also providing a fun educational fact about the polar bear. Then you’ll also be given a clue about your next objective for the expedition. You'll repeat this process for each of the objectives.
Each of the three expeditions will have five objectives you’ll need to locate and document. Once the expedition as been completed, you’ll receive an Expedition Completion message on your phone. There’s no rush to hurry back to the supply shop, but when ready, stop by and share the glories of your journey with one of our expedition guides.
With each successful completion of an expedition, you’ll be awarded a Glacier Bay Adventure Card Pack. The pack will consist of 6 cards. You’ll receive 5 cards documenting each of the successful objectives from your expedition. The sixth card will be a random Explorer Card (Dr. Berg, Explorer Mickey, etc.) from an initial pool of 5 explorers with additional limited editions added over time.
The back of each card will have further detail on the item on the front as well as a QR code link that when scanned will link to regularly updated photos directly from the park in that location. A great way to relive your adventures in Glacier Bay!
Shopping
No visit to Animal Kingdom's newest land would be complete without a souvenir of your visit. We've got great take-away items for yourself or gifts for loved ones back home. Imagine wearing a hoodie to remind yourself of the special occasion dinner you had at Midnight Sun, or a festive cap or mug to celebrate being one of the first to visit this new land. Where better to keep your theme park water than in a bottle with the logo for our premier attraction "Beyond the Lost Ice."
Utilizing similar technology to mobile check deposits, obtaining the photo shot of the task at hand will register within the game showing successful completion of that objective. After the objective is complete you will then have a new video diary entry available to watch at your leisure congratulating you on your success and also providing a fun educational fact about the polar bear. Then you’ll also be given a clue about your next objective for the expedition. You'll repeat this process for each of the objectives.
Each of the three expeditions will have five objectives you’ll need to locate and document. Once the expedition as been completed, you’ll receive an Expedition Completion message on your phone. There’s no rush to hurry back to the supply shop, but when ready, stop by and share the glories of your journey with one of our expedition guides.
With each successful completion of an expedition, you’ll be awarded a Glacier Bay Adventure Card Pack. The pack will consist of 6 cards. You’ll receive 5 cards documenting each of the successful objectives from your expedition. The sixth card will be a random Explorer Card (Dr. Berg, Explorer Mickey, etc.) from an initial pool of 5 explorers with additional limited editions added over time.
The back of each card will have further detail on the item on the front as well as a QR code link that when scanned will link to regularly updated photos directly from the park in that location. A great way to relive your adventures in Glacier Bay!
Shopping
No visit to Animal Kingdom's newest land would be complete without a souvenir of your visit. We've got great take-away items for yourself or gifts for loved ones back home. Imagine wearing a hoodie to remind yourself of the special occasion dinner you had at Midnight Sun, or a festive cap or mug to celebrate being one of the first to visit this new land. Where better to keep your theme park water than in a bottle with the logo for our premier attraction "Beyond the Lost Ice."
Holiday Overlays
October - Nordic Fables
During the Halloween season, Zinthorp Village will have haunted story-time on the outskirts of the town by Glacier Bay Station and towards the forest. In the stories, cast members will tell the tales of old Norse fables of polar explorers who got lost at sea or perished in the frozen landscape. The myths and legends are spooky, and leave you with a more cautious feeling about the rest of the land and its arctic attractions, but that is all in the spirit of the Halloween season.
December - Season of Lights
Zinthorp Village in the Christmas season will be decorated with white lights all along the roof-tops and windows. The street lamps will have wreaths on them, and especially, the Christmas shop of Nisse will be decorated even more. Throughout the village, there will be ties to the Scandinavian Christmas traditions, one of which is leaving a bowl of porridge for the gnome called Julenisse, or Nisse. The goal of this was so the gnome wouldn't play pranks on the family for the holiday. In the Nisse shop, guests can see a decoration of children placing the bowl of porridge under a tree, and Julenisse in the background smiling. Also, the tradition of the Yule Log, is famously originated in Scandinavia. In some shops you will see the fireplaces lit up with the Yuletide, representing warmth and comfort in the winter.
October - Nordic Fables
During the Halloween season, Zinthorp Village will have haunted story-time on the outskirts of the town by Glacier Bay Station and towards the forest. In the stories, cast members will tell the tales of old Norse fables of polar explorers who got lost at sea or perished in the frozen landscape. The myths and legends are spooky, and leave you with a more cautious feeling about the rest of the land and its arctic attractions, but that is all in the spirit of the Halloween season.
December - Season of Lights
Zinthorp Village in the Christmas season will be decorated with white lights all along the roof-tops and windows. The street lamps will have wreaths on them, and especially, the Christmas shop of Nisse will be decorated even more. Throughout the village, there will be ties to the Scandinavian Christmas traditions, one of which is leaving a bowl of porridge for the gnome called Julenisse, or Nisse. The goal of this was so the gnome wouldn't play pranks on the family for the holiday. In the Nisse shop, guests can see a decoration of children placing the bowl of porridge under a tree, and Julenisse in the background smiling. Also, the tradition of the Yule Log, is famously originated in Scandinavia. In some shops you will see the fireplaces lit up with the Yuletide, representing warmth and comfort in the winter.