I simply can’t get over how fast this year is moving! We’ve already reached the end of April, which means in just a few weeks events like Star Wars Weekends, Magic Kingdom’s 24-Hour Day (both in May) and the return of Frozen Summer Fun this June will start to usher in the summer season at Disney World.

But that’s not all there is to look forward to! The anticipated opening for the final in-park Starbucks is this summer, too. It’s coming to Animal Kingdom at what was formerly the Creature Comforts merchandise  location. And I must say, of all the Disney Parks Starbucks (the others being Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Bakery, Epcot’s Fountain View, and Hollywood Studios’ Trolley Car Cafe), I’ve always been most curious as to how Starbucks will be themed to fit into Animal Kingdom’s Discovery Island.

Dream Builders sign

Many of the shops and food stops in Discovery Island are decorated with brightly colored signs and murals (take Pizzafari, for instance) as opposed to the deep greens and browns we often associate with Starbucks in their typical locations. And this was definitely true when the building served as Creature Comforts — think bright orange, purple, and teal. Granted, none of the in-park locations are what you would call “typical” Starbucks, but the unique beauty of Animal Kingdom offers the potential for some truly special themeing. And now is as good a time as any to explore a little further of what we can currently see, which is the outside of the building.

You’ll notice that the vivid colors from Creature Comforts have been toned down significantly, yet there are still some unique features that you won’t see at the other Disney Parks Starbucks locations.

Animal Kingdom Future Starbucks Exterior

Check out the coffee beans playing a role in the painted patterns along this wall border.

Exterior Border artwork

When you consider the continents, countries, and cultures celebrated in Animal Kingdom, including

African cultures as represented in the village of Harambe, it’s more than fitting that the coffee bean gets a nod here. Africa is one of three main regions from which Starbucks sources their coffee. In fact, you can see the continent represented on this wall mural at the West Side Starbucks in Downtown Disney.

West Side Starbucks Mural

But above all, this is ANIMAL Kingdom we’re talking about, so it’s great to see some of the animals we remember from Creature Comforts incorporated into the outside design as well.

Oh, wait — you didn’t notice any in the building photo above? Allow me to give you a closer look…

Giraffe Carving

This giraffe carvings can still be spotted just over the main entrance, only now the colors are much more subdued. I love how it is both subtle and beautiful, with the browns blending in seamlessly with the rest of the building exterior.

Even the surrounding lampposts — which previously featured the signature ladybug of Creature Comforts — have been brought into the design scheme, and it makes me wonder a little more how lighting will come into play once Animal Kingdom really begins to expand it’s entertainment options and become an evening park and not solely a daytime one.

Lamp post

Unless this is now just a sound speaker, in which case, scratch that 😉 .

So, that’s what we have… just a few glimpses for now, and of course there are still any number of ways things could go once everything is revealed. But it does pique my curiosity even further for how this newest java spot is going to turn out. How about you?

Are you interested to see the theme for the Animal Kingdom Starbucks? Please let us know with a comment!