Guests at Disney World are accustomed to characters found within the parks. We look for our favorites – they are obvious and easy to spot…all of them except one found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Hidden within the lush vegetation on the pathway between Africa and Asia is one of the most fantastic characters you will ever see – her name is DiVine.
DiVine is painted in hues of green, adorned with leaves, ivy and clusters of grapes in order to camouflage her with the foliage of the park. She performs on stilts and her height ranges anywhere between 7 and 16 feet, depending on what she is doing with her hands and legs. When standing still, it is almost impossible to distinguish DiVine from the dense flora of the park until she moves. When she does move, her gestures are delicate, organic and mystical. This is when the crowds will start to gather around her to watch the moves of a graceful ballet dancer.
DiVine does not make eye contact with guests, in fact she often keeps her eyes closed as she continues her contortions and slow movements. You will never hear DiVine speak but the expressions on her face are as if she has experienced pure nirvana. She can’t sign autographs – she is a plant – but if you’re lucky, she will pose for photographs with guests and she is easy to photograph due to her slow and defined movements.
So, how is it that her leaves and flora remain on her in the hot and humid weather that makes all of us feel as if we are melting? She uses a special body spray so that the leaves and ivy stay on her body and it takes hours to replicate the details of nature in her costume in order for her to astound guests on a daily basis at the Animal Kingdom.
The interesting part is that DiVine does not work directly for Disney. She is contracted by Disney through a company called Living World Entertainment and there are several people who portray this beauty in nature. Each person who portrays DiVine must have a background in dance and fine arts and is expected to meet certain height and weight requirements for obvious reasons. DiVine is an artist of nature and can actually be hired for private parties. She is a sight to behold.
The next time you are in the Animal Kingdom, keep your eyes open because you never know when a tree branch may move and this mystical character may appear. DiVine conveys the park’s theme of the inherent value of nature. She is beautiful, magical, mysterious and magnificent all at once. She is simply “DiVine”.
Visit www.capturing-the-magic.com for a preview of the stunning coffee table book, Capturing the Magic and purchase your copy today.
- Happily Ever After Fireworks Dessert Party - 08/06/2017
- Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast Review - 07/21/2017
- 2017 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Marketplaces - 07/12/2017
Recent Comments