This web page incorporates affiliate hyperlinks. Please learn our disclosure for more information.
Animal Kingdom is a singular theme park that mixes thrilling rides with actual wildlife.
While it doesn’t have as many rides as different Walt Disney World parks in Orlando, there are such a lot of issues to do at Animal Kingdom that it’s simple to spend a day there.
It’s a implausible park for strolling and having fun with the ambiance from road entertainers to animal sightings. It additionally has a few of our favorite Disney meals and top-of-the-line bars.
In this put up, we share our picks for the most effective rides at Animal Kingdom plus reveals and different enjoyable issues to do for an exquisite day.
Contents
Animal Kingdom Tips and Tricks
Make a Park Reservation
Reservations are required to enter the park and may be made on the Disney World web site.
I like to recommend making a park reservation for every day of your journey once you purchase your Disney tickets (ideally a minimum of a month prematurely).
Animal Kingdom is unlikely to ebook up, however it’s value doing to safe your plans. You can at all times change the reservations later.
Download the My Disney Experience app
The Disney World app is helpful to examine trip wait and present instances, make Genie+ choices, order meals, and extra.
Stay Onsite
If you keep in a Disney resort, you’ll be capable to enter each park half-hour earlier than the official park opening.
This offers you an excellent head begin for driving Avatar, our primary decide of the most effective issues to do at Animal Kingdom.
Arrive Early
Animal Kingdom sometimes opens at 8am. If you will have Early Entry, you may enter from 7.30am. I like to recommend arriving earlier than then, ideally at 7am.
Occasionally, they’ll let individuals in just a little earlier, and both means, you’ll be close to the entrance of the road heading in the direction of Avatar.
If you don’t have Early Entry, arrive half-hour earlier than official park opening.
With Early Entry, we had been in a position to trip the highest 5 rides within the first two hours of park opening. This takes some swift strolling throughout the park and again, however you’ll keep away from lengthy waits and may concentrate on the reveals and low-wait points of interest within the afternoon.
With these time-saving suggestions we not often wait greater than quarter-hour for any of those Disney Animal Kingdom points of interest.
Genie+ Usually Isn’t Necessary
If you may arrive early or keep for the previous couple of hours, you received’t want Genie+ as comparatively few rides are included.
If you might be park hopping to a different park, or visiting at a really busy time (like a vacation weekend), you would possibly wish to take into account it, although,
This paid line-skipping service is complicated so see our detailed information the place we talk about Is Disney Genie Plus Worth It?
Wear Quick-Drying Clothes
If you wish to trip Kali River Rapids, be ready to get soaked! We had been glad we had been sporting fast dry garments so we didn’t keep damp for lengthy. See our stick with it packing record for what we put on.
In the cooler months, a poncho is a good suggestion.
Be Prepared for the Heat
Animal Kingdom is the most popular of the 4 Walt Disney World parks as there are fewer indoor points of interest and fewer shade.
If you might be visiting in the summertime months, be ready for the warmth with light-weight garments, hats, and maybe a cooling towel (we purchased one within the park as we had been so sizzling in September).
This is one more reason to go to early so you are able to do as a lot as doable earlier than it will get too sizzling, after which retreat to a present within the afternoon.
It’s a good suggestion to examine the climate forecast as a result of if thunderstorms are anticipated within the afternoon (as they usually are in the summertime), many rides and reveals shut.
There are fewer indoor points of interest at Animal Kingdom, so be sure to do your precedence rides (like Kilimanjaro Safaris and Expedition Everest) within the morning.
Most Popular Rides at Animal Kingdom
These are the preferred Disney World Animal Kingdom rides with common wait instances over the yr:
- Avatar Flight of Passage (98 minutes)
- Na’vi River Journey (62 minutes)
- Kilimanjaro Safaris (50 minutes)
- Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain (half-hour)
Best Rides at Animal Kingdom
These are the Animal Kingdom should do rides that you simply received’t wish to miss.
1) Avatar Flight of Passage
Type of Ride: Thrill Ride
Minimum Height: 44 inches (112cm)
Lightning Lane: Individual ($14)
Location: Pandora
Avatar Flight of Passage is completely top-of-the-line Animal Kingdom rides (and in our high 3 in all Disney). It’s a singular and delightful attraction that transports you to a different world.
Even the queue provides to the expertise—from the luxurious forest outdoors to the pre-story the place you create your personal avatar.
On the 3D trip, you fly on the again of a dragon-like banshee and soar over the gorgeous world of Pandora by way of forests, down waterfalls, into caves, and over the ocean above a leaping whale-like Nalutsa.
The complete journey is extremely immersive—stepping legs astride onto your particular person creature, feeling it breathe beneath you, and observing the sights, sounds, and even smells of Pandora.
You don’t must be a fan of the Avatar films to benefit from the trip, however I do suppose it’s value watching a minimum of the primary one for a larger appreciation.
Note that as it is a 3D simulator, movement illness may be a problem. I’m often delicate to 3D rides however haven’t had an issue with this one. It helps to eat one thing gentle earlier than driving.
Avatar is by far the preferred trip at Animal Kingdom. The finest time to trip is at first of Early Entry (for resort company)—we solely waited about 10 minutes on our final go to and most of that was strolling by way of the prolonged queue.
If not, wait instances will possible be shortest within the final half-hour of the day. If you wish to be assured a spot on the trip, you might buy an Individual Lightning Lane within the app.
2) Na’vi River Journey
Type of Ride: Slow Dark Ride
Minimum Height: None
Lightning Lane: Genie+
Location: Pandora
The second trip in Pandora isn’t as spectacular or thrilling as Avatar Flight of Passage, however I nonetheless take into account it a should do in Animal Kingdom.
Na’vi River Journey is a mild river trip in the dead of night by way of a bioluminescent rainforest. It’s a stunning world alive with otherworldly vegetation and creatures to admire in addition to the extremely lifelike animatronic, the Na’vi Shaman of Songs.
It’s such a soothing trip that I at all times wish to trip it once more, however the traces are typically lengthy.
It’s finest ridden in Early Entry after Avatar—we walked straight on at 8.10am. Or put it aside till the tip of the day, proper earlier than Avatar, or use Genie+ (it’s the most effective first decide).
3) Kilimanjaro Safaris
Type of Ride: Slow Ride
Minimum Height: None
Lightning Lane: Genie+
Location: Africa
Kilimanjaro Safaris is sort of a actual safari journey. You board open-sided vehicles for a bumpy 18-minute journey on muddy roads, by way of rivers, and over rickety bridges.
On the way in which your safari information offers fascinating details in regards to the animals roaming free within the savannah that you simply see alongside the way in which.
Every trip is completely different as that is actual wildlife, however on our final journey, we noticed loads—kudu, a operating ostrich, hippos, lions, cheetahs, elephants, warthogs, zebras, giraffe, rhinos with their calves, alligators, and a flamboyance of flamingos (a time period we learnt on the trip!).
The animals are most energetic early or late within the day, and that is when traces are shorter, too. It’s not open throughout Early Entry so trip quickly after official park opening.
We at all times stroll swiftly over right here after driving the 2 Pandora rides (it takes us six minutes at a quick tempo). Last time we waited quarter-hour at 8.30am. By 10am the road was as much as 95 minutes.
4) Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
Type of Ride: Thrill Ride with Big Drops
Minimum Height: 44 inches (112cm)
Lightning Lane: Genie+
Location: Asia
Expedition Everest, the park’s solely curler coaster, is a enjoyable one and positively top-of-the-line issues to do in Animal Kingdom for thrill seekers.
You pace on a prepare by way of the Himalayan mountains attempting to keep away from the mythic Yeti. There are some huge drops, a backwards part in the dead of night, and a few enjoyable surprises.
Even the queue is wonderful. It’s so detailed and reminded us of the expedition gear retailers in Nepal.
We often trip Everest after the earlier three rides, however wait instances are likely to fluctuate and are decrease than these above. On our final go to, we opted for Kali River Rapids first then rode Everest at 11am with a 10-minute wait.
If traces are lengthy, be a part of the one rider queue, which is far faster. Simon makes use of this to trip a few further instances by himself.
5) Kali River Rapids
Type of Ride: Spinning Water Ride with Small Drops
Minimum Height: 38 inches (97cm)
Lightning Lane: Genie+
Location: Asia
Kali River Rapids is a whitewater rafting trip that’s largely light with a couple of enjoyable drops.
The worry comes from whether or not you’ll get moist (everybody will) or completely drenched (as a minimum of one individual per raft does). If you might be frightened, put on a poncho, however it’s fairly refreshing within the warmth.
Watch out for the bridge on the finish the place individuals can squirt riders with elephants!
The trip is shorter than we’d like, so I wouldn’t wait lengthy for it, however traces needs to be cheap within the morning. Ride it after the 4 rides above—at 9.20am we walked straight on.
It will get busy on sizzling afternoons—by 2pm, it was as much as 65 minutes.
6) Dinosaur
Type of Ride: Dark Scary Thrill Ride with Small Drops
Minimum Height: 40 inches (102cm)
Lightning Lane: Genie+
Location: DinoLand U.S.A
Dinosaur is an Animal Kingdom hidden gem that not often has lengthy waits.
You’re on a mission to move again in time to rescue a dinosaur earlier than a meteor strikes.
This bumpy indoor truck trip is sort of scary as you drive in the dead of night previous dinosaurs roaring at you.
I think about the menacing dinosaurs may very well be terrifying to small youngsters, however older ones could discover it as enjoyable as we do.
You can trip Dinosaur at any time of day. Just anticipate the traces to return down if they’re lengthy.
Best Shows at Animal Kingdom
Seeing a present or three at Animal Kingdom is a significant a part of the expertise and there are some glorious choices. Check the app for present instances.
7) Festival of the Lion King
Festival of the Lion King is among the hottest Animal Kingdom reveals.
It’s a vibrant and joyous celebration of the basic animated movie with music, dance, acrobats, and puppets.
At 40 minutes lengthy in an air-conditioned theatre, it additionally makes an excellent break within the hottest a part of the day.
Unfortunately, the road is outdoors within the solar and so they don’t let individuals in early. On our final go to, we didn’t handle to get in for the 12pm efficiency because it was full. They had been recommending individuals flip up half-hour early to safe their place—not enjoyable within the warmth.
The late afternoon present instances are quieter so I like to recommend saving this for later within the day.
8) It’s Tough to be a Bug!
It’s Tough to be a Bug is among the finest points of interest at Animal Kingdom.
The 3D present takes place in a theatre hidden contained in the Tree of Life and runs all through the day, so it’s simpler to get in than the opposite reveals (see it at any time).
Inspired by the film A Bug’s Life, you uncover what it’s prefer to be a bug on this multi-sensory movie and stay efficiency. It’s academic, enjoyable, and a bit scary for some younger youngsters.
9) Feathered Friends in Flight
At this 35-minute outside present, you be a part of a few of the park’s animal trainers to find out about and witness up shut a wide range of free-flying birds.
It focuses on their pure traits reasonably than methods discovered from people.
It’s a powerful crowd-pleaser for all ages.
10) Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond
Finding Nemo is one other common Animal Kingdom musical present. It tells a condensed model of the story from the film utilizing actors with large fish puppets.
It’s vibrant and entertaining however not a should see for us. It’s an excellent choice with youngsters, although, and it’s simpler to get into than The Lion King.
At 25 minutes and with air con, it’s good for a break from the warmth, though the seats are reasonably uncomfortable benches.
Other Top Things to Do at Animal Kingdom
11) Trek the Maharajah Jungle
Once you’ve ridden the highest Animal Kingdom rides, you may start to discover the park at a extra relaxed tempo together with the various wildlife trails.
If you solely have time for one, go for the Maharajah Jungle Trek the place you may see birds, bats, and tigers.
As properly as getting up near animals and studying about them from solid members, the walk-through attraction has a implausible Asian-themed surroundings.
Note that animals are most energetic early and late within the day so that you’ll see extra then. At noon on our summer season go to, we noticed a lot lower than on earlier journeys, and the warmth wasn’t a lot enjoyable.
12) Walk the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
The different main wildlife path is Africa-themed and you may see gorillas and hippos.
13) See a Flock of Macaws
Winged Encounters is a brief and casual fowl present that takes place outdoors the Tree of Life. A flock of vibrant South American macaws fly proper over you and if some dangle round, you will get a better look.
There are not any printed instances, so look out for it as you’re strolling previous the tree or ask a solid member.
14) Enjoy a Drink at Nomad Lounge
Nomad Lounge is the proper place for adults to take a break within the afternoon. The bar has a safari lodge vibe with an outside terrace overlooking a river.
The menu of cocktails and lightweight meals is impressed by world flavours. The bread service was scrumptious and featured Thai milk bread, Indian pappadam, and Brazilian pão de queijo, all accompanied by flavourful dips and chutneys. The gluten-free churros had been a good way to finish.
The cocktails are good too. My gin-based Annapurna Zing was fruity and refreshing and got here with a lotus flower that lights up and adjustments color. The Lamu Libation with three varieties of rum and tropical juices was even tastier.
Nomad Lounge is common and you may’t make a reservation. Check the app to see if a digital waitlist is out there (if not, examine again later). You must be within the neighborhood of the bar to affix and also you’ll be notified when your desk is prepared (our wait was 50 minutes at 1pm).
The bar is subsequent to Animal Kingdom’s tremendous eating desk service restaurant, Tiffins, which has glorious evaluations.
15) Eat Delicious Food
Animal Kingdom is among the finest Disney parks for meals with international flavours that transcend the usual burger theme park fare.
For breakfast (after we’ve ridden the highest rides), we prefer to share one of many large Mickey Mouse cinnamon rolls from Kusafiri Bakery.
For a extra substantial meal, Satu’li Canteen is the most effective fast service choice. Located in Pandora, the large house has loads of air-conditioned seating and so they don’t use disposable plates like most counter-service eating places.
The bowls are wholesome, flavourful, and customisable—you may select the bottom, protein and sauce. The tofu bowl is great for vegetarians—we selected the potato hash for a extra filling base.
You can order within the app for faster pickup.
Another common quick-service choice is Flame Street BBQ. The outside seating is a draw back in summer season, however you may hear the close by road performances and revel in views of Everest.
Simon actually loved the Hot Link Smokehouse Sandwich made with plant-based sausage, however I choose Satu’li. Skip the sugary cocktails, although, and anticipate Nomad Lounge.
16) Wander Pandora
Pandora is a should see at Animal Kingdom each day and evening.
Based on the Avatar film, Pandora is a beautiful, immersive world with floating mountains, gushing waterfalls, verdant forest, and intriguing vegetation.
We adore it within the early morning gentle and after darkish when the flora glows for a very completely different ambiance.
17) See the Tree of Life Awakening
Every 10 minutes after darkish you may watch Tree of Life Awakenings when the tree is illuminated with colors and animal projections. Make certain to see it in your means out of the park.
Note you could solely see the present from October to early March, as in the summertime months, Animal Kingdom closes earlier than darkish (it closes sooner than different Disney World parks).
18) Spot Otters
Less well-known than different Animal Kingdom points of interest, the Discovery Island trails are close to the Tree of Life and supply a peaceable respite from the busier elements of the park.
We noticed flamingos, kangaroos, and better of all, within the Otto Grotto, otters swimming within the river and stress-free on the riverbank.
19) Ride the Wildlife Express Train
A prepare takes you from Africa to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, dwelling to a petting zoo and conservation station, the place you may see vets and scientists at work.
It takes some time to get to this far nook of the park, so solely do that when you’ve got time when you’ve carried out every thing else in your itinerary.
20) Meet Disney Pals
If you might be travelling with youngsters, you might wish to add character meet-and-greets to your Animal Kingdom record.
The hottest is Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost, the place you may meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse dressed of their safari gear.
This has lengthy waits, although, so it’s finest skilled early within the day or with Genie+.
21) Dig for Fossils in The Boneyard
If you will have youngsters 10 and beneath, you’ll wish to cease at The Boneyard in DinoLand USA after driving Dinosaur.
In this enjoyable play space, youngsters can discover the rope bridges, slides, and caves, in addition to dig for dinosaur fossils.
TriceraTop Spin is one other child’s trip on this space.
22) Eat at Sanaa in Animal Kingdom Lodge
While the Animal Kingdom park has loads of glorious eating choices, there are much more implausible eating places on the close by Animal Kingdom Lodge.
For Simon’s birthday one yr, we took the free Disney bus from the park to the lodge to eat at Sanaa, some of the highly-rated Disney eating places.
There are two promoting factors. The Indian meals is scrumptious with loads of veggie decisions (the bread service is a spotlight). And you may watch giraffes and zebras wandering under as you eat.
It’s a singular expertise that’s well worth the aspect journey. Reservations are extremely really helpful.
Is Animal Kingdom Worth Visiting?
Yes, Animal Kingdom is completely value visiting! From the gorgeous Pandora world and exhilarating Avatar trip to the enjoyable wildlife encounters and very good theming, the park gives one thing for everybody.
One day is sufficient for many guests. You can simply spend a full day right here, particularly in the event you take a break at a few of the glorious eating places and bars.
I hope this information has given you some concepts of what to do at Animal Kingdom. Let us know when you’ve got any questions within the feedback under.
Other Disney Posts
USA
Elsewhere