The biggest park at Disney World is Animal Kingdom. Despite having more than 300 acres of area, this park is manageable to explore in a single day. You might be unable to finish it all, though, because of the busy attractions, rides, and eateries. Knowing what to expect at Animal Kingdom can help you enjoy the experience better.
Animal Kingdom is a favorite theme park at Walt Disney World in Florida for kids and adults alike. Here’s what you need to know before getting there:
- Disney resort transportation to Animal Kingdom involves taking a bus because it is separated from the other parks to give the animals room, keep them away from the fireworks, etc.
- Orlando’s climate is generally hot, and the weather may be unpredictable, so it’s best to be prepared and not allow it to interfere with your plans.
- Due to bad weather, outdoor attractions such as Kali River Rapids and Expedition Everest often close down.
- Avatar Flight of Passage is unquestionably worth all the work you can put into it, so be prepared for long wait times.
- You might consider paying for access to the new Lightning Lane to skip crowds. Your wait times at Animal Kingdom can be significantly shortened if you have Dinsey Genie+ through the My Disney Experience app.
- The most common Disney Animal Kingdom attractions are Discovery Island, The World of Avatar, Flight of Passage, Na’vi River, Tree of Life, Dinosaur, Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Rafiki’s Planet Watch.
Everything you need to know about the Animal Kingdom, crowds, and times is included in this guide. Fortunately, there are a few choices you can make in advance to make your trip to Animal Kingdom enjoyable and stress-free.
Getting to Animal Kingdom
There is much to expect from Animal Kingdom, from rides and restaurants to view all the animals, making it a special place in our hearts.
A bus to Animal Kingdom is available at each Disney property. Before visiting Animal Kingdom, check whether the resort you are staying at offers complimentary shuttle services to the theme parks if you’re staying outside the resort.
If you’re coming in your car, there’s parking at the park’s entrance. However, you must pay to park unless you qualify for free parking.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Attractions
Animal Kingdom is a celebration of our planet. It consists of major areas such as Discovery Island, The World of Avatar, Tree of Life, and Rafiki’s Planet Watch.
The two attractions in Pandora; The World of Avatar, are the Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey. These two attractions have the longest lines, which frequently peak at over two hours. Moreover, Dinosaur, Expedition Everest, and Kilimanjaro Safaris all experience ups and downs in terms of crowds.
There are several outdoor attractions in Animal Kingdom, which will be closed when the weather is bad. This contains the two most well-known rides in Animal Kingdoms, Expedition Everest and Kali River Rapids.
When this occurs, visitors swarm to indoor attractions like Dinosaur and Flight of Passage and go to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, which features a prominent interior structure packed with fascinating insects and other engaging displays.
Due to Florida’s unpredictable weather, bring your own ponchos and umbrellas. If possible, stay away from the stores during storms when visitors are swarming to buy ponchos.
Additional free activities are available at Animal Kingdom. By visiting the first kiosk on Discovery Island, picking up a pamphlet and an oath, and acquiring animal badges all across the park, any visitor can enroll in the Wilderness Explorer Program.
There are more than 30 different badges and tasks with an animal theme to accomplish, and it is a delightful, cost-free way to brighten your day and learn more about animals and the environment.
Best Rides at Animal Kingdom
The best ride in Animal Kingdom is the Avatar Flight of Passage. Make sure to ride this ride, among others! The most popular attraction, Avatar Flight of Passage, is offered as a stand-by and as an individual Lightning Lane Pass-eligible ride.
Furthermore, you can go on this ride in the afternoon when there are fewer crowds, generally between 12 pm to 2 pm. Although you only need one day at Animal Kingdom, a lot will depend on how busy it is.
Na’vi River Journey, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Expedition Everest are recommended Disney Genie options at Animal Kingdom.
Rides With the Longest Wait Times
- Na’vi River Expedition on Mount Everest
- Flight of Passage in Avatar
Rides With Little to No Wait Times
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Rapid Kali River Dinosaur
Quick Ways To Skip Lines
The theme park Animal Kingdom offers, including rides, safari, performances, and other sections, make it well worth the price of admission.
One of its finer aspects is that Animal Kingdom caters to people of all ages. Younger children and families will love the park’s aesthetic appeal, spaces, and safari trips. There are exhilarating rides for teens and adults, such as Avatar Flight of Passage and Dinosaur.
But all of that means large crowds of visitors. If you want quicker ride access, you should consider something called Lightning Lane Access.
Lightning Lane Access
You might want to purchase access to the new Lightning Lane on busy days.
The first step is to get Disney Genie+ for the day of your visit. You may use Genie+ to enter the Lightning Lane at eight of Disney’s Animal Kingdom attractions.
Having Genie+ can significantly reduce your wait times at Animal Kingdom. It will be possible to ride almost all of the rides in Animal Kingdom if you spend the entire day there.
You shouldn’t have any difficulty getting to the other attractions. The Individual Lightning Lane for Flight of Passage is money well spent on Lightning Lanes at Animal Kingdom.
Attractions for Disney Genie Plus include:
- It’s Difficult Being a Bug!
- A Festival of the Lion King Expedition Celebration Everest’s Dinosaur
- Friends in Flight with Feathers!
- Na’vi River Travel
- Safaris to Kilimanjaro
- The Experience of Animation
- The Kali River Rapids
The À la carte approach of buying Lightning Lane is an additional choice. The top-tier individual attraction Lightning Lane selections will also be made on the day of your visit and can be made at different theme parks.
Eating at Animal Kingdom
There are many options for food and snacks at Disney Animal Kingdom. Most restaurants allow and prefer mobile ordering through the My Disney Experience App. You can easily explore the restaurant and counter service menu and place your order.
This service works out great during the high season when the park is filled with visitors. However, even after placing an order through the app, you may face some delays.
Cast members stand outside restaurants and let you in when your food is ready.
If you prefer ordering in person, some restaurants may have at least one in-person register to order your food. If you do have a smartphone on you, it’s better to order through the app, so download it before coming. You’ll need it to use the Disney Genie+ service anyways.
Conclusion
Animal Kingdom is a distinctive theme park. They offer dozens of animals, stunning displays, and fantastic rides. This should serve as a helpful guide and help you fall in love with Animal Kingdom.
Avatar Flight of Passage, Dinosaur, a Celebration Festival of the Lion King, Flight of Passage, Na’vi River, Expedition Everest, and the Kali River Rapids are a few of the most well-liked rides and attractions in this park.
At the park opening, all visitors can purchase Lightning Lane for the specific top-tier attractions. On the other hand, visitors who stay on Disney World property have the advantage of early access to the best reservations and can shop starting at 7:00 am on their visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Timing of Animal Kingdom?
Animal Kingdom is usually open from 7:30 am to 8:30 pm. However, there are some periods of the year when Animal Kingdom shuts down at 5:30 pm.
If you do not want to wait for long, arrive at least 30 minutes before the start time of the attraction. During your visit, you will have access to Extra Evening Hours and Early Theme Park Entry if you stay at a Disney Resort.
What Should I Bring to Animal Kingdom?
Animal Kingdom is the largest theme park at Walt Disney World. Therefore, there will be a lot of walking involved. Avoid wearing flip-flops or sandals, and use comfortable footwear. Get a map and plan to travel the shortest distance between attractions, rides, performances, and eateries.
Animal Kingdom also features two significant walking routes you shouldn’t skip because your feet are sore. Take pauses and go slowly.
Check the weather before coming and if it’s going to rain, bring umbrellas and ponchos. Animal Kingdom doesn’t have many indoor areas.
What Animals Can You See at Animal Kingdom?
You can experience wildlife at several attractions in Animal Kingdom park, including The Oasis and Discovery Island. Some of the animals you can see at Animal Kingdom include African birds, elephants, lions, rhinos, flamingos, tigers, gibbons, and gorillas.
