Number of visits: 1 to 2 days. Like Epcot, if you just want to blitz the thrill rides then Animal Kingdom can be ticked off in a day’s visit. But, you will then be skipping the Kilimanjaro Safari, Rafiki’s Planet Watch and the Maharajah Jungle Trek which will be a shame as this park’s main attraction is of course, the exotic animals. The Finding Nemo musical is well worth a look too, as is the Festival of the Lion King acrobatic show. Our kids favourite ride is the Expedition Everest roller coaster which travels up and around the mountain. Animal Kingdom has one of the most impressive (and busiest) rides in WDW: the Flight of Passage in the Pandora area where you get a real sense of what is would be like to fly on a banshee creature from the movie Avatar.
Download 2023 a PDF guide and map direct from the Walt Disney World website here.
Animal Kingdom is found by heading west along Osceola Parkway (in the opposite direction to Hollywood Studios) so you’ll need to take the first flyover which crosses World Drive after the Welcome Sign. There is also a ‘back entrance’ from Hwy192 down Sherberth Road. This misses out World Drive and the welcome sign but brings you almost straight to the Animal Kingdom car park entrance. The car park rows are named Giraffe, Yeti, Dinosaur and Unicorn. If you’re in the back rows it’s quite a long way to the park entrance so definitely jump on the tram. The only nearby hotel is the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Unlike other WDW parks it is not serviced by either the Monorail or Skyliner so visitors must use the resort buses or their hire car.
Discovery Island where the Tree of Life is situated is this park’s central hub. Each of the different areas of the park (Africa, Asia, Pandora and Dinoland) are connected to Discovery Island by four bridges. Under these bridges is the Animal Kingdom river which runs from Africa, around Discovery Island and then through Asia.
TMTO TIP: Animal Kingdom is Disney’s largest park and due to authentic landscaping and lack of large buildings when compared to other parks means that you’re outside for long periods here so, keep water bottles and spray fans topped up.
Pandora – World of Avatar
This is Animal Kingdoms immersive theme park land based around the movie. It has 2 of WDWs best rides – the slow but entertaining Nav’i River Journey and the exhilarating Flight of Passage (see below). The centre of this land feature the gravity defying rock structures. You can ‘adopt’ a banshee – a moving toy with sounds which can perch on you shoulder. The whole experience takes about 20 mins in which you’ll take a vow to look after your banshee. It costs around $80 (don’t forget the tax). The other experience is to create your own Nav’i Avatar alien. This costs around $75 (+tax) where the cast members will scan your face and produce a 10 inch Nav’i action figure with your likeness.
TMTO Favourite Rides
For the thrill seekers
Avatar Flight of Passage 44” (Ind LL. One the most popular rides in WDW so ride first thing in the morning at rope drop or last thing at night just before the park closes) Brilliant 3-D sim ride where you fly over the Moon of Pandora on a winged banshee creature. Pass through scenes from the movie in the queue. A unique experience which you can only get at Walt Disney World.
Expedition Everest 44” (Ind LL) Track down the yeti by travelling forwards and backwards on a runaway train roller coaster up, through and around the scale version of Mt Everest. It’s a great one to do at night if you like fast roller coasters. Definitely one of our favourites!
Rides for all the family
Na’vi River Journey (LL) A dark, slow river boat ride through the Pandora forest with state-of-the-art animatronics and effects. A impressive ride but we wouldn’t queuing more than 60 mins so get on early in the morning before the queue builds up.
Kali River Rapids 38” (LL if the weather’s good) Travel down river in Asia on a circular raft. Expect to get wet!
Dinosaur 40” (102cm) Travel back in time on this dark (and a little bit scary) ride with impressive dinosaur animatronics. Quite an old ride but still worth the wait time.
Triceratop Spin Fly up and around on a triceratop. Similar to Flying Dumbos in Magic Kingdom so great for toddlers but older kids may find it a bit too tame.
The Boneyard This is not a ride but a really good playground in the Dinoland area. Not only does it have climbing nets and tube slides but if you head across the bridge there’s a dinosaur excavation site where your little ones can dig for bones in the course sand there.
Animal Attractions
Kilimanjaro Safari Ride in an open air truck around the Animal Kingdom’s savanna area and take in the African animals including Lions, Giraffes, Rhinos and Crocodiles with commentary provided by the driver. Ride in the morning or late afternoon especially in the summer months as this is when the animals are the most active.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch – Get the Wildlife Express train ride in Africa just next to the Kilimanjaro Safari. The train takes you behind some of the animal enclosures so you might spot some of the animal babies. The train stops at Rafiki’s Planet Watch which includes the Affection Section where you can pet small farm animals.
The Maharajah Jungle Trek is a walk through area where you should get a good view of all the Asian animals including the tigers in the park.
Winged Encounters is a short show with the parks macaws just in front of the Tree Of Life. Watch you head as they tend to fly very low at times!
Shows
Finding Nemo The Musical (LL for a good seat) A 30 minute adaptation of the Pixar film with impressive puppets, sets and original music which has been especially composed just for this show – a CD is available in Animal Kingdom shops and the Sea Base in Epcot. A seat in the front row of the 2nd tier is where we think is the best spot as the actors will come right past your seat! It’s on in the Theatre In The Wild near Dinoland.
Festival of the Lion King 30 minute music and acrobatics show and with live performers and animatronic characters from the movie.
Fireworks
Due to it the wildlife in the park Animal Kingdom never had a fireworks display like the other WDW parks. Instead they have light shows. The current one is Awakenings and is an animal projection show displayed on the Tree of Life with music every 10 minutes or so after dusk. Get the best view by standing between Island Mercantile and Discovery Trading Company on Discovery Island.
Take Me To ORLANDO! 