Is One Day Enough for Animal Kingdom?

You’ve started your Disney vacation planning and know what you want to do at Epcot, and the Magic Kindgom, but what about the Animal Kingdom? You’ll want a day – at a minimum – for Animal Kingdom. Here’s how to pack in the best of the park during your visit. 

1. Head to Peak XV Summit First. Save Pandora – World of Avatar and Avatar Flight of Passage for later in the day (this is where most guests will go after the park’s rope drop). The lines at Avatar ride are the longest for the first two hours of the day. So, instead, make your way to Expedition Everest – it’s a great way to get a vantage point on the park and make a plan for the rest of the day.

 

2. Check Out the Dinos, Then Head Out on Safari. Rarely crowded, Dinoland/Dino-rama is worth a walkthrough. Then, if it’s not yet 10:30 am, make a beeline to Kilimanjaro Safaris. Too late? Save it for later. The morning is a great time, if you can get there in time, because the animals are more active (after 3 PM, they’re on the prowl again, but between 11 am and 3 PM, they’re generally quiet and napping).

 

3. Grab Lunch, Then Take a Bird Adventure. Attend the Up! A Great Bird Adventure show after you’ve filled up at the Tusker House buffet or the exceptional Tiffins restaurant. Russel and Dug from Up will introduce you to all kinds of exciting bird life. Before or after the show, wander along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail or visit the Oasis.

 

4. Cool Off in the River. The whole family will love Kali River Rapids, both for the chance to cool off on a hot day and for the fun raft ride through fun environments – plus you’ll learn a thing or two about conversation.

 

5. Venture into the Jungle. Dry off as you trek through the Maharajah Jungle and meet graceful Asian tigers, gibbons, elds deer, blackbuck, Komodo dragon, Malayan flying foxes and more than 50 species of birds in an exhibit akin to the Anandapur Royal Forest.

 

6. Learn About Bugs. The 3D theater where you’ll watch “It’s Tough to Be a Bug” is in the park’s famous Tree of Life, a cool setting no matter what you’re watching.

 

7. Go on Safari (Again or If You Haven’t Already). After 3 PM and moving on toward sunset is another wonderful time to visit the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction – the animals are more active and the light is amazing for photos.

 

8. Have Dinner, Then Head to Pandora – World of Avatar. Finally, it’s time to head to Avatar Flight of Passage. Head to the Na’vi River Journey, planning to arrive at Avatar land about an hour before the park closes. You’ll likely wait 30 minutes or less at both Pandora attractions at this time.

What Day of the Week Is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park Least Crowded?

Disney’s Animal Kingdom park is least crowded on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

What Do I Need to Know Before Going to Animal Kingdom?

Here’s what you need to know as you tackle your Disney vacation planning and, in particular, your visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.

1. Animal Kingdom Is Not a Zoo. Sure, there are countless animals from hundreds of species at Animal Kingdom, but it’s more than that – there are thrill rides, themed lands that transport you everywhere from Everest to India, fantastic dining outlets, entertaining and educational shows about animals, geography and conservation and so much more.

 

2. Prepare for Rain. Sure, this is Florida, but it rains here, too! Bring a raincoat or an easily packable poncho so you can pull it out and keep having fun despite the random rainshower.

 

3. Check Height Requirements. Especially if you have littler kids, check how tall they need to be for rides before promising anything. Do your research on this before your make your FastPass selections – no one wants to have reservations for a ride for which they’re not tall enough. Look on Disney’s website and the My Disney Experience app for height requirements for all rides on your Animal Kingdom itinerary.

 

4. There Are Characters Here, Too. Sure, you won’t see Mickey and Minnie here, but you’ll find Pocahontas, Rafiki, Dug and Russel from Up and more.

 

5. Consider a Tour. To get the most out of your Animal Kingdom itinerary, sign up for a privately guided VIP tour with Wild Africa Trek. You’ll get up close and personal with the wildlife and enjoy an incredible meal. Or, learn how animals are cared for at Animal Kingdom park with a Backstage Tales tour. If you’d like these tours to be part of your Disney vacation, be sure to make advance reservations.

 

6. Check Out the Rivers of Light Nighttime Show. Stay until after sunset and enjoy the fabulous Rivers of Light show. You can even book a dining package that includes a meal at The Tusker House or Tiffins and a VIP ticket to the show.

 

7. Plan on a Full Day at Animal Kingdom. Don’t plan on only a half-day for your Animal Kingdom itinerary. You’ll need a whole day, at least, to enjoy the attractions, the restaurants and the great entertainment (like Finding Nemo the Musical and Festival of the Lion King). There aren’t as many attractions as at the Magic Kingdom, but to really enjoy the Animal Kingdom, give it a full day.

What Are the Top Attractions at Animal Kingdom?

The Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World is so much more than the sum of its parts. Celebrating nature, animals and adventure through theme-based exhibits, wildlife enclosures and thrill rides, the park puts that magical Disney touch on the world of animals and conservation. Here are the Animal Kingdom’s top attractions: 

1. Festival of the Lion King. Head to the Africa section of Animal Kingdom to take in this half-hour Broadway-like musical based on The Lion King.

 

2. Kilimanjaro Safari. Make like you’re in Tanzania and set off in an AWD safari vehicle to see zebras, rhinos, lions and giraffes, with an expert wildlife guide by your side. Have your camera ready as you pass across the savannah, skirt around a spouting geyser, capture poachers and bounce along dirt tracks.

 

3. Expedition Everest. This exciting theme roller coaster in the Asia section of Animal Kingdom introduces you to the legend of the Yeti. Expect steep climbs, exhilarating drops and backwards slides.

 

4. “It’s Tough to Be a Bug.” Learn all about the woes – and the super cool parts – of being a bug in the Tree of Life theater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Put on your bug glasses and sit on a log under a vine-draped ceiling as you learn about a day in the life of a bug.

 

5. TriceraTop Spin. Have kiddos who love dinos? Head to DinoLand U.S.A. It’s a suitable ride for all ages and will remind parents of the Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride in the Magic Kingdom.

 

6. Avatar Flight of Passage. Explore the moon of Pandora on the back of a mountain banshee – emulating the rite of passage of a Na’vi hunter.

 

7. Na’vi River Journey. Having completed your rite of passage, go further into Pandora and its bioluminescent rainforest by woven boat. You’ll search for the Na’vi Shaman of Songs on this slow-moving ride (a favorite of even the youngest theme park visitors).

 

8. Pandora’s Valley of Mo’ara. Go beyond Avatar Flight of Passage and the Na’vi River Journey in Pandora and walk through the floating mountains and bioluminescent plants of the Valley of Mo’ora. Play the drums at the Na’vi-built drum circle and collect Wilderness Explorer badges along the way. Watch for Alpha Centauri Expeditions tour guides and scientists from the Pandora Conservation Initiative.

 

9. Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. Walk through an African-esque landscape hoping to glimpse gorillas, hippos and exotic birds.

 

10. Dinosaur Who doesn’t get giddy about dinosaurs? Go back in time to the day the meteor hit Earth and save the iguanodon before the impact. This is a fairly frightening experience that’s better for older kids who want a wild ride on a Time Rover that zigs and zags quickly through a forest, while meteors smash into the planet.

 

11. Bonus Attraction: Discovery Island Trails. Be sure to spend some time walking along the quiet paths, across the wooden footbridges and through the tunnels of the Tree of Life on Discovery Island. There are many spots where you can stop and look for animals and snap photos. Look for white storks, Asian small-clawed otters, red kangaroos, West African crowned cranes, African-crested porcupines, Galapagos tortoises, lesser flamingoes, macaws, ring-tailed lemurs and more.

How Does My FastPass Work at Animal Kingdom?

FastPasses are free and available with park admission. If you’re staying at a Disney resort hotel, you can make a FastPass reservation for your entire trip, up to 60 days before arrival. If you’re not staying at a Disney resort, you can book FastPass reservations up to 30 days in advance, one day of your trip at a time. You can make up to three FastPass ride reservations for each day of your trip.

So, how does it work? Your FastPass specifies a one-hour time period during which you can enter the attraction. If you don’t show up within that hour, your reservation will be cancelled. There is a sperate, shorter FastPass line at the attraction for reservation holders.

What Should I Use My FastPass on at Animal Kingdom?

Based on popularity of attractions at Animal Kingdom, it’s suggested that you use your FastPass privileges on the following:

• Kilimanjaro Safaris: the most frequent FastPass choice, appealing to all ages, and gives you the choice of experience the daytime or nighttime safari
• Na’vi River Journey: relatively new ride
• Avatar Flight of Passage: relatively new ride
• Expedition Everest: popular thrill ride that is great for tweens and adults
• Adventurers Outpost: character meet-and-greet popular with parents with small children
• Rivers of Light: a good FastPass option on busy days or days with a late arrival
• Kali River Rapids: a good FastPass option on busy days or days with a late arrival
• Dinosaur: a good FastPass option on busy days or days with a late arrival

What do you never need to use your FastPass on at Animal Kingdom?

• Festival of the Lion King
• Finding Nemo the Musical
• Primeval Whirl
• It’s Tough to Be a Bug

Where Can I Learn About Conservation and Animal Care at Animal Kingdom?

Check out the Conservation Station in Rafiki’s Planet Watch. You’ll get an inside peek at animal habitats from around the world and learn about the veterinary care that Animal Kingdom theme park animals receive. Tour the veterinary treatment rooms and possible watch a procedure in progress, watch as the animal experts prepare meals for the park animals, watch tarantulas, scorpions and snakes through a window and find out what the Animal Kingdom scientists are working on.

Should I Stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge?

If you want to maximize your visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, then, yes, consider staying in the heart of the park at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The horseshoe-curved design of the hotel offers fantastic views out over the lush savannahs that are home to more than 200 animals and birds. Imagine the wonder in your daughter’s eyes as she opens the curtains in the morning only to be faced with a graceful giraffe or zebra right outside her window.

At the lodge, you can cool off in the 11,000-square-foot pool and waterslide and savor the shady under huge canopy trees while the littlest kids enjoy the Uzima Pool. There’s also the Samawati Springs Pool, with an exciting waterslide, and the Uwanja Camp, where kids can play in a water playground with water cannons and squirting Venus flytraps.

Each room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge provides a Wildlife Field Guide, great for curious kids (and adults!) who want to learn more about African wildlife species, plus there are engaging programs about the animals and their ecosystems led by animal specialists.