| | | |

Animal Kingdom Tips: It’s More Than Just a Zoo

Animal Kingdom Tips Tree of Life

Disney’s Animal Kingdom park is more than just a zoo. True, there are animals, but there are also rides, shows, unique dining, and lots of intricate theming. There is a lot to see and do. What Animal Kingdom tips do you need to know to maximize your day?

What Animal Kingdom Tips Do You Need to Know to Maximize Your Day?

1. Where is Animal Kingdom Walt Disney World?

2. Check an Animal Kingdom Park Calendar for Crowds

3. Make an Animal Kingdom Theme Park Reservation

4. Arrive Early

5. How Many Days Do You Need for Animal Kingdom Park Walt Disney World?

6. Check the Animal Kingdom Park Weather

7. What Do You Need to Bring?

8. Parking and Transportation Options

9. Download the Free App

10. Consider The Paid Extras

11. Choose Your Animal Kingdom Disney Rides

12. Utilize Rider Switch

13. What Animal Kingdom Zoo Animals Can You See?

14. Check the Animal Kingdom Show Schedule

15. Don’t Miss the Play Area

16. Play the Wilderness Explorer Game

17. Characters Float By Periodically

18. Make an Animal Kingdom Park Plan

19. Animal Kingdom Dining Highlights

20. Ways to Save

21. COVID-19 Precautions

disney's animal kingdom tips tricks flamingo

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

Disney Animal Kingdom Tips and Tricks

1. Where is Animal Kingdom Disney?

Where’s Animal Kingdom? This park is one of Disney World’s four theme parks in Orlando. It is located at 2901 Osceola Parkway.

2. Check a Crowd Calendar

What is the best day to go to Animal Kingdom at Disney World? You don’t need to wonder. Check a crowd calendar to be sure you visit on the most optimal day of your trip.

3. Make an Animal Kingdom Park Reservation

This is one of the most important Animal Kingdom tips of all. Theme park reservations are mandatory at Disney World. If you don’t make one, your day will be a non starter.

animal kingdom park disney world orlando florida rafiki

4. Arrive Early

Check the Animal Kingdom hours prior to your trip. The park is best enjoyed first thing in the morning before the masses roll out of bed. Arrive as early as possible for rope drop (the opening of the park). You will find shorter lines and better photo opportunities.

Pro Animal Kingdom tip: Guests of on property Disney World resorts and the Swan and Dolphin get into the park 30 minutes ahead of everyone else.

Bonus pro tip: Plan to arrive at your stop for Disney transportation about an hour before the park opens.

Extra bonus pro tip: Enter the park through the Rainforest Cafe entrance. Most people won’t.

Extra bonus pro tip: When you go through the Animal Kingdom park entrance, consider veering left if it works with your touring plan. Most people go right.

animal kingdom park pandora

5. How Many Days Do You Need?

Can Disney World’s Animal Kingdom be done in one day? Yes. Unlike Magic Kingdom, you can easily knock Animal Kingdom out in a day. Plan to arrive early and stay for the day. With a good touring plan, you should be able to do and see everything.

Can Animal Kingdom be done in half a day? Not if you want to do everything. If you only want to ride the rides, you can probably make that happen.

6. Check the Weather

Orlando is hot as balls in general. For some reason, the sun seems to shine just a little brighter at Animal Kingdom. The humidity can be oppressive. You can also expect buckets of rain to get dumped on your head most days.

There aren’t a ton of indoor things to do to avoid the elements. Be sure to check the weather so you know which layer of the sun if will feel like on the day of your visit.

animal kingdom park safari gorilla

7. What Do You Need to Bring?

You don’t want to lug a bunch of stuff around if you don’t have a stroller. It’s hot enough. Don’t make it worse. With that said, don’t forget:

A. A poncho

B. A refillable water bottle

C. Sunscreen

D. Headache medication

E. Nausea medication

F. A hat or sunglasses

G. A portable phone charger

animal kingdom theme park zoo dinosaur

8. Parking and Transportation

Guests at Disney’s on property resorts can take Animal Kingdom resort transportation to the park for free. All resorts access the park via bus only. Buses start running about 45 minutes before park opening. One of the most important tips for going to Animal Kingdom is to be at the front of the line when the bus arrives. Get to the stop at least an hour before park opening.

If you have to drive, the Animal Kingdom parking fee is $25 per day for standard parking and between $45 and $50 per day for preferred parking depending upon the day.

Pro tip: If you park hop, you don’t have to pay for parking twice in the same day.

Bonus pro tip: There is a special Disney bus for people who are park hopping.

disney's animal kingdom theme park bay lake fl river

9. Download the App

This is one of the best tips for Animal Kingdom. The My Disney Experience app is crucial. It gives you ride wait times, maps, and allows you to mobile order quick service meals.

Recently, Disney added the free Genie service to the app. It recommends an Animal Kingdom itinerary and makes suggestions throughout the day.

Pro tip: The app drains cell phone batteries faster than middle-aged women consume a case of White Claw on a Friday night. Bring a portable cell phone charger.

Note: Genie’s proposed Animal Kingdom park itineraries are new, but Touringplans.com has been doing this for free for years. Disney has an interest in sending people where it wants them to go, while Touringplans.com does not. Do with that information what you will.

animal kingdom theme park florida skeleton

10. Animal Kingdom Tips for Genie+ and Lightning Lane

RIP free FastPass+ system. You had a good run.

After the pandemic, Disney discontinued the free front of the line pass system and put Genie+ and Lightning Lane in its place. They’re optional, but they’re kind of not in some parks.

Note: You can purchase both Genie+ and Lightning Lane. You dont need to choose.

Genie+

Genie+ allows you to reserve spots to skip the line on certain Animal Kingdom park attractions throughout the day. Everyone who purchases it, whether in an on property hotel or not, can start making reservations at 7:00 a.m. on the day of their visits.

Guests can make a new reservation every two hours OR when their prior selection is expired or has been used. In other words, you can book one less than every two hours if you have no selection pending. You cannot reserve a specific time. You get what Disney is kind enough to give you (and you better appreciate it).

As of the time of this writing, it costs $15.98 per person per day. You can add it to your vacation package at any time.

Pro tip: You do not have to purchase Genie+ for every day of your trip. You can pick and choose.

Bonus pro tip: Sometimes, you have to prove you have a reservation multiple times in the same line. Don’t book another one until you are sure you have gone through all the scanners.

Extra bonus pro tip: If you don’t care if you sit with your party, consider skipping Genie+ and using the the single rider lines for free.

Note: Unlike the old FastPass system, you cannot use Genie+ to book the same attraction multiple times in the same day.

Note: You can be five minutes early or fifteen minutes late for your reservation. That’s it.

Lightning Lane

Lightning Lane only applies to two Animal Kingdom park rides, Avatar Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest. If you choose to purchase this front of the line pass, you pay a flat fee to skip the line once for that ride only. The rate varies depending on demand. You can generally expect to pay somewhere between $7 and $15 per person as of the time of this writing.

Pro tip: Guests of on property resorts can start booking Lightning Lane reservations at 7:00 a.m. Off property guests must wait until the park opens.

Bonus pro tip: Don’t waste your money on the Animal Kingdom Everest ride unless it makes you really happy. You can usually get on multiple times in the morning with no wait.

Extra bonus pro tip: If you don’t care if you sit with your party, the single rider lines will have shorter Animal Kingdom park wait times.

Are These Extras Worth it at Animal Kingdom?

Are Lightning Lane and Genie+ worth it at this park? It kills me to say it, because I really love paying extra to avoid others, but I don’t think so. Animal Kingdom without fastpasses is totally doable.

Lightning Lane

Lightning Lane is likely not worth it because you can walk onto Expedition Everest pretty easily in the morning. If you miss that window of time, or it will make you happy, feel free to purchase it.

The Flight of Passage line is long and builds quickly in the morning. Again, you will probably have time to wait in the line, but if it is worth it to you, go for it.

Genie+

Genie+ loses me at this park because you cannot book the same Animal Kingdom attraction multiple times. You can use Genie+ at a total of four rides at Animal Kingdom park. That is not a typo. Four.

Other than the four rides, you can use it at the Animation Experience and three shows at Animal Kingdom. Here’s the thing. You can walk into any of those with no wait pretty much every time.

If you could keep riding those four rides over and over again, I could probably recommend it with a straight face. Given these limitations, I just can’t.

animal kingdom tips branches

11. Choose Your Disney Animal Kingdom Rides

Animal Kingdom is low on rides, but most of them are worthwhile. Be sure to work them into your touring plan.

Rides in the Africa Section

Africa is located in the back left part of the park. If you’re not interested in the bigger rides, heading to the safari first makes sense.

Animal Kingdom Kilimanjaro Safaris

What should you not miss at Animal Kingdom? This ride is at the top of the list. Kilimanjaro Safaris is a long ride through some savannas. You will see a ton of animals, including crocodiles, giraffes, and cheetahs. You get great close up views while the driver narrates. This ride is popular, so the lines get long.

Pro tip: The animals may be more active in the morning.

Bonus pro tip: This ride does not always run all the way to park close. Check the times so you don’t miss it.

Height requirement: None

Genie+ accepted: Yes

Lightning Lane attraction: No

Wildlife Express Train

The train takes you to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. It isn’t overly exciting, but walking is not an option.

Height requirement: None

Genie+ accepted: No

Lightning Lane attraction: No

Rides in the Asia Section

Asia is located in the right rear. This is a good place to head first if Expedition Everest is important to you.

Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

Expedition Everest is the only Animal Kingdom roller coaster. The queue has a lot of interesting things to see.

It is kind of like Matterhorn at Disneyland in that a yeti is mad at you. At one point, the ride goes backwards. There is an indoor, dark section that feels like you go upside down, but you don’t. This ride is a little rough on the neck.

Pro tip: Disney will let you pay extra to skip the line on this ride. Don’t. The Animal Kingdom queue time is almost always reasonable. If you head here first thing in the morning, you can probably walk on with no wait multiple times.

Animal Kingdom yeti ride height requirement: 44″

Genie+ accepted: No

Lightning Lane attraction: Yes

Animal Kingdom Kali River Rapids

Kali River Rapids is an Animal Kingdom water ride on a circular raft. You can find a similar ride at a lot of other parks. The wait is usually reasonable. You will get very wet. Bring a poncho.

Height requirement: 38″

Genie+ accepted: Yes

Lightning Lane attraction: No

Animal Kingdom Rides List in Dinoland U.S.A.

Dinoland U.S.A. is located in the front right of the park. You can safely save this section for later in the day.

DINOSAUR

The Animal Kingdom DINOSAUR ride is terrifying. You cruise on a Jeep through dinosaurs that want to eat you. You may think this is appropriate for your small child given the low height requirement and the fact that it is next to a ride where smiling triceratops spin in a circle slowly in the air. It isn’t.

This ride is so dark you cannot see your child sitting next to you in the seat. The only time you will catch a glimpse is when a brightly colored dinosaur appears next to your car to threaten bodily injury. Proceed with caution with your young child.

Height requirement: 40″

Genie+ accepted: Yes

Lightning Lane accepted: No

TriceraTop Spin

TriceraTop Spin is basically Dumbo in dinosaur cars. This ride is in no way special or worth any kind of a wait.

Height requirement: None

Genie+ accepted: No

Lightning Lane accepted: No

Animal Kingdom Pandora Rides

Pandora is located in the front left. If Flight of Passage is important to you and the line isn’t long when you arrive, go here first.

Animal Kingdom Park Avatar Flight of Passage

The Animal Kingdom Avatar ride is a 3D motion simulator. You feel like you are riding a banshee. You get strapped in and are given the impression you can feel the banshee breathing. This is the most popular ride at this park, so the lines build quickly.

Height requirement: 44″

Genie+ accepted: No

Lightning Lane attraction: Yes

Na’vi River Journey is a slow moving boat ride through a bioluminescent rainforest. It ends with a lifelike Shaman dancing around. It is a nice, calm ride in air conditioning, but it is not worth a long wait. This ride tends to have a short line first thing in the morning. If the Flight of Passage is already long, this is a good option for Animal Kingdom rope drop.

Height requirement: None

Genie+ accepted: Yes

Lightning Lane attraction: No

hippo

12. Animal Kingdom Tips for Rider Switch

Do you have a small child ruining your fun? Good news.

Disney has a rider switch program that allows the whole family to wait in line only once. One adult rides while the other waits with a child, then the adults swap.

Pro tip: If you have a taller child who can ride, that child can ride with both adults. This crucial Animal Kingdom Disney tip allows your child to ride twice.

expedition everest

13. What Animal Kingdom Animals Can You See?

Animals in Africa

The Africa section of the park has the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. Here, you can see lots of big animals, including elephants, lions, gorillas, monkeys, okapis, and hippopotamuses.

Asia Section Animals

Asia features the Maharajah Jungle Trek. You can see a lot of popular animals, including tigers, gibbons, and komodo dragons.

Discovery Island Animals

The Discovery Island Trails in this section feature otters, lemurs, tortoises, and a red kangaroo, among others.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park Dinoland U.S.A. Animals

This section doesn’t have a ton of animals, but you can see crocodiles and a large tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.

Oasis Section Animals

The Oasis section of the park is the first one you will encounter upon entering the park. It features several animals, including spoonbills, anteaters, and wallabies.

Pro tip: Don’t waste your time in this section first thing in the morning. Book it to a ride. Check out the Oasis on the way out.

Rafiki’s Planet Watch Animals

Rafiki’s Planet Watch is an Animal Kingdom park must do for little kids. It requires a train to reach. It is essentially a petting zoo with some gross insects in tanks. Just like at the county fair, the goats aren’t afraid of people.

animal kingdom tips giraffe

14. Check the Animal Kingdom Park Schedule for Shows

This park features several daytime shows. Some run constantly, while others have set times. There are no Animal Kingdom fireworks.

Note: You can use Genie+ to skip the line for some of them, but you don’t need it. It is unusual to not be able to get into an Animal Kingdom park show.

The Animation Experience

If you have been dying to draw a Disney character, you’re in luck. You can take a class in the Conservation Station building that lets you just do that. I wouldn’t say it’s a great use of time unless you are really into it.

Genie+ accepted: Yes

Location: Rafiki’s Planet Watch

A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King

This Lion King show is a mini version of what you will see on Broadway. The set is fairly elaborate and all of the actors can sing. They are currently running a dumbed down version of the pre-pandemic show that featured acrobats. Despite the modifications, it is a still worth a visit. If nothing else, you can soak up the air conditioning.

Genie+ accepted: Yes

Location: Africa

Disney KiteTails

KiteTails is an Animal Kingdom kite show with some Disney music. There are two versions, Lion King and Jungle Book.

Frankly, I don’t get the appeal. It is both outdoors and underwhelming, so it is hard to justify missing something else to watch this. It will probably appeal most to young kids.

Genie+ accepted: No

Location: Dinoland U.S.A.

Donald’s Dino-Bash

This character show takes Donald through a lesson on evolution (essentially). Launchpad McQuack makes an appearance, which is reason enough to catch the show.

Note: This show is temporarily suspended.

Genie+ accepted: No

Location: Dinoland U.S.A.

Feathered Friends in Flight

Feathered Friends in Flight is kind of like if the birds in the Enchanted Tiki Room were let loose. If birds aren’t your fave, this is something to skip.

Genie+ accepted: Yes

Location: Asia

It’s Tough to Be a Bug

It’s Tough To Be a Bug is an Animal Kingdom 3D show with the characters from A Bug’s Life. It gets dark and can be scary for young children. This never has any wait. Ever.

Pro tip: During the show, it feels like an insect pokes you in the back. If this will scare your child, sit forward a little.

Bonus pro tip: The queue for this line and the theater itself walk through the Animal Kingdom Tree of Life, an enormous tree with animals carved into it.

Genie+ accepted: Yes

Location: Discovery Island

Winged Encounters

Winged Encounters involves a bunch of birds flying around at the same time. This takes place in front of the Tree of Life, so it is easy to come upon it without committing the time to sitting through the whole show.

Genie+ accepted: No

Location: Discovery Island

festival of the lion king

15. Don’t Miss the Animal Kingdom Theme Park Playground

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park Boneyard is a large play area open to only kids ages ten and under. It has slides, bridges, and a dirty sandbox place to dig for fossils. This area is sure to be a hit with kids who need to burn some energy.

16. Play the Wilderness Explorer Game

Wilderness Explorers is a free game that lets kids earn stickers in various stations. As an adult looking in from the outside, it looks like a lot of effort for not much of a pay off. However, kids get super into it. It is a great way to get your kids engaged in learning about the animals.

Pro Animal Kingdom park tip: The main area to pick up your books is on the bridge between the Oasis and Discovery Island sections, but you can grab one at any of the stations. Don’t walk out of your way to get the book at the beginning.

Note: The Wilderness Explorer stations are not open all day. Check the Animal Kingdom park hours on the day of your visit.

animal kingdom monkeys

17. Animal Kingdom Park Characters Float By Periodically

Disney still doesn’t want you to hug characters (although it doesn’t mind telling you to fill in all available space). In lieu of character meet and greets, there are flotillas. Keep your eyes on the water. Characters will roll through on boats.

18. Animal Kingdom Tips for Touring Plans

One of the most important tips and tricks for Disney Animal Kingdom is to have a plan. The park doesn’t have as many rides as some of the other Disney World parks. The queues get long. Figure out how to minimize your wait times.

What should you ride first at Animal Kingdom? The perfect plan for your family will depend on what you want to do. Generally speaking, Avatar Flight of Passage will have the longest lines of the day. If there is already a long wait time when you get there, knock out a few with short wait times and save that for later. You can probably walk onto Expedition Everest and Na’vi River Journey first thing in the morning.

Do not waste your time seeing animals first thing in the morning. They will be there all day.

Pro tip: Touringplans.com creates personalized touring plans for free. Input what you want to do and it will generate a plan. The plan can be modified throughout the day based upon current Animal Kingdom wait times.

Bonus pro tip: Check out the Animal Kingdom map before you go to familiarize yourself with where things are located.

Note: Disney’s Genie app claims to provide you a free touring plan. While this is technically true, data points suggest the app sends people to Animal Kingdom Disney park rides with longer wait times that do not make sense. Cynics believe Disney is more interested in controlling traffic than ensuring guests maximize their days. Feel free to try it, but Touringplans.com is probably a better way to go.

plants

19. Animal Kingdom Theme Park Restaurant Highlights

Animal Kingdom has way more dining options than rides. If the restaurant takes dining reservations, make them as soon as you can.

Disney is great about accommodating dietary restrictions. Most Animal Kingdom restaurants have special allergy menus. At a minimum, your server will work with you. Don’t be afraid to eat at the park.

Pro tip: Everyone can make Animal Kingdom park dining reservations 60 days before his or her visit to the park starting around 5:45 a.m. EST. If you stay in a Disney hotel, you can make reservations for up to ten days at once starting 60 days from the day you check into the resort. Set an alarm. The popular ones go fast.

Bonus pro tip: When you make dining reservations, don’t make them in chronological order. Instead, make the most difficult to get reservations first, then circle back, even if it means reserving the Animal Kingdom park restaurants you will visit at the end of your trip first.

Extra bonus pro tip: Consider eating at an off time. This will allow you to avoid crowds and take advantage of shorter ride lines.

Extra bonus pro tip: Save the most difficult to get reservations for the end of your trip. On property guests who check in before you have already made reservations for some of the days of your trip when your booking window opens. If you stay on property, you will be more likely to get something a few days after you check in.

Extra bonus pro tip: If you don’t get what you want right away, keep checking. People cancel all the time.

Note: Disney World’s dining plan is currently suspended.

Animal Kingdom Best Restaurants

Flame Tree Barbecue

Flame Tree Barbecue is an Animal Kingdom quick service restaurant. The food is decent and reasonably priced. Gluten free buns are available. Seating is outdoors, but under an awning.

Pro tip: Use mobile order to skip the line.

Location: Discovery Island

Nomad Lounge

Nomad Lounge is an Animal Kingdom park bar with some small plates and snacks, including, wait for it, gluten free churros. If you’re gluten free, you have likely not seen a churro you can eat at a theme park, ever. It doesn’t have a full menu for adults, but it does for kids. Disney knew what it was doing with this one.

Location: Discovery Island

Satu’li Canteen

Satu’li Canteen is arguably the most popular Animal Kingdom quick service lunch and dinner option. It features rice bowls that are fairly priced.

Pro tip: Use mobile order.

Location: Pandora

Tamu Tamu Refreshments

Tamu Tamu Refreshments is a snack stand that has cocktails and some Animal Kingdom quick service breakfast items. The real reason to visit is the alcoholic Dole Whip.

Location: Africa

Tiffins

Tiffins is the nicest restaurant at the park. This Animal Kingdom food may be good, but it is stupid expensive. This is a great option if you want to have an adults only meal, but skip this one with kids. They don’t appreciate it.

Pro tip: If you pay with your Disney Visa credit card, you get 10% off.

Location: Discovery Island

Tusker House

Tusker House is a meal with Animal Kingdom characters, specifically Mickey, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy. It is expensive, but the food is good, the characters are fun, and it is indoors in air conditioning. It is worth a stop.

This can be a tough reservation to get, so make it as soon as possible.

This restaurant used to be a buffet, but switched to family style when it reopened after the pandemic closure. While there is less variety, family style is better. The server will bring you as much food as you want. You don’t have to battle a bunch of kids with dirty hands to get it. As a bonus, kids are given a postcard autographed by the characters on the way out.

Pro tip: Try a late Animal Kingdom breakfast after riding some rides at park opening. It is cheaper.

Note: The characters still maintain social distance.

Location: Africa

Yak & Yeti

The Animal Kingdom Yak and Yeti menu has a ton of Asian options, including a good gluten free noodle one. The food is awesome and not that expensive when you account for the Disney upcharge. Air conditioning is plentiful. It’s delightful.

This location is one of the most popular table service restaurants at the park. This reservation is hard to get. Plan to visit on the latest day possible of your trip, and get online right when your booking window opens. If you can’t get it right away, keep checking back.

Pro tip: Yak & Yeti has a quick service option. It is outdoors and not as good, but you can try it if you can’t get into the real restaurant.

Location: Asia

best dining animal kingdom park tusker house

20. Tips to Visit Animal Kingdom for Less

How much is Animal Kingdom? A lot. Disney is expensive, but there are ways to save.

Discounted Disney Gift Cards

You can purchase tickets to Animal Kingdom with Disney gift cards. Purchase said gift cards at a discount at several places.

Use Miles and Points

The Disney Visa from Chase earns Disney dollars. It isn’t the best credit card for everyday purchases, but it comes with a decent signup bonus. You can purchase Animal Kingdom tickets, dine, and buy merchandise with the Disney dollars earned. You also get a discount at Tiffins and in select stores if you pay with this card.

Note: If you have taken out or been listed as an authorized user on five or more credit cards from any company (not just Chase) in the last 24 months, you will not be approved for this credit card.

Discounted Animal Kingdom Park Tickets

You can purchase Animal Kingdom Disney World tickets through a discount broker like Undercover Tourist.

Visit at an Off Time

Disney World ticket prices vary by the day. If you visit when most kids are in school, you will get a better deal.

Free Ice Water

The counter service restaurants in Animal Kingdom park pass out free cups of water. Don’t waste your money buying water bottles.

Pro tip: The cups are small. Bring a refillable water bottle and ask for multiple cups.

Outside Food is Allowed

Disney allows you to bring in outside food. Dragging a bunch of heavy stuff around all day will just irritate you, but feel free to bring some lightweight snacks to save.

Does an Annual Pass Make Sense?

If you are planning to visit Disney World multiple times, do the math to make sure an annual pass doesn’t make sense for you.

Pro Animal Kingdom Orlando tip: You can upgrade a previously purchased ticket to an annual pass.

crocodiles

21. What is Animal Kingdom Like During COVID-19?

As of the time of this writing, Disney World continues to require masks at all indoor locations. It also encourages guests to fill in all available space and does very little to prevent crowds. If you are uncomfortable around strangers, postpone your trip.

Final Thoughts – Disney World Animal Kingdom Tips and Tricks

Is Animal Kingdom worth it? Absolutely. This theme park isn’t the highlight of Disney World, but it is definitely worth a visit. It has unique theming, good food, fun rides, and a lot to see. Use Animal Kingdom tips that work for you to maximize your day.

Visit with your family. You will not regret it.

Animal Kingdom Tips Pin

Is Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Worth it? It Depends

Minimalist Disney Packing List: Resist the Urge to Overpack

Movies to Watch Before Going to Disney World: A Year’s Worth of Planning

Adding Universal to Your Disney Vacation: Totally Doable

Scariest Rides at Disney World: Proceed with Caution with a Shorty

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Save on Disney Trips: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Hollywood Studios with Toddlers: Magic Kingdom is Better

Is EPCOT Good for Toddlers?

Water Rides in Disney World: From Worst to First

Is Animal Kingdom Worth it for Toddlers?

Animal Kingdom Rides by Age: There Aren’t That Many

EPCOT Rides by Age: The Offerings for Each Age Group

Is Magic Kingdom Worth it for Toddlers?

Hollywood Studios Rides by Age: The Park is Best with Older Kids

What to Pack for an Orlando Trip: Only Bring What You Need

Animal Kingdom Tips

Similar Posts

58 Comments

  1. Animal Kingdom has always been one of my top Disney parks! I appreciate your comprehensive list and all the details and tips. I appreciate that AK is more chilled than some of the other parks.

  2. It’s been a few years since I visited DW, but this was my favorite park! I loved all the animals and the unique adventure spirit of this park! Thanks for sharing these great tips and I cant wait to visit again!

  3. Wow! This is the part I missed when I went to Orlando (a full day was not even enough for Disney!) It looks like you had a great time as a family!

  4. Great tips, and very specific. This will surely be helpful on our next visit to Animal Kingdom! We have found that getting there early is also one of the best things for short waits.

  5. I love your tips for Animal Kingdom! We went there years ago and didn’t plan ahead very well. It was way too hot for the walking around. If we would have checked the weather as you suggest it would have been a better day. Thank you for all the planning tips. I will definately use these tips if we go again!

  6. What a perfectly timed post! We are planning our next Disney trip and want to include at least a day in Animal Kingdom. We’ve gone on 3 Disney trips but have always skipped Animal Kingdom with our littles, but not this time. Love your guide and easy to follow information. Thank you.

  7. I live Animal Kingdom but I never seem to visit enough. My favorite thing is the safari. I agree there are definitely not enough rides there to make genie plus worth it.

  8. Thank you for putting together such a comprehensive guide. I haven’t been to Animal Kingdom since I was a little girl because I tend to prefer Magic Kindom, but I want to go for a longer period and revisit all the parks soon!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *