Disney’s Animal Kingdom is an underrated park at Walt Disney World. Many people are not aware of its existence, what it even is, or what there is to do at the park. Disney’s Animal Kingdom (DAK for short) is 50% zoological park, 50% theme park, and 100% adventure! There truly is something for everyone at DAK.
I was a Cast Member at DAK during my Disney College Program. I worked at the front entrance of the park, and the number one question I always got asked by guests was “so…what’s there to do here?” I was asked this question so frequently that I developed a kind of spiel. I would ask some questions about the family - what sort of rides they liked, how old their kids were, what kind of food they liked, and about their favorite animals. From there, I would pull out a park map and outline a few suggestions for the family. This blog post is a form of that spiel, meant to help you plan your day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
Best Things To Do At Animal Kingdom
Before we get to the personalizations of plans, I do have a general top 3 must-dos for DAK that I suggest to everyone. These things are enjoyed by most people and really enhance your experience at the park. I highly suggest at least doing these three things during your visit to DAK.
Top 3 Must-Do Things At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park:
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Festival of the Lion King
- Explore the park!
Kilimanjaro Safaris
The number one must-do attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park is the Kilimanjaro Safaris. Animal Kingdom is all about, well, seeing the animals. And the Kilimanjaro Safari ride is a great way to see a bunch of cool animals all at once. You’ll board a safari truck and ride through the savannas of Africa to see giraffes, elephants, lions, hippos, rhinos, and more. This attraction is consistently rated high in guest satisfaction, meaning that you are most likely going to have a good time. The best part about this attraction is that it is different every time you ride it because of the animals. Some rides you may even get into a giraffe-ic jam! People of all ages can ride, though it can be bumpy.
Festival of the Lion King
Located next to the Kilimanjaro Safaris is the Festival of the Lion King. This is a show featuring the characters and songs from the beloved movie. There are dancers, acrobatics, parade floats, and musical talent. This show is the number one rated show in not just DAK, but in all of Walt Disney World - and for good reason. You will be blown away by the talented performers. Showings are offered daily. They are usually scheduled every hour on the hour, except for a break at 1:00pm, but check the showtimes guide or the My Disney Experience app to be sure. I usually suggest lining up about half an hour early in order to get a good seat.
Explore the park
Finally, my last must-do at DAK is to explore the park. Animal Kingdom is the most intricately themed of all four Walt Disney World parks. It was designed to encourage adventure and exploration. There are so many trails to travel, details to scout, and scenery to take in. So slow down and take some time to wander. You’ll never know what you’ll discover.
Now, let’s breakdown some of the attractions offered at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.. Attractions at Walt Disney World can be broken down into several categories - thrill rides, dark rides, walk-throughs, and shows. For DAK, I have broken down the attractions into the categories of thrill rides, shows, characters, animals, and miscellaneous.
Thrill Rides
DAK has its fair share of thrill rides. These rides have a height restriction and some intense movement. If you love rollercoasters or other thrill rides, you might like some of these attractions.
Expedition Everest
Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Journey is definitely one of the best rides at DAK, and possibly the best themed rollercoaster in all of Walt Disney World. This rollercoaster takes you up to the Himalayan Mountains to find out if the local folklore of the Yeti is true. There is a 44 inch (112 cm) height requirement and features an 80 foot drop. In fact, Everest is the tallest rollercoaster in all four Walt Disney World parks! Expedition Everest is a rite-of-passage for many kids due to its height restriction and fear-factor of the Yeti. If you are able to do rollercoasters, I highly recommend this attraction be added to your must-do list!
Flight of Passage
How does one attempt to describe an indescribable experience? Flight of Passage is awesome, and is many guests’ number 1 priority at DAK. There is a 44 inch (112 cm) height requirement, and there is a test seat outside the attraction queue. Flight of Passage regularly has the highest wait times in the entire park. For this reason, most guests chose to rope-drop this ride early in the morning before peak crowds. You may also want to try hopping in line before park close, after you have already done everything you wanted to do. Expect to wait at least an hour on this ride. Make sure you go to the bathroom beforehand, and bring snacks. The wait time may seem intimidating, but it’s worth it.
DINOSAUR
DINOSAUR is listed as a thrill ride according to Disney, and I have to agree! This attraction may not have huge drops, but there are scares galore. There is a height requirement, but it is only 40 inches (102 cm), but some scenes may be intense for young ones. If you have a fear of animatronic dinosaurs, skip this ride! If you love dinosaurs, give this one a try. The theming is pretty cool, and the lines are very quotable.
Kali River Rapids
This is DAK’s resident water ride. You WILL get wet. This is a raft ride with a 30 foot drop that takes you through the beautiful forests of Asia. There is a 38 inch (97 cm) height requirement, so tiny tots may not be able to ride. The wait times for this attraction tend to get the longest in the middle of the day, as many guests attempt to cool down when the Florida sun is out in full force. I have seen some guests prefer to hop on the Kali River Rapids in the very beginning of the day, as this gives them ample time for their clothes to dry.
Miscellaneous Attractions
These are attractions that are not thrill rides, but are still a lot of fun.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch
Rafiki’s Planet Watch is sort of a land-within-a-land. It is a large building with several things to do inside. The only way to get to Rafiki’s Planet Watch is to board the Wildlife Express Train station in Africa. The Wildlife Express Train is not considered an attraction in itself - it’s merely a form of transportation.
When you depart the train, you’ll come upon a large building. This holds the Conservation Station. Here, you’ll find some educational displays and a look backstage. There is a window to the veterinary treatment room, nutrition center, and science room so you can see cast members taking care of the animals behind the scenes.
Also inside the building is the Animation Experience. This used to be offered at Hollywood Studios, but has since moved to DAK. This is a short animation class where you can learn to draw an animal from a Disney movie. Artistic people will love this, and your drawing makes for a unique souvenir you can take home.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch is also home to the Affection Section, a petting zoo featuring goats, sheep, and llamas. Little ones will love the chance to get up close to these friendly animals.
If you plan to make Rafiki’s Planet Watch part of your day at DAK, be aware of the time. Rafiki’s Planet Watch closes at 5:00pm everyday, earlier than the rest of the park.
Wilderness Explorers
The Wilderness Explorers is a scavenger hunt-like experience. I love recommending this activity for those really wanting to immerse themselves in the park. First, you’ll need to go to the Wilderness Explorer Headquarters on Discovery Island. Here, you’ll be set up with a badge and a guidebook. You can go around to different Wilderness Explorer stations around the park to earn more badges. Each station involves an educational activity, making this perfect for kids.
Na’vi River Journey
This can be classified as a dark ride or a boat ride. However, it is the only one at DAK, so I placed it in the miscellaneous category instead. This is a nice, calming ride through the fantastical forest of the alien planet, Pandora. There is no height restrictions, so anyone can ride. If your small ones are too small for Flight of Passage, then this is the default attraction in Pandora. However, this ride is not really anybody’s priority and has relatively low wait times. If you are able to fit this ride into your day, go for it. If you are able to do Flight of Passage, you should prioritize that instead.
Triceratop Spin
This ride is basically Dumbo, but with dinosaurs. This ride is very cute and perfect for tiny tots, but it is not a priority attraction for many. However, the option for small children is appreciated.
The Boneyard
Playgrounds can be found at many of the Walt Disney World parks. They are a great way for children to burn off energy while the parents can take a break. The Boneyard is DAK’s play area for kids. It is located at the entrance of Dinoland and it is themed around a dig site. Kids can pretend to be paleontologists and climb on some dinosaur bones. This is a fun stop while walking through Dinoland.
Shows
The shows at DAK are excellent. Some of these are stage shows, some of these are attractions in their own right, and some of these are more random experiences you can see throughout the day. Festival of the Lion King was already discussed in this post, but there are plenty more shows at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
It’s Tough to be a Bug
Did you know that there is actually an attraction inside of the Tree of Life? That would be It’s Tough to be a Bug. This is a 3D show based on the movie A Bug Life. Fun fact - this movie was released in 1998, the same year DAK opened! The queue for this attraction wraps around the Tree of Life and allows you to get super close to the theme park’s centerpiece. If you or anyone in your party has a fear of bugs, this should probably be skipped.
Feathered Friends In Flight
This is a show located in the Asia section of the park. It is a chance to see unique birds up close. Currently, showtimes occur every hour, starting at 10:30am. Check the park showtimes guide or the My Disney Experience app for updated showtimes.
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond!
This is a stage show, somewhat similar to the Festival of the Lion King. However, this is a musical based on the Finding Nemo movie. The visuals are very cool. If you are a fan of Finding Nemo or musicals, you’ll enjoy this show. Plus, this theater is inside and air-conditioned, making for a great place to take a break. Personally, I love seeing this show in the afternoon as it is my reprieve from the Floridian sun. Showtimes occur approximately every hour. Be sure to check the showtimes guide or the My Disney Experience app for accurate showtimes.
Winged Encounters
This is an animal encounter than you can see right on Discovery Island. You do not need to line up or wait in a theater to see it. Approximately every hour, a flock of colorful macaws will fly over Discovery Island. Animal caretakers hold up posts for the birds to land on, so you will be able to see the bright birds above the crowds. Seeing them take off into the sky is truly magical. You may not want to plan your whole day around this show, but if you happen to be on Discovery Island when a show occurs, it’s worth it to stick around for a few minutes to see it.
Characters
What’s a trip to a Disney park without seeing some well-known Disney characters? DAK has a set of unique character meet and greets that any autograph book completionist needs to check off their list.
Mickey and Minnie
Animal Kingdom is the only place in Walt Disney World where you can meet both Mickey and Minnie at the same time. Mickey and Minnie are kind of difficult to scout, as they are located inside a building called Adventurer’s Outpost. This building is located on Discovery Island, just before the bridge to Asia. Mickey and Minnie meet everyday, usually from park open to an hour before park close. Be sure to check the My Disney Experience app for accurate times.
Moana
Moana has docked her boat along the Discovery Island River. Moana is new to DAK, and this is the only place in the parks you can see her. She meets throughout the day, and the times are posted on a sign outside of Character Landing.
Kevin
This is not a traditional meet and greet. Kevin can be seen wandering around Discovery Island about every half hour. Just don’t feed her chocolate!
Dino Bash
You can meet many characters in Dinoland with Donald’s Dino Bash. Characters such as Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Chip and Dale come out to party with guests, decked out in cute dinosaur costumes. These unique costumes make for a fun photo, but if you prefer the characters in their classic wear, this may not be the meet and greet for you.
Discovery Island Flotillas
This is not a meet and greet, but it is still a fun way to see a lot of characters. Periodically, characters will float by on boats along the Discovery Island River. You’ll be able to see characters such as Pluto, Goofy, Pocahontas, and more. Wave to them as they cruise by and take a fun pic.
Animal Exhibits
How can you go to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and not see the animals? Luckily, there are many animal exhibits throughout the park. Meander down a trail at your own pace and see some beautiful creatures.
The Oasis Exhibits
These are trails located in the Oasis, the front part of the park. Many people pass them on their way to Discovery Island and don’t even know that these animals are there. Here you will find wallabies, muntjacs, babirusas, birds, and rhinoceros iguanas.
Discovery Island Trails
If you want a great view of Tree of Life, wander down the Discovery Island Trails. You may just find some flamingos, otters, kangaroos, and cotton-top tamarins.
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trails
This is located right next to the Kilimanjaro Safari rides and allows you the chance to get a closer look at some of the animals on the ride, plus a few more. The Gorilla Falls Exploration Trails is the spot to find gorillas, hippos, okapi, meerkats, and zebras.
Maharajah Jungle Trek
This trails is located in Asia and themed around the ruins of an ancient temple. Here, you’ll find tigers, bats, and birds.
Suggestions
Okay, from these descriptions you have hopefully been able to narrow down some cool things to do during your visit to Animal Kingdom. If you have not, I have some more suggestions for you based on your family's ages and interests.
As always, I am a big proponent of prioritizing a handful of attractions and going with the flow the rest of the day. These suggestions follow the same strategy. This is not a minute-by-minute itinerary. Rather, these are my top suggestions based on age and interest. You may use these suggestions to personalize your own itinerary.
Kids will love:
- Triceratop Spin
- The Boneyard
- The Affection Section
- The Wilderness Explorers
Thrill seekers will love:
- Expedition Everest
- Flight of Passage
- Kali River Rapids
- DINOSAUR
Disney movie fans will love:
- It’s Tough To Be A Bug
- Finding Nemo show
- The Animation Experience
- Meet Moana
More information on DAK
For more ideas on how to spend your day at DAK, check out my post about my favorite things to do at Animal Kingdom .
Your Opinions
What's your favorite thing to do at DAK? Leave your thoughts and questions in the comment section below!
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