When’s the best time to visit Animal Kingdom? It’s a question everyone asks when trying to get the most from their park time. Whatever you are looking from your day, looking at timings will help you find the best time to visit for you.
Is there a best time of day to visit Animal Kingdom?
The best time is the time that works best for your needs. Of course, crowds and queue times will influence your choices, no one wants to stand in a queue all day. But when visiting Animal Kingdom there is another important factor to consider, animals. When you’re looking to get the best Animal Kingdom experience you want to include some animal encounters, and that means considering when animals will be most active and likely to be seen. Let’s take a look at what you can expect from your visit at different times of the day.
Early Morning: Less Crowds and More Wildlife
Early morning Animal Kingdom has a surreal busy feeling, even when empty. It’s the rustle of animals that gives it this feeling, it’s almost as if they welcome visitors to the park in the morning. Animals are more active at this time due to cooler temperatures and a quieter atmosphere.
Animal Kingdom Opening Time
Animal Kingdom is always the first park to open at Walt Disney World, with an average opening time of 8am throughout the year. That means early entry begins at 7.30am for resort guests.
If you are staying onsite and have the benefit of early entry, embrace the early start, not solely for the queue time benefits, but for the animal encounters you will have at this time of day.
The same is true of rope drop, this is a park that is worth rope dropping for the animal encounters and atmosphere alone. You can consider the benefits of rope dropping Animal Kingdom and decide if this option is right for you by reading Rope Dropping Animal Kingdom: should you without coffee?
Avoid the crowds
In the early morning crowds are drawn to Pandora from the entrance. People head to Avatar: Flight of Passage as part of a rope drop strategy to beat the need to buy a Lightning Lane Single Pass in Animal Kingdom. The fast walkers will head to the left as they get to the Tree of Life.
The rest of the park keeps a fairly quiet atmosphere for a couple of hours. All other attractions have shorter queue times, so it is a great time to ride and to enjoy the atmosphere without the crowds of people. Start with Kilimanjaro Safari if you’re a family looking for that magical morning moment, or Expedition Everest if you’re a thrill seeker.
More Wildlife
The animals enjoy the cooler temperatures of the morning, so for most of the year they are the most active at this time. If you’re looking for animal encounters as part of your experience, head to places like Kilimanjaro Safaris and the self-guided walking tours during the first few hours of the morning.
Animal encounter attractions also close earlier than the rest of the park, so bear this in mind when choosing the best time of day to experience them.
Why is morning the best time of day to visit?
Morning is the best time of day to visit Animal Kingdom for visitors who want:
- Shorter queue times in Pandora. You need to head here first thing as queue times rise quickly to over an hour in the first half hour after rope drop. The sights of the floating mountains are nice too, made even better by knowing you’ll be beating queue times later in the day.
- A quiet park atmosphere to explore the sights and enjoy a leisurely coffee while wandering around the beautiful scenery in Animal Kingdom.
- Animal encounters. If you’re looking to see them up close, roaming around, and doing their thing, this is the best time of day for you to visit.
Mustering the energy for an early morning in Animal Kingdom is worth it for the pure magic of the atmosphere. You’ll get more done in those first couple of hours than most people do all day, and you’ll have some incredible memories to boot. Just remember to set that alarm, pack your bag the night before, and get ready for an adventure!
11am onwards: Navigating the Park During Peak Hours
By 11am any Disney Park can start to feel like a bit of a slog if you don’t have a plan, and Animal Kingdom is no different. The crowds swell, the sun begins to blaze, and it can feel like everyone in the park has decided to line up for the same ride you’re eyeing riding.
Once you hit midday and the hours straight after, the park is at its busiest. The lines get longer, especially for the big-ticket attractions like Expedition Everest and any of the rides in Pandora. Unless you have a Lightning Lane, midday is not the time to ride the big attractions.
During peak hours, Lightning Lanes will be the only way to reduce queue times. If you don’t have room for it in your budget, or you don’t feel it’s a necessary purchase, you can successfully adopt a different strategy.
Half Day Strategy
Choose to focus on the quieter attractions or shows in Animal Kingdom during this time, or better yet, take a break from the attractions altogether. If you are not short on time and don’t need to do the park in 1 day, don’t. Split your day up and take the half day approach. Around 11am would be the time to leave the park. You can read about the half day strategy for Animal Kingdom here.
Midday Heat
Now, let’s talk about cooling down. Midday in Florida is no joke, especially during the summer. The heat and humidity can really zap your energy. The best way to beat it is to find some air conditioning. The Festival of the Lion King is a perfect spot to do this in Animal Kingdom. It’s indoors, the show is fantastic, and it’s a good excuse to sit down for a while.
If you’re not into shows, head to the air-conditioned shops or grab a bite at one of the indoor restaurants. Use this as a time to recharge with some food and drinks before you head back out for more adventures.
Why is 11am to late afternoon the best time of day to visit?
It isn’t the best time to visit. If you have a 14 day Magic Ticket and you can leave to enjoy another adventure during your holiday, do so. Animal Kingdom has little shelter and no ride is worth over an hour’s wait. Plus, everyone starts to feel more than a little grumpy in the heat. Try the Animal Kingdom half day strategy to get the most out of your time, it’s tried and tested.
Here are the reasons that 11am to late afternoon is not the best time to visit Animal Kingdom:
- The queues for the best rides are full, unless you can budget for and get Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass for your group. This adds more onto the cost of your ticket, which is too much if you are trying to do Disney on a budget. Queues are hot and stuffy and there are better ways to spend your time.
- Animals are hot, just like humans, and take shelter, so encounters with them are usually less engaging. You may not see them if you venture on a self-guided trek though the Maharajah Jungle or Gorilla Falls.
Late Afternoon to Evening: Experience the Park’s Night time Magic
There’s something really special about the way the park transforms as the sun starts to set. The crowds begin to thin out, the temperature drops, and the whole place takes on a magical vibe that’s completely different from the hustle and bustle of midday. You’ll also find fewer people power walking to rides at this time of day.
One of the biggest perks of staying later on, or even returning to the park for the last 2-3 hours, is the reduced crowd levels. As the evening rolls in, families with little kids tend to head out, which means shorter lines and more space to explore.
This is the perfect time to hit up any attractions you might’ve missed earlier in the day. Expedition Everest and Na’vi River Journey queue times always reduce about 5pm, so this is an ideal time to ride.
Then there’s Pandora in the evening. If you think it’s cool during the day, wait until you see it when the light fades. The land literally glows, creating shadows and an atmosphere that will capture your imagination. You’ll only get to see it in the proper dark in late autumn and winter due to the park’s early closing time and Florida sunlight hours, but it is magic.
The bioluminescent plants light up, the whole area radiates colour and light, and it feels like you’ve stepped into another world. And don’t forget to look up at the floating mountains, they’re even more awe-inspiring when they’re illuminated against the darkening sky.
Why is late afternoon into evening the best time to visit Animal Kingdom?
The park gains a serenity as the evening draws in at Animal Kingdom. The bioluminescence of Pandora adds a layer of magic to the land that no other area has in any Disney Park and riding Everest at sunset is a memory to treasure.
Late afternoon into the evening is definitely the best time to visit Animal Kingdom. This is why:
- The scenery comes to life as the evening draws in, particularly in the autumn and winter months.
- The ride wait times drop in the last few hours of park opening and wait times are similar to those of early morning, if not better. This means rope drop isn’t necessary if you want a budget way to skip the queue and have a lie in. You may even find you can enjoy multiple rides on some attractions at this time of day.
- The animals do tend to become more active as temperatures cool, so if you miss your chance for an encounter in the morning, you may well get one now.
Is Animal Kingdom better in the morning or the evening?
In the Spring and Summer Animal Kingdom is better in the morning, you can spend 3 hours enjoying the park without peak crowds and get lots of attractions done. The evening is better in Autumn and Winter as the park scenery changes and lights up in a magical and mesmerising display.
Seasonal Considerations: The Best Times To Visit
The time of year you visit Animal Kingdom can make a huge difference in your experience. The park is different in every season, and each one has its pros and cons. It’s all about knowing what to expect and planning accordingly. Whether it’s dealing with the Florida heat, navigating holiday crowds, or catching a special event, there’s always something to consider when choosing the best time to visit.
Summer
Summer at Animal Kingdom can be a bit brutal. The crowds are massive, and the heat is not for the faint of heart. There’s not a lot of shelter and air-conditioned escapes at Animal Kingdom are short and spread out. If summer is when you are visiting, plan smart. Get to the park early, take advantage of the indoor attractions during the hottest part of the day, and stay hydrated.
Autumn
The weather starts to cool down (though it’s still pretty warm by UK standards), and the crowds are a bit more manageable. Plus, the park gets decorated for Halloween, which adds a fun, festive vibe. Tree of Life Awakenings will begin towards the end of the season as it is dark enough out before the park closes. These magical projections on the Tree of Life is Animal Kingdom’s way of wishing you good night (like Happily Ever After or Luminous).
Just remember surprise rainstorms can put a damper on your day if you’re not prepared with a poncho or rain mack.
Winter
Winter at Animal Kingdom is magical. The holiday season brings cooler temperatures and gorgeous decorations, especially around Christmas. Merry Menagerie will be on during December where puppet animals will be brought to life near the Tree of Life, adding festive animal cheer to the park. The crowds can be a bit heavy during the festive two weeks at the end of December, but if you visit in early December or January, you’ll find it much quieter. Remember to bring a jacket in your park bag as evenings get chilly.
Spring
Spring is another great time to visit, especially if you love flowers and greenery. The park’s landscaping really comes to life, and there’s a freshness in the air that makes everything feel new. Earth Day celebrations in April and Spring break around Easter can bring in the crowds, but if you visit before or after, you’ll find it pretty pleasant. Near perfect weather, moderate crowds, and the chance to see baby animals on Kilimanjaro Safari.
Conclusion
In the end, the best time to visit Animal Kingdom is whenever you can make it happen. Each season offers something unique, so it’s all about what matters most to you. Whether it’s beating the heat, avoiding the crowds, or catching a special event, a little planning can go a long way in making your visit unforgettable. No matter when you go, the magic of Animal Kingdom is always there, waiting to be discovered.
Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, there’s a best time of day for everyone to explore Animal Kingdom. From catching the morning magic to enjoying the serene evenings, each part of the day offers something unique.