Looking for a guide to Animal Kingdom; the largest theme park in the world? Look no further. Visiting a park home to over 2,000 species of animals and a whole lot of Disney magic, it’s a big day out. The best thing about this park? No matter how many visits you make, there are attractions here that feel new every single time you ride. How cool is that?
Let’s explore the wonderful world of Animal Kingdom.
Disney Animal Kingdom Guide: The Lands
Animal Kingdom is home to 6 lands. Each land has a unique theme focusing on animals and conservation from the past, present, mythical and fictional realms.
From the entrance and then going round to the left at Discovery Island, you’ll find:
- Oasis – A tropical entryway into the park.
- Discovery Island – At the heart of the park and surrounded by Discovery River is this beautiful land.
- Pandora – The World of Avatar – The world drawing inspiration from the movie franchise Pandora, a haven of futuristic landscapes with lush flowers and trees.
- Africa – Home of the Savannah and stunning theming, conservation and The Lion King are at the heart of this land.
- Asia – With Mount Everest looming across the landscape, lush green forests and waterways capture guests’ attention whilst being home to rare animals.
- Dinoland USA – Animals from the past, the dinosaurs, are celebrated in this land, but it is soon to be reimagined.
A Park Icon for Animals
The main focal point and heart of the park is it’s icon, The Tree of Life. Did you know it’s not a real tree? That almost feels unbelievable when you look at it. There are 337 animal carvings, and the tree is made from an old oil rig and concrete. It’s made to look like a Baobab Tree and is said to have been inspired by Rafiki’s Tree in The Lion King.
Just like at Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, the park icon is also home to an attraction. At Animal Kingdom you’ll find the animated show It’s Tough To Be A Bug playing inside. Although, that’s soon to change, as in 2025 the show will be replaced with Zootopia: Better Together.
The Future in Animal Kingdom
A show change at the Tree of Life is not the only change happening in Animal Kingdom. In August 2024, at D23, an announcement was made stating that Dinoland USA was being reimagined.
Reimagining Dinoland USA
Closing at some point in the near future, Dinoland is being reimagined into an 11-acre land called Pueblo Esperanza. Work is slated to begin on the reimagining in Autumn of 2024, although no closing date has been announced. Dinoland is on the brink of extinction.
Bringing changes to the attractions you will get to experience during your visit, Disney are removing or reimaging DINOSAUR, Triceratop Spin, and The Boneyard as well as the shop and dining options in the area.
The new attractions coming soon that visitors can look forward to are:
- An Encanto inspired attraction set in the Casita the day after Antonio receives his gift to communicate with animals.
- An Indiana Jones attraction which will replace DINOSAUR.
- A carrousel of animals.
Opening in 2027 this is time of excitement and sadness, but we will keep the guide up to date, so bookmark this page to keep up to date with Animal Kingdom. Until extinction hits like a meteor, enjoy Dinoland USA!
Disney Animal Kingdom Guide: Attractions
Animal Kingdom boasts 20 diverse attractions for you to explore, but did you know that only 7 of the attractions in the park are rides? With rides, shows, walk-through attractions, and animal encounters to take your breath away, Animal Kingdom offers a wild kind of Disney Magic.
Complete List of Animal Kingdom Attractions
| Attraction | Land | Height Requirement | Attraction Type | Best For |
| Wilderness Explorers | Discovery Island | No | Self-guided Walking | Families with children under 10, Multi-generational groups, People who love to learn |
| It’s Tough To Be A Bug | Discovery Island | No | Show | Adults, Families, Multi-generational groups |
| Discovery Island Trails | Discovery Island | No | Walk through animal attractions (self-guided) | Adults, Families, Multi-generational groups, |
| Adventurer’s Outpost | Discovery Island | No | Character Meet and Greet (Mickey and Minnie Mouse) | Families with children under 10, Adults, Multi-generational groups, Everyone |
| Na’vi River Journey | Pandora | No | Ride | Everyone |
| Avatar: Flight of Passage | Pandora | 44” / 112cm | Ride | Adults, Thrill seekers, Teens and Tweens, |
| Festival of the Lion King | Africa | No | Live Show | Everyone |
| Kilimanjaro Safaris | Africa | No | Ride | Everyone |
| Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail | Africa | No | Walk – through animal encounter – self-guided | Everyone |
| Rafikis Planet Watch – Conservation Station including The Animation Experience | Africa | No | Walk through animal encounter, drawing experience, train ride | Everyone |
| Rafikis Planet Watch – Affection Section | Africa | No | Animal encounter | Families with under 10s, Multi-generational groups, Everyone |
| Feathered Friends in Flight | Asia | No | Live Show | Everyone |
| Maharajah Jungle Trek | Asia | No | Walk through animal encounter – self-guided | Everyone |
| Kali River Rapids | Asia | 38” / 97cm | Water Ride | Tweens and Teens, Adults, Multi-generational Groups |
| Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain | Asia | 44” / 112cm | Ride – Rollercoaster | Tweens and Teens, Adults, Multi-generational Groups |
| The Boneyard | Dinoland USA | No | Playground | Families with Under 10s |
| Triceratop Spin | Dinoland USA | No | Ride | Families with under 10s |
| Fossil Fun Games | Dinoland USA | No | Fair Games (cost more) | Families, Adults, Multi-Generational Groups |
| Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond | Dinoland USA | No | Live Show | Everyone, Families with Under 10s |
| DINOSAUR | Dinoland USA | 40” / 102cm | Ride | Tweens and Teens, Adults, Multi-generational groups, Families with children over heigh requirement |
Top 3 Attractions You Can’t Miss in 2024
The following 3 attractions capture the spirit of the park, offering visitors unmissable attraction experiences to make amazing memories.
1: Kilimanjaro Safari – The ultimate animal experience for visitors to this park looking for a ride on the wild side.
2: Avatar: Flight of Passage – Soar into the world of Pandora on a ride vehicle unlike any other as your senses experience flying on a banshee.
3: Expedition Everest – Encounter the Yeti on this roller coaster ride, where you’ll reach speeds of up to 50mph.
If you are looking to find out about more Animal Kingdom’s best rides head here.
Hidden gems
The self-guided walking trails add a new dimension to your park experience and are definitely the hidden gems of your park experience. Offering animal encounters with endangered animals and a peaceful escape from traditional theme park experiences, these are not to be missed.
Animal lovers and those with families should take a look at the Best Animal Encounters for Families. With so many animals waiting to meet you, it would be a shame to miss an encounter.
Dining at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite between attractions or sitting down for a leisurely meal, there’s something here for every palate. Animal Kingdom has 19 dining options, including snack venues, quick service and table service options.
Quick Service
If you’re short on time quick-service spots are your best bet. These fast food style options are great for thrill seekers and visitors aiming to maximise their time exploring attractions.
Satu’li Canteen in Pandora is awesome for a different quick service theme park lunch or dinner experience. They serve customizable bowls that are not only delicious but also kind of healthy, by theme park standards at least. Tofu is the only vegetarian option for bowl toppings, most toppings are meat options, mainly beef and chicken. Prices begin at $13.49 before tax, around £10.30. For our complete Ranking of Quick Service at Animal Kingdom: the Best Places in 2024 head here.
Table Service
If you’re looking for a longer dining experience and bigger meals, there are a range of table service options. Perfect for visitors with 14-day park tickets who are taking a leisurely approach to dining in Animal Kingdom and looking to soak-up the ambiance, enjoy the treks, and animal encounters.
Yak and Yeti is very popular, providing excellent food in a two-storey Nepalese themed restaurant. A reservation is needed for this dining experience which you can get in your My Disney Experience app, it’s best to book in advance but reservations do come up on the day. One of the best meals to enjoy if you miss your curries while your on holiday is the chicken tikka masala. For vegetarians, the roasted vegetable bowl is a delicious choice.
The only character dining experience you can book at Animal Kingdom is Tusker House. Hosted by Donald Duck and friends this restaurant is perfect for families with African inspired buffet style food, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Animal Kingdom Evenings
This park closes early in comparison to the other three parks and there is not a show or any entertainment to speak of at night. There is however a display, that many people miss: the Tree of Life Awakenings.
Every night after dark there is an incredible projection show on the tree, and it’s absolutely stunning. It happens every 10 minutes or so. However, as the park closes before 7pm and the projection show needs darkness it often doesn’t happen in the Spring, Summer and Early Autumn seasons. If you get to see it, it’s one of those moments that makes you stop in your tracks to just soak in the magic.
Planning Your Day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Now you know all that you can explore and enjoy in this park, you can consider planning your adventure. Animal Kingdom has so much to offer guests at different times of the year. The best time to visit for a fun day out is entirely up to you and the experience you are looking for. If you are looking to see more animal action, avoid queues, and beat the heat visiting in the morning or late afternoon is best.
How much time should I spend in Animal Kingdom?
You can spend as long or short a time in Animal Kingdom as you like with your valid park ticket. If you hold a UK exclusive Magic Ticket you will be able to park hop to other parks, so you may only want to spend only a few hours in the park to maximise wait times or enjoy a particular experience. For visitors with other tickets you can easily spend a full day at Animal Kingdom. The question is, is one day enough in Animal Kingdom? That’s up to you.
Some people might tell you that this park is only a half day park, while others like to think of it as a full day park. The best advice is to take a look at the attractions and what the park has to offer you, see what you like, and go experience it for yourself.
Dodging the crowds: using Lightning Lanes
Lightning Lanes Multi Pass or Single Pass for Avatar: Flight of Passage are options if you are looking to dodge crowds and maximise your time, but they do cost more. Availability for the Single Pass option is not great if you wait to purchase it on the day you visit, particularly since the new system began.
Trying other strategies to beat the crowds, like splitting your day into two halves and visiting at quieter times is a strategy which will save you queueing time if you have the UK exclusive Magic Ticket or park hopping capabilities on your ticket.
Animal Kingdom park bag essentials
When it comes to packing for your day, think practical. Bring a small backpack with the essentials:
- Refillable water bottle for hydration
- sun cream to prevent sun burn
- sun hat / fan
- ponchos: not only because Florida weather is unpredictable, but to use to stay dry if you ride Kali River Rapids
- autograph book
- some snacks for kids and adults alike.
Plan ahead, pace yourself, and don’t forget to take some time to just enjoy the atmosphere. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a place where adventure and relaxation can go hand-in-hand if you do it right.
Shopping and Souvenirs
Animal Kingdom has some cool, unique merchandise that you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re looking for a special keepsake or just want to bring a little bit of the magic home with you, there’s something for everyone here.
If you’re into all things Pandora, visit Windtraders. This shop is right next to Avatar Flight of Passage, and it’s packed with everything from glowing banshees to Na’vi ears. You can even adopt your very own banshee to sit on your shoulder.
For something more traditional, head to Island Mercantile. This is one of the larger shops in the park, and they’ve got a little bit of everything. Clothes, toys, home décor, you name it, you can even pick up a poncho if it starts to rain. They’ve also got some great animal-themed merchandise, which makes perfect souvenirs to remember your time at the park.
But if you’re looking for something truly special, visit Mombasa Marketplace. This shop is located in the Africa section of the park, and it’s got this amazing selection of African art, jewellery, and crafts.
Another hidden gem is the Outpost Shop near the park entrance. It’s easy to overlook, but they sell outdoor and adventure-themed gear. If you’re into hiking or just love that rugged, explorer vibe, this is the place to find some unique items.
And of course, you can’t leave without grabbing some snacks to take home. Zuri’s Sweets Shop in Harambe Village has a great selection of treats, including some awesome animal-shaped chocolates and candies.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom has plenty of shopping options to satisfy your retail therapy needs. Just remember to save some room in your suitcase.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, an animal lover, or just someone looking to soak up some Disney magic, this park has something for everyone. Remember, the key to a great day is a mix of planning and flexibility. Know what you want to see and do, but also leave some room for those unexpected magical moments. And don’t forget, every trip is unique, so take the time to enjoy it in your own way.
