The best Animal Kingdom rides come in all shapes and sizes. There are attractions for thrill seekers looking to make their hearts skip a beat and Broadway style shows bringing the wow factor for entertainment enthusiasts. For the animal lovers, you can enjoy brushing goats and even head out on a trek to come face-to-face with a critically endangered tiger. There’s an attraction for everyone to go wild about in Animal Kingdom.
Best Thrill Rides at Animal Kingdom
The rush of adrenaline, the pounding in your ears, that moment of excitement as your breath catches in your chest. This is what you can expect to experience from the best thrill rides at Animal Kingdom.
Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
Expedition Everest is not just a roller coaster; it’s an experience. It’s definitely the best thrill ride in Animal Kingdom. Anticipation builds as you approach the towering peaks of the Forbidden Mountain, journeying to this point and beyond through the icy caverns of the Himalayas. As you encounter the legendary Yeti and broken tracks the ride stops, how will you get down?
Pro tip for the thrill seekers out there: ask for a seat on the very back row of the train. The drops will feel more intense.
Avatar Flight of Passage
Soaring through the skies in Pandora, clinging to cliffs, flying over oceans it’s all part of experiencing the Avatar right of passage of riding a banshee for the first time. The drops and thrills on this immersive 4D ride add magic to your day, as you experience the most popular ride in the park. It’s the most unique ride vehicle you’ll experience across all attractions you ride at Animal Kingdom during your day. Be aware this vehicle may not be comfortable for everyone to sit on, so be sure to check the test seat outside before riding.
The one thing that isn’t thrilling about this attraction is the queue length for this ride which exceeds 60 minutes most days. It is the only ride in the park using Lightning Lane Single Pass, which you can opt to pay extra for to skip the queue line. Purchasing a Single Pass as a UK visitor can be tricky due to it selling out sooner thanks to the new system, so just bear this in mind if it is something you are considering. Experiencing this ride may be a reason you should consider rope dropping Animal Kingdom, to find out more click here.
Kali River Rapids
This swirling ride down the Chakranadi River in Asia has quite a few water thrills for those looking to get wet. As you journey along this white water adventure in your raft you can hear the monkeys laughing as the rapids soak visitors from head to foot.
It’s not a thrill ride for everyone, but it is a lot of fun. A poncho and some crocs will save you from a day in wet clothes with squelchy feet. If you love a water attraction, this is the best Animal Kingdom attraction for you.
Must-See Live-Action Shows and Entertainment
Everyone can experience the awe-inspiring shows at Animal Kingdom. Just be prepared to be glued to your seat and get ready to experience the best live-action show and entertainment experiences across all four of the Disney theme parks. Live shows have showtimes throughout the day, so check your My Disney Experience app when you visit to make sure you don’t miss out.
Festival of the Lion King
Journey to the Pride Lands in this epic live show featuring acrobatics, fire, singing, and dancing. This live performance show is the best show attraction in Animal Kingdom and in any Disney Park. The costumes are incredible and you can sing along to your favourite tunes while experiencing a moving, must-see celebration of the ‘circle of life’.
One of the best points about this show is that it’s slightly different every time you watch it because performers change. If you choose to watch it again on the same day or during another visit you’ll get a different experience of the show. This show will delight people of all ages and for fans of The Lion King Live Show which often tours the UK, this show will bring back memories.
Finding Nemo – The Big Blue… and Beyond!
The story of Nemo is brought to life on stage in this show which is perfect for families. The Friends from the Tank in Dr P. Sherman’s dentist office narrate the show that follows Marlon as he swims the seas in search of Nemo.
This is a live-action show with showings throughout the day in a large theatre space that transports you from the world of theme parks into the world of theatre shows and entertainment. A must-see for families, and anyone who loves the Nemo movies, incredible puppets bring this Disney-Pixar production to life.
Feathered Friends in Flight!
Humour, facts, and conservation collide during this show experience, where birds swoop, sing, and get up to mischief in the free flying Anandapur Theater. Meet the symbol of America, the American Eagle, and many more species of bird during your experience.
It’s a 35-minute feathered delight that often gets overlooked. Offering visitors the chance to see incredible birds, this entertainment is one for visitors of all ages.
Family-Friendly Attractions
Family adventure is wild in Animal Kingdom with attractions offering fun for all the family. These top attractions have no height requirements, so family members young and old can ride.
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Journeying across the 110 acre savannah in a jeep you’ll see many animals on your Kilimanjaro Safari. It’s an experience for the whole family that you just can’t miss. It is one of the best rides at Animal Kingdom, that visitors return to time and again because of the unique ride experience. You will get to see lots of animals during your journey and some animals will even get so close to your jeep that you will gasp at the moment you are experiencing.
It’s a fantastic experience for the whole family, and you never know what animals you might encounter. If you love animals, you can find out more about the Best Animal Encounters for Families at Animal Kingdom by following this link.
Affection and Conservation at Rafiki’s Planet Watch
Fancy brushing a goat and meeting some furry friends at the only petting zoo at Walt Disney World? Children and adults can enjoy a more personal and interactive encounter with animals here at the Affection Station.
The Conservation Station is found in this land too where the aim is to combine fun with learning. . Drawing classes, amphibian enclosures, and viewing windows into veterinary procedures are all part of the conservation attraction which resembles an EPCOT pavilion. At Rafiki’s Planet Watch there is something for everyone to enjoy. You may even find Timon here waiting to meet you.
Wilderness Explorers
Perfect for children this is an activity to do as you explore the park. Drawing inspiration from the Disney Pixar film Up!, children can be just like Russell and collect 25 badges as they explore the park. It’s a self-guided tour and free to enjoy.
You collect your explorer’s handbook from a hut on the bridge where Discovery Island and Oasis meets, just as you see the Tree of Life from the park entrance. Stations are located all around the park to collect badges. Families and children get to enjoy learning about conservation, animals and more as they explore.
Walks on the Wild-side
Take a trek through the best walk-through attractions at Disney World to meet some amazing animals.
Maharajah Jungle Trek
Trek through the jungle and cross rope bridges into a mystical land home to over 50 species of bird. Your walk through the Asian Forest will bring you face to face with critically endangered Sumatran Tigers and introduce you to bats with 6ft wing spans. You’ll see an ancient dragon thought to have existed for millions of years and, according to Chinese fortune, find good fortune in meeting the gibbons.
Gorilla Expedition Falls
Explore the lush forest on your walk through the habitat of Disney’s troop of lowland Gorillas. This huge area is home to two gorilla troops, one of which is led by Gino who has lived at Animal Kingdom since before opening day. On this trek you’ll also find hippos, zebras and meerkats. It’s a self-guided walk around the habitat’s the animals occupy.
Rides heading for Extinction
Change is afoot at Animal Kingdom with some rides heading for extinction imminently. Be sure to ride them if you can and grab a picture of the memory. Head to the best attractions on the brink of extinction at Animal Kingdom and enjoy your final ride before saying farewell.
Dinosaur
You’ll be plunged back in time to save an Iguanodon on this ride where you’ll jump through a time portal and journey through a world filled with dinosaurs. With an imminent meteor shower heading your way and a dinosaur to find, buckle in as it’s by far the bumpiest ride you’ll find in Animal Kingdom.
It’s a panic driven, jerky dark ride inspired by Disney’s Dinosaur film that is heading for extinction at a fast pace. But it’s still one for the thrill seekers to enjoy in 2024. This opening day classic ride offers a sudden, sharp thrill, and a dinosaur surprise that is guaranteed to jerk you around in your seat. Don’t expect a comfortable ride experience and if you have any back or neck problems perhaps consider giving it a miss, even if you like a good thrill.
TriceraTop Spin
TriceraTop Spin is perfect for younger kids who might not be ready for the bigger rides. It’s a simple, fun spinner ride where riders control how high or low your dinosaur flies. (It’s the same ride mechanism as The Magic Carpets of Aladdin and Dumbo the Flying Elephant in Magic Kingdom).
Located in Dinoland U.S.A. which has a carnival-like atmosphere that kids really enjoy, there’s usually not much of a wait for this attraction. This makes it a good filler attraction for kids to enjoy while you’re exploring the area.
The Boneyard
The Boneyard is more than just a playground, it’s an adventure zone for kids who love to dig and explore. This interactive area gives kids the chance to dig for fossils, climb through caves, and cross rope bridges. Ideal for helping younger kids to burn off some energy, if all the walking isn’t already achieving that. It’s an imaginative and fun area where kids can let their imagination run free as they play explorers, archaeologists, and more.
It’s Tough to be a Bug!
Flik leads you through the show which runs continuously throughout the day. An animated experience following the adventures of the insects and bugs from the animated film It’s A Bugs Life. The show presents life as a bug. It’s not as exciting as the live shows at Animal Kingdom, but this animated adventure has a wonderful setting inside the Tree of Life.
Just a word of warning: if you don’t like creepy crawlies or spiders this might be one to miss. There are a few creepy moments that might make you jump.
Conclusion
The best Animal Kingdom rides are waiting for you to explore. With something for everyone you’re sure to have a wild day.
