25 Things To Do In Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Want to know what breaks my heart a little? Whenever people go to Walt Disney World and skip Animal Kingdom. It is by far the most under-rated Disney park! The thing about Animal Kingdom is, you’ve got to off the beaten path and explore! As a family, this is our favorite park and there’s too many gems here that people miss. During Animal Kingdom’s 25th Anniversary, I did a round up of 25 things to do in Animal Kingdom on my Facebook page, from favorite attractions and shows, to food in the parks, enchanting extras most people don’t know about, and some of our family’s favorite things. While I could give you 25 more, here’s the full list with some details to help you better plan your visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
Must Do Attractions & Shows
Kilimanjaro Safaris: An absolute favorite of our family, and you truly do feel like you have stepped into the Savannah…you almost forget you are at Disney World altogether! The animals are most active in the morning, so say “Jambo” first thing.
Festival of the Lion King: Hands down one of the BEST SHOWS on property! The music is iconic, but the interaction with guests, production level, and favorite Lion King characters make this a must see.
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue & Beyond: Another amazing show that gives you that broadway feel. I can promise you you’ll be singing, “Go With the Flooowww” on your way out, and your little ones will especially love it.
Expedition Everest: This is such a fun ride, especially for beginning level thrill seekers! The queue is incredibly detailed, you catch some amazing views of the park while you are “climbing,” and…you’re in for a fun surprise on your way back down.
Dinosaur: Ride this before it goes extinct! It will be open through the end of 2025, but after that, will close forever as Animal Kingdom expands.
Discover the World of Pandora
If you only come to Animal Kingdom for Pandora, I promise you it is worth the trip alone. There is just nothing like the immersive story telling here!
6. Avatar: Flight of Passage: If you’ve ever wondered what it is like to ride a Banshee…this is it. One of the most breathtaking rides at Disney World…and totally worth the cost of a Lightning Lane Single Pass.
7. Na’vi River Journey: A ride the whole family can do! Take a journey through the bioluminescent rainforest of Pandora. This one is so peaceful, but engaging as there is so much to look at and take in.
8. Create your own avatar: In Windtraders at ACE Avatar Market, you can design a custom Avatar action figure that looks like you!
9. Explore Pandora at night: Depending on the time of year you come with daylight savings and park hours, this may be hard to catch. But, if you can be in Pandora after the sun goes down, seeing it light up in all its bioluminescent glory might be even more incredible than seeing it in the daylight.
10. Bond with your own banshee: If you fell in love with Flight of Passage, you can head to Windtraders and come home with your own little interactive banshee!
Savor the Best Food & Drinks
11. Drink a Night Blossom from Pongu Pongu – With boba is the key, and if you’re 21+….the alcoholic version ;)
12. Start your day with breakfast at Satu’li Canteen– Honestly, it’s good anytime, but there’s something the way the morning light hits the floating mountains in the morning after a ride on a banshee that just hits different.
13. Character Dining at Tusker House – Meet Mickey, Goofy, Donald, and friends in their safari outfits while enjoying an African-inspired buffet! This is one of our favorite character dining meals on property.
14. Quick Service at Harambe Market – African inspired street food, super fresh ingredients, you can often hear some musicians playing nearby…it’s a vibe.
15. Grab a Snack at Mr. Kamal’s Fries – These seasoned fries with dipping sauces are a perfect salty snack as you watch Feathered Friends in Flight!
Up-Close Animal Encounters & Magical Extras
16. Wild Africa Trek – Hands down, the most amazing thing we’ve ever done in a Disney park, and would do it again in a heart beat! This is like a “mini VIP tour", with private safari, up close animal encounters, amazing guides, walking across rope bridges and more.
17. Savor the Savanna – Perfect for an adults only trip! You’ll have an amazing, African inspired meal with beverages on the Savannah with a private after hours safari.
18. Caring for Giants – Get a behind-the-scenes look at Animal Kingdom’s elephants and learn about conservation efforts! This only takes one hour of your day, but worth it.
19. Up Close with Rhinos – Similar to Caring For Giants, but with rhinos!
20. Capture Your Moment Photo Session – Book a private photoshoot with Disney PhotoPass photographers for stunning park pictures. Everyone has castle pictures, but Tree of Life? Epic.
Characters and Disney Magic
21. Meet Mickey & Minnie in Their Safari Outfits – Snap a photo with Disney’s most iconic duo, dressed for adventure! One of the few places you can meet them together, and it’s the cutest!
22. Join The Wilderness Explorers – As Russell says, “The wilderness must be explored!” A favorite activity for my family, pick up your guide, take the pledge, and earn badges all throughout the park as you learn about nature.
23. Catch Kevin and snap a selfie – I cannot go to DAK without seeing my favorite bird Kevin! She’s such a delight and loves interacting with explorers.
24. Visit Rafiki’s Planet Watch– Take a little break and ride the Wildlife Express up to Rafiki’s Planet Watch! You might even meet a friend or two there, and have hands on interaction with animals.
25. Tree of Life Projections - End the night with a snack as you watch the Tree of Life come to…well…life! Every 15-20 minutes, one of the carvings on the tree will move and a story will begin.
I hope this encourages you not to skip this park! Be sure to follow me on Instagram for more magical content.
***Please note, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is currently undergoing an expansion! Exciting things are being added to this park over the next 2 years, so there may be some “pardon our pixie dust” signs during your visit. This may affect some offerings, so be sure to check the Walt Disney Website or My Disney Experience for the most up to date availability.
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