If you love animals and rollercoasters, there’s no better place to experience both than at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This park is part of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and it offers an excellent blend of natural beauty, artistic wonder, and family-friendly thrills. Whether you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World or just want to visit this park in particular, here’s everything you need to know.
A Brief Overview of Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the youngest of all the parks at Walt Disney World, opening in 1998. However, despite its relatively young age, it’s also the largest Disney theme park, spanning over 500 acres. A big reason for its massive size is that it doubles as a zoo and a theme park. So, there has to be enough space for the animals (over 2000 of which live on site), rides, theaters, restaurants, and other attractions.
One important feature of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is that it closes earlier than the other parks at Disney World. Because the animals need more rest, the park closes at 6 p.m. every night. For this reason, we recommend getting there as soon as the park opens (8 a.m.) so you can maximize your enjoyment.
If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World resort, you get early access to all the parks, so definitely take advantage of that with Animal Kingdom. You can arrive 30 minutes before the gates open, giving you time to get in and orient yourself before starting your adventure.
Because the park is so large, it can take a while to get from one end to the other. It’s best to plan your route ahead of time and start with must-see attractions first.
Main Attractions at the Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is divided into five unique sections:
- Pandora: The World of Avatar
- Dinoland USA
- Discovery Island
- Africa
- Asia
Each section has unique rides, animals, dining options, and shops, so there’s always something different to explore when you visit. Also, if you’re just interested in getting a taste of the Animal Kingdom experience, you can visit the Rainforest Café in front of the park without paying the entry fee.
Pandora: the World of Avatar
If you’ve ever watched the Avatar films and wanted to be transported to Pandora, now you can. This is one of the newest sections of the park, and it’s designed to mimic the visuals of the films as much as possible. Here, you can enjoy two rides: Avatar: Flight of Passage (a VR-style ride) and the Na’vi River Journey (water ride).
You can even eat like a native at the Satu’li Canteen, which offers delicious dishes like chimichurri braised beef or cheeseburger bao buns.
Discovery Island
This island is the central hub of Animal Kingdom and you’ll need to pass through it to reach any of the other sections. Here is where the world-famous Tree of Life sits, which makes for a fantastic photo opportunity. The Tree of Life also houses an interactive 3D theater, so you can watch a show before heading to another attraction or ride.
Discovery Island also has various animal encounters with vultures, flamingos, tamarins, and kangaroos. There are multiple restaurants and shops on the island, so if you’re feeling hungry or just want to grab a snack, you have plenty of options. Plus, you may want to stop and grab a souvenir on your way out of the park.
Dinoland USA
This section caters to little kids, so if you have younger children in your group, this is the place to be. Everything is dinosaur-themed, including the decor and rides. The largest ride is Dinosaur, a physical ride that takes you back to prehistoric times and puts dinosaurs up close and in your face.
Other attractions include the Boneyard play area and TriceraTop Spin. There’s also a theater where you can experience an interactive Finding Nemo-themed show.
Asia
One of the main attractions in Asia is Expedition Everest, which is a thrilling roller coaster that takes place in a replica of the famous mountain. The peak measures over 200 feet high, making it the unofficial tallest mountain in Florida. You can see the snow-capped summit from most spots in the park, making it like the Matterhorn at Disneyland Resort.
Here, you can see animals like tigers, bats, and Komodo dragons. Asia also has another thrilling ride called the Kali River Rapids. You sit on a big raft that rotates on the water, and you’re sure to get wet. There’s even a compartment in the center to store your belongings so they don’t get drenched.
Africa
If you’ve ever dreamed of going on a safari, you can do the next best thing in Africa at the Animal Kingdom. The Kilimanjaro Safaris ride takes you on a vast expedition across the “savanna,” where you can see various animals in their replica natural habitat. Be sure to bring a camera as you’ll see elephants, rhinos, ostriches, crocodiles, hippos, and more.
If you prefer to walk, you can explore the Gorilla Falls Exploration Station, where you can see majestic gorillas and other animals along the way. Then, be sure to hop on the Wildlife Train to visit Rafiki’s Planet Watch, which houses a conservation station and other interactive exhibits.
FAQs About Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Which animals can you see at the Animal Kingdom?
Disney’s Animal Kingdom boasts over 2,000 different animals, so there are many options to see during your visit. Some of the main animal attractions include gorillas, tigers, bats, elephants, kangaroos, and otters. Many of these species you can see at various observation decks throughout the park. However, the Kilimanjaro Safari tour is the best way to see all the African animals at once.
What are the park hours?
Animal Kingdom is open daily from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, with early access for resort guests at 7:30 am. Again, this park closes earlier than other parks at Walt Disney World, so if you have a park hopper pass, we recommend taking advantage of it. Other parks typically close at 9:00 pm.
How easy is it to park hop at Walt Disney World?
Walt Disney World has multiple transportation options to move from one park to the next. You can take a ferry, a monorail, or shuttle buses between parks. However, you do need a park hopper pass for unlimited movement. Fortunately, if you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort, you can request personal transportation options for added speed and convenience.
Book Vacation Packages for Disney’s Animal Kingdom With Boardwalk Travel Agency
As you can see, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a fun-filled adventure with one-of-a-kind attractions and accommodations. If you’re ready to book a trip, why not do so as a travel agent? Boardwalk Travel Agency makes it easy to fulfill your dream of becoming a travel agent, and you can get access to discounts and special perks. Best of all, you can use these perks to book a trip for yourself, your friends, or family members.
Learn more in our article about How to become a travel agent or jump right in and join Boardwalk Travel to book your vacation to Walt Disney World today!
