Disney World's Animal Kingdom vs. Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World has four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Disney Imagineers (the people that design everything) have done an amazing job at making each park have a unique feel, atmosphere, and experience.

Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are perhaps the most different from each other than any of the other Disney theme parks. They each have amazing rides, shows, lands, and experiences, but the overall experience is vastly different.

Short Answer TL;DR Animal Kingdom vs. Magic Kingdom

If you don’t feel like reading this whole article, here’s the skinny:

Magic Kingdom is better for Disney beginners, small children, and those looking to get the most out of a short stay at Disney. Magic Kingdom has the most rides of any park. It also has the most rides for little kids (those not able meet most height requirements).

For beginners, it has the most classic attractions and the most Disney theming. When people think of Walt Disney World Resort, the Cinderella Castle is the first thing that comes to mind. Lastly, Magic Kingdom doesn’t have any alcohol except at sit-down restaurants (Pirates of the Caribbean tavern pending).

My girls getting to eat inside Cinderella’s Castle and meet princesses is a huge part of Magic Kingdom.

Animal Kingdom, on the other hand, is amazing for families with older kids who are looking for adventure, unique shows, and wild rides. Animal Kingdom is probably more different from any theme park in the world. It has wild animals without feeling like a zoo, and it has intense rides without feeling like Six Flags. And, the shows include trained animals, live musicals, and acrobatics. Finally, in my opinion, it has far better food and drink choices than Magic Kingdom.

Expedition Everest is better than any coaster at Magic Kingdom. This is me trying to scare the yeti, so my daughters won’t be scared of the ride.

As a Disney World enthusiast and father of three small children, we’ve spent vastly more time at Magic Kingdom. There’s more to do, and it’s open later (because the animals at Animal Kingdom have to go to sleep). However, if we want adventure and have a dinner reservation at Disney Springs or one of the resorts, Animal Kingdom is a great choice for us.

Now, let’s get to specifics.

Rides

First, let’s talk about rides. It’s offensive to Walt Disney’s memory to call them rides because he called them attractions to set it apart from typical amusement park rides. But both rides and shows are called attractions, so we have to differentiate.

For both parks, the rides (things that take you around in a vehicle) are immersive and themed, not just designed for thrills (but there’s plenty of that). Now let’s see how the rides at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom stack up against each other.

Rides at Magic Kingdom

By sheer volume, Magic Kingdom has the most rides. In fact, it’s fair to say that Magic Kingdom has more rides than any other two parks combined. They specialize in the nostalgic rides with decades of history behind them. Even most of the rides based on Disney franchises (IPs) are old enough to classify as classic.

For strict nostalgia, you have rides like Jungle Cruise, a boat ride through an animatronic jungle led by a skipper full of amazing dad jokes. You have It’s a Small World, another boat ride through different lands of singing children that point out the joy and diversity of the world. You also have Peter Pan’s Flight, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Voyage of the Little Mermaid, and more. Dumbo is my toddler son’s favorite ride, so it has a special place in my heart, and it’s copycats, Magic Carpets and Astro Orbiter, are great as well. Astro Orbiter is especially great during fireworks.

As Second Dad to the Right, I have to have a photo with the second star to the right in the line for Peter Pan’s Flight.

For thrills, Magic Kingdom has more roller coasters than all the other parks combined. My oldest daughter’s favorite is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. My favorites are a tie between Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON. It also has Space Mountain (the first indoor, computer controlled roller coaster) and Barnstormer, the perfect ride for getting little kids used to roller coasters.

My daughters and I in front of the sign for TRON Lightcycle/Run, the fastest roller coaster at Magic Kingdom.

I also can’t leave out Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (which used to be Splash Mountain), Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in a list of great rides. This might be controversial, but I am leaving out Carousel of Progress (great history but needs update) and Tomorrowland Speedway (the worst ride in all of Disney World). Sorry, not sorry.

The Buzz Lightyear ride is at Magic Kingdom, and this picture is here so that I can brag about my perfect score.

Check out my daughter’s guide to the best rides for kids at Magic Kingdom.

Rides at Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom has far fewer rides, but none are wasted (except TriceraTop Spin that mimics the other circular rides at Magic Kingdom). Avatar Flight of Passage is a more thrilling and immersive ride than anything at Magic Kingdom. My wife and I once waited over two hours to ride it and still felt it was worth it. We watched the whole first Avatar movie in line. 

The Pandora area is one of the coolest places at Disney World at night. However, you can only see this during the winter months when it gets dark early.

Expedition Everest is one my favorite rides of all time as well. The sequence after the broken track might be my favorite 30 seconds ever (no spoilers, lots of hair ties, you’ll understand once you do it). The Nav’i River Journey is a great slow boat ride experience that compares to Pirates or Small World (in beauty, but definitely not nostalgia). Kali River Rapids is unique in it’s ability to get you wet in the jungle. Dinosaur is also an especially thrilling ride.

Everest is actually the tallest structure in all of Disney World.

But what really sets Animal Kingdom apart from the other Disney World theme parks are the Kilimanjaro Safaris. On this ride, you board an open-air safari truck and journey through hundreds of acres of Animal Kingdom’s property. Along the way, you get up close views of zebras, rhinos, giraffes, and other African herbivores. And you can see lions and other predators at a distance. Rather than feeling like a zoo behind glass, you really feel like you’re in the African savannah. There’s nothing like it this side of the Atlantic.

The jokes might be funnier on Jungle Cruise, but the real animals on the safari are amazing!

There might be less to do at Animal Kingdom, but they're almost all some of the best attractions in Disney World. Check out my daughter’s guide to the best rides for kids at Animal Kingdom.

Shows at Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom

Both Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom have a wide array of shows, and they are as different from each other as Fantasyland is from Africa or Asia. If you’re looking for Disney-themed shows with lots of Mickey Mouse and princesses, head to Magic Kingdom. If you want to see unique live shows with animals, check out Animal Kingdom.

Shows at Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom again wins with sheer volume of shows. They have regular stage shows at the castle and parades running throughout the day. They also have the classic Country Bear Jamboree (currently being revamped), the Tiki Room based on Walt’s first animatronic ideas, the Beauty and the Beast show for princess fans, the Hall of Presidents for history buffs, and more.

I want to particularly highlight two shows. The first is the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, which is a comedy act based on the Monsters, Inc. franchise where you hear hilarious jokes, incredible interactions with audience, and sometimes even your own jokes!

Second, Magic Kingdom has the fireworks. The fireworks show at the end of each night is a spectacle beyond just about anything anywhere else. The pyrotechnics are matched only by the incredible light display on the castle and Main Street that fully engulfs you in the story of Disney animation. The only thing that rivals it is Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Since all of it happens long after Animal Kingdom has closed, that’s a huge point in its favor.

The fireworks show at Magic Kingdom is iconic. If we don’t have a ticket for a particular day, my wife makes us stand outside the gate and watch.

Shows at Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom, however, does not lack in incredible shows. The Festival of the Lion King show is a retelling of the Lion King movie with amazing singing and almost Cirque Du Soleil level acrobatics, dancing, and costumes.

My daughters were pulled out of the audience to participate in the Festival of the Lion King.

The Finding Nemo Musical is an incredible retelling of the movie that will enthrall anyone, especially if they loved the original movie. The Feathered Friends in Flight is also one of the most incredible shows, with trained birds flying over your head. My daughter spent a lot of time talking to the trainers about the animals afterwards.

My daughter and I talking to the Feather Friends trainers.

Animal Kingdom also have a monkey habitat right in the middle of things and a myriad of live street performers that always get my family to dance.

My daughter and I dancing to live music at Animal Kingdom. On the right, it looks like Sammy Hagar is filming someone.

A downside of Animal Kingdom is that it has no closing show like the other three parks. Combine that with closing early, and that’s a huge point against them. I’m not against it. They need to take care of the animals, but this article is about where you should spend your day and money.

Characters at Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom

At both Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom, you can meet plenty of your favorite characters from various Disney movies. Some will be walking around while others will be in special meeting areas where you have to line up to meet them. For most characters, you can get a photograph and their unique autograph. Click here for the best Disney character autograph books.

Both parks also have character dining where you can meet characters and get autographs during your meal. Magic Kingdom has Cinderella’s Royal Table and Crystal Palace, while Animal Kingdom has Tusker House. The Magic Kingdom ones are probably more magical, but Tusker House has better food in my opinion.

Characters at Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom has tons of character interactions. They are primarily the Fab Five + Daisy (Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Pluto), characters from classic movies like Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan, and characters from princess movies (and some oddballs in Tomorrowland).

My three kids hanging out with Mickey Mouse at Magic Kingdom. This is before the toddler decided he was scared of characters (and after my youngest daughter got over same fear).

These are some the most beloved characters in all of the Disney repertoire, so if you haven’t been to Magic Kingdom, it makes sense to go there for them. On our first few visits to Magic Kingdom we spent tons of time in lines meeting princesses for my two daughters. After the trip, they looked at photos, videos, and their autograph books constantly.

You can also see plenty of other characters in the parades and shows throughout the day. If you take those into account, you can probably see several dozen characters in a day.

Characters at Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom has fewer characters, but who they do have are very unique character interactions. You can meet rare characters like Dug, Russell, and Kevin from UP! Kevin, in particular, is an amazing interaction because she (yes, she. Watch the movie.) plays pranks on the guests.

Kevin trolls another guest. She’s been known to photobomb selfies if you try to take one near her.

You can also meet other animals like Rafiki, Meeko, and Divine (a tree lady that hides in the bushes). Pocohontas and Moana are around, and the Fab Five, Daisy, Chip, and Dale can all be found as well.

My daughters found this lady doing meet and greets just around the river bend.

Verdict: Animal Kingdom vs. Magic Kingdom

There are a number of factors we haven't discussed yet to take into consideration when deciding which Disney World park is the best park. Magic Kingdom has more interesting transportation options such as the monorail and boats. Magic Kingdom also has a few resorts within walking distance of the park, and all resorts have to take a bus to Animal Kingdom. However, the Transportation and Ticket Center make getting Magic Kingdom a hassle for car drivers. If you’re driving, Animal Kingdom might be easier.

Disney Genie Plus service is also much more useful at Magic Kingdom.

On the other side, Disney's Animal Kingdom park has some experiences and tours that set it apart from Magic Kingdom. Safari dinners, walking on bridges over animal areas (the Maharajah Jungle Trek), a animation class, Gorilla Falls Exploration trail, and other things might give Animal Kingdom an edge if you’re willing to spend the extra money. Caring for the Giants, a tour that brings you up close to the largest animals is something I’m really hope to take my elephant and rhino obsessed toddler on soon.

Magic Kingdom, on the other hand, has the Keys to the Kingdom tours (where you get to see the underground passages for Disney cast members called Utilidors), and they have dessert parties with special seating for the fireworks.

I also didn't even get a chance to go into dining! This is pretty subjective, but I think Animal Kingdom has better food in both the quick service and table service department. Satu'li Canteen and Flametree Barbecue are far better quick service options than anything at Magic Kingdom, and I think Yak and Yeti's is in my top 3 of all Disney table service restaurants. The only restaurant at Magic Kingdom worth my money is Skipper Canteen. Magic Kingdom does have a lot of great snacks and desserts though.

All in all, Animal Kingdom needs to be experienced, but when it comes down to it, I can’t choose it over Magic Kingdom. This is especially true while my kids are really little. There’s a reason Animal Kingdom gets skipped a lot, especially for families with toddlers. There is just so much more to do and see, and so many more characters to meet at Magic Kingdom.

Conclusion and Further Reading

Hopefully, this helped you make an informed decision about which park is a good choice for you and your family on your next Disney World vacation. But more than that, I hope it made you want to go to both parks on your next trip! They'll both have Florida sunshine, long lines, and so many fun things to do! 

If you’re heading to Disney with little kids, make sure to check out my guide to taking babies and toddlers to Disney World.

If you want to know more about every park, check out my explanation in Disney World.

FINALLY, if you have an opinion as to which park is better, state it forcefully in the comments.