19 Best Tips for Disney World's Animal Kingdom!

If you’re heading to Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Park for the first time, or your looking to maximize your experience there, keep scrolling. I put together of the 19 most helpful tips I wish I knew before going to Animal Kingdom.

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Explanation of Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a theme park that is one part rides and shows and one part exotic wildlife preserve. There are elements that are similar to a zoo, like viewing animals from behind glass and walking trails to these exhibits, but even the wildlife part is more immersive than any zoo I’ve been to.

Animal Kingdom is broken up into 6 lands. The walk into the park is called Oasis. Unlike the other three park entrances, it’s meandering and there is no view. The idea is to go ahead and prepare your wandering in the wilderness. There are even a few animal habitats to view on the sides.

Once you cross into to Discovery Island, you see the centerpiece of the park, the huge Tree of Life with animal carvings all over it. Just like the castle at Magic Kingdom, the Chinese Theater at Hollywood Studios, and the Spaceship Earth golf ball at EPCOT, this is designed to be an eye-catching wonder that draws you into the park.

Discovery Island also functions like the hub at Magic Kingdom, with all the other lands and attractions coming out of like spokes. See the map here.

Click on the map for a pdf

The last 4 lands, going clockwise around the hub, are

1. Pandora (the World of Avatar)- with the Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey, and some of the most beautiful land designs in any park,

2. Africa- with Kilimanjaro Safari, Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, and the Festival of the Lion King

3. Asia- with Maharajah Jungle Trek, Kali River Rapids (a water ride), Feathered Friends in Flight show, Expedition Everest (the only roller coaster at Animal Kingdom),

4. Dinoland U.S.A.- This area is soon to be demolished and turned into a Central and South America themed area. My guess is that the Finding Nemo Show, which has nothing to do with dinosaurs anyway, will the only thing that doesn’t go extinct (see what I did there?).

Now onto the tips:

1. Transportation

Before you wander around Animal Kingdom, it helps to know how to get there. There’s only two ways: by bus (if you’re coming from a Disney resort, another park, or a resort that has a shuttle) or by car (whether you drive there or take a rideshare). Unlike the other parks, there is no alternative transportation like Skyliner, boat, or monorail.

Here’s a bus that could take you to Animal Kingdom. This one won’t, since it’s on blocks.

2. Be There After Dark in Wintertime

Animal Kingdom closes earlier than all of the other parks at Disney World so that the animals can sleep. This means for much of the year, it closes before dark. However, if you go from late fall to early spring, there’s a chance that you’ll be there after dark. There’s a light show on the Tree of Life, amazing bioluminescence in Pandora, and a chance to ride Everest in the dark. So, try to be there after dark if your timing permits.

We love seeing Pandora at night.

3. Tree of Life

As I mentioned, the centerpiece of the park is the Tree of Life, a 145-foot replica of a Baobab tree with over 337 animal carvings in it. It’s a beautiful work of art with over 8000 branches and over 100,000 leaves. Here’s the tip. Seeing it up close or getting a picture can be difficult because of the crowds in the front, but you can walk around back and get a great view as well (with less crowds). Sometimes we have met Pocohontas back there. For more info on the tree check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_Life_(Disney).

Our girls love princesses and autographs. We found Pocahontas right behind the Tree of Life.

4. Do the Kilimanjaro Safari in the Morning

The Kilimanjaro Safari is an amazing experience where you get to ride in the midst of beautiful African animals like giraffes and rhinos, and you get up close to lion, hippo, and elephant habitats as well. Go in the morning because the animals will be more active, the heat will be less oppressive, and you might be able rope drop a short wait. My two-year-old and I rode in the morning a few weeks ago, and a giraffe came right up to the truck and walked alongside us. The safari is also the only ride queue at Disney that lets you bring your stroller through the line.

My two-year-old was blown away by this Gee-raffe as he calls it. The same one blocked the truck in front of us for a couple minutes.

5. Flight of Passage Line

Avatar Flight of Passage ride is one of the most technologically innovative rides in any theme park anywhere, and it's one of the best rides at Disney World. It also has perhaps the most immersive line experience. Unfortunately, since it's the most popular ride, that line can be insanely long. The first time we went it was two and a half hours. We watched the movie in line. Here's how to beat, or at least minimize, the long lines.

There are a few chances to get relatively shorter lines for Flight of Passage. The first is to rope drop it by getting to the park at least 30 minutes before park opening and heading there first. This works especially if you have Early Entry from staying at Disney resort.

Such detail for a line. The idea of becoming a blue person kept my daughter from riding it her first try. Phot cred Eden Pictures

Second, try reverse rope dropping by getting in line just before park close. As long as your in the line, they won’t kick you out, no matter how long it takes, but it’s often shorter because everyone is leaving.

Third, there are, historically, a few lulls in wait times. The best time is around 2-4PM. This is when people start to leave Animal Kingdom to hop to another one of the Disney parks, since they’ve already ridden all the rides they want.

Finally, remember that Flight of Passage is not part of the lightning lane multi pass experience. If you want to skip the line by spending money, you'll have to get a lightning lane single pass.

I gleaned this data from personal experience and from Thrill Data https://www.thrill-data.com/waits/attraction/animal-kingdom/avatarflightofpassage/.

6. Low Crowds in Afternoons

Flight of Passage isn’t the only thing that has shorter lines in the afternoons. Most people aren’t willing to explore the whole park, even though it’s the largest Disney park in the world. They are there for the rides and the shows, and there just aren’t that many. Everyone starts leaving in the early afternoon, especially if they can park hop to theme parks that stay open longer. Or maybe they just want a nap to recover from Everest. (Bonus tip: Expedition Everest has a single rider line, if you want to make that experience faster)

We know things are about to get fun on Expedition Everest when we see this.

The Best Dining at Animal Kingdom

The dining experience at Animal Kingdom is perhaps the most highly rated of any of the Disney World parks. Its mostly southern hemispheric and international focus also makes the experiences unique. Here are the best restaurants in my opinion.

7. Yak and Yeti

Yak and Yeti is a phenomenal table service restaurant that serves unique and delicious pan-Asian food. We went there recently, and it was perhaps one of my favorite meals in all of Disney World. Try anything with pork belly. They take Landry’s gift cards if you happen to have one.

The entrance to Yak and Yeti, one of our favorite restaurants at Disney.

8. Flametree Barbecue and Satu’li Canteen

Flametree and Satu’li are easily the best fast casual options. Flametree has phenomenal barbecue and other heavy entrees. Satu’li is exactly what you’d expect from an Asian-inspired alien restaurant (it’s in Pandora), with extremely unique food and presentation. Always mobile order. Don’t stand in line.

9. Nomad Lounge

The Nomad Lounge is a walk-up bar and tapas restaurant connected to Tiffin’s (another great table service restaurant). Here you can order delicious Asian, African, and American small plates and creative cocktails. They also have a secret menu, where you can order some of things from Tiffin’s and, apparently, really good chicken nuggets. It's a great place to for a unique Disney experience.

10. Thirsty River Bar

This is my favorite walk up drink destination. It sits right next to Expedition Everest, and I go here for the Safari Amber and Elephant Foot IPA, two of my favorite beers on property. They also have regular drinks and cocktails. There’s almost never a line, so I like to grab a drink as I walk to the next land or wait in line for Everest (just finish it before you get to the inside part).

11. Tusker House

Tusker House is widely considered the best character breakfast at Disney. The food is amazing, and you get to hang out with Mickey and his friends in safari outfits.

Mickey and Donald going on safari at Tusker House. Photo Cred Jeff Christiansen

12. Shows in the Afternoon

If the heat is a bigger issue for you than the ride lines, consider doing shows in the afternoon, especially Festival of the Lion King and the Finding Nemo Musical because they are both indoors in the air conditioning. Feathered Friends in Flight is outside, but it’s in the shade, and you can take drinks in there. I think the Lion King show is in the running for the best show at Disney World.

My daughters getting to participate in the Festival of the Lion king show.

13. Best Bathroom

If you’re looking for a good bathroom to spend some quality time in, I recommend hitting up the bathroom just outside the Finding Nemo Musical. It’s large to accommodate the show crowds, but it’s empty until the show lets out. This is definitely one of the best places to relax.

14. Secret Entrance Through Rainforest Café

There’s a somewhat secret entrance to Animal Kingdom if you go through the Rainforest Café gift shop and out the other side. It’s only open when the restaurant is open, so you can’t use it for rope dropping, usually, but if there’s a crowd at the turnstiles, try your luck there.

The path to the Rainforest Cafe entrance. I’m standing at the exit of the restaurant taking the picture.

15. Wilderness Explorer

Animal Kingdom has a scavenger hunt program called Wilderness Explorer (based on Russell from UP’s scout troup). You and your kids can grab a manual, and it will guide you to lots of things off the beaten path. It’s a great way to see Animal Kingdom beyond the flagship attractions.

16. Dancing in the Streets

One of my family’s favorite things to do at Disney World is dance with the bands in the streets at Disney World. It’s not a ride, but it’s always one of our best family moments.

My daughter and I dancing at Animal Kingdom.

17. Kevin

Just like any Disney theme park, there are lots of characters to meet at Animal Kingdom, but Kevin is the best. You’ll find this huge bird wandering all over the park, playing pranks and photobombing selfies. She’s hysterical. Kevin is a girl, if you haven’t seen the movie.

We found Kevin antagonizing this poor guy.

18. Animal Kingdom Lodge is not Connected to Animal Kingdom Park

Heads up, despite being adjacent to Animal Kingdom, Animal Kingdom Lodge does not have any special entrance or transportation for Animal Kingdom. You have to take a bus just like any other resort. It’s a beautiful resort, but if transportation is a factor, AKL is bus only for every park.

19. Explore!

One of the most unique parts of Animal Kingdom is exploring all the hidden areas and animal habitats. There are at least a dozen animal habitats, dozens of stores, restaurants, characters, and beautiful designs throughout the park.

If we didn’t explore, we never would have found the world’s most relaxed gorilla on Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail.

Conclusion and Further Reading

Hopefully these tips will prepare you for an amazing time at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. It’s a unique park that requires a unique strategy and mindset to get the most out of it. Now go get exploring (and eating, and watching, and riding)! Again, massive changes are coming in the next few years as they completely overhaul Dinoland USA and It's Tough to be a Bug to make way for Central America, Zootopia, and Encanto areas, so check back for updated tips soon.

For more information on preparing for Disney World, check out my Disney World packing guide, and my Scariest Rides at Disney guide.

If you want more info on Animal Kingdom, check out my comparison between Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom, and my best rides for kids at Animal Kingdom.

If you’ve got your own tip, put it in the comment section.