Top 12 Q & A about Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the newest of the four major theme parks at Walt Disney World. It is an entirely unique park and has a lot to offer. Many guests wonder if this park is just another “zoo,” and it is definitely much more than that. Here are our top Q&A for newbies visiting Animal Kingdom:

12 – Should I Purchase Disney Genie+ for My Visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom?

With the exception (maybe) of very busy holiday periods such as spring break or Christmas break, we do not feel that you need to purchase Genie+ for your visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney Genie+ costs anywhere from $15-$39 per day, per person. With Genie+, you can access the Lightning Lane attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. See the list below for the Genie+ attractions at the park.

Disney Genie+ Attractions:

1. 1. The Festival of the Lion King
   2. Expedition Everest-Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
   3. Dinosaur
   4. Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
   5. It’s Tough to be a Bug!
   6. Kali River Rapids
   7. Kilimanjaro Safaris
   8. Meet Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost
   9. Na’vi River Journey
   10. The Animation Experience
   11. Feathered Friends in Flight!

Less than half of the attractions on this list usually see significant wait times. Kilimanjaro Safaris and Na’vi River Journey will have the longest wait times during the day, followed by Kali River Rapids and Dinosaur. The other attractions (three of which are shows and one is an experience) simply do not require the use of the Lightning Lane. With a little bit of planning, you can manage your visit without paying for Genie+. Get there right at Early Theme Park Entry or park opening and head straight to your top choice attraction. Then, monitor wait times throughout the day. Wait times are usually significantly lower in the last hour the park is open since most guests have moved on to other parks that offer nighttime spectaculars. Save another one of those four attractions for the end of the day. On a recent visit on a Saturday in early March, the wait times for Kali River Rapids and Dinosaur were both thirty-five minutes, and that is not bad at all. If you head to the Safari first thing in the morning and save Na’vi River Journey for the evening, you’ll be able to enjoy all of the attractions with moderate wait times without paying extra.

11 – Should I Purchase Individual Attraction Lighting Lane Access?

A second option for purchasing Lightning Lane is the a la carte method. Avatar Flight of Passage is NOT included with Genie+ and must be purchased separately. Avatar Flight of Passage’s wait times are usually over an hour and closer to two hours. We’ve also seen the wait times close to three hours during busy holiday periods. You certainly can skip paying and head straight there at Early Theme Park Entry. However, if you want to avoid paying for Genie+, the other wait times will be much longer by the time you finish riding Flight of Passage. Pricing for Flight of Passage will be anywhere from $7-$25, depending on when you visit.

10 – What are the typical park hours?

The usual opening time for the park each day is 8 AM. This park used to only be open during daylight hours. Now, the park offers longer hours so guests can enjoy the many nighttime experiences, typically closing at 8 PM. 

9 – Is there a nighttime fireworks show at the park?

No. Fireworks would be too disruptive for the animals that live in the park, so fireworks are not allowed there.  The park had a nighttime show called Rivers of Light: We Are One. However, it was announced that the show would not be returning.

8 – Are the animals roaming around the park?

Not really. Some animals and wildlife are in open exhibits so that you get an excellent view of them, but they aren’t completely roaming freely. There are natural birds and wildlife (like squirrels, etc.) that are roaming freely around the park, which is to be expected. There is a petting zoo area at Rafiki’s Planet Watch where guests can brush goats. There are also other shows and exhibits where you may get closer looks at some of the animals, like Kilimanjaro Safaris, where you take a safari ride through the savanna where some animals are free-roaming, but you do not leave your ride vehicle on this attraction for any reason.

7 – Are any special events at the park?

There aren’t regularly scheduled festivals at the park, but occasionally special events occur. Earth Day, April 22nd, is typically a huge day for the park. Disney puts a lot of care into conservation efforts and does a lot of education about conservation at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. April 22nd is also the anniversary date when the park first opened, so there are typically special limited events each year.

6 – Why are there no balloons available for sale?

This is to protect the animals that reside in the park. You will notice that you will not be allowed to bring any balloons into the park, nor are they available for purchase. If the balloons were to get away and land in animal areas, it could be very dangerous to the animals. You will also notice that plastic disposable straws are not given with any beverages in the park. Paper biodegradable straws are available to ensure that the dangerous plastic straws don’t make it into waterways or other animal exhibits that could cause them a lot of harm.

5 – What types of attractions are there besides animal encounters?

There are actually a couple of amazing shows like Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond. These shows are based on their respective movies and are amazing Broadway-caliber shows. There is even a Bug’s Life show that is shown in 3D with other special effects in the theater. You will also find a few great rides at the park-like DINOSAUR, Expedition: Everest, Kali River Rapids, and TriceraTop Spin. Pandora – The World of Avatar is an out-of-this-world experience that is not to be missed.  This park is definitely not just a “zoo,” as some guests assume before visiting it.

4 – Will I need a whole day at the park?

You can always cut things out and make a visit shorter, but to experience everything, you will definitely need at least a full day, probably even two days. There are so many experiences, animal trails, attractions, and more that you would find it extremely difficult to fit everything in without a full day. This park is a lot of fun, so I recommend that you plan for at least a full day to enjoy everything you want and enjoy the beauty of the park. Be sure to extend your visit to the evening hours to see a new side of the park. It’s simply beautiful at night.

3 – What food options are available?

There are options to meet all of your tastes and budgets. There are quick-service locations, including an African market-style location. These are locations where you can order from the counter and find a place to enjoy a quick meal so you can get back to enjoying the day. The Satu’li Canteen in Pandora is a top-notch quick-service restaurant with delicious food. There are also multiple table service locations where you can dine inside the restaurant, and a server will tend to your needs.  I highly recommend making reservations in advance for these table service locations, as many of them are quite popular.  You can also bring in your own food if you wish to do so.

2 – What transportation options are available at the park?

The only transportation options to get to Disney’s Animal Kingdom are to take one of the Disney buses (or another shuttle from neighboring resorts) or to drive your car to the park. There currently isn’t any water or monorail transportation to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The parking lot is quite large, so we typically like to take one of the Disney buses to get there, and then we don’t have to worry about driving.

1 – Are alcoholic beverages allowed in the park?

Yes. Alcoholic beverages are served at most of the restaurants and many walk-up stands and locations. You are allowed to roam through the park with alcoholic beverages as long as you aren’t disruptive to other guests. You are not allowed to bring in your own alcoholic beverages. They must be purchased from Disney and only consumed by individuals who are 21 or older. Disney is very strict on its alcohol policies and preserving the magic.