Beyond the Headliners: 4 Attractions You Don’t Want to Skip at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

When I first started visiting Animal Kingdom, I never would have considered riding anything other than Dinosaur, Kilimanjaro Safaris, or Expedition Everest. However, after working in Animal Kingdom for six months, I found a new appreciation for the “hidden gem” attractions. These are the attractions that usually never have long waits, are often overlooked by most guests, and yet are just as entertaining as the headliners. Even after Pandora: World of Avatar opened, I still try to visit the following attractions – even if they don’t get as much love as Flight of Passage does.

4 – Maharajah Jungle Trek

The Maharajah Jungle Trek is actually an animal trail located in the Asia section of Animal Kingdom, but I consider it an attraction anyway! It’s a beautiful trail that’s made to look as though you’re walking through the ruins of a crumbling palace or temple. The animals make it all the more exotic- you’ll see a Komodo dragon at the start, along with bats, birds, and tigers. The tigers are amazing to look at, even if it’s a hot day and all they’re doing is sleeping! You’ll pass by waterfalls, pools, and prayer flags, and the best part is that you can go at your own pace- the trek is a self-guided walking tour. So, while all the other guests are making a beeline for Everest or Kali River Rapids, make sure you take some time to walk the trail and really pay attention to the details. I recommend visiting either first thing in the morning or when it’s raining; that’s when the animals will be the most active!

3 – Discovery Island Trails

Whether or not you consider this an actual attraction, the Discovery Island Trails have some of the most beautiful and peaceful animal exhibits. As you meander around the gigantic Tree of Life, you can pass through waterfalls, mist, and pretty exhibits full of macaws, flamingos, kangaroos, otters, lemurs, cotton-top tamarins, and more! I used to work at many of these habitats along the trail, giving guests information and handing out animal fact cards. A lot of guests don’t even know about these trails; if you walk them during the early morning hours, you’re sure to see some fantastic interactions and get some stunning photos! These trails have no set start or endpoint, so feel free to explore to your heart’s content!

2 – Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail 

Animal Kingdom has a lot of trails! Though not a headliner attraction by any means, the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail is my favorite by far! I always walk this trail either before or after a ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris, and it definitely enhances the attraction by giving guests the chance to see more African animals up close.

On this trail, guests can see meerkats, hippos, toads, dung beetles, and of course, western lowland gorillas on a massive grassy hill! The gorillas are literally a wonder to behold, and they are so fun to watch. There are guides along the way if you have any questions about the animals or the African flora and fauna, and it’s great to learn about how Disney cares for these animals, both in the park and in their habitats out in the wild.

With the allure of Pandora and the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction nearby, it’s easy to forget about all these different animal trails. Next time you visit the park, make sure you walk along one or two- you’ll never need to make a FastPass for them!

1 – Wilderness Explorers

I would consider the experience of becoming a Wilderness Explorer a very unique attraction. It’s free, you don’t have to wait in a long line, and you can create memorable interactions while exploring all of Animal Kingdom! I may be slightly biased since this was my former role as a Cast Member- but I still think it’s seriously cool that you can collect over thirty badges while doing self-guided activities, challenges, and animal observations. Plus, the booklets make a neat collectible that you can’t buy in any gift shop! Even if you can’t collect all the badges in one day, you can come back and complete your collection during your next visit! I had a blast working in this role, and I’ve known a few guests who enjoyed doing these activities just as much (if not more) as riding some of the headliner attractions!