Trip Planning 101-10 Tips for Planning Your Day(s) at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Let’s head to the place where “Hakuna Matata” is the motto, colorful creatures are around every corner, and that inner wild child can roam free! We’re talking about Disney’s Animal Kingdom, of course! If you’ve never been or if you haven’t been in several years, don’t let this incredible park overwhelm you. Before you fly off into Animal Kingdom’s jungle, let’s run through a few basic tips every first-timer or long-time visitor needs to know.

1 – Only a One Day Park? Try Two!

When Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened in 1998, it was known to be a half-day park experience. With early closing hours and limited experiences, it was easy to leave shortly after lunch and head off to the next big thing at Disney. Animal Kingdom is no longer a half-day park, but dare we say one day isn’t even enough anymore?! With later closing hours and multiple attractions and venues not to be missed, two days are the ideal amount of time to explore all Animal Kingdom holds.

2 – Know When to Go

Did you know Animal Kingdom is known as the hottest (temperature-wise) of the four Disney parks? With the lush foliage surroundings, it’s easy for humidity to sit in one spot despite a few shade areas here and there. For this reason, we encourage guests to visit Animal Kingdom in the late fall or winter, if possible. Not only will you avoid the late spring and early summer heat, but you’ll also avoid the summer crowds. Crowds are inevitable just about any time you visit Disney, but there are some weeks during the late fall and winter (non-holidays) that are less crowded than others.

3 – Understand the Lay of the Land

Study up because this one will pay off when you’re standing in Animal Kingdom! Check out the park map well before arrival and be aware of how the lands connect and which attractions are in which part of the park. There are defined lands in Animal Kingdom, including the Oasis, Discovery Island, DinoLand U.S.A., Asia, Africa, and Pandora – World of Avatar. Do your best to understand the lay of the land to alleviate any stress as to where to go next or how to get there. The My Disney Experience (MDE) App makes for a great map right in the palm of your hand!

4 – Rise & Shine, Then Go Right

Whenever you decide to go, waking up early and waiting as the park opens is key! Make the most of the early morning cool weather and smaller crowds. As most of the crowd goes left towards the newest and most popular land, Pandora – World of Avatar, head right. You’ll have an opportunity to tackle much of Asia and Dinoland U.S.A well before the rest of the crowd gets to those areas of the park.

5 – Must-Do Attractions

There are several attractions not to be missed at Animal Kingdom, but we’ll list our top five:

• We start off with Kilimanjaro Safaris as this attraction is what Animal Kingdom is all about! Head over to Africa to take an 18-minute expedition aboard a safari vehicle to get up close and personal with many of the 34 species available on Animal Kingdom’s wildlife reserve. This is an unbelievable attraction that spans 110 acres!
• If you’re a thrill-seeker, Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain in Asia is the attraction for you. Take a ride through a mountain that the Yeti calls home on this fast and thrilling roller coaster. Watch out, as the Yeti is sure to cause trouble with your track.
• Have you ever wanted to fly? This is the closest simulation we have yet to experience! Take a ride on the back of the banshee on Avatar Flight of Passage located in Pandora. Soar through some of the most beautiful scenery while feeling the banshee breathe beneath you.
• Also located in Pandora, you’ll find the Na’vi River Journey– a visually appealing and calming boat ride through what the Na’vi people call home.
• To finish off our personal must-do attractions, we end with DINOSAUR, located in DinoLand, U.S.A. Head back in time on a time rover vehicle that will have you being chased by dinosaurs as a giant meteor is about to crash down!

Editor’s Note: Disney has announced that DinoLand, USA, will be closing and transforming into a Tropical Americas-themed land that will open in 2027. Disney recently announced that the first wave of closures will occur on January 12, 2025. The last day of operation for TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures will be January 12, 2025. Walls will go up on January 13. However, DINOSAUR, the Boneyard, Dino-Bite Snacks, Restaurantosaurus, and Trilo-Bites will remain open.

6 – Must-Do Entertainment

If you’re looking for entertainment, you’ve come to the right park! Animal Kingdom has two Broadway-style shows and plenty of other entertainment options for you to enjoy. Here are our top three recommendations for Animal Kingdom entertainment:

• Hands down – The Festival of the Lion King in Africa is our absolute must-do. This 30-minute show boasts live entertainers, including vocalists, dancers, acrobats, and more. Relive the story of The Lion King through the beauty of music, performance, and costuming. A stunning performance!
• Another incredible live performance is Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond in Dinoland U.S.A. This is an updated 25-minute show that takes guests through the story of Finding Nemo with live performers, puppetry, and a vibrant set.
• Our third must-do entertainment is Feathered Friends in Flight! located in Asia. Join an animal behavior specialist and meet several exotic bird friends who fly in and around the outdoor arena. This entertainment will have you up close and personal with stunning birds.

7 – Consider Purchasing Lightning Lane Access

On busy days, you might want to consider purchasing access to the Lightning Lane (formerly FastPass lane). Lightning Lane allows you to “skip the line,” and there are three different paid options that you can choose (along with different attractions) to access it. The first option is to purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for a day or each day of your visit. It costs each person anywhere from $15-$39 per day. With Multi Pass, you can pre-book up to three initial attractions and access the Lightning Lane attractions at each park. Once you’ve visited the first attraction, you can book another attraction, based on availability.

Disney Multi Pass Attractions:

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

The second option is to purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass for individual attractions. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Avatar Flight of Passage is the Single Pass attraction. The Single Pass must be purchased separately, and pricing ranges from $7-$25 per attraction, per person.

When booking Multi Pass and Single Pass, you can now book these selections seven days ahead of time (plus the length of stay) for Disney Resort guests or three days ahead for date-based tickets or annual passholders. You can now see what’s available, see exact pricing, and make selections before you make your purchase. This allows you to see if booking Lightning Lanes will be worth it for your trip.

A third option, only available to Disney Deluxe Resort guests, is the new Premier Pass option. Guests who purchase the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will give guests one entry to each available Lightning Lane attraction at any time in the theme park they are visiting that day. This includes attractions included in both Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass, but with Lightning Lane Premier Pass, guests do not need to select an entrance time. Lightning Lane Premier Pass will be a “premium offering,” and prices will vary based on the date and theme park guests are visiting. Guests can expect to pay anywhere from $129 to $449 (per pass, plus tax) for the new offering.

Keep in mind that you do not have to purchase either of these options to enjoy these attractions. Most of the attractions listed above have moderate wait times, and some regularly have low wait times. Using our other tips, such as arriving at park opening, you may be able to avoid having to purchase these options. 

8 – Must-See Characters

Animal Kingdom has some of the most unique characters, many of which you can’t see anywhere else. We recommend seeing Moana, the only Disney Princess available for a meet and greet at Animal Kingdom. Plus, Donald and friends are available for meet and greets in Dinoland U.S.A. for Donald’s Dino-Bash. If you’re lucky enough, you may catch a view of DiVine – a beautiful woman/vine that blends in with her surroundings so well that you might just miss her. You’ll also see some characters come through on special cavalcades throughout the day on the Discovery River. Lastly, don’t forget about Mickey and Minnie together at Adventures Outpost in their Safari gear. Be sure to check your My Disney Experience (MDE) App for character availability.

9 – So Much Good Food!

There is a fantastic supply of tasty food at Animal Kingdom. If you want a character dining experience, reserve a meal at Tusker House, where you’ll see friends like Donald, Mickey, Goofy, and Daisy. We also enjoy the Yak and Yeti restaurant for a great meal. Just be sure to book these restaurants 60 days in advance as they do book up! Besides table-service restaurants, we’d recommend Flame Tree Barbecue for quick-service dining as well at Satu’li Canteen. Both have great menus! Plus, you can place a mobile order from your MDE App at both of these locations, so you don’t have to worry about the lines. Snacks are plenty, as are alcoholic-specialty beverages. If you’ve never had a Dole Whip outside of Magic Kingdom, you can do this at Animal Kingdom… and even add rum to it!

10 – Stay for the Nighttime Entertainment

Animal Kingdom comes to life at night, so stick around! Look for the Tree of Life Awakenings during the winter season. You’ll see the Tree of Life dances with an impressive projection display. On your way out, be sure to drop by Pandora – World of Avatar to see how it transforms into a bioluminescent land once the sun goes down. Truly a remarkable park at night!

Enjoy your wildly unforgettable visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom!