The Ultimate Guide to Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom

Visiting a Disney World park can be an incredible experience for the entire family. Today, I want to focus on the wild world of Animal Kingdom. Maybe you’re about to go on a family vacation or perhaps you’re just a Disney lover. Either way, you’re sure to want to check out all the things on my list. One of the things that I love about Disney World is how they always go above and beyond the call of duty. And the Animal Kingdom is among all of that magic.

Here’s your ultimate guide to the Animal Kingdom!

Pandora – The World of Avatar

Pandora is the newest addition to the Animal Kingdom world, and it quickly became wildly popular. And, for a good reason. Check out the many things you can do at Disney’s Pandora!

• Pongu Pongu

This quick service option has impressive drinks with big bubbles and unique colors. These kinds of drinks are always popular with the kids!

• Na’vi River Journey

This restaurant attraction is described as one of the most amazing rides ever made. The story behind this ride is that you’re searching for the Na’vi Shaman of Songs in a bioluminescent rainforest.

• Satu’li Canteen

You can dine inside a former RDA mess hall when you visit Satu’li Canteen. There are dishes inspired by other worlds, and you’ll taste some of Pandora’s most exquisite delicacies.

• Avatar Flight of Passage

This 3D ride takes you over the moon! Literally! You will be taken on a tour of Pandora through the eyes of a banshee and view sites your eyes have never beheld before. This ride has beautiful views and amazing 3D displays.

Character experiences

• Pocahontas

Did you know that Pocahontas is one of the harder Disney princesses to meet? She’s very busy with Meeko! Luckily, Animal Kingdom is one of the best places where you can meet this famed princess!

• Minnie, Mickey, and Donald

You can also duck in to meet Donald! There are also your more standard characters like Jungle Minnie and Mickey Mouse if you want to meet the stars of the beloved franchise! We caught them on camera when we did a Disney character dining experience.

• Russell and Doug

Check out these “up” and comers! Make sure to check out a times guide when you visit the parks to find one who you can visit each day.

Dining

I’ve already mentioned Satu’li Canteen, but there are plenty of other excellent dining experiences available at the Animal Kingdom park.

• The Rainforest Cafe

Jump into a lively jungle-themed oasis setting with wild animal setting to enjoy all-American fare for lunch or dinner.

• Yak and Yeti

You can also dine at one of the more popular locations in this park, the Yak and Yeti which has an Asian inspired menu.

• The Flame Tree Barbecue

Another option with sizzling meats and classic sides.

• The Tusker House

If you’re looking for even more delicious menus, make sure to check out the Tusker House that serves African-American cuisine. You can even take part in the River of Lights dining package to make your stay even more magical! All of the restaurants I’ve listed above are table service options that are sure to make your taste buds happy! Except for Flame Tree BBQ, which is a quick service not a table service. **For most if not all table service dining, we recommend dining reservations. Because they are almost always needed for sit down dining. While you can often find some last minute openings, take note that dining opens 180 days prior.

Rides

• Dinosaur

Ever wanted to meet a real Dinosaur? You can when you ride the Dinosaur ride at the Animal Kingdom park! This ride takes you up close and personal to all your favorite dinosaurs, and you learn a lot along your journey through time.

• Kilimanjaro Safaris

You can also see real animals when you ride the Kilimanjaro Safaris! Your tour guide will give you some little-known facts about some of the Africa’s coolest animals, and you can ask them all the questions you can think of.

• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

If you want to get really wild, make sure you ride of the most popular attractions of the entire park: Expedition Everest in Dinoland (which you also totally need to visit!). You’ll go on the search for a Yeti but will find yourself in a sticky situation.

• Tree of Life

And while it’s not a ride (though don’t miss It’s Tough to be a Bug! housed inside the tree), a trip to the Animal Kingdom park just wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Tree of Life! The fantastic carvings are worth making the trip to the Animal Kingdom alone!

Shows

• Festival of The Lion King

Everyone loves the story of the Lion King, and seeing it in real life is an experience you will not forget. This show utilizes many different types of props, makeup, and costumes to make people look like animals. It’s a favorite among the Disney crowd!

• Finding Nemo – The Musical

Based on the beloved movie, Finding Nemo the musical is a beautiful tale of love between a father and a son.

• It’s Tough to be a Bug

Some of your favorite friends from the Bug’s Life movie make their appearances in this show. So, if you’re little one loves this movie, chances are, this will be a big hit!

• Rafiki’s Planet Watch

A wildlife research center is the subject of this ride. You’ll be given a tour via the express train and see a lot of fascinating animals in the process. This is a great learning ride for the kids!

• Air Shows (note: they are adamant, they are not a zoo..fun fact, look for the sign of the Kingdom when you first enter Nata-Zuh)

There are a lot of air shows at Disney World, and this is particularly true at the Animal Kingdom. You can check out a lot of cool birds and learn a lot about the different species from trained professionals. Check out this new show called “Up! A Great Bird Adventure”!

• The Boneyard

If you visit the Animal Kingdom, you must make sure to take a trip to the fossil boneyard. Here, you can see different Dinosaurs from years past sticking out of the ground as fossils. You can ever dig for more! There are so many fun and amazing things to do when you visit Disneys Animal Kingdom!

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