Disney World Animal Kingdom

If you are planning your Disney World holiday, or if you're just interested in Disney, then check out my other Disney lenses.

Disney World Magic Kingdom Ride Guide - A guide to the attractions at the Magic Kingdom
Disney World Epcot Ride Guide - A guide to the attractions at Epcot
Disney World Hollywood Studios Ride Guide - A guide to the attractions at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney World Typhoon Lagoon Ride Guide - A guide to the attractions at the Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
Disney World Blizzard Beach Ride Guide - A guide to the attractions at the Blizzard Beach Water Park

More to come!

Image by Flickr Member AmandaB3

This area of Animal Kingdom is seriously underrated! People rush through, hoping to get to their first "ride" before the queues, and don't even notice the vast amount of stuff to see in the Oasis.

The Oasis Exhibits

There are several trails you can take through the Oasis and on them you can see a wide variety of animals, ranging from a Military Macaw to a Two-Toed Sloth. Perhaps when you first arrive the right thing for you to do MAY be to rush straight through the Oasis Exhibits to another part of the part but do try to come back later and take some time to let the animals show themselves to you. It really is beautiful.

Disabled guests may remain in their own wheelchair/ECV
Animal viewing location

Image by Flickr Member sanctumsolitude

As you arrive at Discovery Island from the Oasis you will see the awesome Tree of Life in front of you - maybe pause and have a photo of your family taken here, it's beautiful! This is the centre of the park, and from here you can reach all of the different areas. It doesn't really have many rides but It's Tough to be a Bug! is pretty cool.

The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life is an awesome piece of art, its branches span 165 feet and its trunk is 50 feet wide. It took over 18 months to build and artists have carved over 320 animals into the trunk, branches and roots. Every time you look, you're likely to see different animals so take a bit of time out to marvel!

It's Tough to be a Bug!

This 3D movie is based in the 430-seat Tree of Life Theatre at the base of the trunk. You get a pair of bug glasses to wear and a variety of bugs, spiders and other insects will delight you - and scare you! There are some scenes that might frighten children (much like in the film I found), if your child is afraid during the performance then perhaps take off their 3D glasses - sometimes the 3D effects can be too intense for little ones. The seating is on wooden benches, but they do have backs. They're a little bumpy and uncomfortable but not too bad. Some people have said that the 3D effects are hard to see clearly so don't be alarmed if you have trouble! Another tip is to sit your child on your lap; this would remove some of the scary effects. All this being said, it is scary and it's MEANT to be scary so if you think you're child will not cope, then miss it out!

Fastpasses are available
May be frightening for children
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Discovery Island Trails

These trails are a well-kept Disney secret, if you need a break from the fast pace, take a look around here. It's basically a bunch of beautiful trails and paths with little viewing areas. You can see loads of different animals such as the Galapagos Tortoise, White Stork, Axis Deer, Eyton's Whistling duck and many more. I would say these are definitely worth a good look, especially if the fast-paced rides are not your thing.

Animal viewing location
Disabled guests may remain in their own wheelchair/ECV

It's easy to get carried away at Disney and spend ridiculous amounts of money on your perfect holiday. However, with a few helpful hints you can save some serious cash so here's a few of mine:

• Take water in with you - the stuff in the park is pretty expensive


• Buy a cheap fan before you arrive - the heat will tempt you to buy one of those overpriced spray fans which aren't worth the money and you won't fit in your suitcase to take home!


• Check out the local Disney outlet stores and even Wal-Mart for merchandise as it's generally cheaper than in the parks - they're especially good for t-shirts.


• Hunt around for the best deals on park entrance tickets - you can even get them in Wal-Mart! If you're travelling form the UK then check out the new Ultimate tickets - they give you unlimited access for 2 or 3 weeks and are only available to UK guests.


• Don't link your credit card to your room key - you'll end up spending way more money!


• Think carefully about purchases, that huge plush toy of Buzz Lightyear may seem perfect for your youngest's bedroom but have you got the space (or the baggage allowance) to get it home?


• Generally, food in the parks is quite expensive so have a big breakfast, perhaps at one of the many all-you-can-eat breakfast buffets then you won't need so much for lunch.


• Your children will probably want a toy of their favourite character in their safari gear - remember you can buy them elsewhere as well - not just in the Animal Kingdom.

Also, one thing I would definitely recommend for hundreds of money-saving tips is Beth Haworth's Ultimate Disney world Savings Guide. She's a former cast member and she gives some great money saving advice. Just some of the things you can expect to find in her guide are:

• Get a 10 night stay at a 5* Disney Resort Hotel for $1,100 (RRP $3,100)


• Save up to $500 just on entrance tickets and tips on where and when to buy them


• Ideas for rainy days


• How to beat the queues


• Hidden entrances


• Comparing hotels to see which one suits you best


• Where to shop for souvenirs


• The best Downtown Disney attraction


• The best places to eat

There's much, much more than that (it's over 100 pages) and you also get a lifetime of updates - it's updated regularly and you are entitled to receive those updates forever. I would definitely recommend this guide - it makes that Disney dream a little more possible - especially if you're strapped for cash!

Click the image below for more information.

Image by Flickr Member natashalcd

As you cross the wooden bridge into Camp Minnie-Mickey you will see some life-like images of Mickey and his friends at the water hole. There's not a whole lot here in terms of shops and places to eat but it IS home to the character greeting trails AND my personal all time favourite attraction at Animal Kingdom - The Festival of the Lion King.

Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends

In this show, Pocahontas must find out which of the animals can help to save the forests of America from destruction. A whole host of live forest animals take to the stage to show how they can help. It's based on the story from the film and uses music from it. In the end Grandmother Willow and Pocahontas find out that the only animals that can help are... humans. So as you can guess, it's pretty cheesy but it's a great little show - and the theatre is shaded so it's a good one to get out of the sun in the hot afternoons. The first 3 rows are reserved for children so make sure you get there in time for your kids to get a space! The seating is on benches with no backs but the show is only 12 minutes long so it's not too bad.

Animal viewing location
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Festival of the Lion King

This is definitely a never-to-be-missed show based on the Lion King. It's my personal favourite Animal Kingdom attraction and it's great for all the family. A good tip is to go straight to the first showing as you arrive in the morning. It's much quieter than the later shows and as they pick kids out from the audience to take part - yours are more likely to get picked! You'll completely forget that you're sitting on a bench, as this half-hour show is better than any others in the park! It's brightly coloured and features some great songs, as well as dancing, acrobatics and a great starring role from Timon!

They separate the audience into 4 parts and you have to be an animal (they'll tell you which one and what noise to make). The theatre is air-conditioned and the lights are dimmed so it's pretty dark, but not really scary. The finale is pretty much awesome and there's a tear-jerker too.

If you get there and the show is full, go over and check out the character greeting trails - the queues may be short, and then by the time you're done you can queue for the next show.

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Greeting Trails

Here you can get to greet Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Pooh, Tigger, Terk and Rafiki - each trail is marked with the name of the character that will be appearing. Just queue up and get snapping! The character will obviously be in their safari gear - they look great! The shortest queues here are just as the Festival of the Lion King Show is about to start.

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Show Name

Description

Suitability for Children

Important Information

Pocahontas and her Forest Friends

Pocahontas tries to figure out which animals can help to save the forests of America from destruction%u2026of course she finds that it is only humans who can help. It involves live forest animals.

This is a great show for children and the first three rows of benches are reserved just for them. It's also shaded so it's good to get out of the sun.

Animal viewing location. Handheld captioning (Devices at Guest Relations). Assistive Listening (Devices at Guest Relations). Disabled guests may remain in their own wheelchair/ECV.

Festival of the Lion King

This is a MUST SEE show based on the Lion King. It\'s brightly coloured and features some great songs, as well as dancing, acrobatics and a great starring role from Timon!

Children will love this show, although the fire dancer is a little scary. Also, the cast member will pick a few children to join in the show at one point so sit relatively near the front.

Handheld captioning (Devices at Guest Relations). Assistive Listening (Devices at Guest Relations). Disabled guests may remain in their own wheelchair/ECV.

Flights of Wonder

A light-hearted show about and involving birds. Some birds perform and others just delight you with their beauty. Make sure you stay at the end because the handlers bring out some of the owls for a closer look.

Great for all the family but if it's raining you may see a shortened show.

Animal viewing location. Assistive Listening (Devices at Guest Relations). Disabled guests may remain in their own wheelchair/ECV.

Finding Nemo The Musical

A mixture of puppetry and live action, with songs and dance. There will be long queues as it is still relatively new.

This show is great for all the family - it does get cold in the auditorium though so bring a light jacket for young children.

 

Image by Flickr Member thescrystalskull

This part of the park is made up as the village of Harambe in Africa, which was inspired by Lamu in Kenya. There's a 40-foot baobab tree, traditional symbol of the African savannah - it's great. Africa is home to the Kilimanjaro Safari which is great fun for all the family - a must-do!

Kilimanjaro Safaris

Jump on board a Kilimanjaro safari jeep for a ride around the African plains. It's based around teaching about the affects of poaching, you'll learn a lot about it from the TVs in the queue line and it's the focus for the safari too. There are loads of animals to see on the safari, including lions, hippos, rhinos and elephants but I would advise doing the safari early in the day before it gets too hot and the animals go for a rest in the shade, either that or about 3 o clock when the animals are getting restless to go back in the barns - so they're more active. Fastpass is pretty much always the way to go with this one - everyone likes it so the queues can be huge! What I really like about it is that Disney has gone to a lot of trouble to hide all the barriers and fences so you really feel like you're right in with the lions!

If you don't like a bumpy ride then sit at the front - it feels bumpier in the back. Oh and it seems obvious but sometimes people want a good picture - but please do NOT stand up - it's oh so dangerous as the truck is always moving. A good piece of advice is to not try to point out the animals to your children - they'll inevitably miss the ones you're trying to show them and get upset - ruining the rest of the ride. Just let them enjoy what they do see.

Animal viewing location
Fastpasses are available
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Disabled guests must transfer to a regular wheelchair

Pangani forest Exploration Trail

This is a walking trail along which you can explore lots of exciting animals. There are observation posts to make viewing easier as well as an aviary area and an underwater viewing area for the hippos! I recommend the Meerkats - they're really funny and the kids love them. You can also view the gorilla family as the Gorilla Research Camp - as you enter everyone will have their faces squashed against the glass trying to see, if you carry on a little way there is an outside viewing area too - stand on the suspension bridge for a fabulous view. The trail as a whole will probably take about 20-30 minutes, it depends how quick you walk.

Animal viewing location
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Image by Flickr Member steve-stevens

This is a mock-backstage area where you can gain an insight into how the animals are looked after. It includes Animal Cam - a look into the animal care areas which is quite interesting. There are hands-on displays and a petting area for the kids. This area opens at 9:30am and the only way to reach it is to take the Wildlife Express Train.

Wildlife Express Train

This is the train that you must take from Africa to get to Rafiki's Planet Watch - it's cool because all the seats face outwards! You shouldn't have to wait more than 10 minutes for a train - when it arrives make sure you look at the roof. On the journey there's a chance to see behind the African Savannah and there's a small animal viewing area. Once you get there it's about a 5 or 6 minute walk to Rafiki-s Planet Watch. If you have a hired pushchair you have to leave it behind but if you've brought your own collapsible one you can take it on - it's a good idea as the walk around is quite a long one!

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Habitat Habit!

This is an exhibit teaching us how to share our world with animals and it features the cotton-top tamarins. It is good fun and the tamarins are awesome - a good learning element too.

Animal viewing location

Conservation Station

There are several areas to look around here, including Sounds of the Rainforest, and the Veterinary and Training areas. It teaches you about animal training, feeding, veterinary medicine and animal conservation. This is where you'll find the Animal Cams to see the backstage areas. In Song of the Rainforest you sit in a booth that seats 6 and get to hear a soundtrack to the Rainforest, narrated by Grandmother Willow from Pocahontas - it's a pretty neat way to relax. The Conservation Station is quite a nice place to go but I wouldn't visit every time I went, it takes quite a long time and there are a lot of other cool things to do at Animal Kingdom.

Animal viewing location
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Affection Section

This is a petting yard featuring a number of rare breeds. There's a story behind the animals though and they don't fully explain it at Disney. The sheep and goats there are extinct in their natural habitat for various reasons. It's a nice place for the kids to go; they love to pet the animals.

Animal viewing location
Disabled guests must transfer to a regular wheelchair

Image by Flickr Member Zengrrl

This is Asia's mythical kingdom of Anandapur, meaning place of delight, and it is home to the biggest rides in Animal Kingdom. This is Animal Kingdom's newest park area and the architecture is beautiful so make sure you take some time to look around.

Flights of Wonder

This is essentially a light-hearted show about and involving birds. However, it has a deeper conservation message to give - and an important one too! Many birds take part in the show, some performing stunts and others just showing themselves off. At the end the handlers will bring out some other birds, including a bald eagle. Try to sit close to the stage for the best views and don't rush out at the end - the handlers will bring some of the owls over to the edge of the stage for you to see and take photographs. If it's raining you may see a shortened version - this is actually more educational than the show itself.

Animal viewing location
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Kali River Rapids

I LOVE this ride! You ride on a 12-seater raft down the turbulent waters of the Chakranadi River through a forest ravaged by illegal logging. You're going to get wet, no matter where you sit - just to clear that one up - a couple of the seats will get a whole lot wetter than the rest but you can't really predict which ones - sorry! Keep your nose open for the scents of jasmine as you start the ride - it's lovely if you notice it. I would definitely advise fastpassing this ride as the queues can be huge - especially when it's hot. Try taking a walk round the Maharajah Jungle Trek whilst you're waiting for your fastpass to be valid.

Also, there is a protective area in the middle of the raft to keep things dry but it doesn't work very well. I would advice a plastic bag for your valuables if you cannot leave them with a party member. The drop in this ride is not very steep; it's just like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at the Magic Kingdom so it should be fine for everyone. One thing to think about is that you board the raft from a revolving disc - those who are not steady on their feet should be careful as they step onto the disc.

Fastpasses are available
Minimum height requirement 97cm (rider switch is available)
Assistive Listening (Devices at Guest Relations)
Disabled guests must transfer from their wheelchair

Maharajah Jungle Trek

Wander through the ruins of an ancient palace inhabited by exotic animals, including giant fruit bats, birds, tapirs, Komodo dragons and tigers! It is a self-guided walking tour which is best done in the early morning, when the tigers are at their best. Another great time to go is about 30 minutes before closing when the tigers will be waiting to be fed. The kids will love the trail and there are educational opportunities too.

Animal viewing location
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Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

The story behind this ride is the Yeti (a.k.a. the abominable snowman), protector of the mountain. The villagers of Serka Zong advice against a journey into the mountains but the proprietors of the Himalayan Escapes tour company are very persuasive! You board a steam train for the journey of a lifetime - and not wanting to give it away - things are not all as they seem!

Ok, so some boring safety information - this is a high speed rollercoaster with forwards and backwards motion, fast turns and drops. It goes without saying that you should be in good health to ride! The rows seat two people and there are 17 rows in the train. The queues can get very long so I would advise a fastpass or an early ride. There have been some reports about larger guests not being able to ride Everest, if you are worried then there is a roped off cart for you to try. The cast members are friendly and very discreet and the ride is worth it so I would advise giving it a try. The ride may be scary for some children, but I would say that most who meet the height requirements would be fine - if your child is particularly tall but particularly sensitive then think twice before riding.

The is the best rollercoaster in Disney World apart from The Rock 'n' roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios in my view!

Fastpasses are available
Minimum height requirement 112cm (rider switch is available)
Disabled guests must transfer from their wheelchair

Polaroid Image by Flickr Member sanctumsolitude

Image by Flickr Member tom.arthur

Dinoland is a tribute to the dinosaurs (real and make-believe) and it's great fun! It's the area that's got the most rides in it and there are a few cool shops and restaurants too. Check out the 50-foot brachiosaurus as you enter from Discovery Island!

The Boneyard

This is an interactive playground for children, similar to Honey I Shrunk the Kids at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It's made to look like a dig site and it's a great place for kids to use up some energy - perhaps right before going to see one of the shows? You can also look at dinosaur bones!

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Fossil Fun Games

These are funfair/carnival style games with a prehistoric dino twist!

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Primeval Whirl

This ride is in Chester and Hester's Dino-rama - a mini-area within Dinoland. It features 13 colourful cars (time machines) that whirl past flying asteroids and cheesy dinosaur cut-outs. You spin A LOT on this ride so if you get sick easily, don't ride! It's deceptively scary, so be careful taking children that are only just tall enough on - maybe ride it by yourself first and see if you think they'd like it.

Fastpasses are available
Minimum height requirement 122cm (rider switch is available)
Disabled guests must transfer from their wheelchair

TriceraTop Spin

This ride is just like Dumbo and Aladdin at the Magic Kingdom so the kids will love it! You ride in a 4-person dinosaur and you can control the height of your dino as you spin around. The centre of the ride becomes a spinning-top and it rises up to reveal... a dinosaur! It's a great one for the kids - some of them may find that there are not many normal rides for them as Animal Kingdom so this is a great one - the queues can get long but are generally not too bad.

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Dino-Sue

Check out the largest, most complete T-Rex ever found it's an exact replica, not the real thing but it's still awesome! You can find it at the entrance to DINOSAUR.

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DINOSAUR

DINOSAUR is the thrill ride at Animal Kingdom and it really is quite scary. You travel back in time to the Cretaceous period to find the Iguanodon. You ride in a 12-perosn all-terrain vehicle; fasten your seatbelt and go! It's a high speed, very jumpy and jerky ride (a bit like a bucking bronco) though the dark. There are no drops but it is still pretty scary - even for me! If you get to this ride near to park opening or closing you can usually walk straight on with no queue - but if there are queues you can use the fastpass. The ride is very noisy as well as dark and big dinosaurs jump out at you. It may be very scary for young children. We took a 4 year old on as she wanted to do it and was tall enough. However, she thought the dinosaurs were real - despite our best efforts - and was absolutely terrified! So if your 4 year old wants to ride - just think about it first, it's not for the faint-hearted.

Fastpasses are available
Minimum height requirement 102cm (rider switch is available)
Video captioning (Devices at Guest Relations)
Assistive Listening (Devices at Guest Relations)
Disabled guests must transfer from their wheelchair

Finding Nemo Musical

This is a musical show using puppets (but you can see the humans) and it is best to sit in the middle towards the back. The music is super and it is a show for all the family. It can get a little cold in the auditorium so bring a thin jacket for the kids. There are likely to be long queues as it's still relatively new in Disney terms but it's worth quite a long wait. Be careful not to get separated as you come out - it's a large auditorium and everyone leaves the same way (perhaps arrange a meeting point in case you lose anyone but hold onto the kids!).