What To Do In Animal Kingdom: Your Ultimate Park Guide

For a long time, like many, I overlooked Animal Kingdom. Even during my time working at Disney and living in Orlando, visits were infrequent. However, over time, I discovered a truly fun park, offering attractions vastly different from others in Florida, alongside impressive shows. Today, it ranks among my favorite parks.

Animal Kingdom is home to the immersive land dedicated to the movie Avatar, featuring one of the best attractions across all of Walt Disney World, alongside many other unmissable rides and shows.

While once considered a “half-day” park due to its earlier closing times, Animal Kingdom has transformed in recent years. With new attractions, extended hours, and experiences designed for both day and night enjoyment, this park now fully deserves an entire day in your Orlando itinerary.

A picturesque view of the Tree of Life across the water at Disney's Animal Kingdom park entrance bridge.

• To view the park map while reading this guide, click here (link to official or relevant map source).
• For tips on where to eat in this park, click here (link to relevant dining guide).

GENERAL TIPS FOR VISITING ANIMAL KINGDOM

Understand Recent Changes
Much has changed at Disney World recently. Understanding these updates is crucial to avoid arriving unprepared and wasting precious park time. In short: the beloved free FastPass+ system is gone. It’s been replaced by two paid fast-lane options: Lightning Lane Multi Pass (Genie+) and Individual Lightning Lane Selections. Learn more about these systems here.

Arrive VERY Early
First and foremost, arriving early is key, primarily to experience Kilimanjaro Safaris while more animals are active and to have a better chance at riding Avatar Flight of Passage with shorter queues. Ultimately, it allows you to maximize your entire park visit.

The Pandora Effect
Pandora – The World of Avatar, inspired by the film, hosts one of Disney World’s premier attractions and is consequently always in high demand. Your strategy here involves either arriving extremely early or accepting a potentially long wait (which, although lengthy, is often worth it).

Your approach to visiting Pandora will significantly impact the flow of your entire day at Animal Kingdom. A smart strategy here can ensure a smoother experience for the rest of your visit.

Download the My Disney Experience App
Disney’s official app, My Disney Experience, greatly simplifies your park day. You can check show times, view current wait times for attractions, use Mobile Order for food to skip lines, see your PhotoPass pictures, and even utilize Mobile Checkout at select stores like Island Mercantile. Download the app before your trip and familiarize yourself with its features. Just be mindful not to spend the whole day glued to your phone and miss enjoying the park atmosphere!

A smartphone screen displaying the My Disney Experience app interface for Mobile Checkout at a Disney store.

Check Show Schedules
Some of Animal Kingdom’s best experiences are its shows, and you won’t want to miss them. Keep a close eye on show times via the My Disney Experience app and plan your day accordingly, considering the proximity of show venues to other attractions.

Navigate the Map Wisely
With lush vegetation surrounding everything, getting lost in Animal Kingdom is relatively easy. Keep the park map handy (either physical or on the app) and refer to it periodically to stay on track.

Animal Kingdom is divided into 6 main lands, plus the entrance area called Oasis. All these lands surround the Tree of Life, the park’s iconic centerpiece. This guide will walk you through the attractions in each area and how to best structure your day.

Decide on Lightning Lanes
While learning new Disney systems can feel like homework, understanding Lightning Lanes (both the Genie+ Multi Pass and Individual selections) is important if you plan to use them. These paid options can save significant time in queues, but only if used effectively. If you’re willing to pay to skip lines, research how they work beforehand. We’ve covered this extensively on our blog, and this post is a good starting point.

ANIMAL KINGDOM ITINERARY & ATTRACTIONS

1. ARRIVING AT ANIMAL KINGDOM

Firstly, my strong recommendation is to arrive VERY early, well before the official park opening. This allows you to be among the first guests inside to experience Avatar Flight of Passage, Pandora’s main attraction, before significant lines form, greatly optimizing your day.

Next, head to Africa to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris early in the morning when more animals are likely to be active.

If you can’t arrive super early, or if Disney resort guests (who often get early entry) have already formed long lines, head straight to Africa first. Monitor Pandora’s wait times throughout the day via the app; lines often decrease slightly mid-to-late afternoon. Remember: even with a wait, Flight of Passage is generally considered worth it!

FOR THE KIDS
Wilderness Explorers: This interactive scavenger hunt throughout the park can be very engaging for children (provided someone can assist with potential language barriers if needed). If interested, decide early in the day to incorporate the activity stops naturally into your park exploration. While it takes some time, commitment isn’t overwhelming as you don’t need to follow a specific order and can visit badge locations as you encounter them. Pick up your free handbook at the headquarters kiosk located on the path from the entrance towards the Tree of Life. Other pickup points exist, but this is ideal for starting the day-long adventure.

2. AFRICA

The Africa section is beautifully themed and home to one of the park’s signature attractions, Kilimanjaro Safaris. Aim to visit early to enjoy the safari when animals are most active.

MUST-DO
Kilimanjaro Safaris: A genuine safari experience across a vast area designed by Disney to simulate African habitats. Board an open-air vehicle for a journey to see various animals, getting quite close to some. The lion is a highlight, but as they sleep 18-21 hours a day, seeing one awake is challenging. Early mornings offer the best chance. Try to sit on the left side of the vehicle (facing forward) for potentially better views – ask the Cast Member assigning rows if you can be first in your row. If possible, consider returning for a nighttime Safari for a completely different atmosphere.

Festival of the Lion King: A spectacular circus-style show featuring characters from The Lion King. In my opinion, it’s one of Disney’s best shows. Definitely worth scheduling time for. Check the Times Guide or app, as performance numbers are limited, especially during winter months.

Performers in vibrant costumes singing and dancing on stage during the Festival of the Lion King show at Animal Kingdom.

FOOD TIP
Tusker House Restaurant is a buffet-style character dining experience offering varied cuisine and encounters with classic Disney characters in safari gear. While perhaps not the absolute best food in the park, it’s enjoyable, and the character interactions add significant value. Reservations are highly recommended.

IF YOU HAVE TIME
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail: A walking trail through a mini-zoo environment, with the impressive gorilla habitat as the main feature.

3. ASIA

Beyond its stunningly authentic Asian setting, this land hosts some of Animal Kingdom’s more thrilling attractions, most notably Expedition Everest, where you’ll encounter the Yeti.

MUST-DO
Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain: A thrilling roller coaster themed around an encounter with the Yeti. While it lacks inversions (loops), it features surprises that make it considerably more intense than, say, Magic Kingdom’s coasters. This is one of the few Disney attractions offering a Single Rider line; if you don’t mind riding separately from your group, this can drastically reduce your wait time. Fun fact: the large Yeti animatronic used to move dynamically. It eventually malfunctioned and was never fully repaired to its original state; what guests see now is an alternative effect (often using strobe lights), though many hope for a future restoration.

The Expedition Everest roller coaster train emerging from the side of the faux mountain structure at Animal Kingdom.

Kali River Rapids: Unquestionably Disney World’s wettest ride. Board large circular rafts for a turbulent journey down river rapids. Not recommended during cold weather as you will get soaked, but it’s incredibly refreshing on hot Florida days.
Feathered Friends in Flight!: A live bird show where specialists demonstrate how they care for and train the park’s avian residents. It might sound simple, but it’s actually quite engaging and informative.

IF YOU HAVE TIME
Maharajah Jungle Trek: Another walking trail, this one themed like ruins, where you can see tigers, bats, and even Komodo dragons.

FOOD TIP
For a tasty, satisfying, and relatively affordable (by park standards) quick meal, stop at Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes. Their menu includes delicious options like teriyaki beef bowls, honey chicken, and fried rice. Be careful not to confuse it with the adjacent Yak & Yeti Restaurant, which is a table-service restaurant (sit-down with servers) that is also excellent but more expensive.

A plate from Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes featuring honey sesame chicken and white rice.

4. DINOLAND U.S.A.

Dinoland U.S.A. primarily features attractions geared towards younger children, but don’t skip it entirely, as it houses two excellent experiences.

MUST-DO
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!: A Broadway-caliber musical puppet show retelling the story of Finding Nemo. It’s a bit long (approx. 30 minutes) and might induce drowsiness after a long park day, but it’s beautifully staged with fantastic music. Truly unmissable!

Colorful puppets of Nemo and Marlin amongst anemones against a blue backdrop in the Finding Nemo musical show.

DINOSAUR: A thrilling, high-speed dark ride simulating a turbulent journey back to the Cretaceous period to rescue a specific dinosaur. Younger children or those sensitive to darkness, loud noises, and sudden movements might find it frightening. It’s an older attraction but remains a park classic.

FOR THE KIDS
The Boneyard: An elaborate playground where kids can spend hours digging for “fossils,” exploring slides, and interacting with others.
TriceraTop Spin: Similar to Magic Kingdom’s Dumbo the Flying Elephant, but with spinning dinosaurs instead of elephants.
Fossil Fun Games: Carnival-style games (ring toss, etc.) that require separate payment. You can find similar games elsewhere, so it’s generally better to focus on the unique Disney experiences included with admission.

5. DISCOVERY ISLAND

PHOTO OPS
The Tree of Life is a magnificent park icon, intricately carved with hundreds of animals on its trunk. Utilize Disney PhotoPass photographers to capture photos from various stunning angles around the tree.

Also located in this area is Adventurers Outpost, where you can meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse dressed in their finest safari outfits for photos.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse posing together in their safari explorer costumes for a meet-and-greet photo opportunity.

MUST-DO
It’s Tough To Be a Bug!: A humorous 3D film based on Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life,” located inside the roots of the Tree of Life. While waiting in the queue, check out the funny, insect-themed movie posters parodying real films.

The wooden entrance sign for the It's Tough to Be a Bug! attraction, featuring a green leaf logo.

IF YOU HAVE TIME
Discovery Island Trails: More walking paths offering closer views of the Tree of Life and various smaller animal habitats.
Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight: A brief presentation featuring free-flying macaws near the Tree of Life. Occurs several times daily, so you might catch it while passing through.

PHOTO OPS
Fans of Pixar’s “Up!” will be delighted by Kevin, the colorful bird who roams Discovery Island intermittently throughout the day for unique character interactions. It’s one of the most fun and unusual character encounters.

Another distinctly unique “character” is DiVine, a performer costumed as a living vine on stilts, blending seamlessly with the foliage. She appears in various park areas (often seen near the entrance). Whether she’s cool or slightly unsettling is up to you!

6. PANDORA – THE WORLD OF AVATAR

Though no longer brand new, this remains the park’s most popular land, and for good reason. Even if you’re not an Avatar fan, Pandora has become an essential part of the Animal Kingdom experience.

MUST-DO
Avatar Flight of Passage: A breathtaking 3D simulator that lets you soar on the back of a Banshee through the world of Pandora. Many consider this the best attraction in Animal Kingdom and one of the best in all of Walt Disney World, hence its consistently long lines. However, if you’re prone to motion sickness from simulators, approach with caution.

IF YOU HAVE TIME
Na’vi River Journey: A gentle boat ride through a bioluminescent Pandoran rainforest, culminating in an encounter with the Na’vi Shaman of Songs. Disney’s attention to detail in creating this environment is remarkable. While visually stunning, it’s fundamentally a slow boat ride. Worth experiencing if time permits, especially for Avatar fans.

PHOTO OPS
Disney meticulously crafted Pandora, making you feel transported to another world. Capture photos of the incredible scenery, especially the floating mountains. Pay attention to the details differentiating it from the rest of the park. The land transforms dramatically at night with bioluminescent lighting effects, offering a completely different experience worth seeing.

The floating mountains and bioluminescent plants of Pandora – The World of Avatar illuminated at night.

FOOD TIP
Animal Kingdom boasts several good, relatively inexpensive dining options, and Satu’li Canteen is one of them. They offer customizable bowls (e.g., beef, chicken, or shrimp with various bases and sauces) and unique steamed “pods” (bao buns). Even unusual items like the Cheeseburger Pods are surprisingly tasty. You can use Mobile Order via the app or order at the counter.

A customizable bowl meal from Satu'li Canteen with grilled beef, rice, and colorful vegetable slaw.

Another popular snack in Pandora is the Pongu Lumpia, a fried spring roll filled with cream cheese and pineapple. It’s available at Pongu Pongu, a drink and snack kiosk near the entrances to Flight of Passage and Satu’li Canteen. Opinions vary, but it’s worth trying if you’re curious.

7. RAFIKI’S PLANET WATCH

Located near Africa but accessed via the Wildlife Express Train, this area is placed last in the itinerary because, while interesting, it’s considered the lowest priority for a typical park day. Here you’ll find Conservation Station, featuring veterinary labs (viewable through windows), exhibits, an animation drawing class, and more. To get there, board the train near Kilimanjaro Safaris for a short ride backstage. Return via the same train. Visit if you have ample time and interest.

IF YOU HAVE TIME
Affection Section: A petting zoo area where guests can interact with goats, sheep, and other domesticated animals. Great for kids!
The Animation Experience at Conservation Station: A class teaching guests how to draw Disney characters, often inspired by the park’s animals.

8. END OF DAY

MUST-DO
Tree of Life Awakenings: A beautiful show of lights and projections onto the Tree of Life. It typically occurs only during months when it gets dark earlier (roughly November to March), starting around dusk and running continuously until the park closes. It’s incredibly detailed and worth stopping to watch for a few cycles.

Pandora at Night: As mentioned earlier, the bioluminescent effects make visiting Pandora after dark a must-do. It’s a distinct experience from the daytime visit and yields stunning photos. You might also find shorter wait times for the attractions later in the evening.

Hope you have an amazing day exploring everything there is to do in Animal Kingdom!