When we deliberate our first household journey to Walt Disney World a few years in the past, I used to be wanting ahead to our first go to to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I’d been informed that it was undoubtedly not a zoo, however I wasn’t positive what to anticipate. If you haven’t been to Animal Kingdom, or haven’t visited shortly, you could not know what enjoyable you might be in for. This park manages to mix animal experiences with a number of the finest rides within the parks. Here’s our information to Disney’s Animal Kingdom rides.
Disclosure: I’m a former member of the Disney Parks Moms Panel and have been on some complimentary press journeys at Walt Disney World, however all opinions are my very own. This publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks. A purchase order/click on via one among these hyperlinks (together with on the map)could lead to a fee paid to us at no further value to you.
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A Guide to the Best Animal Kingdom Rides
Like the opposite parks at Walt Disney World, Animal Kingdom has a number of totally different themed lands. These embody Africa, Asia, Dinoland USA, Pandora – the World of Avatar, Discovery Island, and Rafiki’s Planet Watch.
Pandora – the World of Avatar is the most recent of the lands and is my favourite. It’s a very immersive expertise that’s extremely detailed, and it has two of the very best Animal Kingdom rides.
Because Pandora opened most just lately, it’s nonetheless extraordinarily fashionable. Go very first thing or later within the day for the bottom crowd ranges and shorter wait instances. It’s a very totally different land at midnight, so you could need to stroll via it twice to see it throughout the day and night time.
It’s finest to obtain the My Disney Experience app to your smartphone so you may handle your day and see park maps if you are on the go. You can even handle the Disney Genie or Genie+ (if in case you have it).
Africa Rides
Kilimanjaro Safaris: One of the very best rides for the entire household (together with young children), Kilimanjaro Safaris is a particular must-do in your Disney household trip. We’ve been on it numerous instances and all the time must experience it once we are in Animal Kingdom.
During this experience, you’ll board a safari automobile and journey into the Harambe Wildlife Reserve savanna to see actual stay animals. It’s all the time a special expertise so that you’ll need to experience it throughout each go to. It’s finest to experience when it’s not the most well liked exterior, so early within the day is nice. This experience does provide a Genie+ lightning lane.
Asia
Expedition Everest: One of my favourite thrill rides on the Disney theme parks, Expedition Everest is a curler coaster that travels backward. It’s a lot enjoyable, and I undoubtedly advocate driving it when you’ve obtained children that meet the peak requirement. There’s additionally a single-rider line that may make the wait a little bit shorter in addition to a Genie+ lightning lane.
If you may, strive driving at night time when it’s much more thrilling. Before my children have been sufficiently old to experience it, my husband and I’d take turns driving it via the single-rider line, as a result of it was one among our favourite rides and we didn’t need to miss it. Now that our children are teenagers, it’s enjoyable for all 4 of us to experience collectively.
Kali River Rapids – On a scorching day, this water experience may be among the finest methods to chill off. This whitewater rafting experience is thrilling but additionally applicable for most youngsters (the peak requirement is 38 inches). It does provide Genie+.
Just take into account that you’re going to get moist whereas driving it! If you don’t have somebody to carry your belongings for you, take into account bringing some giant ziplock baggage or a moist bag to carry your extra delicate gadgets.
Pandora – the World of Avatar
Avatar Flight of Passage: The hottest experience at Animal Kingdom (if not all of Walt Disney World), Avatar Flight of Passage is a simulator 3D experience the place you get the chance to experience on the again of a banshee. The surroundings is completely breathtaking, and it’s some of the imaginative rides I’ve skilled.
The strains to this are all the time very lengthy. If you might be vulnerable to movement illness, you could really feel a little bit bit dizzy on the experience. I generally do, however briefly shut my eyes and really feel significantly better in a couple of seconds.
Avatar Flight of Passage affords a person lightning lane, so that you’ll must buy particular person entry if you wish to keep away from the standby line.
Na’vi River Journey: On this darkish experience, you’ll take a ship experience in a bioluminescent rainforest looking for the shaman of track. It’s a good looking experience, however not practically as thrilling as Avatar Flight of Passage. There are often lengthy strains for each of those Pandora sights. This one affords Genie+.
DinoLand USA
This quirky land is paying homage to a kitschy roadside attraction. It’s very totally different from the opposite lands at Animal Kingdom, but it surely additionally has some enjoyable rides.
DINOSAUR: Tucked away off the primary path is DINOSAUR, a mild-ish darkish thrill experience. On this experience, you’ll board a time machine automobile to return in time to view dinosaurs and even deliver one again with you. It’s a singular experience, and my children adore it.
While the automobile is bumpy and the dinos can appear actual, it isn’t as thrilling as the opposite thrill rides on the parks. It affords a Genie+ lightning lane.
TriceraTop Spin: If your children are followers of the Dumbo the Flying Elephant experience on the Magic Kingdom, they’ll undoubtedly need to go on TriceraTop Spin. It’s similar to Dumbo, however as a substitute of flying elephants, you’ll experience on Triceratops. There often isn’t as lengthy a line for this experience as Dumbo.
Discovery Island
It’s Tough to Be a Bug!: This is a 3D movie, quite than a experience, but it surely’s nonetheless a number of enjoyable. Located proper within the Tree of life icon within the middle of the park, It’s Tough to Be a Bug is a movie based mostly on the Pixar movie, A Bug’s Life. It’s darkish within the theater and generally is a bit scary for actually little ones. But in any other case, it’s one thing children will take pleasure in. It’s Tough To Be a Bug affords Genie+.
Other sights at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
In addition to the rides talked about above, Animal Kingdom can be dwelling to animal encounters and reveals that you simply’ll undoubtedly need to expertise. Here are a number of the hottest:
Festival of the Lion King: Based on the Lion King, this stage present is a big spectacle that’s completely price seeing. It runs for a few half-hour and options music, shiny costumes, puppets, and extra. Genie+ is obtainable.
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond: Like the Festival of the Lion King, this present options fashionable characters – this time from Finding Nemo. It consists of music, puppets, and extra. It runs for about 40 minutes and Genie+ is obtainable.
Wildlife Express Train: Take the Wildlife Express Train to go to the Conversation Station and get an insider have a look at the veterinary facility in addition to some animal reveals.
There’s additionally the Maharajah Jungle Trek, Feathered Friends in Flight!, and the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, in addition to many alternative animal trails and encounters. You’ll additionally discover many alternative Disney characters on the park – examine the My Disney Experience app for particular characters, areas, and instances.
Frequently Asked Questions concerning the Animal Kingdom Rides
In my opinion, it’s Avatar Flight of Passage, which is definitely my favourite experience in any respect of Walt Disney World. It’s in contrast to anything I’ve been on and is really a singular and enjoyable expertise.
Thrill experience lovers may even need to try Expedition Everest. It goes backward so rapidly that some folks really assume they’ve gone the wrong way up.
While there are undoubtedly top restrictions for a number of the rides, there are additionally issues that may attraction to little ones. These embody the reveals. They are brief, so they’re nice for youthful children to observe.
Before Pandora – the World of Avatar opened, Animal Kingdom was typically considered a half-day park. In truth, it often closed fairly early within the night. Now, nonetheless, I really feel that the park is extra of a full-day expertise. You in all probability gained’t want greater than sooner or later, nonetheless.
If you need to go to Animal Kingdom, you’ll want a park ticket and a park reservation. There are a great deal of totally different Walt Disney World park ticket choices which you can find out about. Get Away Today affords discounted park tickets which you can buy upfront when you want tickets. If you propose to go to a couple of park within the day, you’ll want the park hopper possibility in your tickets.
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