Animal Kingdom is unlike any other of the WDW parks. It’s almost 5x the size of Magic Kingdom and it definitely feels that way when you trekking from one attraction to the next. It can be tough to navigate, especially for someone like me who struggles with their sense of direction (and I’ve been there dozens of times!).
That being said, some of the best attractions at WDW can be found at Animal Kingdom. It’s worth a visit if you can squeeze it in to your vacation. I’ve pulled together our family’s top 5 must do attractions that we make sure to hit every time…
5. Kilimanjaro Safaris
Hop in a safari jeep as you’re whisked away to the serengeti! This family-friendly ride is so much cooler than seeing animals at the zoo. We were able to ride the safari twice this past August, and both times were unbelievable. We saw SO many animals – they were all out and about, and the giraffes even got close to our jeep! Morning is the better time to ride than the afternoon since the animals are more active, but now Animal Kingdom offers night safaris which we hopefully will be able to do soon!
WDW Park Planners Recommendation: for all ages!
4. Festival of the Lion King
Who doesn’t love the Lion King?! This Broadway-esque stage show is one of the best shows in all of WDW. The talent is always unbelievable but unlike a Broadway show, it’s interactive. Sing along to all of your favorite music from the movie while the kids get to join in a parade with the performers. I hadn’t gone to this one in a few years, but when we went this past summer, it was better than I remembered. It’s a good break from the heat, too, if you’re going in the summer.
WDW Park Planners Recommendation: for all ages!
3. Dinosaur
The ride Dinosaur is one of WDW’s hidden gems and one of the most “quotable” rides. Without being a coaster, it’s still a thrill rides with lots of sharp turns, drops, and startling moments – and it’s in the dark. Dr. Grant Seeker sends you back to the time of the dinosaurs in a time rover. Your task is to rescue an Iguanadon before the meteor strikes and wipes out all dinosaurs. I honestly could ride this one over and over again without getting sick of it, and best of all there’s usually a short wait!
WDW Park Planners Recommendation: for the “big” kids and adults
Height requirement: 40 in. or taller
2. Expedition Everest
If you like roller coasters, you don’t want to miss this awesome ride. As Disney does best, the theming for this ride is one of my favorites. This coaster takes you on a speeding train through the Himalayan mountains – just watch out for the monster of the Forbidden Mountain. There’s nothing better than screaming “THE YETI” at the top of your lungs as you hurl past the lunging Abominable Snowman.
WDW Park Planners Recommendation: for the “big” kids and adults
Height requirement: 44 in. or taller
1. Avatar Flight of Passage
This new thrill ride blew our minds this past August. We’d all seen the movie Avatar (highly recommend watching it before riding this), and the ride truly transports you directly into Pandora. I was lucky enough to ride it several times (see how we did it in the blog post “Ride Review: Flight of Passage”) and am already looking forward to riding it again.
WDW Park Planners Recommendation: for the “big” kids and adults
Height requirement: 44 in. or taller
