This information to Animal Kingdom sights accommodates opinions and rankings for each journey and present at Walt Disney World’s zoological themed park, together with Pandora – World of Avatar. This additionally provides some technique and recommendation so you recognize what’s a must-do and what you may safely skip! (Up to date March 17, 2025.)
Earlier than we get going, a phrase of warning: main adjustments are underway at Animal Kingdom with much more on the horizon for the following few years. It will embrace Zootopia: Higher Collectively debuting within the Tree of Life theater as a substitute for It’s Robust to Be a Bug, which is now completely closed. Additionally extinct is the Dino-Rama space of Dinoland USA, which is being changed by Tropical Americas and its Encanto Magical Madrigal Casita darkish journey. The remainder of this land and DINOSAUR will shut in early 2026 to make manner for Indiana Jones Journey.
Between now and when these new sights and the Tropical Americas space debuts, we’re additionally anticipating added leisure–most certainly headlined by a drone present. For an concept as to when these everlasting closures and brand-new sights will debut, see Development & Openings Timelines for New Lands, Rides & Additions at Disney World. You can even discover momentary closures in our 2025 Walt Disney World Refurbishment Calendar.
Within the right here and now, this Animal Kingdom journey information covers every thing from standard thrill rides to smaller sights, plus exhibits and animal reveals. Regardless of Animal Kingdom’s “half day park” status, there’s loads to do. Be warned that this checklist of Animal Kingdom sights is misleading: it seems brief, however many of those exhibits and trails take quite a lot of time to finish. Should you go at a sluggish tempo or cease for desk service meals, you’ll have a full day within the park.
The “half day park” status comes from those that don’t give Animal Kingdom’s trails and reveals their due. In equity, it took me a very long time to find the great thing about Animal Kingdom, however I admitted to being flawed about Animal Kingdom. Whereas its nighttime spectacular has been retired, Animal Kingdom now options extra nighttime choices and the bioluminescence of Pandora, which suggests it’s now a full day park for nearly everybody.
Animal Kingdom ranks proper up there with World Showcase as a great place to simply chill out and spend a while. The park has an amazing sense of place to it, and the thematic execution is prime notch, save for some criticism that it has an excessive amount of actual world “grit” and never the identical sense of caprice you would possibly discover from different Disney parks.
However, Animal Kingdom is a really an distinctive “ambiance park” with a ton of atmospheric leisure, performers, and conservation reveals that aren’t even lined right here as a result of they’re not technically sights. Briefly, there’s loads to do at Animal Kingdom past what’s on the park map. Which is sweet, as a result of among the standard rides can have lengthy strains, particularly these in Pandora – World of Avatar.
This information to Animal Kingdom assumes that you’ve a full day to spend within the park–and in every of the opposite Walt Disney World theme parks. You could have kind of time relying on what number of day tickets you buy and whether or not you add on the Park Hopper choice (learn our Walt Disney World Ticket Information to find out which tickets are finest for you).
If you wish to learn our different Walt Disney World park guides, you’ll find these right here:
You probably have kids, you must also seek the advice of our full checklist of sights with peak necessities at Walt Disney World. Numerical scores are on a scale of 1 to 10, and solely take into accounts total high quality relative to that particular sort of attraction. In our rankings, we solely think about how properly completed the attraction is, total and inside its class, when skilled by its goal demographic.
Prime Disney’s Animal Kingdom Points of interest
Avatar Flight of Passage (10/10) – Walt Disney World’s latest E-Ticket thrill journey, that is like Soarin’ on steroids. Riders climb aboard the again of a banshee and hyperlink to an avatar flying by Pandora for a simulator expertise that’s way more ‘energetic’ than any previous attraction of its nature. You possibly can really feel your banshee breathe, the wind and spray of the ocean in your face, and scent loads of scents alongside the way in which.
Despite the fact that Avatar Flight of Passage is a screen-based attraction, you’re absolutely immersed within the expertise, and might absolutely droop disbelief and embrace the motion. No prior data or being a fan of Avatar is important right here. It will make you wish to step deeper into the world of Pandora.
Na’vi River Journey (8/10) – The opposite attraction in Pandora – World of Avatar is just not almost as wow-inducing, neither is it thrilling. As a substitute, friends board a slow-moving boat journey for a brief boat journey by a bioluminescent atmosphere, encountering natural world alongside the way in which. Though visually attention-grabbing, an excessive amount of of the surroundings is static, making all of it really feel a bit underwhelming.
The finale options probably the most breathtaking Audio Animatronics determine Imagineering has ever created, making the attraction value it, however you continue to get the sensation this attraction might’ve been a lot extra. Should you wait over 45 minutes for this (and also you most likely will), there’s a good likelihood you’ll depart upset.
Kilimanjaro Safaris (10/10) – Animal Kingdom’s flagship safari journey by “pure” environments exposing friends to a wide selection of animals. This attraction used to have a little bit of a storyline, nevertheless it was broadly seen as lazy pretext. Now it doesn’t have any actual storyline and it’s seen as missing ‘substance.’ It simply can’t win. Whatever the story or lack thereof, Kilimanjaro Safaris is an incredible attraction, exposing friends to a large number of animals in what seems to be their pure environments.
The journey might be bumpy, nevertheless it provides a component of authenticity. Drivers are normally fairly educated concerning the animals, so positively ask questions that you might have. Animals are most energetic very first thing within the morning or very last thing within the night. This works properly, as these are additionally the perfect occasions to expertise the attraction to keep away from waits.
Gorilla Falls Exploration Path (7.5/10) – Previously Pangani Forest, it is a wildlife strolling path, with (you guessed it) gorillas because the spotlight. There are additionally hippos underwater and being near them and the gorillas is fairly superior. House this and Maharajah Jungle Trek out throughout your day, so that you don’t get “trailed out.”
Maharajah Jungle Trek (9/10) – Stroll-through animal exhibit with birds, bats, and tigers. Its scenes convey you up shut to numerous animals, all whereas traversing by an elaborately themed Asian atmosphere.
As of Spring 2025, you may catch a glimpse of Bakso, the cute Sumatran tiger cub, and his mother, Sohni. Watch in awe as mom and cub playfully pounce and prowl collectively of their lush habitat full of cascading waterfalls, timber, hills and logs. Maharajah Jungle Trek supplies ample alternatives for the large cats to habits naturally–speaking, resting, hiding, and exploring. Above all else, the duo likes to play, and their habits is heartwarming and acquainted to any father or mother.
The animal encounters are nice, as are the Solid Members right here sharing details about them, however the environments are the opposite huge star of the present. At one level it appears as if you happen to’re going by the ruins of a distant temple that has existed for 1000’s of years, and particulars abound in all places.
All of this makes it really feel such as you’re experiencing the precise environments the place these animals stay, reasonably than simply observing them of their pens. It actually feels such as you’re an energetic participant in some kind of exploration. That is the perfect animal ‘exhibit’ we’ve ever skilled wherever.
Expedition Everest (10/10) – Everest-themed curler coaster that goes backwards and encounters a yeti. Everest is Disney’s most bold curler coaster when it comes to theming and element. Many results on Expedition Everest now don’t work; probably the most notable of those results is the massive Audio Animatronics “Disco” Yeti.
Regardless of this, Expedition Everest continues to be an impressively enjoyable coaster, with among the best queue strains at Walt Disney World. Expedition Everest has a minimal peak requirement of 44″. Whereas Expedition Everest has a Lightning Lane, the wait time by the Single Rider line is often lower than 10 minutes, making {that a} good (free) various. Everest can also be higher at evening!
Kali River Rapids (7/10) – Whitewater raft journey spinning freely down a river by rainforest, ruins, and deforested areas with message of conservation. Kali River Rapids has a reasonably setting, however there isn’t sufficient substance to the scenes. You’ll get moist on Kali River Rapids, and there’s a reasonably good likelihood you’ll get completely soaked–it’s all random.
There are free (2-hour) lockers close by, and we strongly advocate utilizing them for a change of garments (or put on a poncho on the journey). The queue is arguably extra attention-grabbing than the attraction itself, and is sort of beautiful. Kali River Rapids has a 38″ peak requirement.
Discovering Nemo: The Large Blue…and Past! (9/10) – That is the reimagined Discovering Nemo: The Musical, with the largest adjustments being additions from Discovering Dory, and a tighter present or shorter runtime. Human performers are paired with creatively-made puppets in a condensed retelling of Discovering Nemo. The massive draw right here is how the entertainers manipulate the puppets. Are the people the main focus or the puppets they’re controlling? (Each are, we expect.)
Discovering Nemo: The Large Blue…and Past is an attention-grabbing idea, and the presentation and music are wonderful. We’re not large followers of the story merely being a condensed model of the movie, however this present brings sufficient novelty to the desk that it simply works. The tip result’s that Discovering Nemo: The Large Blue…and Past is among the best-done and most original stage exhibits at Walt Disney World. Whereas we most well-liked the longer model, mother and father with young children would possibly discover the marginally shorter present simpler to get by.
Pageant of the Lion King (9/10) – Acrobats, singers, and different performers in tribal apparel and vibrant costumes, plus floats with Lion King characters and different creatures enact scenes impressed by the Lion King in a really full of life theatrical present. There’s quite a lot of stuff happening, in what principally quantities to quite a lot of audio-visual stimulation.
Pageant of the Lion King simply flat out works, and its virtually summary nature permits the viewers to simply sit again and benefit from the wow-inducing performers. That is proper up there with Discovering Nemo: The Large Blue…and Past as among the best stage exhibits at Walt Disney World. Our recommendation is to “tempo your self” and put far between the 2–do strolling trails in between after which use the indoor, air-conditioned escape as a pleasant change-of-pace.
Feathered Associates in Flight! (7/10) – This replaces “Up! A Nice Chook Journey,” which itself changed “Flights of Surprise.” This present is basically the previous, however rewritten to take away the clunky character injections from Up, which makes it extra just like the latter. Dropping the characters was addition by subtraction; there’s nonetheless tacky humor, however the avian encounters are the main focus. These feathered pals are spectacular and this present appeals to friends of all ages.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch (6.5/10) – Board the Wildlife Categorical Prepare to Rafiki’s Planet Watch to see a petting zoo and quite a lot of reveals regarding animal care. The one place the Wildlife Categorical Prepare goes is Rafiki’s Planet Watch, and every thing (apart from the petting zoo) is in the identical small-ish space. What you will note in these reveals varies based mostly upon what’s happening, which is the place the true variance in high quality exists. The massive draw back to Rafiki’s Planet Watch is the time dedication: you’re about an hour of your day doing this given the commute, and the payoff is low for the time funding.
Dinosaur (8/10) – A high-speed, wild drive in a time rover by darkish present scenes with Audio Animatronics dinosaurs attempting to seize a specific dinosaur earlier than the second of extinction. Dinosaur has a humorous pre-show video and a few memorable scenes and encounters with dinosaurs. It makes use of the identical journey expertise as Indiana Jones Journey in Disneyland and is usually (negatively) in comparison with that attraction because of this. We actually get pleasure from Dinosaur, though there may be admittedly quite a lot of useless, black house and it lacks attention-grabbing scenes. A letdown when it comes to what a dinosaur attraction could possibly be, however nonetheless good. Dinosaur has a minimal peak requirement of 40″.
The Boneyard (7/10) – We’ve quite a lot of complaints about Dinoland USA and the subarea of Dinorama, however the Boneyard is just not a kind of issues. This elaborate play space offers youngsters the possibility to play in a dinosaur dig web site, excavating fossils and taking part in on a ropes course and different interactive areas. The paleontology angle makes it reasonably academic, which scores it factors, too. The one draw back is that the warmth might be brutal and there’s minimal shade, however what number of dig-sites are closely forested?!
Tree of Life Awakenings (7.5/10) – The Awakenings that happen all through the evening are actually magic moments which can be the perfect aspect of Animal Kingdom at evening proper now. You possibly can’t plan for these and so they’re not large-scale, however they’re properly completed and transferring.
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Your Ideas
Which Disney’s Animal Kingdom sights are your favorites? Which of them do you usually skip? Do you agree or disagree with our rankings? Should you haven’t visited Walt Disney World but, which Animal Kingdom sights are you most enthusiastic about? Listening to from you is half the enjoyable, so please share your questions and ideas within the feedback!
