Top 10 Things To Do At Disney World’s Animal Kingdom
With over 580 acres of animals, rides, and entertainment: Animal Kingdom is the largest theme park in the world. This park is all about nature and environmental conservation, but there’s plenty of fun mixed in there too. The main sections of the park include DinoLand U.S.A., Pandora, Discovery Island, and lands dedicated to Asia and Africa. Here are the top ten things to do at Animal Kingdom.
1. Expedition Everest
Do you believe in the yeti? Watch lore come to life in Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. This high speed roller coaster zooms through the Himalayas with drops and dives into darkness. You’ll even run into the mythical snow monster himself. This ride is not for the faint of heart, but for the adventurer and thrillseeker in all of us.
2. Avatar: Flight of Passage
Avatar: Flight of Passage is a thrilling simulator that dips and dives through the world of Pandora. Board the back of a banshee and be amazed by the colors, sounds, smells, and feel of this ride. It’s a fairly new ride with amazing technology, so the lines are long but it’s definitely worth the wait.
3. Kilimanjaro Safari
A trip to Animal Kingdom wouldn’t be complete without seeing some amazing animals. Kilimanjaro Safari will transport you through the 110 acre African savanna, home to 34 unique species. You don’t have to worry about animatronics- the lions, elephants, hippos and other animals are all alive and real!
4. Dinosaur
If a scientist asks you to travel back in time with dinosaurs, would you do it? On Dinosaur, your Time Rover goes to the prehistoric period in hopes of catching an Iguanodon and bringing it back to present day. You’ll go through sharp turns and drops avoiding carnivorous dinos and the meteor about to strike. It’s dark, thrilling, and one of the most underrated Disney rides.
5. Tree of Life (At night)
The tree of life is the star of Animal Kingdom, but you haven’t truly seen it shine until sunset. Using projection mapping, the animals on the trunk light up and come to life as soon as it gets dark outside. These aren’t constant shows- but intermittent bursts of activity that leave you awestruck.
6. Gorilla Falls & Maharajah Jungle Trek
Both Africa and Asia have walk-through nature trails featuring iconic zoo animals. The Maharajah Jungle Trek is home to tigers, water buffalo, elk deer and over 50 species of bird. And if you waltz down Gorilla Falls, you might encounter meerkats, zebras, hippos and of course – gorillas. Going through one (or both) of these trails is a must for any animal lover.
7. Pandora (At Night)
Travel to an exotic land of fascinating plants, floating mountains, and giant waterfalls. Pandora, from the movie Avatar, is an insanely beautiful land in Animal Kingdom that truly comes to life at night. As the sun sets, watch mushrooms, flowers, and trees start to glow in the dark.
8. Festival of the Lion King
Sing along with Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa in this Broadway style show based on the classic movie. The Festival of the Lion King is a spectacular showcase of puppetry, song, acrobatics and dance. You’ll hear your favorite hits from Hakuna Matata to Circle of Life performed by professionals.
9. Pandora’s food
If you’re feeling snacky- pass on the pizza and instead grab an exotic drink or meal from Pandora. Satu’li Canteen offers rice bowls with your choice of protein, and has a very vegetarian and gluten friendly menu. And if you’re of age, Pandora has frozen cocktails, indigenous beers, and more beverages from beyond. Pro Tip: Try the cheeseburger pods on the kids menu, they’re delightful.
10. It’s Tough to be a Bug
Put on your “bug eye” glasses and watch this 3D movie hosted by Flik from A Bug’s Life. Located inside the Tree of Life, It’s Tough to be a Bug is a colorful show depicting the lives of several insects including a tarantula, termite, and stink bug. So sit back, relax, and learn why it really is so tough to be a bug.
Animal Kingdom is like a huge zoo with dinosaurs and rollercoasters. It has an amazing environment and culture and is something you have to see at Disney. If we missed your favorite part of this park- let us know! That was the top ten things to do in Animal Kingdom.
Can’t get enough of Disney World? Check out the top 10 things to do in each park!
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