Animal Kingdom Tips
I like Disney's Animal Kingdom. Love it, even. I don't know if that puts me in the minority, but it definitely gets reactions when I say it. Some people don't like it and are very vocal about that fact. I don't get what they don't like, though, so whatever. It has wild animals, a couple of fantastic rides, and lots of places to sit down and just hang out. What's not to like?
It's a fairly small park and can easily be covered in six hours or so. It also closes earlier than the other parks. Thus, I like to pair a day at Animal Kingdom with an evening at Downtown Disney. It's a perfect match.
Some tips:
AK Tip #1: There are some great opportunities for meeting characters all over Animal Kingdom. Since it's a smaller park, it's often not as busy as the others, so lines aren't as bad. Check just outside the gates in the morning, and also try Camp Minnie Mickey. The name is not a coincidence. While you're there, catch the Lion King show.
AK Tip #2: There aren't a lot of rides at Animal Kingdom, but Expedition Everest is pretty fantastic for those who like roller coasters. Get a Fast Pass for it and/or take advantage of the single rider line.
AK Tip #3: Another thing worth a Fast Pass, in my opinion, is the Kilamanjaro Safari. I personally could ride it all day long because each time you go, you wind up seeing different animals. One year that meant a giraffe literally inches from us. Other years, the truck has had to stop to let various animals cross the road. Rumor has it the animals are most active in the morning, especially when the weather is hot.
AK Tip #4: DinoLand is great for little ones. The giant jungle gym (Boneyard) is perfect for burning off some energy. Alexis also loves the little roller coaster and Tricera Top Spin (it's Dumbo minus the elephant and long lines) rides that are there. She is not, however, a fan of DINOSAUR. I think her exact words were something like, "I HATE YOU THAT WAS AWFUL I'M NEVER SPEAKING TO YOU AGAIN WAAAAAAH!" It was dark. It had dinosaurs roaring in her face. She's a chicken.
AK Tip #5: Kali River Rapids is fun, if you enjoy walking around looking like a drowned rat at Disney World. I've heard rumors that it's possible to stay dry on it, but I have yet to experience said magic. It's a good way to cool off, I guess. Just know that you will get SOAKED.
AK Tip #6: The Wildlife Express Train is a good way to just chill for a bit. As a reward, you'll find Affection Section at the other side of your ride, which is Disney's petting zoo. Alexis has spent hours and hours there just hanging with the pigs.
AK Tip #7: When Alexis was three-years old, we took her to see the 3D Bug's Life movie called It's Tough to be a Bug. She hasn't forgiven us yet. She just wasn't ready for 3D then and the buzzing and 4D elements were too much for her. We made her try it again this year and she almost liked it, but the Master of Grudges is still a little cranky about that first time. Regardless, the air conditioning in that theater is spectacular.
AK Tip #8: The parade that runs through Animal Kingdom is a short one, but it's cute. All the usual characters are there, plus a few you may not see anywhere else.
AK Tip #9: There is an almost hidden path near the Tree of Life which is great for photo opportunities. It's the last path on your right as you near Harambe Village, just before the bridge. It almost seems overgrown and off-limits, but it's not. Promise.
AK Tip #10: The Finding Nemo show is outstanding. I might be biased because that's where a little magic happened last year, but whatever. It's a great show.
AK Tip #11: Apparently the earth's rotation and tilt are such that Animal Kingdom is closer to the sun than any other part of Disney World. Seriously, people, it's hotter there than anywhere else. If you can take your own water with you (better yet, fill bottles with water and freeze them), do it. Most of the stores are not air conditioned, but there is a ton of shade to be found if you need to cool off.
AK Tip #12: I think Animal Kingdom has more little details than the other parks. Find them and marvel at them and enjoy them.
And this is where you chime in. Thoughts? Disagreements? Additions?
Monday, April 4, 2011
Reader Comments (13)
Yay Animal Kingdom!
It's my second favorite park behind Epcot! It's so close to becoming a full day park, it just needs one more E ticket attraction and a few C attractions. But in the mean time it's great to go first thing and use it as a half day park to share with either Disney Hollywood Studios or a half day at Epcot.
It also contains some great QSR is you like ribs at Flame Tree BBQ by the bridge to Dino Land USA and Tusker House, which is buffet style, but well worth it for the different types of food they have, this is also where the early morning breakfast is held with Safari Donald.
If you like birds the Flights of Wonder show is pretty good.
Animal Kingdom is actually the largest of the Florida parks, MK can fit into it easily.
If you like the safari, they stared offering a 3 hour walking/riding tour. It's $189 I believe and you get to walk around the safari on a guided tour and hike over wooden bridges and get to "clip-in" and lean over the cliff above the hippos and alligators. There is lunch provided at a look out near the flamingo pool. Then you are taken in a private safari vehicle and taken on the safari path pulling up to some of the animals without having to follow all the other safari trucks.
There is also a walking trail near Kali River Rapids that takes you thru Tiger enclosures, birds and other wild life. There is also a walking trail when you get off the safari where you can see gorilla's, meerkats, hippos and some fish.
Here's a tip for when it's hot and this applies to all parks. Water is free, cups that is, at all QSR or anywhere that sells fountain drinks, and I'm not talking tiny cups, so do serve those, but most will give a large glass of ice water for nothing.
Isn't the Pocahantas show in Animal Kingdom? As with all things Pocahantas & Disney, not their best work. And don't procrastinate the safari, it closed earlier than the rest of the park when we were there.
We love,love, love Animal Kingdom!
We loved Animal Kingdom - it was a slower paced day on a week of crazy fun.
I'm going to have to disagree on the hottest park point. I think Hollywood Studios is actually sitting on the surface of the sun, but that's probably due to almost NO shade in that park and lots of asphalt. Aside from that - I love AK too! We've gotten stuck on the safari a couple of times (once for an hour, as we had to wait for an animal to move out of the way) and that led to a melt-down (from my 2 year old, not me), so now I know to bring snacks. Or the iPhone for games.
I haven't found anywhere great to eat there - have you?
@Robyn--No, I haven't found food that I'd call "great" there. I prefer fast service just because it's less expensive, and everything there seems to be fine, but not great. We usually do pizza.
The kids love this park. The adults mostly tolerate it, although I think it has some of the best photo opportunities. The Safari ride is easily our favorite (although last time we had to disembark the vehicles using the emergency ladder with no explanation - when I asked if we would ever know what had happened they told me flat out, "NO".)
Bug's Life is fantastic for grown-ups and possibly kids older than 8 or 9 but we haven't taken ours yet (we're not quite as evil...). I can remember a whole lot of kids screaming and having to exit at various 4D moments, so we are waiting it out.
As far as food goes, we really liked Yak and Yeti's (I think?). It was much more palatable than most of the fast places (although we almost always eat at Pizzafari).
If you can manage to catch DiVine, you should. She's pretty cool.
And don't pass up the little kid stations that they sometimes have set up around the park with animal, bugs, etc. The CMs are happy to teach the kids about the animals they are displaying. Plus they get a booklet and get stamped for each one.
Conservation Station has a hard to find character meet - Jiminy Cricket.
Spot on as usual, except for the hottest park. Hands down Hollywood Studios is the hottest park. Like @Robyn said, there is NO shade and all that asphalt.
Animal Kingdom is probably the only park we actually go to for the morning extra magic hours. First, the animals are much more active in the morning (particularly in the hot months) so getting there early will allow you to see more animals. Second, since it's a smaller park and less crowded, you can do a lot relatively quickly during the morning extra magic hours. Two years ago those in our group who weren't pregnant, were able to ride Expedition Everest 4 times in less than 45 minutes.
the tree behind alexis looks like a baobab from my favorite book, the little prince. you finally found something that makes me want to go to disney!
Will be the first to admit that AK isn't our favorite park, but I keep wanting to give it a try. I think what you said about the heat is so true, and I don't know if it's possible or maybe because there aren't as many air conditioned locations or what. It is freaking hot, and yes, we're going in June. Better than that year we went in August though. ;)
I'm hoping to convince someone to try the train this year, we'll see. The safari ride is awesome, and I do not believe that it is possible to come out of the rapids dry - unless maybe if you are wearing a hermetically sealed suit or something, but what fun would that be?
I think we will be at AK on two different days this trip, a first, so maybe, just maybe I'll get to take that train ride. Thanks again for the great tips!
I love Animal Kingdom!! I can't really pick a "favorite" park, because they're all special to me in their own way, but I can say that I do love AK oh so much!!
First of all... Theming. Goodness gracious, I love the theming there so much. (Asia in particular, but everywhere is amazing - they spent SO much time making sure everything was as authentic as possible...) The architecture, the music, I love it all.
Second... The Tree of Life. I could look at that thing for hours and still be amazed. So much detail!
Third... Kilimanjaro Safaris is AMAZING. One of my two favorite things in the park by far.
Fourth... Expedition: Everest is my other favorite thing in the park. It's awesome on so many levels!! Last time, my friends and I rode that beast 4 times in a row. ;)
Also, me personally, I quite liked Dinosaur. A bit jolty (and resulted in drama in the sense that my friend lost her phone on the ride so we had to stick around in the park until after it closed so they could search the track for it...they found it, thank God), and a wee bit freaky the first time you ride, but good fun overall. I also ADORED the Nemo musical. So cute! Hated It's Tough to be a Bug, though. And I do mean HATE... My fear of bugs apparently extends to 4-D Disney recreations. Bleurgh. (Loved A Bug's Life...but this was just too creepy-crawly for me, thanks)
Gotta agree with the others though, I always find Hollywood Studios to be hotter.
The single rider line for Everest is the best thing about the Animal Kingdom. I went to the Bug's Life thing one time, I will never go back. Dino land great fir kid entertainment. The heat there kills me every time - I think they pump in extra humidity.
Definitely a good half day park. Leaves time for an extra half day at MGM (as I will always call it).