This 500-acre park has something for everyone - great attractions, wonderful shopping and animals galore! The centerpiece of the park is the Tree of Life which acts as the cog at the center of the wheel with all the lands branching out from there (just like Magic Kingdom).
Before you enter the security lines at the park there is a Rainforest Café on the left-hand side. They open early so you could plan breakfast and then head to the park. There is a little-known entrance to the park through the gift shop in the restaurant. Usually used by those that have a meal before going to the park, any one can enter through it.
When you first enter the park, you will be in the Oasis area. Here you will find Guest Relations, stroller/wheelchair rental, lockers and restrooms. As you follow the path around the lush greenery housing some animal displays you will come to the bridge onto Discovery Island. From this bridge you can get a great picture of Expedition Everest in the distance. Once on Discovery Island, which direction to take will depend on a couple of things: if you are looking for Avatar Flight of Passage or a much-needed Starbucks you will head to the left; Expedition Everest head to the right. By going right for Expedition Everest, not only is it closer, but most people will go left for the aforementioned Pandora or Starbucks, this can give you a faster wait time (maybe even multiple rides). For more animals, check out the trails that wind around the base of the Tree of Life, just don't accidently end up in the line for A Bug's Life. If you meant to be in line for A Bug's Life just know that it uses 4-D visual and sensory effects.
If heading to the right, the first land you will discover is Dinoland, U.S.A. There is a great play area for the kids that will have them digging for fossils and climbing rope bridges. This area also has several carnival style games that the whole family can enjoy. You will need to pass through Dinoland U.S.A. to reach the Dinosaur attraction (make sure you hold on tight as it’s rather bumpy). With loosening COVID restrictions, you may even catch one of your favorite Disney pals in their dino themed carnival attire.
After leaving Dinoland U.S.A. you will enter Asia which hosts Kali River Rapids and Expedition Everest: The Forbidden Mountain attractions amongst others. For Kali River Rapids I suggest bringing along a rain poncho unless you want to take the chance of getting very wet. The rafts have a storage area in the middle with a flimsy plastic cover but for a more water tight option there are lockers provided across from the entrance. This may be a better option to store the items you really don’t want getting wet – cell phone, camera, purse, etc. This is a great ride and when I have done it, I ended up on the side that hits the water (the ride vehicle will spin in the river currents along your journey so there’s no way to know who will hit the water first). If you choose to wear a poncho, make sure the hood is up before the fall or your back will get very wet!
Next will be Africa hosting attractions such as Kilimanjaro Safari, Festival of the Lion King, and the train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. At Rafiki’s Planet Watch, the family will enjoy a small petting zoo with sheep, goats, llama’s, cows and donkeys. Inside the building you will find some of the exam rooms the vets use, it varies by day but sometimes you can catch the medical staff performing procedures on the animals.
Our family really enjoys taking a safari ride in the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. There are so many different animals to see and the guides in your safari vehicle are very knowledgeable about them all. Keep in mind that the ride is very bumpy and jerky as you are in an actual open air truck on dirt roads. The many animals roam freely on the safari so it is not unusual for the vehicles to stop while they wait for an animal to move off the road. In my experience the animals on the safari are most active first thing in the morning. So far, the only one I haven’t gotten a good look at is the lions as they are usually sleeping (I just think they know when I am there!). I've actually done a whole post about the safari which you can check out here.
As we end our journey around Animal Kingdom, we come to Pandora: The World of Avatar. With it's other worldly looking foliage and flying mountains, Pandora is a site to behold. If you are at the park at night make sure to stop in Pandora to see the bio-luminescent walkways and foliage. The whole area really takes on another feeling at night.
Na’vi River Journey and Avatar Flight of Passage are located in this section. It has been 5 years since Avatar Flight of Passage opened and it is still the busiest attraction in the park. If this is a priority for you and you are unable to get an Individual Lightening Lane pass, you should definitely head here first thing in the morning.
I do want to mention the two animal treks, Maharajah Jungle Trek and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail as there are a lot of animals to see on these two walking paths. These can be a great way to get some energy out for the little ones that have been sitting in a stroller for a while. Maharajah Jungle Trek is located in the Asia section of the park.
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail is located in the Africa section of the park.
As with any Disney World Park there is a lot of walking in Animal Kingdom, however, there is much more shade here than any other park. There are spots throughout the park where you can find a bench in the shade to take a rest (depending on time of day).
If you are planning to park hop from Animal Kingdom to a different Disney World Park you can take a bus from the bus depot at the entrance to the park. If you prefer to travel by taxi there is a taxi stand located in the parking lot by the entrance across from the bus depot.
I will also remind you to hydrate while in the park as it is 2 miles around the park. This does not include the extra walking around the trails or to and from attractions. You can ask any quick service location, including Starbucks, for a free cup of water.
Hopefully some of these tips are useful to you. Our last park themed Quick Tips will be Hollywood Studios.