When we planned our first family trip to Walt Disney World many years ago, I was looking forward to our first visit to Disney's Animal Kingdom. I'd been told that it was definitely not a zoo, but I wasn't sure what to expect.
If you haven't been to Animal Kingdom, or haven't visited in a while, you may not know what fun you're in for. This park combines animal experiences with some of the best rides. Here's our guide to Disney's Animal Kingdom rides.
Disclosure: I am a former member of the Disney Parks Moms Panel and have been on some complimentary press trips at Walt Disney World, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. A purchase/click through one of these links (including on the map)may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.
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Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers a mix of thrill rides, family attractions, safari experiences, and immersive themed lands. The most popular rides include Avatar Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Na’vi River Journey.
A Guide to the Best Animal Kingdom Rides
Like the other parks at Walt Disney World, Animal Kingdom has several different themed lands. These include Africa, Asia, Dinoland USA, Pandora - the World of Avatar, Discovery Island, and Rafiki's Planet Watch.
Pandora—the World of Avatar is the newest of the lands and my favorite. It's a completely immersive, incredibly detailed experience, and it has two of the best Animal Kingdom rides.
Because Pandora opened most recently, it's still extremely popular. Go first thing or later in the day for the lowest crowd levels and shorter wait times. It's a completely different land in the dark, so you may want to walk through it twice to see it during the day and night.
It's best to download the My Disney Experience app to your smartphone to manage your day and see park maps while on the go. You can also manage your Lightning Lane Multi-Pass if you purchase this optional upgrade.
Africa Rides
Kilimanjaro Safaris: One of the best rides for the whole family (including small children), Kilimanjaro Safaris is a definite must-do on your Disney family vacation. We've been on it many times and always need to ride it in Animal Kingdom.
During this ride, you'll board a safari vehicle and travel into the Harambe Wildlife Reserve savanna to see real live animals. It's always a different experience so you'll want to ride it during every visit.
It's best to ride when it's not the hottest outside, so early in the day is great. This ride does offer a Lightning Lane.
Asia
Expedition Everest: One of my favorite thrill rides at the Disney theme parks, Expedition Everest is a backward-facing roller coaster. It's so much fun, and I recommend riding it if you've got kids who meet the height requirement. There's also a single-rider line that can shorten the wait, and a Lightning Lane.
If you can, try riding at night when it's even more thrilling. Before my kids were old enough to ride it, my husband and I would take turns riding it through the single-rider line, because it was one of our favorite rides and we didn't want to miss it. Now that our kids are teens, it's fun for all four of us to ride together.
Kali River Rapids - This water ride can be one of the best ways to cool off on a hot day. This whitewater rafting ride is exciting but also appropriate for most kids (the height requirement is 38 inches). It does offer a lightning lane.
Just keep in mind that you will get wet while riding it! If you don't have someone to hold your belongings, consider bringing large ziplock bags or a wet bag to protect your more delicate items.
Pandora - the World of Avatar
Avatar Flight of Passage: The most popular ride at Animal Kingdom (if not all of Walt Disney World), Avatar Flight of Passage is a simulator 3D ride where you ride on the back of a banshee. The scenery is breathtaking, and it's one of the most imaginative rides I've experienced.
The lines to this are always very long. If you are prone to motion sickness, you may feel slightly dizzy on the ride. I sometimes do, but briefly close my eyes and feel much better in a few seconds.
Avatar Flight of Passage offers an individual lightning lane, so you'll have to purchase an individual entry to avoid the standby line.
Na'vi River Journey: On this dark ride, you'll take a boat ride in a bioluminescent rainforest in search of the shaman of song. It's a beautiful ride, but not nearly as thrilling as Avatar Flight of Passage. There are usually long lines for both of these Pandora attractions. This one offers a lightning lane.
Other attractions at Disney's Animal Kingdom
In addition to the rides mentioned above, Animal Kingdom is also home to animal encounters and shows that you'll want to experience. Here are some of the most popular:
Festival of the Lion King: Based on The Lion King, this stage show is a huge spectacle that is absolutely worth seeing. It runs for about half an hour and features music, bright costumes, puppets, and more.
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond: Like the Festival of the Lion King, this show features popular characters - this time from Finding Nemo. It includes music, puppets, and more. It runs for about 40 minutes.
Wildlife Express Train: Take the Wildlife Express Train to visit the Conservation Station and get an insider's look at the veterinary facility and some animal exhibits. This ride is currently closed and will be changing over to a new Bluey adventure.
Zootopia: Better Zoogether!: This brand-new 4D movie is located in the Tree of Life theater.
There are also the Maharajah Jungle Trek, Feathered Friends in Flight!, the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, and many other animal trails and encounters. You'll also find many other Disney characters at the park - check the My Disney Experience app for specific characters, locations, and times.
More Resources: Want to know more about Disney World rides? Click here to read all of our posts about Disney rides and attractions.
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