Best Attractions at Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

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Disney’s Animal Kingdom is one of four theme parks that comprise Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, USA. Dedicated and themed around natural environment and animal conservation, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the largest theme park in the world, covering 580 acres.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is incredibly unique in how it combines traditional theme park attractions with hundreds of species of live animals. Special designs and provisions were incorporated throughout the park to protect the animals’ welfare.

The park is located on the western edge of the resort and is isolated from the other theme parks and properties to minimize external disruptions to the animals.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, indicating they have met or exceeded the standards in education, conservation, and research

The park is divided into seven themed areas; Africa, Asia, DinoLand U.S.A., Discovery Island, Oasis, Pandora – The World of Avatar, and Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

Discovery River acts to separate Discovery Island from the other Animal Kingdom lands. You’ll frequently see Disney characters sailing down the river on rafts, so keep yours eyes peeled.

The Best Animal Kingdom Attractions

1. Pandora – The World of Avatar

The incredible Pandora – The World of Avatar is a completely immersive land inside Animal Kingdom. It opened in 2017 and the detail in the world is just breathtaking. The land and rides are set a generation after the events of the Avatar films, based upon the fictional habitable exomoon, Pandora, and features Pandora’s floating mountains, alien wildlife, and bioluminescent plants.

Spanning 12 acres (4.9 ha), Pandora – The World of Avatar includes two major attractions, Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey, as well as retail and dining outlets.

Avatar: Flight of Passage

Avatar Flight of Passage is a 3D flying simulator attraction and one of Disney’s newest attractions. One of the most popular choices for Lightning Lane reservations, you can “rope drop” the attraction at park opening to avoid paying extra for the ride.

The attraction allows guests to take flight on a native mountain Banshee and soar across the landscape of Pandora. Avatar Flight of Passage is a bit of a cross between Soarin’ and Star Tours and is one of Disney’s most technologically advanced attractions.

Guests hop aboard the back of a mountain Banshee (the contraption looks kind of like a motorcycle) in preparation to soar across Pandora’s landscape, where humans and Na’vi seek to restore the banshee population back to natural levels. Each guest is part of the avatar program, and is linked with an avatar to fly on an Ikran (or “Banshee”) in this Na’vi tribal rite-of-passage. The ride is also an immersive experience in the world of Avatar, including an “induction” program where guests are “linked” to their avatar. It’s a must for any fans of the Avatar films.

The ride has attracted a lot of attention for its incredible flying effects. While “flying” guests can turn their heads in almost all directions to look around the Pandora landscape. It can cause motion sickness if you are prone, however it’s so exceptionally well done that a bit of queasiness is well worth it. One of the absolute best attractions at Animal Kingdom.

Category: Thrill Ride
Height Requirement: 44″ or taller
Good for: Kids, Tweens, Teens, Adults
Disney Genie+/Lightning Lane Pass: Individual Lightning Lane purchase

Na’vi River Journey

Na’vi River Journey is a dark ride on a slow moving boat that takes guests through the Kasvapan River of Pandora from the 2009 film Avatar. It’s a stunning experience watching native animals and bioluminescent flora, with inclusion of complex Audio-Animatronics that are so life-like that we actually weren’t sure if the character was real or not.

Category: Slow boat ride
Height Requirement: any
Good for: any
Disney Genie+/Lightning Lane Pass: Disney Genie+

2. Expedition Everest

Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain is one of Disney’s best roller coasters. Located in the Asia section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, at the base of “Mount Everest” in a “Tibetan village”, the ride is themed around the Yeti protecting the Forbidden Mountain next to Mount Everest.

The ride involves steep climbs descents, including a truly terrifying section where the train hurtles backwards. The scenery at the top of the 200ft mountain is spectacular.

Category: Thrill Ride, Big Drops, Dark
Height Requirement: 44″ or taller
Good for: Kids, Tweens, Teens, Adults
Disney Genie+/Lightning Lane Pass: Included in Genie+

3. Kilimanjaro Safaris

What is a visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom without visiting any animals? The Kilimanjaro Safaris is an 18-minute ride in an open-air vehicle though the 110-acre Harambe Wildlife Reserve. The driver / guide points out any of the 34 species of animals that reside here (if they can be spotted!), while also sharing interesting wildlife info.

The animals roam fairly freely throughout the reserve, so there is no guarantee of which animal/s you might spot and which might have decided to hide on that day.

You may encounter giraffes, hippopotamuses, lions elephants, rhinos, cheetahs, okapi, zebras, gazelles, and crocodiles. We had an unseasonably cold day when we visited and didn’t see many of the animals at all, but that’s the nature of wildlife!

Category: Slow Ride, Small Drops
Height Requirement: Any
Good for: All
Disney Genie+/Lightning Lane Pass: Included in Genie+

4. Festival of the Lion King

The Festival of the Lion King is a 30-minute live stage show, featuring an explosion of music, acrobatics, animatronic characters, singers, dancers and stilt-walkers, set to live music from Disney’s The Lion King.

Category: Live Stage Show
Height Requirement: Any
Good for: All
Times: 10 AM – 6 PM; shows on the hour
Disney Genie+/Lightning Lane Pass: Included in Genie+

5. Tree of Life

Technically a landmark not an attraction, the Tree of Life is a 145-foot artificial baobab tree and is Animal Kingdom’s most iconic feature. The shapes of over 300 animals are carved into the tree. We highly enjoyed walking around the base of the tree and seeing the carvings up close.

Extra information about Animal Kingdom

Kids will love the self-guided Wilderness Explorers program, where where kids can complete activities and collect more than 25 badges in Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Collect your book at one of these locations.

We loved dining at Rainforest Cafe® at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. There are two entrances to this restaurant – one inside and one outside the park, so you don’t need to be a guest to dine here. There are loads of quick-service and sit-down eateries inside the park as well.