Attraction of the Week: Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Walt Disney World is home to 4 wonderful theme parks: the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Although not the most popular park with tourists, Animal Kingdom is definitely worthy of at least a half day visit in my opinion. It is one of the world’s largest theme parks, with a variety of attractions, shows, and even a 3 hour safari tour (extra fees apply). It’s Disney’s largest park with more than 1700 animals inhabiting 500 acres. It also happens to be the newest addition to WDW, with an opening date in 1998.
While I would not recommend putting this park first on your list if you are limited on time, it is a great add on activity for anyone taking a longer trip or repeat visitors looking to do something besides the Magic Kingdom. Overall, our first WDW experience was great. We visited all 4 parks in a very fun, but tiresome trip and it really wouldn’t’ have been the same experience without visiting each of the iconic parks.
Expedition Everest
Although there are only a few rides here, this park is home to one of my favorite rides in Orlando. Expedition Everest is an exciting, special effects filled roller-coaster ride with an exhilarating final drop. It’s a really exciting coaster and one of my top picks within the theme parks. I won’t give the surprise away but it’s pretty cool. Also half the queue is inside (and it’s really awesome and detailed) so the perfect escape on really hot afternoons.
This ride is definitely only for those who like intense coasters. It’s pretty exhilarating with a lot of unexpected surprises including several sections through complete blackness. For those unable to ride, there are some nice scenic overlooks where you can take your photo.
There is another really cool water ride here which is perfect for hot summer afternoons. Kali River Rapids is an exciting raft ride similar to Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. This exciting ride features a circular shaped raft large enough for 12 passengers. As you twist and turn down the river you will get absolutely soaked, which is great because most days at the park are insanely hot and humid.
I really love this ride and the one at Universal – it’s so much fun with a big group. For anyone who wants to go whitewater rafting but is a little scared (understandable) this is basically a tamer experience. As you can see we were pretty soaked by the end of this ride – a good thing on a super hot and humid day!
Dinosaur is another thrill ride which takes you through an exciting journey through a dark forest in search of a dinosaur. Avatar: Flight of Passage is a 3D ride based on the popular film. All ages rides include TriceraTo Spin, a flying dinosaur ride and the Wildlife Express Train, a scenic train ride which winds through the park.
Kilimanjaro Safari
This unique ride is the highlight of the park and honestly what makes it worth visiting. You will get to take a 20 minute safari ride through the beautifully landscaped Harambe Wildlife Reserve. You will see all different sorts of African animals including: Elephants, Giraffes, and Zebras. The setting mimics the animals’ real life wildlife habitat, hence, giving you less the feeling of being at a zoo and more the opportunity to experience a true safari ride. The animals have plenty of space to roam as they would in the wild.
Enjoy this little photo thread I took of a few of the animals we saw during our tour. Our tour guide provided a lot of info, so it was educational as well as entertaining, not to mention scenic.
The park is pretty big and exhibits are split up into several different sections. In Discovery Island, you can see small animals such as ring tailed lemurs and red kangaroos. Maharajah Jungle Trek takes you to Southeast Asia where you will see tigers, fruit bats, and 50+ species of birds. The Oasis Exhibit is a tropical exhibit featuring anteaters, wallabys, and spoonbills. The Pangani Forest Exploration Trail is one of the best areas in the park with plenty of opportunities for up close views of gorillas and monkeys.
Meet some of the gorgeous inhabitants! Enjoy a few pics I took of tigers, lions, and primates throughout the park.
This gorilla was pretty awesome – he literally just stood there letting guests take his picture like he was posing for the camera. This is one of the most memorable experiences I’ve ever had at a zoo/wildlife habitat.
Live shows & entertainment
Daily Entertainment includes a variety of special shows: Finding Nemo the Musical, Flights of Wonder, and Festival of the Lion King were all taking place during our visit. As with all the Disney parks, there are plenty of opportunities for meeting all your favorite characters: Pocahontas, Donald Duck, and Rafiki from The Lion King to name a few. Unfortunately, we only planned a half day and did not have extra time to take photos.
An expanded safari ride
You also have the option of purchasing admission to a separate 3 hour safari tour. A complimentary photographer takes pictures for you so you can sit back and relax. The tour is quite pricey, however, if you are looking for a more in depth tour it may be worth the splurge.
Dining at the Park
Dining choices within the park include casual choices like The Smiling Crocodile and Creature Comforts Bakery to unique themed restaurants like the Rainforest Cafe, a popular tropical themed restaurant and Tusker House Restaurant, an African themed buffet. I’ve dined at Rainforest in other cities a few times and while the food is just ok, the ambiance is pretty fun.
Why you should visit
The park is beautifully landscaped and well-maintained. Waking around viewing the animals is a peaceful experience, quite different from the hustle and bustle of the other parks. This is a great park to visit after 2 or 3 fun filled, yet exhausting days of all day rides and attractions at Magic Kingdom. Besides the popular Expedition Everest ride, this park tends to get a bit less crowded than the others.
Where to Stay
The best budget option is Windsor Hills Condo Rentals in Kissimmee. You will need to rent a car, however, the rates are extremely affordable (starting at ~100 for a 2/3 bedroom), a full kitchen is included, and plenty of extra amenities are there to enjoy after a long day at the park (pool, spa, and game room). This is the way to go if you have a big party and are looking to cut down on dining and extra room expenses.
If you are looking for more of that Disney experience, you can check out one of the resort hotels like Animal Kingdom Lodge. Rates start around $300 per night and include transportation to the parks. The resort is located on a preserve which is home to more than 30 species, including: giraffes, wildebeest, and zebras.
You will be available to view the animals throughout the large glass windows of the resort, or by sitting on your personal hotel room balcony (select rooms). Staying at this lodge is the perfect addition to your theme park adventure. While quite pricey, the resort is beautiful with lots of attractive amenities. If you want the full experience and don’t mind a splurge, this is probably the way to go in my opinion.
Whether or not you are staying at the resort, I recommend dining at Sanaa. It is my favorite restaurant in Orlando. I absolutely love the veggie curry, Indian bread service app, and the rice pudding (Kheer) for dessert.
Tips for a Great Park Day!
- Bring with plenty of water. A hydration water backpack is perfect for hot summer afternoons.
- Bring with snacks that won’t melt in the sun i.e. chips and trail mix. Park food is pricey.
- Bring with a camera. There are plenty of excellent wildlife photography opportunities, especially on the safari ride.
- Skip Kail River Rapids if you do not want to get wet. On the other hand, if you want to cool down for the day, ride it in the middle of the afternoon. This will cool you down for several hours!
- Visit during the early weeks of September or November for the fewest crowds.
- Plan at least half a day for your visit to give yourself enough time to enjoy all the attractions, shows & animals.
Location & Pricing Information:
Address: The park is located at: 2901 Osceola Pkwy, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.
Parking: It is free for resort guests. If driving from another hotel, prices are $30 or the entire day for all theme parks. The parking lots are enormous, however, there is a complimentary tram to the entrance. Pricing current as of September 2025.
Pricing: Theme park tickets vary based on the number of days you buy and the number of people in your party. A one day ticket starts at $119. The best value is a 3 day, 3 park ticket which is priced at $89 per day. This is the way to go if you will be visiting other parks. Prices are current as of 2025. Check the website for special promotions.
Hours: 9:00am-7:00pm (closing times vary during the winter season).
For a full list of rides, attractions, and shows visit the theme park website.
