Animal Kingdom
Park Guide, Tips & Strategy
Animal Kingdom is our favorite park at Disney World, yet it often gets skipped when folks have a shorter trip. Don't miss out on this stunningly beautiful and surprisingly relaxing park on your next trip. There are big thrills and state-of-the-art attractions, but there are also quiet hideaways and magical animal encounters. Best of all, since a lot of folks sleep on this one, you can often find shorter wait times and fewer crowds.
Key Details
Attractions that Require a Virtual Queue
None currently
Rides that are NOT Included in Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Avatar Flight of Passage*
*Offers Lightning Lane Single Pass
General Tips
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Animal Kingdom typically closes a lot earlier than the other parks so be sure to plan accordingly
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Seeing the world of Pandora lit up at night is one of the most spectacular sights in all of Disney World. If the park is closing before dark, try getting in line at Flight of Passage right before close. With any luck, the line will be long and you'll come out to a bioluminescent wonderland.
Latest Animal Kingdom Videos
Early Entry Strategy
At Animal Kingdom, early entry is REALLY early!
Guests staying at qualifying Disney World resort hotels can enter the parks 30 minutes before everyone else. At Animal Kingdom, that usually means entering at 7:30 AM - now THAT's an early morning. For this reason, early entry is not usually quite as competitive as the other parks, but we still recommend arriving at least 20 minutes before early entry begins to get a head start on your first line of the day.
Most Popular Early Entry Attractions
Animal Kingdom Early Entry Tips
1. Avatar Flight of Passage
EVERYONE is headed to this one
2. Navi River Journey
Start here if you're running late for early entry
3. Expedition Everest
When you want NO wait (and to ride multiple times)
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Disney buses will typically start running about 1 hour before early entry, though they can sometimes arrive at the resorts a bit later than that for Animal Kingdom because the park opens so much earlier than the others. Of course, it's also possible they'll arrive even earlier. We usually aim to be at the bus stop an hour and fifteen minutes before Early Entry at this park.
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If you are arriving late (but still in the early entry period), consider starting with Na'vi River Journey instead of Flight of Passage
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Note that Kilimanjaro Safaris and Kali River Rapids are not typically offered during early entry
Rope Drop Strategy
No early entry? Do "rope drop" instead!
Rope drop is Disney-speak for arriving before the park opens so you are on the front lines when the "drop the rope" and let everyone enter the park. At Animal Kingdom, they will often corral everyone who doesn't have early entry up in the Oasis at the front of the park and they'll often give folks a little head start, so be sure to get there at least 20 minutes before the official opening time.
Our Recommended Rope Drop Attractions
Everyone from early entry will be filling up the lines in Pandora, but Kilimanjaro Safaris isn't open during early entry so you can get first dibs on that ride. Also, folks tend to ignore Dinoland USA and Asia in the morning, so those rides are pretty empty.
1. Kilimanjaro Safaris
Morning is a great time to see lots of animals
Animal Kingdom Rope Drop Tips
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Note that Kali River Rapids is typically not open until later in the day, so don't try to jump in line for that one yet.
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If you start in Dinoland USA and work your way back through Asia, you'll feel like you have the whole park to yourself.
2. Expedition Everest
You might need to ride this twice. Or more. Who's counting?
3. Dinosaur
They'll be so happy to see you because it is EMPTY over there in the morning
Lightning Lane Strategy
Multi Pass is a steal of a deal at Animal Kingdom
One of the newest changes when the Genie switched to Multi Pass is that you pay the price for your first park of the day, but then you can use it in all four if you are park hopping. Since Animal Kingdom is often substantially cheaper than the others, it can be a great value even though there aren't many attractions in this park that you need to use the service for.
Most Popular Lightning Lanes
1. Na'vi River Journey
Far and away the most popular - pre-book it if you can
2. Kali River Rapids
If it's a hot day. If not, skip to Safaris
3. Kilimanjaro Safaris
This becomes very easy to book later in the day, but can be competitive in the morning
Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Tips
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If you're park hopping, be sure to book something right as the park opens so that you can tap in and start booking at your second park. In many cases, you'll be able to book Tier 1 attractions in that park before those guests can even ride their first attraction since Animal Kingdom often opens much earlier.
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Don't forget that you can use Lightning Lane to secure a good seat at Festival of the Lion King. It's one of the few shows that it is helpful to use a Lightning Lane for