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Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA

“Florida’s most stunning theme park”

Space isn’t an issue at Wait Disney World. Unlike the resorts in Anaheim and Tokyo, Walt Disney World is free to use as much land as they need. That’s probably why the world’s largest Disney theme park was built here in Orlando. I’m talking about Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a park that has been part of Walt Disney World since 1998. Combining animal exhibits and amusement rides wasn’t new at that time, though. Busch Gardens Tampa, for example, had been doing a similar thing for many years and the concept also existed here in Europe. But you know Disney… and you know that Disney usually wants to do things in the most perfect way. In other words: Disney’s Animal Kingdom isn’t just your average zoo with a roller coaster.

ROLLER COASTERS

The Asian section is my favourite part of the park: the theming is top notch and you’ll find one of the most iconic attractions Disney has ever created. I’m talking about Expedition Everest, a spectacular roller coaster that is set within a huge replica of Mount Everest. Although it never really met the expectations I had for a 100 million dollar ride, this sure is one of Disney’s most thrilling experiences. It doesn’t only look stunning, but it’s also extremely fun to ride. And of course, a ride on Everest isn’t complete without saying hi to the one and only Disco Yeti.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom used to offer three roller coasters, but that total has recently been brought back to one. And guess what… this is actually good news. The ugly Dino-Rama section was home to a double spinning coaster called Primeval Whirl, but this was (by far) the cheapest-looking Disney coaster on Earth. What did Disney Imagineers think when they added Primeval Whirl to this stunning theme park? I’m very happy that both coasters were demolished and I hope that Disney will use this space for a high-quality novelty.

DARK RIDES

The only dino-inspired attraction that doesn’t disappoint is Dinosaur, named to the 2000 Disney animated film. This is a so-called EMV dark ride and it’s nearly identical to the incredible Indiana Jones Adventure rides in Anaheim and Tokyo. The Dinosaur story line isn’t that impressive, but this is an excellent ride nonetheless. Dinosaur is very dark and somewhat scary, so it may be a bit frightening for younger visitors.

PANDORA

Dinosaur is a spectacular ride and the wait times are generally low. The park’s other dark ride, however, manages to create triple digit queues. I’m talking about Na’vi River Journey, one of the attractions at Pandora – The World of Avatar. Na’vi River Journey is a beautiful, but pretty short boat ride. And despite the fact that it features one of the most advanced audio-animatronics ever, I wouldn’t wait more than 30 minutes for it. Be sure to visit this ride as early as possible or make a reservation through Genie+ (if you’re willing to pay extra).

Another ride that requires Lightning Lane (or a lot of patience) is Avatar – Flight of Passage, the star attraction of Pandora. The World of Avatar is simply breathtaking: exotic vegetation and soaring mountains create the illusion of entering a totally different world. A ride on Flight of Passage will make your visit to Pandora even more complete, but I should admit that I’m not a huge fan of this extremely popular ride. Despite its impressive visuals, I just expected it to be more than just another 3D simulator. Don’t get me wrong: Flight of Passage is one the best simulator-type rides on Earth, but I’ll always prefer classic dark rides like Indiana Jones Adventure, Mystic Manor and Pirates of the Caribbean over this. 

OTHER EXPERIENCES

Captain Obvious draws your attention to the fact that animals play an important role at this park. These animals can be spotted at Discovery Island (the area surrounding the park’s iconic Tree of Life) or in one of the park’s wildlife trails. The African section is home to the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, but I prefer the gorgeously themed Maharajah Jungle Trek in Asia. However, the most popular wildlife attraction is Kilimanjaro Safaris. On its own, this ride is bigger than many European amusement parks. Don’t believe me? Well, then you should definitely visit this attraction to witness the sheer size of it. For the duration of the ride, Kilimanjaro Safaris makes me forget that I’m visiting a theme park in Central Florida. This looks and feels like being transported to the African savanna. Very impressive.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom isn’t located in Africa, but the heat is often similar. Fortunately, the Asian park section offers a perfect way to cool down. Kali River Rapids is Walt Disney World’s wettest attraction, but it’s more than just a soaking rapid river. As you’d expect from Disney, the level of theming is remarkable. However, due to its short ride time, I still prefer the rapid rivers at Disney California Adventure and Shanghai Disneyland.

ENTERTAINMENT

Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers quite a lot of entertainment. There’s a bird show in Asia, a Lion King-themed performance in Africa (this was a bit of a disappointment and I definitely prefer the version at Hong Kong Disneyland) and Theater in the Wild features a unique Finding Nemo Musical. However, one major thing that’s currently missing from the park is a nighttime spectacular. Disney’s Animal Kingdom was once home to Rivers of Light, an intimate performance on the Asian lagoon. The show wasn’t spectacular at all, but it was better than nothing. Since Rivers of Light’s last performance in 2020, the outdoor theater has been empty. And although I perfectly understand that you can’t exchange it for a fireworks show due to all the animals in the park, I’m hoping that Animal Kingdom will receive a new nighttime show in the near future. Maybe something with drones?

WORTH A VISIT?

Despite its rather low number of rides, I’d definitely recommend to pay a visit to this park. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is much more than a zoo, that’s for sure. The park is very impressive when it comes to theming and atmosphere. On top of that, Animal Kingdom is home to several cool attractions, shows and wildlife exhibits. However, I still don’t consider it as a full-day destination. Pandora was a big step forward, but I’d really like to see another world-class ride added to Animal Kingdom. Future will tell whether my wish will be granted or not.

What’s your favourite attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Is this the world’s best zoological theme park? And have you been able to see the Yeti in its original operation mode? Share your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of this page.

This article reflects my personal experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom during a visit in April 2024.