The fourth Disney park in Florida, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, opened in 1998. Whereas many initially thought it could be a glorified zoo with sights, Animal Kingdom is a lot greater than that. It gives sights, exhibits, eating places, and a lot extra, in Disney World’s largest theme park.
Like different Walt Disney World parks, Animal Kingdom is separated into a number of lands, together with Africa, Asia, Pandora – the World of Avatar, Discovery Island, Dinoland U.S.A, the Oasis, and Rafiki’s Planet Watch.
Previously, many considered the park as extra of a half-day theme park. Nonetheless, with the opening of Pandora a number of years in the past, you’ll be able to spend a full day at Animal Kingdom.
Whereas there aren’t a number of Animal Kingdom curler coaster rides, there are a number of distinctive thrill rides you’ll wish to journey. A few of my favourite Walt Disney World rides at positioned proper in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s a good suggestion to have a plan earlier than you arrive to optimize your time.
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Thrilling Rides at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, together with different Disney theme parks in america, now makes use of the Disney Lightning Lane system for maximizing your day. If you happen to’d like to scale back your wait time in strains, you’ll have to pay for the Lightning Lane Multi-Cross.
After getting it loaded onto the app, you’ll be able to ebook return occasions (one after the other) for the completely different sights that use it. When it’s your flip to journey, you’ll be able to undergo the Disney Lightning Lane, which ought to be a a lot shorter line.
Not all Lightning Lanes may be accessed with the multi-pass, nonetheless. For the most well-liked rides, there’s a separate service, Particular person Lightning Lane, that may be bought for these sights individually.
You don’t must buy Lightning Lane Multi-Cross to purchase a person lightning lane, nonetheless. Avatar: Flight of Passage makes use of the Particular person Lightning Lane at Animal Kingdom.
Some rides don’t have any lightning lanes in any respect. For these sights, you’ll simply have to attend within the common standby line.
Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
Expedition Everest is an exciting curler coaster positioned within the Asia part of the park. On this thrill journey, you’ll board the journey car and journey by the Himalayan mountains on the way in which to Mount Everest. However, you’ll have to be careful for the legendary Yeti.
Expedition Everest is a lot enjoyable. Whereas it doesn’t journey the wrong way up, it does go backward, very quick.
Expedition Everest gives a single-rider line and a lightning lane that’s accessible by the Lightning Lane Multi-Cross. Count on to attend in lengthy strains in the event you don’t make the most of considered one of these choices.
It has a peak requirement of 44 inches and is without doubt one of the extra thrilling rides at Walt Disney World. Youthful youngsters won’t wish to journey.
Kali River Rapids
Animal Kingdom appears to be one of many hotter theme parks. Whereas the local weather isn’t completely different, there may be much less shade and it may well get sizzling. One nice method to cool off is to take a journey on the Kali River Rapids journey, positioned within the Asia part of the park.
Board one of many round journey automobiles and you then’ll be despatched down the journey, by wild rapids as you spin. You, alongside together with your belongings, will get moist, so that you’ll have to take some precautions together with your electronics. Lockers can be found, or you’ll be able to depart them with a pal/member of the family who isn’t going to journey.
Some friends select to put on a poncho on this journey (in addition to Splash Mountain within the Magic Kingdom). Nonetheless, I simply favor to put on garments that I don’t thoughts getting moist. They typically dry fairly shortly within the Florida solar.
Kali River Rapids does supply alightning lane. It has a peak requirement of 38 inches and isn’t particularly scary. There’s a small drop, and the journey does spin slightly bit, however each are delicate.
Kilimanjaro Safaris
One of the vital distinctive and greatest rides at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is Kilimanjaro Safaris. This 18-minute journey on an open-air car takes you into the Harambe Wildlife Reserve to see all the varied animals that reside there.
Throughout your safari, you’ll have the chance to see the 34 species within the reserve, together with elephants, giraffes, rhinos, and extra. These are actual animals, of their residing setting.
In consequence, what you see and expertise can fluctuate. On considered one of our safaris, animals blocked our path for greater than 5 minutes as we simply needed to await them to maneuver on. It’s a lot enjoyable and a good way to expertise and see the animals who name Animal Kingdom their residence.
Kilimanjaro Safaris doesn’t have a peak restriction, and whereas it’s a bit bumpy, it’s a really delicate journey nice for the entire household. It does supply a lightning lane, and the strains can get lengthy through the day. Friends typically favor to journey both very first thing within the morning, or later within the day, when the animals are extra energetic.
Avatar Flight of Passage
Avatar Flight of Passage might be my favourite journey at Walt Disney World (and even Disneyland). It’s a comparatively new attraction that’s positioned within the Pandora part of the park. On this simulator attraction, you’ll board the again of a banshee and sail over Pandora, wanting on the beautiful floating rocks, flora, and different panorama options.
It is a 4D attraction with a movement simulation, and the simulator can have an effect on those that are vulnerable to movement illness. Nonetheless, in my expertise, closing my eyes for a couple of seconds once I really feel a bit dizzy may also help. It’s such a lovely journey, and the expertise is so practical that it’s value doing.
Avatar Flight of Passage is fashionable, and common Lightning Lane Multi-Cross isn’t provided. As a substitute, if you wish to skip the standby line, you’ll have to buy a person lightning lane entrance. These are provided at an extra price, that varies relying on the day. I’d suggest doing this earlier within the day, as a result of they will promote out, particularly throughout peak season.
This journey does have a peak requirement of 44 inches. The journey car can really feel slightly tight as soon as it closes in your legs. There’s a pattern banshee exterior the doorway so you’ll be able to check out the way it feels earlier than you decide to the attraction.
DINOSAUR
Whereas DINOSAUR doesn’t get the eye of different Animal Kingdom rides like Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest, it’s a whole lot of enjoyable and price using. It’s positioned within the Dinoland U.S.A bit of the park however does really feel slightly hidden. It makes use of an analogous journey mechanism because the Indiana Jones journey in Disneyland, with a special storyline.
On this journey, you’ll board a time-traveling car with a hidden mission of returning with an Iguanadon. In fact, nothing goes as deliberate and also you’ll find yourself leaping round avoiding meteors and different obstacles.
DINOSAUR does make the most of the lightning lane. It’s a darkish journey and has a peak restriction of 40 inches. It could be scary for some youngsters.
DINOSAUR shall be closing in 2026 to vary over to an Indiana Jones themed journey.
Different Points of interest
Along with these thrilling rides, there are different sights and rides at Disney’s Animal Kingdom that you could be take pleasure in. These embody the next:
- Triceratop Spin – positioned in Dinoland U.S.A, this journey is similar to Dumbo the Flying Elephant on the Magic Kingdom. Younger kids adore it.
- Na’vi River Journey – positioned in Pandora, the World of Avatar. On this boat journey, you’ll journey by a bioluminescent rainforest looking for the Shaman of Tune.
- Competition of the Lion King – a stage present spectacular that includes the story of the Lion King with stay performers
- It’s Powerful to Be A Bug – a 3D film positioned within the Tree of Life within the heart of the park on Discovery Island. This attraction is closing in March 2025 and shall be changed with a Zootopia-themed attraction.
- The Affection Part petting zoo – positioned within the Rafiki Planet Watch space of Animal Kingdom, that is the one petting zoo at Walt Disney World
