The Very Best of Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Attractions, Shows, Food and Fun!

Are you planning your first visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in the near future and want to know all of the must-do attractions, can’t-miss shows, and best food options? If so, we have two words for you…Hakuna Mata. No worries!

Our crew at MouseEars is here to give you all the information you need to make the most of your day in Disney Park Paradise. So grab your safari hat, and don’t forget the bug spray. No. Really. Don’t forget the bug spray. Trust me, you’ll thank us later. It’s safari time, kids!

Your Perfect Day at Animal Kingdom

A trip to any Disney park requires strategy and a solid plan, at least, if you want to make the most of your time there. So, we wanted to provide you with a guide to one of Disney’s less talked about parks, Animal Kingdom.

This park melds together thrill rides with the thrill of nature. We’ll talk about which attractions are can’t-miss, as well as tips on the best places to eat, things to bring along, and shows you’ll want to catch. It’s the ultimate Animal Kingdom itinerary!

“Be Prepared”

As Scar sang in Disney’s classic tale of The Lion King: Be Preparrrred! It’s solid advice, so, before we jump into all of the attractions, food, and fun, let’s spend some time on preparation.

As Walt Disney World veterans know, the difference between an enjoyable experience and a miserable day is all in the preparation. First things first: a few must-haves for your checklist! You NEED bug spray and suntan lotion. Florida may be a hotter climate than you’re used to, and it takes less time to get a nasty burn here than it does in most other states. Bug spray is also a must because the Animal Kingdom park is a lush green oasis with a subtropic and very bug-friendly climate. (Ouch! Get off of me, skeeter!)

Now, for those of you in the Cosmo and GQ crowd, take this helpful tip from us: skip the catwalk heels, dress shoes, sandals, or flip-flops in favor of some Nikes, New Balance, or K-Swiss tennis shoes. Animal Kingdom is the largest theme park in the Disney chain of parks, not just in Orlando, but the world. Visitors here regularly walk over five miles in a single day. Sensibility over fashion is the key here, folks. If you want to make a fashion statement while strolling through Animal Kingdom, we suggest you do it with some cool designer shades instead.

Next thing on the list, and this is an important one: good hydration. Staying hydrated will be one of the most critical parts of your visit. It’s good to know that Disney does allow visitors to bring water bottles and backpacks inside Animal Kingdom.

A good tip is to freeze several plastic water bottles and then let them melt over the course of the day. Start with a good quality thermos filled with fresh ice water when you arrive, and use the melted water from the plastic bottles as refills throughout the day. Unfortunately, cold beverages from the park are expensive, and whether on purpose or not, almost all guests suffering from dehydration have not taken in enough pure H2O during the day.

While refreshing and fun, soda and energy drinks are full of sugar and are less effective when it comes to supplying your body with much-needed hydration. And when it comes to alcohol, it actually contributes to dehydration, working against you in the Florida heat and humidity. Please understand we are not discouraging anyone from enjoying themselves at the parks; after all, you’re on vacation, right? Just make sure you’re playing it smart while you’re here, because we want to see you happy and healthy when you come back to our state next time! Of all the tips and tricks mentioned in this article, this one could save your life.

Now, on to the fun stuff!

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“I Laugh in The Face of Danger” – Bring on the Rides!

In our opinion, there are six rides that every Animal Kingdom visitor must experience. With that said, let’s begin working our way around the park clockwise to experience them all.

First stop: Pandora, The World of Avatar. This is where you’ll find the first two can’t-miss attractions on our bucket list: Avatar Flight of Passage and the Na’vi River Journey. Both attractions, as well as the land itself, are breathtakingly beautiful. Here, you’ll find yourself immersed in an otherworldly landscape of floating mountains, gorgeously colored flora, unique fauna, and mysterious alien creatures.

Walt Disney Imagineering instantly transports you into a real-life vision of James Cameron’s incredible Hollywood creation. Taking the reins of a mountain banshee, you will take flight over the picturesque world of Pandora. Hold on tight for the ride of a lifetime!

Next, take a peaceful river journey through this alien world and come face to face with the Na’vi Shaman. This ride provides a surprisingly authentic-feeling experience that will connect you to all living things in the spirit of conservation.

From Pandora, we’ll head to the heart of Africa and the village of Harambe on the outskirts of the Serengeti plain. Close your eyes and listen quietly to African villagers speaking in a lilting foreign dialect, all the while the roar of a lion echoes in the far-off distance.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it is now time for our chartered tour with Kilimanjaro Safaries. Sit back and experience a real-life safari on a fantastic recreation of the African Savana. Take in the wonder of our natural world with lions, cheetahs, hippos, and giraffes all around you.

From Africa, we head towards Asia, near the foothills of the Himalayas. It’s time to get a little wet! Kali River Rapids is a Disney take on the fan-favorite raft floom ride, but leveled up with a magical dose of Disney imagineering and a great conservation message. Brave the rapids of a great river through the forest; take in the fantastic sights and sounds around you, and try to stay dry.

There’s plenty of opportunities for laughs and screams, but there’s also a weighty message imbedded in the Kali River Rapids experience: the need to protect places like this on our planet, to respect nature, and act in a manner that benefits our natural surroundings and our fellow man.

After exiting Kali River Rapids, head north to Expedition Everest, where you will seek to climb to the roof of the world: the summit of Mount Everest! As you climb, you’ll discover that you’re not alone. Danger is in the air because the mythical Yeti is alive and RIGHT BEHIND YOU!! We know you’ll have a blast on this thrilling coaster, which may just have the best theming of any ride in WDW!

Our final stop is Dinoland USA. This land has fallen on hard times in recent years and is rumored to be on the chopping block soon. However, there’s an old fan favorite that you should experience before it’s gone forever: Dinosaur! You’ll be recruited for a critical mission to travel back in time to the age of the dinosaurs…but things don’t go quite as planned. Incredibly fun, this is a true Disney classic you won’t want to miss.

Now, with all this excitement, I’ve worked up an appetite. Let’s eat, ya’ll!

“The Bear Necessities” – Let’s Eat!

We know what you’re thinking: park food is park food, either good and way over budget or not so good and still overpriced. And while that is true in many other parks, the great news is…not here. Not at all. In fact, Animal Kingdom, without a doubt, has the best food selection and approachable pricing than any other park at WDW. Now, we’re not saying it’s McDonalds or Applebee’s cheap, but you can still eat well without selling your liver to cover the cost of your meal.

Let’s start with a few places we recommend you avoid for various reasons:

• A. There are better options at a more affordable price point
  • Tiffins
  • Rainforest Cafe
• B. Just plain bad theme park food
  • Restaurantosaurous
  • Pizzafari

You might be surprised to see that option A includes Tiffins. Please do not misunderstand. We know Tiffins has an excellent reputation, and many Disney fans love this place. However, Tiffins is the most expensive restaurant in a park that’s full of other great options. (That being said, we’ve got a little MouseEars secret on how to experience a little piece of Tiffins without going bankrupt in the process. We will go over that info a little later!)

As for the Rainforest Cafe, you will be paying a premium price for the experience, not the food. The food itself is not bad, but about the same as you would find at a typical family restaurant in Anytown, USA. There are plenty of better selections with experiences that are just as good, or better, for you to choose from in Animal Kingdom.

The signature Animal Kingdom restaurants are great if you’re celebrating a special occasion, but otherwise, we’d highly recommend one of the follow sit-down meals that taste amazing and come with significant savings.

As we get started on our selections for the best eats in Animal Kingdom, keep in mind that just because we may not cover something doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be a good choice for you on the day of your visit. There are so many options in this park; we are just sharing some of our personal favorites from our own experience. The fact that there are so many good choices in Animal Kingdom speaks to the overall culinary quality of this park. (Watch out, EPCOT, you’ve got competition!)

Now, let’s get started with some good old-fashioned park snacks! Our first suggestion is the baked mac n cheese with pulled pork found at Eight Spoon Cafe. Southern-style baked mac n cheese topped with a fresh vinegary slaw, smoky pulled pork, tangy BBQ sauce, and, of course, that all-important pickle slice. Yum! Heads up, you can get a plain baked mac n cheese here for about two dollars less. Perfect for the picky eaters in your crew and way better than a run-of-the-mill corndog. You can find Eight Spoon Cafe just behind the Tree of Life in the very center of the park.

Looking for something a little unique? You’ve got to try Bao Buns (cheeseburger pods) at Satu’li Canteen in Pandora. It’s Asian spiced ground meat inside a Bao dumpling, but it tastes strangely similar to an American hamburger. While it is generally served as a meal, it’s usually available as a snake as well. It’s well worth stopping in, even if you choose not to dine here, just for the experience and atmosphere alone.

For a delicious plant-based selection, we recommend the roasted mushroom and leek pizza with impossible meatballs at Terra Treats, located in the Asia section of Animal Kingdom near the crossover bridge to Africa.

If you’re looking to satisfy that sweet tooth, head over to Dino-o-Bites in Dinoland for a gourmet ice cream cookie sandwich. Whether you keep it simple with homemade chocolate chip cookies and vanilla ice cream or go for something more daring, like a seasonal St. Valentine strawberry shortcake cookie with cherries jubilee ice cream, you’ll be sure to leave with a smile on your face!

Moving on to quick service, we recommend Flame Tree BBQ. Remember the pulled pork mac n cheese? Good news, happy campers, it comes as a complete meal with two sides at Flame Tree! There’s also a great combo platter with several smoked meats and tasty traditional sides – and it’s at a reasonable price point for theme park food.

If you’re looking for character dining, head over to Tusker House in Africa. This is an African-inspired buffet that is still approachable for picky eaters. While Mom and Dad try out the African spiced beef and vegetable chutney, the kids will be just fine with mini-corndogs, mac n cheese, burgers, and fries. All while Mickey, Mini, Goofy, and friends come by to say hello. We here at Mouse feel that this is one of the best Character Dining experiences for the money you can find in all of Walt Disney World.

For sit-down options, we have two recommendations. Yak and Yeti and The Nomad Lounge. Remember when we said that you could experience Tiffins without the sticker shock? Here’s how! Nomad Lounge is connected to Tiffins and serves many of the same dishes on a more limited menu. Some serving sizes may be a little smaller depending on what you order, however, all of the food from Nomads comes directly from the Tiffins Kitchen. Our pick? Go for the short rib!

Bonus perk: Nomad features covered dockside outdoor seating along the canal, so in our opinion, it provides a more tranquil environment for your meal. If you’re lucky, you may see one of the character boats pass by and catch a wave from Mickey or Pluto. How’s that for a little something extra with your meal?

Finally, Yak and Yeti has both quick service and sit-down options. The connected quick service area serves good food, but there is limited shade and seating, so often, the heat can be an issue here. Inside the restaurant, you’ll find a Napal-themed atmosphere with nods to the legend of the mythical yeti. Some of our favorite dishes here include the Pork Pot Stickers, Ahi Tuna Nachos, and Lo Mein Chicken. We recommend finishing your meal with a slice of Mango Key Lime pie and a smile!

“Everything The Light Touches is Our Kingdom” – On With The Show!

Who needs New York’s Broadway or the Las Vegas Strip? If you’re looking for world-class entertainment, look no further than the Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! It’s a marquee show you won’t want to miss, with lifesize puppets featuring all of your favorite characters like Simba, Tamun, and Pumba. Whether you are seven, seventeen, or seventy, your heart will soar with all of the music and dancing from the classic movie.

“Now I’m The King of the Swingers, Whoa, The Jungle V.I.P.” – One Last Trek

One last experience you should embark on is the Maharajah Jungle Trek, located in Asia.

This is more of an experience than actual attraction, and sadly, it’s all too often overlooked. Throughout this short loop, you will encounter lost temples, ancient ruins, and bat houses. See the wildlife of the Indian subcontinent up close and encounter the real-life wildlife that inspired the classic Jungle Book story, like orangutans, sloth bears, boa constrictors, and, of course, the King of the Jungle himself, “Sheakan,” the Bengal tiger.

The theming along this path is Disney at its world-class best. The Maharajah Trek is one of two treks found in the park. Time permitting, you can also visit the Gorilla Falls Expedition Trek over in the Africa section, where you will meet the African lowland gorilla up close. Both are amazing, but if you only have time for one, we prefer the Maharajah.

Final Thoughts

Animal Kingdom is an amazing jewel in the Disney parks crown. We know you and your loved ones will delight in the time you spend here, and we hope the information we’ve provided helps to enhance your visit.

Do you or any of your loved ones have any special memories of Animal Kingdom? Did you find this article helpful? Please comment below, we would love to hear from you!

Until next time, Hakuna Mata!

Featured Photo: Canva.com