Top 5 Reasons to Spend a Whole Day at Animal Kingdom

Rebecca Jones10.25.18Not too long ago, I would have told you that Animal Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World was a half-day park. Well, as of summer 2017, that is no longer true! Below, you will find my Top 5 reasons that you should plan to spend an entire day at Animal Kingdom.5 Kilimanjaro Safaris – This oldie but goodie still brings fascination and excitement to every guest. The drive-through adventure brings you up close and personal to several species of wild animals in an open-air vehicle, driven by extremely knowledgeable guides. They will do their very best to point out even the shyest Saddle-Billed Stork or Wildebeest. And since every member of your family can ride, it’s a great option for everyone.4 Live Shows – At the heart of everything Disney is the story. At Animal Kingdom, you have the opportunity to view familiar stories in a whole new way. In “Festival of the Lion King,” you’ll be entertained by four members of a tribe that lives near Simba’s land. Simba himself, as well as Timon, Pumba, and a giraffe, also make appearances and divide the audience into teams, of sorts. You’ll see gymnasts, acrobats, fire-dancing, and hear some amazing singers during this show. “Finding Nemo – The Musical” retells the classic Pixar tale of a young fish stolen from his father, who then travels the ocean to find him. The creative use of puppets and songs written expressly for this show, make this one of my absolute favorite things to see in all of Disney World.3 The FOOD – Animal Kingdom is home to several unique dining establishments, including several carts offering such distinct flavors as baked mac and cheese with pulled park (Eight Spoon Café) to Tikka Marsala Chicken (Harambe Market). Tusker House is my favorite table-service location. It is a buffet in the Africa section of the park, complete with characters, and is one of the only meals you can definitely meet Donald Duck at! For quick-service, I enjoy the Flame Tree BBQ. Their ribs, chicken and pulled pork sampler is a great meal to use your dining plan credits on! Finally, I really enjoyed the time I spent at the Nomad Lounge, a new addition next to Tiffin’s, near the entrance to Pandora. The relaxed atmosphere and small bite plates make this a great location to cool off and rest up in the middle of the day.2  Rivers of Light – For many years, Animal Kingdom closed by 7:00pm each day, making it an easy park to spend a half day in. Now, they have added a night show, complete with floats, special effects, fire, and water displays. Rivers of Light is shown nightly, in a new amphitheater near Expedition Everest. You will experience a story of animals, light, and water coming together in harmony with the world. There are Fastpasses available for a reserved seating area, or you can secure a special dining reservation that will include reserved seating. Otherwise, arrive at least 30 minutes early, and if you miss out on the seats, there is a standing-room only area, as well.1 Pandora – The World of AVATAR – By far, the best reason to visit Animal Kingdom now is the new Pandora area. To the left as you enter the park, this land is an architectural marvel that astounds the senses. I truly can’t convey to you the details that are in this area of the park. There are flowers that don’t exist anywhere else, “floating” islands, just beauty all around you. When you get closer to the Satuli Canteen, you’ll see signs of the humans’ existence in this area, but most of it is purely Na’Vi. There are two rides – Na’Vi River Journey and Flight of Passage, both of which offer Fastpasses. The Na’Vi River Journey is a short boat ride through an amazing world, complete with floating lights and the most advance audio-animatronic creature I’ve seen Disney produce. Flight of Passage is a marvel. The queue line takes you through the lab, where you’ll see an actual Avatar suspended in liquid, and then you yourself are turned into an Avatar while you wait to board. You’ll put on your 3-D goggles, straddle a ride vehicle (that actually “breathes” like a real-life Banshee), then your world will open up to a screen that makes you feel like you are actually flying. I won’t give too much away, but needless, don’t miss it.And there you have it, my 5 favorite things about Animal Kingdom. I definitely recommend spending a full day here, and if you have questions I didn’t answer here, feel free to reach out at Rebecca@WishesFamilyTravel.com.