Monkeying around Animal Kingdom is a wild good time. This park is filled with incredible animals, tasty treats, and thrilling rides. So whether you spend your time trekking through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve or sketching your favorite characters at the Conservation Station, you’re sure to have a fun-filled day.
To ensure you get the most out of your trip, we’ve created a locals guide to doing Animal Kingdom right. From the must-try foods to the best rides, you won’t miss a thing with this guide handy.
Being one of the first things you see when you enter Disney’s Animal Kingdom park, it’s only right that you kick off your day snapping some photos in front of the Tree of Life.
This 145 feet tall tree has over 300 animals carved into it. After taking some Instagram photos, try to spot out the different animals. Then, hop in line for It’s Tough To Be A Bug, which is actually inside the tree itself.
Hop into a Time Rover to travel back in time on DINOSAUR. As you’re winding through the prehistoric forests, you never know what kind of dinosaurs you’ll run into on your Timehop. But don’t get distracted by the prehistoric sites, your main goal is to rescue the Iguanodon species before a meteor strikes.
Hours
Monday | 8AM—8PM
Tuesday | 8AM—8PM
Wednesday | 8AM—8PM
Thursday | 8AM—8PM
Friday | 8AM—8PM
Saturday | 8AM—8PM
Sunday | 8AM—8PM
Sivako means “Rise to the Challenge,” and we’re challenging you to hop on the back of a Banshee (no big deal). Fortunately, you don’t have to spend hours traveling all the way to Pandora. Instead, on the Flight of Passage, you get the unique opportunity to link to a real-life Avatar, taking a 3D flight over Pandora.
Hours
Monday | 8AM—8PM
Tuesday | 8AM—8PM
Wednesday | 8AM—8PM
Thursday | 8AM—8PM
Friday | 8AM—8PM
Saturday | 8AM—8PM
Sunday | 8AM—8PM
Take a journey into the Forbidden Mountain on Expedition Everest, where you just might come face to face with the Yeti. If you’re a lover of rollercoasters, this thrilling (and chilling) ride forward and backward is perfect for you.
Hours
Monday | 8AM—8PM
Tuesday | 8AM—8PM
Wednesday | 8AM—8PM
Thursday | 8AM—8PM
Friday | 8AM—8PM
Saturday | 8AM—8PM
Sunday | 8AM—8PM
Giraffes, elephants, and lions, oh my! Jump aboard the Kilimanjaro Safari and get ready to say Jambo to some incredible animals. While exploring the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, you never know what animals you‘ll see, so keep your eyes open and your cameras ready.
Hours
Monday | 8:15AM—6:15PM
Tuesday | 8:15AM—6:15PM
Wednesday | 8:15AM—6:15PM
Thursday | 8:15AM—6:15PM
Friday | 8:15AM—6:15PM
Saturday | 8:15AM—6:15PM
Sunday | 8:15AM—6PM
Bring some of your favorite Disney characters to life in The Animation Experience at Conservation Station. An experienced Disney animator will give you step-by-step instructions on how to illustrate a character that you’ll get to take home as a souvenir. The best part in this Florida heat? It’s all in air conditioning.
Keep in mind that to visit the Conservation Station, you have to take the Wildlife Express Train, with the last train running until 4:30 pm.
Hours
Monday | 9:30AM—5PM
Tuesday | 9:30AM—5PM
Wednesday | 9:30AM—5PM
Thursday | 9:30AM—5PM
Friday | 9:30AM—5PM
Saturday | 9:30AM—5PM
Sunday | 9:30AM—5PM
Live entertainment is officially back, which means you get to experience the thrills and chills of the Festival of the Lion King on your next trip to Animal Kingdom. This 40-minute show, hosted by Timon, is filled with all of your favorite Lion King songs so you can sing and dance along.
Showtimes
Monday | 10:30AM, 11:30AM, 12:30PM, 2PM, 3PM, 4PM
Tuesday | 10:30AM, 11:30AM, 12:30PM, 2PM, 3PM, 4PM
Wednesday | 10:30AM, 11:30AM, 12:30PM, 2PM, 3PM, 4PM
Thursday | 10:30AM, 11:30AM, 12:30PM, 2PM, 3PM, 4PM
Friday | 10:30AM, 11:30AM, 12:30PM, 2PM, 3PM, 4PM
Saturday | 10:30AM, 11:30AM, 12:30PM, 2PM, 3PM, 4PM
Sunday | 10:30AM, 11:30AM, 12:30PM, 2PM, 3PM, 4PM
Before entering DinoLand U.S.A., take a pitstop at Trilo-Bites. This quick-service restaurant is home to Animal Kingdom’s most popular snack: the Buffalo Chicken Chips. It’s the best way to fuel up before traveling back in time on DINOSAUR.
Showtimes
Monday | 10:30AM—8PM
Tuesday | 10:30AM—8PM
Wednesday | 10:30AM—8PM
Thursday | 10:30AM—8PM
Friday | 10:30AM—8PM
Saturday | 10:30AM—8PM
Sunday | 10:30AM—8PM
And the award for the prettiest drink on Disney World property goes to…the Night Blossom from Pongu Pongu. This quick-service drink stand inside Pandora is serving up one of Animal Kingdom’s must-try non-alcoholic drinks, the Night Blossom. Layers of apple, Desert Pear limeade, and passion fruit boba balls—how could you pass that up?
Hours
Monday | 8AM—8PM
Tuesday | 8AM—8PM
Wednesday | 8AM—8PM
Thursday | 8AM—8PM
Friday | 8AM—8PM
Saturday | 8AM—8PM
Sunday | 8AM—8PM
You might know the Yak & Yeti restaurant in Animal Kingdom, but did you know about their quick-service window? This hidden gem is filled with delicious snacks and a reasonable price, a double win. We recommend getting the side of fried rice, which is actually the size of a whole meal!
Hours
Monday | 9AM—7PM
Tuesday | 9AM—7PM
Wednesday | 9AM—7PM
Thursday | 9AM—7PM
Friday | 9AM—7PM
Saturday | 9AM—7PM
Sunday | 9AM—6PM
Connected to the fine dining restaurant Tiffins, you’ll find a private bar that’s the perfect pit spot. At Nomad Lounge, you can grab drinks and snacks like their famous churros. This spot is a hidden gem in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where you can usually always find a reservation or a spot at the bar.
Hours
Monday | 11AM—7PM
Tuesday | 11AM—7PM
Wednesday | 11AM—7PM
Thursday | 11AM—7PM
Friday | 11AM—7PM
Saturday | 11AM—7PM
Sunday | 11AM—7PM
Animal Kingdom is filled with yummy treats, incredible animals, and thrilling rides. If we missed any of your Animal Kingdom musts, let us know by following us on Instagram @StuffToDoInOrlando and tagging us in your must-try things.
Kailey is an Arizona native, currently living her best life in Orlando, Florida. She’s passionate about hunting down and sharing all things her beautiful city has to offer—making the hidden Florida gems accessible to everyone! You can find her exploring Orlando with a camera in hand, typing away in a local coffee shop, or jetting off to her favorite travel destinations ✈️