Our 1-day Animal Kingdom itinerary main points step by step technique for minimizing wait instances & averting crowds on the theme park’s most well liked rides & presentations, together with Avatar Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and extra. This Walt Disney International traveling plan covers sights, eating places, zoo shows, and extra. (Up to date January 28, 2025.)
We talk over with Animal Kingdom continuously “for the sake of analysis” (and to look at our otter homies striking out of their grotto), tracking wait instances, checking out quite a lot of approaches, and fine-tuning our technique as crowds have greater and reduced right through that point. That is the revised Animal Kingdom itinerary for 2025 that we’ve devised consequently, with updates for the closure of Dino-Rama, in addition to converting crowd ranges and running hours.
We’ve additionally made seasonal tweaks and accounted for adjustments in reputation and wait instances because of Lightning Lane Multi-Cross (LLMP) and Unmarried Cross (LLSP). Then again, this itinerary assumes you are going to no longer be purchasing the ones line-skipping products and services–it as a substitute works round them. When you do plan on spending the additional, seek the advice of our Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Multi-Cross Experience Ranks.
This publish continues our collection of Walt Disney International Park Itineraries & Traveling Plans designed to reply to the continuously requested query, “what would you do if you happen to best had sooner or later in ____ Disney park?” Animal Kingdom is a fascinating mixture of zoological choices and standard theme park sights requiring a balanced manner that juggles the park’s quite a lot of varieties of sights.
It’s conceivable to enjoy what we name “animal fatigue” on this park, which is precisely what it seems like–becoming bored within the surplus of animal shows and strolling trails. To struggle this, we advise scattering those right through your day, doing a wholesome mixture of rides and walkthroughs.
Pandora – International of Avatar is helping higher accomplish that stability, and most of the people will need spend extra time in the remainder of Animal Kingdom on account of that land. Because of this, you can spend a complete day in Animal Kingdom if you happen to tempo your self to steer clear of the aforementioned animal fatigue.
However, Animal Kingdom is the perfect park to perform in a partial day; you’ll be able to both arrive early or keep past due at Animal Kingdom and do all of the park with relative ease. See our Animal Kingdom Afternoon Arrival Technique. The similar normal ideas observe when arriving right through Early Access–you necessarily simply opposite the order of sights.
As long as you’ll be able to do main sights out of doors of the window between 10 am and three pm, Animal Kingdom is beautiful simple on customary days at Walt Disney International. It’s gotten to the purpose that I don’t in point of fact see enough price in purchasing Lightning Lane Multi-Cross for Animal Kingdom in any respect, even on days you’re Park Hopping to or from any other park.
That is much less about Animal Kingdom no longer having sufficient to fill a complete day and extra concerning the aforementioned animal fatigue and deficient pacing. The result is identical; there’s a mass exodus round 3 pm and the park is moderately quiet right through the closing two hours of the day.
We’ve wired this in different fresh making plans assets, however figured it used to be price reiterating as there’s an enormous distinction between early/past due wait instances and the ones right through the center of the day. If you wish to know which manner is these days perfect for each and every park, see our fresh Very best Time-Saving Methods at Walt Disney International. That main points the most efficient and worst techniques to avoid wasting time in traces, and is in point of fact helpful if you happen to’re crushed and don’t wish to learn a dozen others!
Now, on with the 1-day Animal Kingdom itinerary…
Zig When They Zag (Perhaps) — When you’re doing Early Access, you must completely get started in Pandora: International of Avatar. Although you’re no longer at Animal Kingdom for the Early Access prolonged a.m. hours, believe beginning with the Avatar rides if reliable park opening time is 8 a.m. and also you’re there for that. It’s nonetheless early sufficient that you’ll be able to beat the crowds and longest wait instances for Avatar Flight of Passage.
Then again, if you happen to’re rolling up after 8 am on a hectic day, head somewhere else. Over 90% of visitors (actually) will make a beeline for Pandora within the morning, ensuing within the longest traces and wait instances of the day at Avatar Flight of Passage within the morning hours. At that time, you’re no longer going to overcome the Pandora crowds, so zig when others zag.
Animal Kingdom’s different headliners all must be near-walk ons for the primary hour (if no longer 90 mins) of the day—you don’t even must arrive at rope drop for anything else rather then Avatar. Drowsing in and appearing up Half-hour past due is ok for Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, and so forth.
Get started Your Journey on the Outpost – When you’re arriving “too past due” to start out in Avatar land, start with Adventurers Outpost, which is the Minnie & Mickey Mouse meet & greet in Animal Kingdom. It will appear foolish to start out right here, however that is the 4th longest line in Animal Kingdom on reasonable, and only a few folks suppose to do it first.
Because of this, it’s slower within the morning and wait instances are considerably longer between round 10 am and three pm. Meet & greets with out a wait can also be knocked out in no time, it’s to your approach into the park, and it’s great to get footage ahead of the Florida warmth & humidity do their factor on your hair and normal look/demeanor/and so forth.
All of for this reason we advise knocking this meet & greet out within the first hour of the morning. You’ll be able to be out and in briefly, and to your method to the second one forestall of the day. (If it’s extra handy, you most certainly can do that 2nd as long as you’re no longer visiting on a top season day.)
Two-Week Safari — This can be a nice possibility each from a time-savings point of view and for the most efficient conceivable enjoy.
The explanation we advise Kilimanjaro Safaris within the morning is as it’s nice for animal task and in addition for photographing the animals with great, cushy gentle. From 11 a.m. till round 3 p.m., Kilimanjaro Safaris isn’t just about as a laugh, until you favor observing giant cats and different creatures slumbering. Past due afternoon may be excellent when it comes to gentle, and has a tight quantity of animal task as everybody at the savanna begins getting hyped for dinner.
Kali River Soaking – This rapids rafting experience is a crowd-pleaser this is price doing if you happen to haven’t achieved it ahead of. It’s a laugh and is going by way of cool environments (albeit missing display scenes) with a conservationist message.
The opportunity of getting soaked is extremely top, so don’t do it if that’s going to be an issue. Conversely, since you’ll get soaked on Kali River Rapids, it’s much less fashionable when the elements is cooler. Heading into the wintry weather, its reputation is losing once more–nevertheless it’s nonetheless absolute best to knock out Kali River Rapids en path to the following forestall.
Top XV Summit – After you’ve long gone during the wash cycle on Kali River Rapids, it’s time to air dry on one among Walt Disney International’s perfect curler coasters. Even an hour or extra after reliable park opening time, Expedition Everest must nonetheless have a moderately cheap wait time. If it’s posted time is beneath 45 mins (otherwise you’re advantageous going within the Unmarried Rider line) do it now. Differently, reserve it for nearer to sundown.
Expedition Everest provides unbelievable thematic main points, one of the vital perfect queues, and sweeping perspectives of the park (and past). You could wish to do it once more in opposition to the top of the day, when wait instances shall be just about non-existent.
See the Awesomest Animals – We all know dinosaurs are the most efficient animals ever. In spite of this unassailable reality, Dinoland USA will quickly pass extinct. The Dino-Rama sub-section already closed in the beginning of 2025, however fortunately, that’s no longer the most efficient a part of the land.
Whilst it’s nonetheless round, you wish to have to make some extent to look DINOSAUR ahead of it’s reimagined into Indiana Jones Journey. In case you have children, you may additionally wish to make a while to try the Boneyard, which is among the perfect play spaces any place in Walt Disney International. Likewise, we don’t suggest eating at Restaurantosaurus, nevertheless it may well be price popping in to look one of the kitschy and a laugh themed design.
DINOSAUR and the remnants of Dinoland USA will shut someday in 2026. See When Will DINOSAUR Shut at Walt Disney International? for a way lengthy your Time Rover has to make its ultimate particular challenge.
Get started Seeing Displays – On the subject of an afternoon at DAK, pacing is paramount (that are supposed to be the park’s mantra). At this level, you’ve already achieved a number of rides, so it’s time for some presentations. Because you’re locally, it’s a great time to observing the newly-reimagined “Discovering Nemo: The Giant Blue and Past!” musical. You must be capable to catch the primary efficiency at this level, however if you happen to’re past due for it, grasp a snack and do the second one appearing.
On this reimagined degree display, fish inform Nemo’s tale on this up to date 25-minute display, incorporating are living performers, puppets, and screen-based visuals. The refreshed manufacturing takes position within the Discovering Dory timeline and contours cherished songs and numbers from the unique Discovering Nemo: The Musical, together with “Within the Giant Blue International” and “Move With the Waft.”
Snack Time – When you’re getting hungry, it’s a great time for a pit forestall at Dino-Chunk Snacks (most likely final in mid-2025). This location serves various, because the title suggests, snacks. Definitely, the spotlight is their ice cream sandwiches. The choices range via season, however the shared commonality is they use freshly-baked, house-made cookies. In consequence, they’re all very good.
If you end up at the different facet of the park, Creature Comforts Espresso Store and Bakery is Animal Kingdom’s Starbucks location, they usually even have some loopy animal cupcakes. They have got a rotating lineup of Lion Cub, Zebra, White Chocolate Elephant or Cotton Most sensible Tamarin cupcakes which are every like 3 ft tall (slight exaggeration).
Otter Odyssey – At this level, you’ll be able to fairly decelerate and get started revel in walk-through trails and animal-centric sights whilst “ready out” the crowds.
One we’d direct your consideration to that’s simply overpassed is Otter Grotto (close to the aforementioned Starbucks). It’s simply across the nook from Creature Comforts and contours a few of Animal Kingdom’s most exciting and rambunctious critters.
Strategically, there is not any excellent or unhealthy time for any of the quite a lot of animal trails and shows, however you’ll wish to area them right through your day at Animal Kingdom to steer clear of fatigue of the park’s zoological options.
Lunch – Animal Kingdom in point of fact brings it relating to eating. For lunch, we advise slowing down and having a desk carrier meal. Animal Kingdom will get beautiful scorching noon, and it is a nice time to flee that warmth with an extended, stress-free meal. Recently, our #1 pick out for the ones short of an outstanding, advantageous eating caliber (in a discovered environment) meal is Tiffins. The most efficient meal at Animal Kingdom, and one of the vital perfect total at Walt Disney International.
When you don’t need one thing fancy, go for the very good Yak & Yeti as a substitute. You’ll be able to’t pass incorrect with both of those for desk carrier eating in Animal Kingdom. If you wish to have a personality meal, Tusker Area has additionally returned as a family-style meal, even supposing our enjoy there used to be no longer the most efficient.
Flights of Fancy – In the past referred to as UP! A Nice Fowl Journey, this display is now known as Feathered Pals in Flight and has mercifully minimize Russel and Dug from Up. It’s nonetheless a fowl display centered in opposition to households with babies, nevertheless it not feels dumbed all the way down to a three 12 months previous degree. No offense to the characters from Up–a film we adore–however this display is far better with out them.
Prior to or after the fowl display, discover trails or watch quite a lot of animals within the park. From fully-fledged sights like Pangani Woodland Exploration Path to smaller shows across the Oasis, Animal Kingdom has so much to look that’s ceaselessly overpassed. Decelerate and make the effort to discover, finding quite a lot of animals and main points tucked away in quiet corners. Stumbling upon those hidden gemstones could be very rewarding!
Maharajah Jungle Trek – That is any other animal path that that you must in point of fact do every time. Without reference to when you select to do it, we strongly suggest that you simply don’t skip this one.
Maharajah Jungle Trek is any other under-appreciated Animal Kingdom enchantment, as this walk-through show off has some superbly imagineered environments. Certainly don’t skip it, however you additionally don’t essentially wish to do it on this spot.
Pageant of the Lion King – Acrobats, singers, and different performers in tribal apparel and colourful costumes, plus parade floats with Lion King characters and different creatures enact scenes impressed via the Lion King in an excessively vigorous theatrical display. There’s a large number of stuff happening, in what mainly quantities to a large number of audio-visual stimulation. The display simply flat out works, and the virtually summary nature lets in the target market to simply sit down again and benefit from the wow-inducing performers.
Pageant of the Lion King is a phenomenal display–a calming, indoor method to get a divorce the day. It’s now solely again to customary, because of this the tumble monkeys and aerial acrobats have returned. For decrease crowds and shorter waits, we advise one of the vital past due afternoon presentations.
Winged Encounters – Periodically, there’s a display immediately in entrance of Tree of Existence known as “Animal Kingdom: Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight.” If you’ll be able to’t to find showtimes for this, ask a Solid Member across the Tree of Existence when it’s scheduled to happen.
This isn’t a big display, nevertheless it’s a magical one this is completely price seeing. Take a look at weaving it into your itinerary as you head again in opposition to the entrance of the park. Additionally take the time to look the opposite birds and critters across the Oasis, which can be in a different way simply overpassed.
Insect Interlude – It’s Tricky to Be a Computer virus is a great approach to spherical out the center of the afternoon right here. It’s a a laugh 3-D display housed within the park’s iconic Tree of Existence, which is arguably the best factor concerning the enjoy.
With that mentioned, you’ll be able to really do It’s Tricky to Be a Computer virus every time. No technique required for this one, so slot it in every time is handy for you.
Two-Week Sundown Safari – We’ve already long gone to other corners of the globe, scaled the Earth’s easiest mountain (a few instances), and now, we’re going to do a couple of weeks price of safaris. That’s extra spectacular than going world wide at Epcot in an afternoon!
For this experience aboard Kilimanjaro Safaris, we advise ready till past due afternoon, getting nearer to sundown time. Along side the early morning, the animals are maximum energetic in mid to past due afternoon, so this enjoy must be other from the primary however similarly eventful.
Unwind at Dinner Time – Probably the most largest “issues” you’ll have with visiting Animal Kingdom is that there are too many excellent puts to devour. I assume that’s a excellent drawback to have. At the one hand, there’s Satu’li Canteen in Pandora – International of Avatar. This counter carrier eating place has ingenious, high quality, or even wholesome delicacies that is superb.
Alternatively, Flame Tree BBQ is a great possibility if you happen to’re searching for one thing bad and distinctly carnivorous. Probably the most issues this brings to the desk is surprising perspectives of Everest from the seating house. The meals may be in point of fact excellent at Flame Tree BBQ, however we expect it’s long gone downhill in recent times with upper portion sizes.
Commute 4.4 Gentle Years Away… – The overall forestall of your day must be Pandora – International of Avatar. At this time, we advise arriving to the land round 90 mins ahead of park final. At that time, Na’vi River Adventure must have a posted wait time of 55 mins or much less, with a real wait time normally round Half-hour. (Alter your arrival accordingly in line with the wait time in My Disney Revel in.)
That are supposed to be a enough buffer to complete the boat experience and make your method to the park’s headliner, Avatar Flight of Passage, with 15-Half-hour left within the day. At this level, the posted stay up for Flight of Passage might be over an hour (it could also be triple digits!), however the real wait time shall be considerably not up to that. When you don’t arrive inside the first Half-hour Animal Kingdom is open, those would be the shortest waits of the day at each Pandora sights.
For your approach out, remember to watch the Tree of Existence Awakenings, which can be transient montages that play at the Animal Kingdom park icon. That are supposed to mark the realization to a lovely day at Animal Kingdom. Whilst the park remains to be moderately comfy and not more traumatic of a traveling enjoy than Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios (particularly after the three pm mass exodus), you must nonetheless apply this approach to steer clear of the few complications that do exist at Animal Kingdom.
Even a couple of years after Pandora – International of Avatar opened, wait instances for each Avatar sights can nonetheless be moderately lengthy, particularly at rope drop, so pack your endurance! If you wish to enjoy different sights but even so the ones we’ve indexed, be sure that to try our Animal Kingdom Park & Sights Information, which charges and opinions all sights.
Making plans a Walt Disney International shuttle? Find out about motels on our Walt Disney International Resorts Critiques web page. For the place to devour, learn our Walt Disney International Eating place Critiques. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to shop for, learn our Guidelines for Saving Cash on Walt Disney International Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular have a look at artful pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney International Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most efficient position to start out is our Walt Disney International Travel Making plans Information for the entirety you wish to have to grasp!
Your Ideas
What would you come with to your splendid day in Disney’s Animal Kingdom? When you’ve been again to DAK since Lightning Lanes introduced, what used to be your enjoy with crowd patterns and wait instances? Did you do Na’vi River Adventure and Avatar Flight of Passage first, closing, or someplace in between? What did you call to mind Pandora – International of Avatar? When you haven’t visited Walt Disney International, what do you propose on doing right through your day in Animal Kingdom? Any questions? Proportion your questions and ideas within the feedback!
