Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Disney's Animal Kingdom is the biggest of the all the Disney Parks in the world and spans 580 acres. This is because it is home to many incredible and exotic animals from Africa and Asia, and boats its own savannah, where guests can see these animals in their natural habitat. 

In a word - yes! In Disney's Animal Kingdom there are a variety of attractions and experiences to suit all tastes and ages including the jaw dropping land of Pandora - The World of Avatar, the irresistible Festival of the Lion King show and the thrilling excitement of Expedition Everest rollercoaster. We recommend spending at least a day in this incredible park, or more if your schedule allows. 

Disney's Animal Kingdom is divided into different lands offering a wide variety of attractions, experiences and shows while also being home to hundreds of species of animals. Here you can board the Kilimanjaro Safari where an expert guide will drive you around telling you all about the animals you might encounter including zebras, hippos, lions and more. In Pandora - The World of Avatar you can fly on a Banshee in the jaw-dropping Avatar Flight of Passage 3D ride, whilst over in DinoLand U.S.A. you can go back in time to the late Cretaceous Period on an adventure without parallels. Throughout the day you will be able to meet iconic characters including: Timon, Kevin from UP, Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, Lilo and Stitch, Pooh, Eeyore, Rafiki and much more.

Characters can be seen all around Disney's Animal Kingdom including Lilo & Stitch, Kevin and Dug, Timon, Pochahontas, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald Duck and Daisy amongst others. For up to date information on locations and times for the character encounters you can refer to the My Disney Experience site or app.

The best times to view the animals are either during feeding time at around 4-5pm or early morning/dusk as this is when the animals are likely to be the most active. 

Disney's Animal Kingdom is home to a variety of animals, including a limited number of snakes which can be seen at Conservation Station in Rafiki's Planet Watch and Pangani Forest Exploration Trail.

The Kilimanjaro Safari Expedition ride is situated in the Africa land of Disney's Animal Kingdom. The experience is around 18 minutes long and jeeps will run continuously throughout the day. The best time to experience this ride will be either early morning or in the evening when the animals will most likely be more active outside of the midday heat.

Animal Kingdom is one of the 4 Disney theme parks in Orlando and home of many attractions and experiences centred around animal conservation and the natural environment with a mix of animal encounters and Disney animation themed experiences and characters.

There is a regular shuttle service from Disney Springs to Animal Kingdom every 15 to 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can hop in a taxi or uber. The park is only a 15 minute drive from Disney Springs.

Disney's Animal Kingdom is a 12-minute drive from Magic Kingdom and around 10 minutes from Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Park opening times may vary depending on the day and season. We recommend checking ahead of time directly on the My Disney Experience app or website for up-to-date information.

Disney's Animal Kingdom opened its gates on April 22nd 1998.

Disney's Animal Kingdom is open year round including the winter.

After Hours at Disney's Animal Kingdom is a separately ticketed event which allows you to access the park from the afternoon (usually around 7pm) and into the night past the normal closing time. Tickets are limited to a small number so you are guaranteed little-to-no-wait for some of the most popular rides that will remain open just for the after hours ticket holders. Disney's After Hours at Animal Kingdom is a limited time offer and only available on select nights. 

One of the best places for Disney pins in Disney's Animal Kingdom is the Discovery Trading Company. Pins are collectibles and Disney release new pins on a regular basis whilst discontinuing others, always keeping the variety fresh.

The weather in Orlando is often hot and humid and Disney's Animal Kingdom is no different. We recommend wearing light clothing at most times of the year. Hats, sunglasses and sunscreen are also recommended. Comfortable shoes for this park are essential as this is the largest theme park in the world and you will be covering a lot of ground.