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Disney's Animal Kingdom
Categories: Active Life Amusement Parks Active Life Zoos Amusement Parks, Zoos [Edit]
2901 Osceola PkwyLake Buena Vista, FL 32830
(407) 939-6244
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
196 reviews for Disney's Animal Kingdom
Review Highlights
"Expedition Everest - currently my wife's favorite ride."
(in 65 reviews)
"KALI RIVER RAPIDS - A great way to COOL down."
(in 29 reviews)
"Kilimanjaro Safari, well executed safari."
(in 18 reviews)
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196 reviews in English
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Review from Laurice M.
Los Angeles, CA
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
I didn't know much about this park so I was more than surprised to have loved it as much as I did! As wedding gifts, my husband and I were given free tickets to Disney Parks for 2 days. After going to all of them, we loved Animal Kingdom so much that we paid to come back on another day!
In a way it doesn't feel like a Disney park, yet it's so well kept and themed! It's big but not TOO big that it's a pain in the ass to get from one area to the other. You can actually see the animals out and about, especially on the Kilimanjaro Safari. The Asian and African areas are very cool too - I almost forgot I was even in America until someone asked how many of us were in our party!
Our favorite rides were Expedition Everest and DINOSAURS! Expedition Everest was really fun and smooth and big and the yeti is pretty nuts! DINOSAURS is just pure scary fun. I refuse to ever sit on the sides!
Animal Kingdom is really unique and fun and we can't wait to come back one day and share it with our future kids! -
Review from Fannie S.
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Uhm.....disappointment and waste of time and effort to bus here!
We tried the following: Kilimanjaro Safaris (animals do look happy, and free), Kali River Rapids (this was fun, so fun, we got soaked twice), It's Tough to be a Bug! (Pixar's It's A Bug's Life), we thought it was a bit much for little kids (they were all screaming and sobbing) and walked the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail.
Sorry, I'm not a roller coaster fan, so I can't give an opinion on it.
Honestly, I'd skip this park the next time I visit Disney World. -
Review from Jennifer A.
San Diego, CA
1/24/2012 2 Check-ins Here
One of my favorites, if not my favorite park at Disney World. The safari/nature/zoo theme with Disney influences make it a unique experience.
Highlights
- Animals on the safari
-Everest coaster
- Lion King show
- Finding Nemo Musical
The tree of life on the river is a sight to see. It was gorgeous to run through during the marathon! -
Review from Desiree M.
Belleville, IL
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
I always love the disney atmosphere.
Animal Kingdom is not my favorite park, but good for the kids.
We did have a great BBQ sandwich here.
My favorite ride is the Kilmanjaro Safari...fantastic!
My opinion get here early, see the sites, then head to Hollywood Studios, you could do these two parks in one day. -
Review from John L. H.
New Orleans, LA
12/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Animal Kingdom was third favorite Disney park, but it did have some decent attractions.
When we entered we were approached by a Disney employee. He asked if we wanted VIP treatment for the Lion King show. Um. Yeah.
We were given honorary citizen of the world buttons and given priority seating for the show. The show was amazing, and the front row seats made us feel like part of the show.
The Bug's Life 4D show was also a highlight, as was the African themed shops and architecture.
I would go back to this park, but on our seven day vacation we only spent one day here.Listed in: Disney World
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Review from Sonny G.
1/18/2012 2 photos
First thing that amazed me when we entered the park was of course the tree!!! Ahhhhh the HUGE tree of life was so amazing to me. This was only my second time here, and the last time I visited was over 10 years ago. I didn't get the opportunity to visit the whole park because they closed at 5. I couldn't believe how early, but it's because they have to feed the animals and there's a boat load of them!
I went on a pretty interesting Safari in the 'African' section. The girl who took us on the safari knew her shit! All the different animals, where they hide, where they come from... it was cool experience, but better for the younger kids. "Simba" kept coming on over the two way pager to make sure our driver was "staying on track", and she would swerve the Safari Jeep for an added effect of entertainment, splashing through puddles and mists that appeared to be nature's fog. Some animals we saw: flamingos (my fav), hippopotamus (my other fav), lots of birds, lots of BIG mammals such as Wallabies and Gazelles, saw some monkeys...and a whole other bunch of animals I can't even begin to retrieve from my brain.
The tiger exhibit was pretty amazing. They weren't so close in my opinion; there's a huge drop dividing us and the Tigers, and glass... I like to live on the edge! Bring them closer to me! Even though they seemed far it was amazing to watch all five of them in their natural habitat. I learned from the gentleman who was overseeing this exhibit that tigers can climb. Now I know they are part of the feline family, but when I say climb I'm talking bout like 50 ft.... trees, and even the cement wall that was used as a divider in the exhibit. Imagine all of us on the same level and then digging a 20 ft deep 100 ft wide ditch, and what leads up from the ditch is two sets of cement stairs, and between the two sets of stairs is just plain cement. I can't explain it that well, but the tigers can just climb that wall. My measurements are probably way off, but the point is they can do more then just run fast and attack. The guy told me if a tiger is ever chasing me I shouldn't climb a tree. That was point to giving you such a vivid example. Let's hope that encounter never takes place!
Another thing I enjoyed were the Fruit Bats. They were very interesting to me. I've only seen a real bat one time in Pennsylvania at my cousin's house, and it was smushed to a tennis racket (RIP). It was tiny compared to these suckers! I always thought fruit bats were the small ones....boy was I wrong!
Did you know there are over 1000 species of bats?
Now you know!
The woman said they are like us--not nocturnal. I was under the impression ALL bats slept during the day, and not for nothing, but these guys and gals just hung upside down as I stared at them, and appeared to be knocked the eff out... I hope that lady wasn't trying to pull a fast one on me! I also learned their wing span can be up to 6 ft. They wrap their wings around their body as they sleep...or hang I should say. You really won't get to see the actual length unless they fly or open them up. I wasn't fortunate enough to see any fly, but I saw one open his wings. They look like leather, and have creepy ass veins. They are so weird looking, but very unique animals.
The last thing I have to comment about is the restaurant we ate at: Yak & Yeti. You'll have to read my review to get all the Juicy details! All I'll say is that it's a fabulous restaurant in the 'Asian' part of the kingdom.
the funny part to this whole review is that as I sit here and write all the things I observed I completely forgot that this was the park we opted not to visit at first. We thought it was going to be boring. We figured we could go to the zoo at home, and we've all already done that plenty of times. Due to the lack of activity at Magic Kingdom where we had planned to spend our whole last Thursday at, we decided to hit up the Animal kingdom because we had the extra time. I am so glad we did. I wish I would have had the opportunity to visit more exhibits being that I'm such an animal lover, but I had a great, and more importantly productive experience at Animal Kingdom! -
Review from Heather L.
Des Plaines, IL
1/15/2012 2 photos
We almost skipped this park and are glad we didn't. We have two wonderful zoos in Chicagoland and I've been to both many many times. But this is something different and we really enjoyed it. On our recent mid-January visit the park was only open from 9-5 but the lack of lines made up for the abbreviated hours. We hit all the highlights recommended by friends and here they are.
Must sees
1) Kilimanjaro Safaris: Be transported to the quaint villages of Africa and into a safari ride like none any zoo offers that I've been to. Get up close and personal with Rinos and more. Very fun.
2) Expedition Everest: Note; this is not a strenuous ride but I was traveling with a third and fifth grader so this was perfect. We loved it and the waiting area is just as interesting as the ride itself.
3) Conservation Station: We saw an actual surgery in progress of a gazelle with intestinal issues. AMAZING!
4) DINOSAUR: The ride itself is gentle but the giant dinosaurs jumping out at you add some excitement.
5) It's Tough to Be a Bug: Now I did not care for this 4D movie because I don't like bugs. It starts out cute with the Bug Life characters but then it gets a little too real for me and I found myself jumping into my husband's lap for the ongoing joy of my family. My freak out is now his favorite part of the trip.
We ate at Flame Tree Barbecue and the four of us shared three half slab meals and were stuffed. Very good barbecue and this family knows their barbecue. $51 for the whole family including two Tusker beers at $7.25 each.
We also really enjoyed the jalapeno cheese stuffed pretzel $4.29 at Harambe Fruit Market.
The scenery in Africa and Asia were really cool and I especially enjoyed that. Worth the visit. No night show here so this was the night we went back to Magic Kingdom. -
Review from Alice T.
Newark, CA
1/1/2012
I came to animal kingdom on Christmas day. I have to say even though it was crowded it was not as bad as being in Magic Kingdom. Animal Kingdom is a beautiful place.!
Kilmanjaro Safari: (GO HERE FIRST AND GET A FAST PASS AND COME BACK!)This is a safari, that is incomparable to any zoo I have ever been to in my life. This safari ride puts all the zoos to shame including the zoo in San Diego. The safari that they created is a wonderful habitat for the animals. (At least appears to be.) The person who lead the tour on the safari was also very enthusiastic even though I can only imagine that she has been doing it over and over all day. The greatest thing about Animal kingdom and Disney in general is that the workers try their very best to make your experience a very good one. You can never tell that you were their last customer that day. They make you feel as if you were their first. And I really appreciate them for doing such a good job especially on Christmas day. This is the best ride in the whole park. You should make sure that you go on this ride first before the line gets really long. Animals are most active in the morning and they also close at 6pm. So do this ride first!
Lion King Show: I am not usually a fan of musicals. But this is a good show to see if you need to rest your feet for at least 20 minutes. They got interactive with the audience, they sang, and there was acrobatic acts as well. Kids and adults were very engaged, and it seats a lot of people per show so the wait is usually not long. They also sang a lot of songs from the movie so people loved it especially the kids.
Finding Nemo show: I am usually not a fan of musicals as I told you before, but when you need to rest your feet, this is another good one. The wait is not long because it is in a huge room so it fits a lot of people. Some kids and adults had a hard time being engage in this one because they did not sing songs from the movie. But in terms of acting and costumes and effort these people did a really good job. They had a person holding up a Nemo fish and another person holding up the Dora fish singing and acting at the same time. This show had beautiful colors and costumes.
Tough to be a bug 3d show: Here is another good show to see if your feet hurt. This is a 3D show and kids and adults both loved it. It is short about 15 minutes and you pick up 3D glasses as you enter. The wait is also not long because the room is big and you can squeeze a lot of people in. I really liked this one. It is fun and interactive.
Kali River Rapids: If you need to get wet because you are hot, this is a good ride to go on. It reminds me of Great America's Ripe rolling Rapids only they have better water falls. Kids seems to really enjoy this ride. I thought it was weak compared to a log ride because there are no falls or anything. They also sell poncho's for $7.50 for people that did not want to get wet. This ride is good for the whole family to go on because it is not very intense. You can also put all your belonging in the middle container to prevent your cell phone and you purse from getting entirely wet. It does still get wet, but not as bad as if you got soaked. For a person that is adventurous this ride can be boring.
Expedition Everest- Legend of the forbidden mountain: (GET ANOTHER FAST PASS FOR THIS RIDE AND THEN COME BACK) I Loved this roller coaster ride! Very artistic and it is just fun. I don't want to talk about it because I don't want to ruin it for you. If you are adventurous and you love roller coasters you will love this ride. No upside downs. Just mainly ups and downs. Not really for super young kids and those who get sick to the stomach. My mother in law who is 63 years old went on this ride and hated it. She stated, "She felt like someone was trying to kill her. "
Tree of life: I am sure that you will not miss the tree of life when you enter. It is a huge tree but it is kinda cool so I took a bunch of pictures of it because it had faces on the tree trunks etc.
Yak and Yeti local food cafe: I got really hungry after a whole day of walking miles in the amazement park. So I decided to have Chinese. Thinking they would skim on the food and charge you an arm and a leg, the family ordered beef chow mein, sweet and sour chicken, and 2 turkey sandwiches, the portion are really big so you can share something if you are not a heavy eater. I saved the other half of my sandwich for later and the family had to throw some of the food away because they couldn't finish it. The price point for the food was about $12 a person for a drink and food. The food was 3 stars. Not entirely bad and not entirely delicious.
I loved my experience at Animal Kingdom! If you have never gone to Magic kingdom and you love animals you should go. And if you have kids they would love this place. I didn't have enough time to go to the dinosaur section because it was getting late. -
Review from Cassandra G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/17/2012
Love this zoo but I'm scared of the snakes. This zoo is great! There is a lot of space for the animals, and people to walk around. The food is good. The Kingdoms of the Night is my absolute favorite part. I also love the aquarium. The desert dome is underwhelming, but the indoor jungle is amazing.
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Review from Jennifer C.
Queens, NY
1/3/2012
My second favorite Disney park. It is more interactive than the others. Must do in Animal Kingdom: Killimanjaro Safari (baby elephants!), Expedition Everest, Dinosaur, and It's Tough to be a Bug. We went early and got on most of the popular rides within 5 to 15 minutes, so we were done with the park in about 4 hours. Otherwise, grab fast passes!
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Review from Mia L.
10/25/2011
So some children love vibrant color and the whole fairy-tale scene, but this park is more "natural looking" so it may not be as appealing for children BUT if they love animals (which I'm sure most do), then take them here! Personally, this is my favorite Disney park! And yes, they do have Disney characters walking around...their costumes consist of safari clothing/accessories! How cute! This is a must on your Disney trip..especially if u can't decide on which Disney park to go to! I have never gone here as a child...I guess my parents opted for Magic Kingdom and MGM Studios (now Hollywood Studios) each time, but man was I missing out!! Then again, I love animals and nature and my parents don't even like my pet dog that much haha!
Here are my highlights:
Expedition Everest--to me, this is the best ride overall in this park...it's a roller coaster...I heart roller coasters.
Kilimanjaro Safari--this is more of a relaxing safari ride, you'll see wild animals and beautiful scenery.
The Tree of Life--it's not a ride, but it's awesome for photos!
Kali River Rapids--it's another "river rapid" ride. you might get what or might not depending the luck of the draw and where you sit.
Trails--there are different trails you could follow to see certain animals...kind of like a zoo but in far better settings! Another great opportunity for photos!
The CONS: waiting in lines, pricing, the heat (depending what time of the year you go), and the crowds...it could get packed!
Again, this is a Disney park...prepare to spend tons of money!!Listed in: Faves
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Review from Chris B.
Red Hook, NY
Updated - 11/9/2011
Also featured in the Asian area is a brand new roller-coaster known as Expedition Everest. If you're looking for a roller coaster, take this one in early in the day, or get a Fastpass for it, as lines are outrageous later in the day(even with a Fastpass.)
While some of Dinoland USA is kid-friendly(such as the Boneyard, where kids can dig for bones, have fun in the prehistoric slide and play on a xylophone of fake dinosaur bones for music), there are some exhibits that draws the attention of adults in this land. Both the Primeval Whirl and Tricertop Spin are examples of these fun areas for adult and older children. Primeval Whirl is a small roller-coaster with spinning cars, while a dinosaur version of Dumbo ride spins nearby in Triceratop Spin.
Dinosaur is another good Fastpass option for those who like turbulent rides, as similarities to motion simulators exist. However, this ride isn't for everyone! It is a bit too intense for young members to understand most of what is presented(I'm not a thrill-ride seeker, and had to pass and viewed this online.)
Camp Minnie Mickey is a character meet and greet location, that is filled with camera opportunities at various times) as you commonly see characters come out of their hole and speak to their guests.
In addition to these rides, this park also has some other enjoyable events that happen during the day. Despite no nighttime show(as per the animals' requests), there is a gorgeous parade of lively characters, most days of the year. Although the show name and music slightly change during the Christmas season, the parade is a ""Jumpin'' jamming jungle parade" that is not to be missed!
If that isn't enough still, there are also several theaters within the park, that put on several colorful shows. Some of these theaters include Flights of Wonder(Asia-this is the only one I highly favor people viewing), Finding Nemo (in Theater in the Wild, Dinoland USA) and Festival of the Lion King(in Camp Minnie Mickey).
For those looking for simple souvenirs of things(pins, clothing and stuff), Animal Kingdom isn't very fond of this, as there aren't many places to buy these pins in this park. There are several areas in the park that feature stuff devoted to the visiting park area(toys, hats, etc.) but these items are rare and far between). There are traveling pin shops, so be on the lookout for them.- You can try "Outpost" at the park's entrance, just inside the gates, for most of these items.
Food establishments that offer sit-down experiences, are a little sparse too. Between Rainforest Cafe and Restarauntosaurus and the Tusker House, Pizzarfari, there aren't many that do. However, there are several fast-food and snack stands open in this park, as well as traveling ice-cream carts(with opening/closing times that vary with availability quantities).1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/8/2011
Although Disney's Animal Kingdom is a research center in a theme park setting, some people believe… Read more »
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Review from Sarah S.
10/23/2011 1 photo
I absolutely love Animal Kingdom! It is such a great addition to the Disney World theme parks! It opened in 1998 and is all about animal conservation.
The great things about Animal Kingdom far outweigh the negatives (no amazing sit down food places, very spread out plan). I am a huge of animals so this park is great fun for me. It has everything from amazing rides like Expedition Everest to more low key activities like Rafiki's Planet Watch where you can watch animals being worked on.
I have more detailed descriptions of all the rides, shows, attractions and restaurants in Animal Kingdom in my Disney list.
My personal suggestions for Animal Kingdom are...Bring a lot of water! You walk more in this park then any other and the sun can get very hot. You have to go to Expedition Everest or Kilmanjaro Safari first but they aren't very close to each other. Determine which is most important to you and head there. What I usually do is head straight to the safari, grab a FP, then ride the safari. By the time you get off, it will probably be time to ride the safari again. The animals are most active in the morning so it makes for more fun when they aren't just laying in the sun. Directly after the safari, we do things along the way to Expedition Everest, grab a FP once we get there, then grab some lunch!
If you have to cut out a park at Disney World, do not skip Animal Kingdom!!!Listed in: Disney World - Been There,…
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Review from Lauren E.
10/24/2011
This is the newest Disney park. Not a whole lot going on in terms of rides (but more to do for kids than Hollywood Studios). The park was also the only one to close early (by 5 pm) during my trip.
Lines to greet the characters were way to long.
The Kilimanjaro Safari is a must when visiting this park. When I went, the wait wasn't too long and we were on a safari within 20 minutes. I was surprised how close some of the animals were. We saw giraffes, hippos, rhinos and elephants. I was slightly disappointed that we didn't see any gorillas.
The other ride I was excited to check out was Kali River Rapids. While the ride was much shorter than I expected, I love water rides (especially in the 90 degree Florida sun).
The Dinoland area was way too kiddie, and I felt like I was at a cheap carnival. I guess that was the feel they were going for. The Dinosaur ride, in my opinion, is too scary for young kids. The entire ride is dark, loud and bumpy. If you don't like objects unexpectedly popping out in front of you, then this ride is not for you.
I think this park would be a lot better with an expansion. I'd go here again on a second or third trip; the park was better than I originally expected. -
Review from MommyRN J.
Burlingame, CA
1/7/2012
From all of the Disney parks in Florida, this was my favorite!!
The safari ride was unbelievable! We were able to see all different types of animals as if we were on a real African safari.
We were able to see most of the park in half a day. Giving us some time to visit other parts of Florida. (trying to go to every theme park on vacation with young children can be overwhelming) -
Review from Karen F.
10/5/2011
It's for - but it;'s not the Magic Kingdom and also is not as good as Epcot.
Very good for kids, though. (But for $85 a day I can take my kiddo to the Philadelphia Zoo.
Meanwhile - it's worth a visit - but if your Disney Time is linited - get to Magic Kingdom or Epcot first.
And SKIP Hollywood studios - it's rather lame.
Tip: Head straight for the safari the MINUTE they open. Kali river ride is great fun too (you will get wet!).
Lots of walking - bring good shoes/socks.
Eat lunch at Rainforest cafe. (Make a reservation!!!) Yes, it's overpriced and "meh" as is ALL of Disney's stuff - but iot's much better than the food inside the park. And you can get a Cheetah-Rita (Margarita) or a Daiquiri, too. ($10 a pop - $13 with a cheesy souvenir cup).Listed in: Flam gets DIZZY on DISNEY
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Review from Francisco F.
Miami Lakes, FL
1/3/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I enjoy this park quite a bit. You can probably check out all of the rides and sites in half a day and make your way to another park in the late afternoon. I just wish they would add some more (real) animals in the park for the kids to see.
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Review from Christine B.
Philadelphia, PA
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
We spent almost a full day at Animal Kingdom during our most recent trip. Expedition Everest was a fun roller coaster-get a fastpass. The safari ride was pretty awesome. We never did spot the elusive white rhino, but saw a lot of other animals, and it was cool that this is basically just a ride in the park. The dinosaur ride was always fun. I got my favorite souvenir at this park, a towel with Pooh dressed in safari gear and a magnifying glass looking at a giant tiger, and saying "Is that you Tigger?" Love it.
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Review from Ryan W.
Collingswood, NJ
10/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Walt Disney World is my all time favorite place to go. Period.
I love Animal Kingdom because it has so many different wonderful attractions. Expedition Everest tops the list, though. It's difficult to find another attraction where I actually look forward to waiting in line because there are so many different things to enjoy looking at while waiting that I find myself noticing something different every time. Then you've got Festival of the Lion King, Kali River Rapids, Flights of Wonder, Dinosaur, the list goes on!
I know a lot of people call this a "half day" park, and I can see why. It usually feels the hottest as most of the park is uncovered, you're doing a lot of walking because it's the largest park on property and the lines can get long for certain attractions (you'll find this at all four parks, though).
Don't leave without trying some of the food in this park as well. Animal Kingdom started really lacking in the food department, but over the past few years it's really gotten a lot better. Flame Tree Barbecue is my favorite at this park though and offers some really fantastic ribs.
Don't discount this as a park to miss just because some people call it a "half day" park. Is that really a bad thing? Besides, if you can brave the heat or go on a cool day, you could easily spend the entire day here. -
Review from Christine C.
Norwell, MA
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Disney does everything top notch, so it is no surprise that the Animal Kingdom is a home run. My 6 year old and I love the Kilimanjaro Safari's.The way it is set up it looks like nothing is separating you from the wild animals- but that is just Disney Magic.
Kali River Rapids is fun, but beware you can get SOAKED. When we got off the ride I had to wring my clothes out- I was that wet.
Dino Land is fun for kids of all ages. Dinosaur is a bumpy, loud, exciting ride. Not good for little little kids. It looks like you might get eaten by a giant carnivore. -
Review from Jennifer A.
Pomona, CA
10/29/2011
3.5 stars
Animal Kingdom was the only WDW park that I hadn't visited yet and I was really excited to visit. Unfortunately, it didn't really live up the high expectations that I had set.
The safari was fun and we saw a lot of animals, but I (somewhat stupidly) thought that the animals would be roaming more freely. I became a little suspicious when I noticed that the tour guide's speech seemed a little too scripted like the animals are always in the same place. Then I started to see the moats and fences that kept the animals in their areas. The best part was the ostrich eggs by the side of the road. I mean come on, what kind of dumb ostrich would really lay their eggs by a road??
Expedition Everest was fun and I actually loved all of the interesting things to look at while in line. The backwards part of the ride was also very surprising, although I was disappointed by the "yeti" which I thought would be more like in the Matterhorn at Dland. The Kali River Rapids was way short and definitely not as good as the one at Islands of Adventure or even Grizzly River Run at CA Adventures. As others have mentioned, Dinosaur, was a lot more intense than I expected and was actually kind of scary! The Lion King show was pretty impressive, but it's a bit of a hike to the theater after a long day of walking.
We kind of rushed through the park a little because we wanted to hit up Epcot too, but I think you can see most of the major things in half a day. We were fortunate to have short (less than 20 min) lines and no kids to slow us down. Animal Kingdom is a good park if you haven't been, have park hopper tickets, or just want a short(er) day where you don't have to be at a park all day and night. -
Review from Robert O.
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
We were there almost two hours before we saw a live animal. Perhaps my expectations were wrong, but it seems to me there should be more animals and less other things. Eh . . .
The Lion King show was pretty good. The safari I have mixed feelings about. I liked it, but there were elements to it (like the rumble strips) that really took away from the experience. It felt a bit rushed, although we saw some wonderful animals.
The walk-through tour near the safari was also very good. I enjoyed it immensely. But there didn't seem to be much else throughout. Food was typical of Disney . . . not good.
Lots to buy here. I like the look and feel of the park. I would return here, but I might combine it with something else too. -
Review from Brandon K.
Fort Bragg, NC
12/27/2011
Another great park this one is great for all ages. Has tons of animals and attractions has one of my favorite roller coasters too. Definitely would recommend for everyone.
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Review from Gary L.
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
I liked it. I was able to cover the entire park in a short amount of time. It is a mixture of zoo and roller coasters. There aren't too many rides to go on, but there's a lot of animals to see and learn about. I even got to see the lion! Expedition Everest is a great attraction, especially if it is your first time riding it (SURPRISE!). I didn't go on the water ride since a lot of people looked like they came off of it pretty wet. The Kilmanjaro Safari ride was pretty comfortable and you get to see a bunch of different animals similar to the ride at the Wild Animal Park in San Diego. The Lion King Show was nostalgic as they sang songs from the movie. I wasn't too big on the whole interactive portion of it, though, since it was geared for kids. The park itself was nice, but it was good enough to visit just once. I had a 4 day park hopper and after seeing everything I wanted to see here on my very first day, I never went back to it.
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Review from Matthew M.
Orange County, CA
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Disney World wowness 2011. We got the park hopper and skimmed the hell out of this world. Stop #2 was this park...ate a damn good 1/2 chicken at the bbq place here (of course i yelped it!) while watching the parade, and enjoyed the few rides. Expedition Everest was COOL!!! Great ride for a first timer.
The park is set up nicely with a gigantic tree in the middle to serve as a beacon. You always know where you are without a map.
The safari adventure is pretty cool too but kinda generic and cheesy for a 30+ year old. Kids love it!
Great place to spend a few hours....get the hopper! -
Review from Gerald H.
Orlando, FL
Never gets old. Sit on the right side for better views.
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Review from Kimberly C.
La Mesa, CA
10/22/2011
Destination Animal Kingdom: My Mission was to see some African wildlife. I wanted a giraffe to be right next to my face riding in the safari jeep, seeing the animals roam free. Despite a few sleepy creatures, I was very pleased with my trip. Ran through the park when we got there to get on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride. Granted a giraffe did not sidle up to the side of the car, it was in pretty close proximity. I suppose it would've been too big of a wish to see a herd of wildebeest race down a lion.
Rides: Animal Kingdom has it's fair share. The ones to check out are Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris. Water rides are my guilty pleasure, I love them but I hate them. Figures I was the person to get entirely soaked down to a wave of water going into my shoes during the Kali River Rapids. The "It's Tough to be a Bug" show got me jumping out of my seat, literally.
I was absolutely amazed with the Maharajah Jungle Trek. I'd never seen bats in person, ever. And there was Mr. Bat right there, lounging upside down openings it's wings in all it's glory and showing off his umm....manhood. Right in the front. I felt like the gorillas were giving me the dirty eye.
Do check out the Tree of Life. It's an amazing work of art.
Animal Kingdom is an amazing place for people of all ages. So full of energy and life.
And again, watch out for those crazy stroller groups. Your ankles and toes could be taken out. -
Review from Robert S.
Reno, NV
8/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had planned on knocking out Animal Kingdom in a day and focusing on the other "more interesting parks" during out two week WDW vacation. Well I under estimated by about a day. On our first day we started late because we needed breakfast and decided to eat at Boma. More on that in my Boma review...but this made us arrive around 11:30 ish. Most of the lines were long by then. Oh well lets get done what we can...
As with all of my Major park reviews I will just give a few pass/must sees..
Must see....Best Gosh Darn Show in all of my Disney experience!!
Finding Nemo - The Musical!! You can't miss with this show. I've heard a few negatives on this but really, if you enjoy a good stage musical this one will make you feel like you just stole your admission into the park.
Pass...Affection station. Unless your kids have never ever been to a petting zoo, just pass on this stinky hot mess.
Must see....Dinosaur! This ride is based on the Indy ride at Disneyland and it works better. Amazing how different rides on different coasts have huge lines while others are totally open!
Pass.....unless the line is short. Kali River Rapids. Sorry but I've taken pees that have been longer than this water ride. The walk up seemed pretty cool but this is not worth waiting an hour for. It's not even worth waiting 20 minutes for. We actually came back one morning just to get this one under our belt before checking off this park completely. And I was totally disappointed. Thankfully it was a walk on line...and then...we rounded and walked right back on again. Only then was it really worth it. Waaaay too short.
Must see....Safaris. Just cool and fun. I think we may have lucked out to get as many animals as we did...but Disney really does a great job of immersing the guest.
Pass...unless the line is short 15 minute wait tops. Expedition Everest. Again too much hype for a short ride. The best part of this ride was the wonderful cast member out front!
Overall I could get really detailed and spend a paragraph on each ride and our experience...but really who wants to read that?
This is my second favorite park in WDW.Listed in: 14 Days of Disney Fun!
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Review from Chris K.
7/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of the coolest parks in the Orlando area. This is a must if you have kids or just love animals.
You gotta check out :
Festival of the Lion King
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade
Flights of Wonder (Amazing wild bird show)
Kali River Rapids ride
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Play area in Dinosaur Land (big feature is a gigantic sandbox where kids can dig up dinosaur bones, sand pails and shovels provided)
It's Tough to be a Bug!
All the great animal attractions!
We visited the park over 2-days. You could probably see the highlights in one day, but it was nice to really see the whole park. I think the least impressive of all the exhibits was the petting zoo. I think the goats had had enough of kids and they were all hanging out in their pens where you aren't allowed to brush or pet them.
Be sure to do the safari early in the morning so you can see the animals at their most active.Listed in: Walt Disney World!
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Review from Kristine L.
Plainfield, IL
12/16/2011
Yawn! OK, The safari was cool and Mount Everest coaster, but that is it. A lot of $ to spend with 1/4 of the stuff to do compared to Magic Kingdom. The hours suck, but I can see why they have them, for the animals. We were there 10 to 5 and did only a few things. Not worth the money. Park is hard to get through unless you know it well, which we did not, this was our first time there. Another thing we noticed was the small snack stands closed about an hour before the park did. Couldnt get a snack at 4pm in the afternoon. I'd do this again with a park hopper ticket and that is it. Also, the amusement park inside the park was a waste. They ask for more $ so you can play carnival games after you spent $90 to get into the park!?!?!
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Review from Craig R.
6/29/2011 18 photos
What would you get if you mixed a Zoo, a Wild Animal Safari and a Theme Park altogether?
That's easy! You'd get Disney's Animal Kingdom, one of the most entertaining parks around!
Out of the four theme parks at the Walt Disney World resort, Animal Kingdom was my second favorite.
Animal Kingdom is the largest of the four theme parks. You can actually fit the three other theme parks inside of Animal Kingdom and still have extra space left over, it's that gigantic. I absolutely love how the Disney Imagineers have decorated this gorgeous park to look like it's actually located somewhere in Africa or Asia. Disney Imagineers never cease to amaze me.
Animal Kingdom is broken up into six separate themed lands and a stunning entrance area called Oasis, which actually has a Rainforest Café located in it.
I will now list each individual land and some brief highlights from each of them.
1. Africa
Attractions-
Kilimanjaro Safaris- A large safari vehicle takes you on an exciting expedition through an African savanna where many wild animals roam free
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail- Trail featuring a large, walk in bird cage, hippos, gorillas and more
Dining-
Tusker House Restaurant- All you can eat restaurant that features a Disney character meet and greet. Reservations a must here!
2. Asia
Attractions-
Expedition Everest- My favorite Disney ride of all time! This is like Disneyland's Matterhorn on steroids. A MUST see.
Kali River Rapids- Crazy water ride where you are GUARANTEED to get drenched
Maharajah Jungle Trek- A long trail featuring Tigers, Komodo Dragons and more
Shows-
Flights of Wonder- Amazing show featuring rare and exotic birds
Dining-
Yak & Yeti Restaurant- Pan-Asian cuisine. There is both a sit down and take out version of this place
3. Camp Minnie-Mickey
Shows-
Festival of the Lion King- One of the BEST shows I have ever seen at a Disney Theme park. Live actors sing and dance in this joyful, high energy show
Pocahontas and her Forest Friends- Children's show with live animals
Dining-
Camp Soft Serve ice cream stand
4. DinoLand USA
Attractions-
DINOSAUR- Think Disneyland's Indian Jones except with Dinosaurs. A little outdated but still fun and a tad scary
Primeval Whirl- A small, spinning coaster with a few small drops and sharp curves
Shows-
Finding Nemo the Musical- Live actors use costumes and puppets to act out the film. It's really entertaining
5. Discovery Island
Attractions-
Discovery Island Trails- Trail featuring small animals and beautiful landscape
Shows-
It's Tough to be a Bug- BEST 3D show at any of the Disney parks. A tad frightening too. The theater of the show is located underneath the massive Tree of Life, which is neat too.
Dining-
Flame Tree BBQ- Freshly smoked BBQ ribs, chicken and freshly tossed salads
6. Rafiki's Planet Watch
Attractions-
Wildlife Express Train- You actually have to take this train to get to the land
Conservation Station- A wild life exhibit with interactive exhibits and even a real life animal hospital
Affection Section- Petting Zoo
Every land in this park is amazingly entertaining and beautifully decorated. There are many shops and eateries (way more than I listed above) located throughout the park for you to enjoy. This park truly is a zoo, safari and a theme park rolled into one.
If you plan on visiting WDW then this theme park is an absolute must see.Listed in: Walt's World!
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Review from Wesley S.
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
This Disney Park has not failed to deliver a fantastic wildlife park with a Disney twist. There are safari's, roller coasters (Expedition Everest), fantastic shows (Lion King) and restaurants which are at the top of the top in Disneyworld Property. Some tips for the first timers would be to know there are going to be lines so use your fast-passes carefully. I think it is probably wise to get your Safari pass first, although remember some animals come out more after the rain or first thing in the morning while staying in the shade during the hot Florida summer sun. Also you might consider taking a quick "dip" on the rapids ride if you get warm. If you don't want to risk getting soaked, you can always wear a couple of ponchos to avoid this fate. Keep an eye out when you are walking around the world tree as there are often things hiding in the corners. If you are park hopping and only doing a portion of the day here, don't miss Everest and the safari. If you are spending a day or two here you might consider making a reservation for a private jungle trek, as they are very fun! Thanks for reading and enjoy.
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Review from Daniel W.
Fremont, CA
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Way better than any zoo, because the animals are for the most part roaming free. I don't want to visit any traditional zoo anymore. They will all pale in comparison. There's also rides and shows in case you get tired of looking at the animals. We liked the Everest Express roller coaster. We went on Christmas Day and it wasn't too crowded. We immediately got on the Kilimanjaro Safari which was the highlight of Animal Kingdom. Disney's Animal Kingdom is my favorite of the four parks.
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Review from Mercy A.
9/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love it here. It never gets old!!
A beautiful park with a great Safari ride, cute as heck parade, amazing gorillas, and a fun, but easy roller coaster. I am always in awe by the engineering of this park. How do they do it? It's spectacular in its ambiance, truly. The entire family will love it here, I'm certain of it. -
Review from Geoff B.
9/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Unlike Disneyland, where you have the choice between two parks, Disney World is spread over hundreds of acres of land at six different parks. This means getting a bus from your "resort" to each one, with a park certainly taking up a day if you try to see it all.
Animal Kingdom was one of the parks we saw later in our visit. After a solid week with a Humidex in the mid-40s, it was getting tough to be outside. We found Animal Kingdom to be one of the hotter parks; there seemed to be a lot of concrete/asphalt out in the open sun -- especially the walk from the bus drop-off zone to the front gate.
Definitely go on Expedition Everest (and use the single rider line -- thank you, Disney!). Also, as you exit, there is a little cappuccino bar; they serve a Strawberry fruit smoothie that is amazing! -
Review from gajendra d.
Staten Island, NY
12/6/2011
So much better than when I went when I was a kid. But, the Same experience.
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Review from Jack R.
11/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
As it goes for a Disney park it is my least favorite park in Fl. Don't get me wrong it is still a great park that you can have lots of fun at. The main reason it is my least is its size. It is the smallest of the parks (at least that is how it feels). There are some great rides there to hit and a couple shows that need to be hit when down there. You want to hit this park on a week day if possible. Also you want to get there at open. If you do this you will be able to do the whole park in half a day. Make sure that you hit Everest, Dinosaur, the Safari, and the Nemo Show. These are the best things to hit and you might want to do fast passes for them if they are busy. So while at Disney this is a good stop.
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Review from Paul F.
Delray Beach, FL
9/15/2011
My wife and I visited Animal Kingdom since day 1 when it opened.
Disney is always a great escape from life. Another great addition to the Disney Parks experiences. Sure there are many updates since our last visit. I'll be sure to update this review shortly after we revisit. -
Review from Kimberly K.
Manhattan, NY
5/27/2011 21 photos
*Top 5 Must-See Animal Kingdom Attractions* (NOT in a specific order)
1. DINOSAUR- The first time I sat on this ride I closed my eyes through most of it. Why? Because I hate the dark and the damn dinosaurs in this ride look way too realistic for ME! I was finally able to keep my eyes open on our 3rd try. Maybe that's because my cousin was yelling at me the entire time "OPEN YOUR EYES! It's NOTHING YOU WUSS!"
2. Expedition Everest- The Yeti here was so memorable that my cousin decided to make a song and dance about Yetis? Then sang it THROUGHOUT the entire trip. Weird. I know.
3. Kilimanjaro Safaris- The closest I'll probably ever get to a real Safari?
4. Kali River Rapids- If you've visited Kings Dominion, it's similar to the White Water Canyon ride. You could be one of the lucky ones to get SOAKING wet. If you'd like to stay dry, but still want to experience this ride. Wear a waterproof poncho. Buy one from your local dollar store and pack it into your luggage.
5. Primeval Whirl- Don't let this little ride fool you. It's super fun and packs a mean punch.
{Entertainment} Festival of the Lion King- "Ooooo Ahhhhh it feels so nice and cool in here." A beautiful performance and a nice way to relax your feet and cool off.
{My Fave Cheap Eats} Flame Tree Barbeque- NO MORE burgers, pizza, and hot dogs Pleaseeeeee....Yay for BBQ Chicken and Ribs! Oh and watch out for the cute little birds roaming around the outdoor pavilions. They will try to snatch your food.
Enjoy!Listed in: Disney Magic
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Review from Rachel C.
10/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Animal is tops on my Disney list! It's just such a fun combo of theme park and zoo. I get to see my furry (and sometimes not so furry) friends and ride amazing rides!
Since I've been on a Disney kick lately I can give you some quick tips that will hopefully be helpful for your visit....
*Come on Monday or Friday: everyone heads to Magic or Hollywood Studio's when they start or end their vacation so it will be less crowded here on these days
*First thing to do when you get to the park is go right to Expadition Everest and get a fast pass to ride it faster later on
*Then head to Kilimanjaro's Safari, the earlier you go the better because the animals will be out earlier in the AM
*If it rains go to Kilimanjaro's Safari, the animals like the rain and the cool down so they come out to play then!
*Definitely see The Festival of the Lion King, it's mini Cirque du Soleil meets Disney performance
*Definitely see Finding Nemo: The Musical, it's not a cheesy theme park show, it's a quality mini Disney Broadway production
*Eat at the Flame Tree BBQ, best food in the park (Disney is known for having craptacular food in the park, but this is acutally decent!)
*The Dinosaur ride may look kid friendly because it's in DinoLand but it's terrifying! But a lot of people like it....I'm just a scaredy cat!
*Remember, the walkways are incredibly tiny, so your foot will probably get run over by a stroller at some point...so beware!
Have fun!!Listed in: Walt Disney World
