March 2010

This is a guest post from my friend Valerie at Affording the Mouse.

I’m just going to come out and say it: Animal Kingdom is not my favorite Disney Park. I have daughters…princesses, if you will. They are enamored by fairytales, castles, and all things pink and fluffy—all of which are in short supply at Animal Kingdom. But that said, even my least favorite Disney Park is still one of the places I’d most like to be on any given day! And if you have an animal lover in the family, this park is going to be a favorite for sure! There is much to be enjoyed, even for princessy girly-girls. Here are a few of my favorite tips—going from more general park tips to those specific to Animal Kingdom—to help you get the most from your time at AK:

• Prioritize your day. Make a list of the “must do,” “wanna do,” and “skip if we run out of time” attractions. Hit the must dos first (or secure a FastPass), then move down the list.
• If you have children 5 or under, take or rent a stroller. We usually bring our own, since Disney’s rental prices are rather expensive.
• AK does not permit you to bring straws into the parks—even the tiny ones on juice boxes. They do provide special animal-friendly straws at restaurants, but no disposable plastic lids. If you have a child who isn’t quite ready for a lidless cup, bring a sippy cup from home.
• Get to the park at least thirty minutes before it opens to get through security. At about fifteen minutes until opening, you’ll be allowed to proceed to the Tree of Life for an opening show, where Mickey & the gang will entertain and welcome you. Mickey hops on his truck, and you can follow him (much like the rope drop at Magic Kingdom) into Harambe and to your first attraction of the day.
• Designate a FastPass “runner” to hold everyone’s tickets. This person can head immediately to an attraction and gather a FP while everyone else continues on to another attraction. The most popular FP attractions at AK are Everest, Dinosaur, and Kilimanjaro Safaris (although this attraction loads quickly and continuously, so FP isn’t always needed).
• If you have a child who isn’t tall enough to ride an attraction that the rest of the family wants to ride, ask the Cast Member at the entrance about doing a “child swap.” One adult can wait with the child while the rest of the party rides. Then, you switch places—without waiting in line again.
• If you have a toddler who needs a short nap, the Wildlife Express Train will sometimes lull a child to sleep. Sadly for parents (fortunately for everyone else!), AK doesn’t have any boring shows in cool, dark theatres—they’re much too fun for kids to sleep through! You might also find a shady bench on one of the jungle trails where your toddler can catch a power nap.
• Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade is a fun collection of elaborate animal-themed puppets, stilt walkers, and safari vehicles that most kids will enjoy. Choose your parade seat (or standing position) wisely, as this one nearly fills the narrow streets. I recommend asking a CM about the current parade route and watching it near the start. Then you can head to your next attraction while others are still watching.
• If you’re not interested in the parade, don’t plan crossing the park at this time. With the narrow walkways, you’ll likely be caught in the flow (unlike the Magic Kingdom, where you can almost always find a way around a parade). Your best bet is to find a couple of attractions close together and hit both of them during the parade.
• Character greetings take place primarily at Camp Minnie-Mickey. You can also usually find characters at the entrance (sometimes outside the gate, before you enter). The Conservation Station is a great place to see hard-to-find characters such as Pocahontas, Rafiki, and Jiminy Cricket. Looking for a specific character? Call 407-824-2222 and a CM will help you.
• Speaking of the Conservation Station, there is a lovely mural at the entrance of the building. There are approximately 30 Hidden Mickeys in the mural. Happy hunting!
• Check the park hours before you go. AK is the earliest closing park, so it’s easy to lose track of time and miss out on attractions you had planned to visit. If you have a park hopper ticket and the energy, you can hop over to whatever park is staying open the latest and get several more hours of touring time in for the day!
• Be sure to look for “DiVine,” usually on the pathways between Asia and Europe. This performance artist in elaborate costume and makeup is not to be missed! (And it’s actually pretty easy to miss her if you’re not looking, since she blends right in with the vegetation.)
• Listen to instructions given by CMs when boarding. For example, do use the netted cargo holds to keep personal belongings safe when riding Dinosaur, as they recommend. It’s very easy for items to fly out when the vehicle is in motion. And when they tell you that you might/will get wet on Kali River Rapids, they are not kidding. Plan accordingly (bring extra socks, wear a rain poncho, etc., if you want to stay mostly dry).
• If you plan to see Finding Nemo the Musical, plan on being in your seats approximately 30 minutes before showtime. This is a VERY popular show with only a few showings each day. Ditto on Festival of the Lion King (although this one is perhaps slightly easier to sneak in later).
• Kilimanjaro Safaris will provide a different experience each time you ride (although the dialogue is pretty much the same). Different animals are out and about at different times of day, and weather can be a factor as well. One of the best times to ride is during a light shower, as it brings the animals out in the open to cool off.

There’s so much to see and do, I can’t possibly share it all with you. But hopefully this is enough to get you started. Happy travels!

Valerie Gibbs is first and foremost a Disney enthusiast. She is passionate about helping families plan affordable Walt Disney World vacations. For personalized assistance, touring plans, and customized itineraries, you can contact her at: affordingthemouse@att.net, or visit www.affordingthemouse.com