Animal Kingdom often gets talked about as only a half-day park. However, there are many must do’s at Animal Kingdom that can easily take up an entire day. Learn these 12 tips to spend a Full Day at Animal Kingdom.
1. Breakfast
Having a wild time at Animal Kingdom starts with breakfast. Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery is perfect for a quick, light breakfast. Choose from items such as Hot Breakfast Wrap, Muffins and more. For a filling dining experience, consider the Tusker House Restaurant which is also a character breakfast experience with Safari Donald Duck and friends. This breakfast buffet includes Mickey Waffles, Scrambled Eggs, Jungle Juice and more.
2. Morning Fastpass+
Save time by selecting your Fastpass+ prior to your vacation (60 days out for Disney Resort guests & 30 days out non-resort guests at 7am ET). I suggest selecting the times for 9:30, 10:30 & 11:30.
Best morning Fastpass+ selections:
3. Photo Opportunities
Look for the Nikon Picture Spots around Animal Kingdom. There is one when you enter the park and many around Discovery Island, to capture the Tree of Life in the background. Guests who go to the attraction, it’s a bug’s life, will be treated to up close looks of the Tree of Life, this queue is also perfect for photo opportunities. There are also many opportunities to capture pictures of animals, consider the Affection Station, Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail or the Maharajah Jungle Trek.
4. Lunch
At Flame Tree Barbecue choose from options such as Ribs and Chicken Combo, many of their entrees are big enough to be shared. If pizza is your groups favorite, head to Pizzafari. For healthier lunch options consider Satu’li Canteen in Pandora – World of Avatar, they have unique food bowls with fresh ingredients.
5. DinoLand
DinoLand is perfect for an afternoon at Animal Kingdom. Play the Fossil Fun Games and try to win a prize. Then, let your little ones get some energy out at The Boneyard, while you take a seat.
6. Snacks
Between meals, refuel with delicious snacks. Many guests go for a Chocolate covered frozen banana, found at ice cream carts in the park. Another favorite is the Dole Whip from Tamu Tamu. The Elephant Ear Pastry from Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery is yet another example.
7. Characters
Collect Character autographs from various favorite Characters around Animal Kingdom. Meet Doc McStuffins in the Conservation Station. Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost on Discovery Island. Meet Pocahontas at Character Landing. These are just a few examples of character experiences.
8. Shows
When the heat of the afternoon sun gets to intense and you need a break inside, consider one of the two amazing shows Animal Kingdom Offers. Finding Nemo – The Musical and The Festival of the Lion King will get you a break for at least a half hour each.
9. Wilderness Explorers
A hidden gem of Animal Kingdom is the Wilderness Explorers, which is often overlooked by guests. Children can pick up their field guide at many locations including Wilderness Explorer stops in Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch and more. Then, complete self-guided adventures to earn badges, explore with your family as you learn about nature. Collect sticker badges for completing the following:
- Veterinary Badge – Help diagnose a sea turtle’s health issue
- Dinosaur Badge – Join in the exploration for dinosaur fossils
- Animal Find Badge – Check off each of the animals you see
- Yeti Badge – Find Yeti artifacts and hear about the folklore
10. Dinner
If you’ve worked up a dinosaur appetite, stop at Restaurantosaurus and dine on options such as Bacon Cheeseburger Combo, breaded Shrimp and more. For a wild dinner, go to the Rainforest Café, which contains elaborate rainforest theming. Lunch and Dinner options are interchangeable.
11. Pandora – World of Avatar
Save this land for last (unless you can score an early Fastpass+ for Avatar Flight of Passage). Since in the evening, Pandora glows. When the sun goes down in this land, the bioluminescent plants shine. Stop to play the drums, and admire the floating mountains. Guests can even adopt a Banshee at Windtraders.
12. Nighttime Entertainment
End your evening at Animal Kingdom by seeing the Tree of Life Awakenings. Watch the Tree of Life in the evening come alive with splashes of color & light. When night falls, this display will occur approximately every 10 minutes until park closing. Another beautiful display of lights is the Rivers of Light show. Rivers of Light takes place on Discovery River, and has 2 showings nightly.
Learn more about the Walt Disney World Parks including attractions, secrets, tips and more. Plus my friends at Destinations in Florida can help you plan your perfect Walt Disney World vacation.