- Did you know that there is a secret entrance to the Animal Kingdom? If you go through the Rain Forest Cafe’s gift shop and out the doors at the back, there is a fun garden type area with oversized vegetation. There is also a working turnstyle with a CM that you can use to get into the park! A lot of people don’t know about this and thus it isn’t very busy.
- Characters are often found just outside the entrance to Animal Kingdom. They are more likely to be there in the morning, but I have seen them in the afternoon too. These are usually animal or bug characters such as Rakiki, Terk and more.
- At the end of the day, Donald, Goofy, Mickey and Minnie will be at the exit to the park to wave goodbye and thank you for coming.
- Animal Kingdom is the only Park that has doors on the washrooms. This is due to the safety of guests in the very unlikely event that a dangerous animal escapes. The doors all have deadbolts on them.
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The Oasis
The Oasis is the Animal Kingdom equivalent of Main Street. It is usually open 30 – 60 minutes after the rest of the park closes.
There are quite a few trials through the Oasis. Usually the ones on the far left and right side are faster. And because most people go to their right, I would take the left path.
People rarely take the path to the right
Discovery Island
Discovery Island is home to the amazing Tree of Life. There are 4 different trails that go through this area. Some take you right up to the tree!
Ask CMs about the animals
Look for the path by the temporary tattoo stand
Make sure you pick up a map of the park. You will notice 4 black paw prints. These are used to mark the Discovery Island trails.
While you explore the trails, look for hidden rocks. You will see some holes in the rocks. Be sure to look in them!
There is a character greeting spot on Discovery Island. It is located right by the bridge to DinoLand. Be sure to stop by to meet some of your favorites including Winnie the Pooh!
– Located inside the Tree of Life
– This is a Fastpass attraction.
– Good place to go on a hot summer day.
– Might scare little kids. (We have not and do not plan to do this one yet)
– Enter the exit of It’s Tough to be a Bug and keep going past the exit doors, you’ll find a nice quiet path.
Sit near the rear in the middle
Look up as the show ends
There are pokers in the back of the seat that imulates bugs. Put a coat or backpack between little ones and seat.
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Africa
Look for drums between Africa and Asia
Rocks in the water under the bridge look like Animals
Spot the coke bottle on top of the power line
– Be sure to use Fastpass instead of waiting in the line!
– I suggest grabbing a Fastpass and checking out the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail while you wait for your return time.
– The best times to ride are either first thing in the morning or after a light rain. The animals will be more active.
– Be sure to look up during the ride. There is a chart of the animals located above your head to make it easy to identify them!
– Make sure you seat your kids on the inside. This will keep them from reaching out and touching the vegetation that comes very close to the vehicle.
Sit on the outside to take pics
Flamingo Pond is shaped like Mickey
if it starts to drizzle, head to the safari
at the end of the day, animals are active and driver stops for more photos
- Each species of animal in AK have their own sound that they are trained to come back to be fed when they hear it played over the loudspeakers.
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The lions stay on Pride Rock on the Safari ride because there are holes in it and they push cold air thru it
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
– This trail gets really busy after the first group of people are getting back from the Safari ride. They get off the ride and immediately go and explore this trail.
– There are 2 viewing areas for the Gorillas. A lot of people don’t realize this. So if the first area is crowded, continue on and you will be able to see them again. .
– Allow 20 or so minutes to tour this trail.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch
You have to take a train to reach the Conservation station.
Conservation Station and Affection Station
– Opens 30 minutes after the rest of the park.
– Has a petting station for the kids to pet baby animals.
– There is a lovely mural at the entrance of the building. There are approximately 30 Hidden Mickeys in the mural.
Conservation Station is also a great place for to meet characters. We met Rafiki, Jiminy Cricket and Pocahontas.
Wildlife Express Train
– Takes you to the conservation station.
– Pick a seat in the middle of the train for easy exit.
Vets look after sick animals
bug scavenger hunt
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Asia
Look for Devine
Look for prayer trees near Anandauper. They are draped with scarves commemorating dead loved ones.
There is a path behind the Tree of Life that links Africa and Asia. Along the path are large African drums and other instruments. Be sure to stop and play a few beats.
– This is a Fastpass ride. Make sure you use it if the line is longer than 20 minutes.
– The height on this ride is 44″
– This ride has a Single Rider line. This can be faster than waiting in the regular line, but your party will likely not ride together.
how long is this ride 2:51?
Ride in the back and look to your left behind you and you will see the Contemporary as you go up the steep incline.
– 25 minute show.
– Arrive 10 – 15 minutes before the show starts.
– Stay after the show. The bird handlers will bring a few birds to the stage for you to look closely at, ask questions and photograph.
– Look for the bathroom close to the show. There is an amazing view on the path to the bathroom!
– Fastpass ride. Make sure you get a Fastpass if the line is longer than 20 minutes.
– 38″ height requirement.
– You will likely get wet.
– If you aren’t riding, be sure to stand on the bridge over Kali River Rapids. Look for the buttons. Push them when the boats come by and get the riders wet!
Ask a CM to tell you the story behind the queue
Bring a change of clothes and use the lockers
If you go backwards down the drop, you are going to end up getting soaked!
Consider wearing a pancho
Bring a trashbag for your stuff ify ou don’t use the lockers
When riding more than once, duck under the rope after you exit and go throught the last building and it takes you back to the entrance to the line. This is not cutting. Just skipping the path in front of the ride.
Look for the real life geckos in Mr. Panika’s Office
– Takes about 20 – 30 minutes to tour. It’s a long path!
– There are no bathrooms on the trail so make sure you go to the bathroom first!
Check the feeding times
Look for fort across from tram dawa bar
Safari Amber beer sold at dawa bar
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Dinoland
– A fun playground for kids under 10.
– A good place to hang out with the younger kids while the older kids ride Dinosaur, Primeval Whirl, Expedition Everest or Kali River Rapids.
– Make sure you life up the crates to hear something cool!
Go over the bridge to the sand pit
– Fastpass ride. Grab one if the line is over 20 minutes.
– 40 inches height requirement.
– Might scare young kids! We won’t be taking ours on it anytime soon.
Front seat is the smoothest, back seat is the wildest
make your way to the side while people are watching the video
– 48 inch height requirement.
– Be sure you observe it before you ride it, you might change your mind!
– Be sure to check your times guide for show times.
– The last show of the day is often the least crowded.
– Try to sit in the back right corner.
Theater holds 1500 people
Look for bubbles before the show starts
Sometimes puppeteers talk to the audience after the show. Sit up front of you want to hear.
– Animal Kingdom’s version of Dumbo.
– It will be most crowded from 1 pm – 4 pm.
– Holds up to 64 people.
– Arcade style games for the kids.
– Always win a prize.
– Cost $2.50 per game
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Camp Minnie Mickey
Look for dinosaur sue. She is a replica of the largest T-rex ever found. It was found in Black Hills of South Dakota.
Camp Minnie-Mickey is the place to meet Mickey, Minnie and their friends! This is also home of the amazing Lion King show. If you aren’t going to see the show, I suggest you visit this land during the showing of the Lion King. It won’t be busy at all!
This land doesn’t open until 10 am. I try to get to this land when it opens to avoid the crowds. We get longer visits with the characters and we also see the first showing of The Lion King. You do not want to miss this show! It’s amazing!!
Each character has their own spot in Camp Minnie-Mickey. It also has it’s own line. You will have to wait in separate lines to see each character, but if you get their early in the day there won’t be hardly any wait!
Look for goofy fishing as you leave this land.
– Be sure to check your times guide for the show times. The show lasts 25 minutes.
– If you sit in the front row, you might be chosen to play music!
– There are 4 sections of seats. Each section represents an animal. I won’t tell you which section represents which animal. ;)
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Parade
Animal Kingdom has a parade every day called Mickey’s Jammin Jungle Parade. Be sure to check your times guide for the specific time, but it’s usually in the 3 o’clock hour.
The parade starts and ends in Harambe. Most people don’t know this and will line up in Africa for the start of the parade and then they leave! If you wait until about 10 minutes after the parade starts and make your way to Harambe, you will get front row seats with no crowds! Plus Harambe will not be crowded at all afterwards. A lot of people leave Animal Kingdom after the parade.
Comes from the big doors next to K. Safaris
Animal Kingdom’s Kiss Goodnight
For about 20 minutes as the park closes, Donald, Goofy, Mickey and Minnie wave goodbye to guests at the exit of the park. Be sure to check out all the pictures here!
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Random Tips
The Animal Kingdom has a program for kids called Kids’ Discovery Club. You purchase one of the Safari Journals for $10.95 at the gift shop. As you tour Animal Kingdom, you look for the Kids’ Discovery Stations. Each station has a different activity and you receive a special stamp in your book when you complete the activity. When you have received all your stamps, you can turn it in for a special surprise.
You can also visit various locations throughout Animal Kingdom to get bonus stickers for your journal as well.
You can get all the details on this program here.
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Trouble finding a character? Call guest services at 407-824-2222 and they will let you know the character’s schedule for the day!
Always go left when it’s an option. People tend to go to the right.
Never follow the crowd. People tend to go with the crowd. If you watch for a moment, you might find a shorter line or a better way to get somewhere.
Counter service cashiers and security guards take one guest on their left and then one guest on their right. If you don’t see anyone on one side of them, don’t be afraid to approach.
Snacks
- Floats at Anandapur Ice Cream Truck in Asia
- Pork egg roll at Anandapaur Local Foods Cafe in Asia
- Chicken Fried Rice at Anandapaur Local Foods Cafe in Asia
- Pretzel at Asia Slush Cart
- Funnel Cake at Camp Kiosk in Camp Minnie Mickey
- Mickey’s Premium Bar located at the icecream carts
- Churros at Dino Bite Snacks in Dinoland
- Cinnamon Roll at Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery in Africa
- Brownie Paw at Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery in Africa
- White Chocolate Elephant Cupcakes at Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery in Africa
- Jalapeno Cheese Stuffed Pretzel at Safari Pretzel on Discovery Island
- Mango Smoothie at Tamu Tamu Cafe in Africa
Characters
Discovery Island
Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet and sometimes Tiger at the Character Landing across from Flame Tree Barbecue – 9:30am-1:30pm & 2:10pm-4:40pm
Lilo* and Stitch at Island Mercantile – 9:15am – 4:25pm
Flik* at Disney Outfitters Character Meet and Green from 9:20 to 2:10 pm
Camp Minnie Mickey
Definitely the best place to meet the characters. I always find very short lines here! Characters come out at 9:30 am
Mickey Mouse
Minnie the Mouse
Goofy
Chip and Dale
Br’er Rabbit*
Fox*
Bear*
I’ve also seen Rafiki here
DinoLand U.S.A.
Goofy and Pluto 10 am to 2 pm and 2:30 pm to 4:55
Rafiki’s Planet Watch
10:15 am – 5 pm
Rafiki*
Pocahontas*
Jiminy Cricket*
Africa Greeting Trails
9 am to 3:30 pm
Baloo*
King Louie*
Entrance
During the day I have seen characters meeting at the entrance
Rides to avoid with a bad back
- Dinosaur – Lots of side to side and up and down movement. Not to mention all the head jerking.
- Expedition Everest – Lots of movement.
- Kilimanjaro Safari – This is up there with Dinosaur as far as rough rides.
- Primeval Whirl – Probably one of the roughest rides at WDW.
Pizzafari has 6 rooms. Home, Nocturnal, Upside Down, Camoflauge, 4 Seasons and Bug Room
tusker house – Listen for the track playing of broken glass and dishes clanking together
My husband and I recently went to Disney World for our honeymoon and were a little nervous about Dinosaur. We are not thrill ride fans and couldn’t find a good explanation of what to expect on the ride. Can someone explain to us what it is so that on our next trip (in 5 months) we can try to experience this ride?
I did not know about all 4 trails at Discovery Island. Thanks.
Expedition Everest, single rider line is awesome. And if you wait through the other line and want the front row, they will typically make you wait in another short line. But it is worth the wait. Great view. Even my son loved the front row.
As far as the games at Dinoland, we haven’t won a prize every time. My son does typically win, but not every time. Last trip, he won first off on the ball in the hole, but then went to the basketball game and my husband try and got nothing. Now maybe they saw that we already had a prize from another game, who knows.
I love all rides, but the Primeval Whirl, I can’t stand. It is the only ride at Disney where I have almost thrown up. I hope my son never wants to ride it.
Kali River is a toss up sometimes about getting wet, but 9 out of 10 you will get wet and probably 4 out of 10 you will get soaked. My husband and mom love it though. They rode it 6 times last trip, without getting off. They will let you do that if there is a really short line.
Just a note that your kids can participate in the kidcot/ kid’s discovery activities without buying the journal for $10. When they do their first activity they will give them a small card that they can get stamped at each location. At least, this was the case in September 2010.
Kali River Rapids, you will get wet, you will likely get soaked it is all about how many people are in your raft and where you end up when you go near the splashs, one person might get soaked and the person next to them just gets sprinkled. You might get lucky the first time but you ride it a few times and you will end up soaked eventually. I suggest a swimsuit and/or meshy athletic clothing that dries fast.
My husband and I like Dinosaur, but it will jerk you around.
Dinosaur scared me and I’m a 26! (:
Animal Kingdom also has a Baby Care Center located behind the Creature Comforts store in the Discovery Island area. I have gone and they also have about 3 separate private nursing rooms with a rocking chair and changing table in each. I was the only one there and, like you said, these facilities are a nice way to get out of the heat and relax with your little one or just change their diaper.