12 Animal Kingdom Tips You Need To Know

If you are heading out to the parks, here are 12 Animal Kingdom tips you need to know.

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 book a Fastpass+ reservation before you arrive), 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.
Animal Kingdom 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. When the park opens, everyone will head back to Africa to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris. You want to book a Fastpass+ to it for 10-11 am and instead head to Dinoland where you can ride Triceratop Spin multiple times and go on Primeval Whirl and Dinosaur with no wait.
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 “rider switch.” 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!), Animal Kingdom 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.
At 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. 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 pathway to the right side of the Oasis. 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.