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Are you looking for a super 1-Day Animal Kingdom itinerary to outsmart the crowds and get in all probability probably the most out of your Walt Disney World journey?
Desire a summary of rope drop solutions and information on how one can plan your day throughout the park
Our 1-day Animal Kingdom itinerary highlights all of these issues and presents a step-by-step touring plan for an excellent day at Animal Kingdom.
For a totally glorious in the end at Animal Kingdom, bear in mind to take advantage of these wise solutions whereas taking time to learn from the Disney ambiance that makes Animal Kingdom so specific!
Crucial Uncover: This 1-day Animal Kingdom itinerary has been updated many events over the previous couple of years to reflect its ongoing modifications.
It represents the permanement suspension of the Disney FastPass system and Disney Magical Categorical, along with the additions of the Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and Lightning Lane firms.
The overall construction of the park has not not modified, nonetheless.
Subsequently, our commonplace 1-day Animal Kingdom itinerary continues to operate an excellent helpful useful resource for planning your upcoming Disney World journey!
Animal Kingdom Itinerary: Crucial Considerations
You could’t merely wing it as regards to planning a Walt Disney World journey.
You could try to go along with no plan, nonetheless you’ll probably end up being dissatisfied, significantly if it’s your first go to.
Our Animal Kingdom itinerary makes it easy as a way to get in all probability probably the most out of your go to by outlining the order it’s best to go to rides and factors of curiosity.
It is the wonderful approach for these visiting Animal Kingdom for in the end.
In case you’re visiting the park for an prolonged time interval, you need to nonetheless reap the advantages of this plan, nonetheless.
When customizing your Animal Kingdom touring plan, bear in mind to comply with the general idea of getting a steady rope drop approach and whole itinerary that compliments the construction of the rides contained in the park.
It’ll maximize effectivity and cut back the time period spent standing in prolonged strains.
My Quick Concepts on Disney Genie+ and Specific particular person Lightning Lane
Disney Genie+ and Specific particular person Lightning Lane (ILL) passes are Disney’s new ‘skip the widespread’ line decisions which may be purchased alongside along with your widespread theme park entry.
Though it seems sophisticated at first, they’re actually pretty easy to utilize whenever you do your evaluation ahead of time.
When you solely have in the end at Animal Kingdom, I wish to advocate that you just purchase every Disney Genie+ and an Specific particular person Lightning Lane cross for Avatar Flight of Passage (in case your funds allow).
I moreover 100% recommend shopping for Disney Genie+ and Specific particular person Lightning Lane (ILL) passes when visiting the parks all through the height seasons of Christmas, Thanksgiving, Spring Break, and 3-day weekend holidays akin to President’s Day and Memorial Day – besides, in truth, you don’t ideas standing in line for 2 hours!
For guests who want to get on as many rides as doable, Disney Genie+ and Specific particular person Lighting Lane purchases are correctly undoubtedly well worth the added worth to stay away from spending hours prepared in line.
With that acknowledged, let’s try the first mandatory steps required to plan a worthwhile day at Animal Kingdom!
Animal Kingdom Itinerary: Preliminary Steps
- Study Animal Kingdom reservation availability.
- Purchase your theme park tickets.
- Make Animal Kingdom theme park reservations.
- Know Animal Kingdom’s park hours for the day of your go to.
- Search the recommendation of an Animal Kingdom crowd calendar.
- Analysis the Animal Kingdom map.
- Make an inventory of ‘must-do’ rides and reveals.
1. Study Theme Park Reservation Availability
Along with shopping for a theme park ticket, that you should make a theme park reservation for on daily basis you’d wish to go to any of the Walt Disney World theme parks.
This consists of needing to make a reservation to go to Animal Kingdom.
It’s mandatory that you just start by checking Disney’s theme park availability calendar to see if the date(s) you intend to go to have availability sooner than shopping for your ticket, Annual Cross, or journey bundle deal – as park reservations do run out all through peak seasons.
2. Purchase Theme Park Tickets
After ensuring reservation availability, purchase your Animal Kingdom tickets.
Individually, the only technique to purchase a ticket to Magic Kingdom (or any of the Disney World theme parks) is to buy them straight from a Disney Journey Agent or from the Disney World website online.
Others choose to buy them from a licensed ticket vendor or discounted ticket website online.
Be sure you stick with revered third-party sellers, nonetheless, and ensure that there are not any hidden utilization pointers that apply.
Study proper right here to be taught regarding the three numerous sorts of park tickets accessible: 1 Park Per Day, Park Hopper Alternative, and Park Hopper Plus Alternative.
3. Make Theme Park Reservations
Then, because of restricted availability of theme park reservations, make your reservation immediately after shopping for your admission ticket as a strategy to guarantee your spot.
Theme park reservations will likely be made on-line on the Disney World website online, or via the My Disney Experience cell app.
4. Analysis Animal Kingdom Hours
Animal Kingdom hours fluctuate by day, by month, and by season.
This can be very essential to confirm the Animal Kingdom hours for the day that you just plan on visiting the park in order that you may plan your Animal Kingdom itinerary accordingly.
The Animal Kingdom park hour calendar reveals early entry hours and park hours, along with the events of events, parades, fireworks, and nighttime leisure.
Moreover, discover that virtually each half involving keep animals at Animal Kingdom closes sooner than sunset.
Which signifies that Kilimanjaro Safari and all nature trails can shut 2 – 3 hours sooner than the rest of the park counting on the day-to-day sunset.
Further planning tip: Early theme park entry is a revenue for registered Guests staying at Disney Resort motels and completely different select motels.
It entails attending to enter Magic Kingdom and driving select rides Half-hour sooner than the park’s scheduled opening time.
5. Search the recommendation of the Animal Kingdom Crowd Calendar
Our 1-day Animal Kingdom itinerary assumes common to extreme crowds on the park when strains are prolonged.
The reality is, this exact plan was utilized when crowds had been rated 9/10 consistent with Touring Plans.
With a objective to perform this itinerary in a single day, some a lot much less commonplace factors of curiosity are skipped.
Regardless of should you go to, nonetheless, this Animal Kingdom touring plan is optimized and ordered so that strolling and your waits in line are minimized.
Further planning tip: In case you’re planning on visiting plenty of Disney parks all through your Orlando itinerary, we extraordinarily recommend alternating park days with non-park days.
Disney World non-park days offset the busyness of the crowds and help maintain you completely energized!
6. Analysis a map of Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom is huge, the reality is, it is 4 events bigger than Magic Kingdom and practically twice the dimensions of EPCOT.
With a objective to forestall wandering spherical aimlessly, I wish to advocate that you just always overview a park map and have a traditional idea of the park’s construction sooner than going.
Animal Kingdom contains six “lands” that sort an enormous circle, with Discovery Island throughout the middle (as confirmed throughout the seen beneath).
The Animal Kingdom lands embrace:
- The Oasis
- Discovery Island (Dwelling to the Tree of Life)
- DinoLand U.S.A.
- Africa
- Asia
- Pandora: The World of Avatar
When planning your Animal Kingdom itinerary, bear in mind to know what ‘must-do’ rides and reveals are via which land, as the final purpose is to do as many rides as doable in each land sooner than transferring on to the following one.
This decreases the time period you may waste zig-zagging contained in the park.
It moreover cuts down on the amount of strolling you may do all via the course of the day.
Further planning tip: Together with this itinerary, don’t overlook to hunt the recommendation of helpful know sooner than you go Disney tips to stay away from preventable touring errors.
And ultimate, double-check your Disney packing itemizing to make sure that you have not left behind the best 9 most forgotten devices to have with you throughout the park.
7. Make an inventory of ‘must-do’ rides and reveals.
Animal Kingdom is a mixture of rides, reveals, nature trails, animal shows, and character meet-n-greets.
Though it is Disney World’s largest park, Animal Kingdom can undoubtedly be carried out in in the end when using a steady touring plan. (Some people with Park Hopper tickets solely spend 1/2 day at Animal Kingdom – nonetheless I undoubtedly recommend a full day if it is your first time visiting.)
Communicate along with your family members or whoever you’re visiting with and make an inventory of your ‘must-do’ rides and factors of curiosity and bear in mind to allow time for them in your Animal Kingdom itinerary.
Essentially the most well-liked rides embrace Avatar Flight of Passage, Navi River Journey, Kilimanjaro Safari, DINOSAUR, and Expedition Everest.
1 Day Animal Kingdom Itinerary
Earlier to your arrival at Animal Kingdom, bear in mind to acquire the official Walt Disney World app on the App Retailer of the Google Play Retailer.
This app, which has always been helpful, is now vital.
You’ll use it to take a look at wait events, order quick-service meals and make consuming reservations, along with entry all Disney Genie digital firms.
I moreover extraordinarily recommend placing within the free Play Disney Parks app, as there are some good attraction-themed video video games, actions, and trivia which will maintain children busy whereas prepared in line.
Animal Kingdom Arrival
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is located off Osceola Parkway throughout the southwest nook of Walt Disney World.
It’s not faraway from Blizzard Seaside, Coronado Springs Resort, and the All-Star Resorts.
Animal Kingdom has its private parking zone ($25/day parking cost) with close-in parking for the disabled.
As quickly as parked, you could stroll to the doorway or catch a visit on one in all many parking zone trams.
The park might be linked to completely different Walt Disney World places by the Disney bus system.
Within the occasion you’re staying at a Disney resort and plan to achieve at Animal Kingdom sooner than the official park opening, undoubtedly plan on using Disney transportation fairly than taking your particular person automotive.
Discover: Disney Skyliner is barely accessible from assorted resorts to each Epcot or Hollywood Studios and does not service Animal Kingdom.
Animal Kingdom Park Entry
We propose attending to the park turnstiles 45-60 minutes earlier to the scheduled park opening, significantly on projected busy days.
The act has prolonged been generally called ‘rope drop’.
Rope drop entails attending to Animal Kingdom sooner than it begins working for the day in order that you may be among the many many very first guests to enter and profit from the factors of curiosity.
It primarily means solely having a small wait at your first journey, after which having 1 hour to journey rides with the shortest strains of the day.
In several phrases, the similar 4 rides you experience in 1 hour upon rope dropping can take as long as 5 hours after 10:30 AM.
The subsequent solutions will assist you make the most of rope drop at Animal Kingdom:
Animal Kingdom often permits guests by way of the turnstiles wherever from 30-60 minutes earlier to its official opening counting on the time of yr and anticipated crowd.
- After strolling by way of the Oasis there may be a rope manned by cast members stopping guests from coming into the completely completely different entrances into each of the lands.
- You’ll be succesful to tell which one is the path to Pandora because of 95% of the guests may be there.
- In case you want to Rope Drop Avatar Flight of Passage, it’s best to reach 60-75 minutes earlier to opening as wait events accumulate immediately in case you aren’t throughout the first 10% of the group.
- Avatar Flight of Passage sometimes begins working 15-Half-hour sooner than the park formally opens, nonetheless, completely different factors of curiosity do not begin working until park opening.
- Immediately at park opening, cast members take away the ropes (due to this fact the establish “rope drop”) allowing you to walk briskly, nonetheless not run, to regardless of land/attraction you want.
- Within the occasion you truly want to journey with no wait, be as close to the doorway of any prepared rope drop crowd as you could. After rope drop, immediate waits of as a lot as 60 minutes for normal factors of curiosity will sort.
Animal Kingdom Rides: Morning Plan
The subsequent 1-Day Animal Kingdom itinerary assumes a 9 AM park opening with out the early entry revenue for onsite guests.
We moreover do not think about Disney Genie+ reservations as not all people makes use of Genie+, and for people who do, every journey choice and return time is completely completely different making it inconceivable to create a standard touring plan.
Regulate the events accordingly whenever you’re visiting when there’s a novel park opening time.
7:00 AM: Purchase Specific particular person Lightning Lane Passes (when you choose). Set your alarm to go onto your My Disney Experience app to purchase an Specific particular person Lightning Lane cross for Avatar Flight of Passage.
8:15 AM: Park arrival. Bear bag confirm and
9:00 AM: Official Park Opening. Head in your first journey as listed beneath.
Morning Rides and Factors of curiosity Schedule
Within the occasion you get to Animal Kingdom spherical or sooner than the official park opening time, the first stop of your day should be Pandora – World of Avatar.
Do Avatar Flight of Passage first, and Navi’ River Journey second.
(In case you might have time on the end of the day, head once more to Pandora – World of Avatar to experience it at evening time.)
As quickly as arriving in Pandora throughout the morning, journey:
1. Avatar Flight of Passage
2. Navi’ River Journey
Wait events for every World of Avatar factors of curiosity peak inside the primary two hours as quickly because the park is open, so whenever you aren’t coming into correct on the park opening, save every Pandora rides until the tip of the day.
Subsequent, head to:
3. DINOSAUR
4. Kali River Rapids (Beware. You are going to get moist on this journey!)
5. Feathered Mates in Flight! (35-minute exterior hen current)
6. Maharajan Jungle Trek (A not-to-miss exterior nature path; probe for Half-hour)
7. Expedition Everest
Animal Kingdom Rides: Afternoon Plan
Animal Kingdom does not have a day-to-day parade, nonetheless instead, they’ve frequent ‘cavalcades’ of characters on the Discovery River (Animal Kingdom’s waterway that circles the center of the park.)
The cavalcades usually run about every quarter-hour or so and their exact events will likely be seen on the app.
Cavalcades are a shorter mannequin of a parade via which characters appear, wave, and entertain guests. At Animal Kingdom, the characters are driving on boats generally known as “Flotillas”.
With that acknowledged, whenever you get off Expedition Everest and have lunch, rest your stomach whereas sitting on the massive bleachers (in entrance of Expedition Everest) and watch the floating Flotillas.
Then, catch a day exhibiting of A Celebration of Competitors of the Lion King.
It’s a extremely regarded current and attracts big crowds, so bear in mind to plan ahead and get in line early.
Afternoon Rides and Factors of curiosity Schedule
1. Watch the Flotillas from the bleachers near Expedition Everest
2. Watch Competitors of the Lion King (30-minute theatrical experience)
3. Kilimanjaro Safaris (25-minute safari trek in a 36-passenger jeep)
4. Gorilla Falls Exploration Path (An outside nature path – probe for 20 minutes)
5. Rafiki’s Planet Watch (Board the Wildlife Categorical Follow – 5 minutes each technique – to Rafiki’s Planet Watch and go to Animal Kingdom’s Conservation Station. The ultimate day-to-day put together departs from Harambe Station at 4:30 PM.)
6. Discovery Island Path & Otter Grotto (An outside nature path – probe for quarter-hour)
7. Go to the Tree of Life (Sit up for the Winged Encounters that occur plenty of events all via the day near the Tree of Life – there are not any set events.)
8. It’s Strong to Be A Bug (10-minute prolonged animated film)
9. Discovering Nemo: The Huge Blue…And Previous! (25-minute stage current)
10. Go to Pandora – The World of Avatar as soon as extra at evening time!
There is not a nightly fireworks current at Animal Kingdom.
The closest issue that Animal Kingdom has to a nighttime spectacular is the Tree of Life Awakenings, which is a light-weight projection current that reveals on the Tree of Life.
This usually begins spherical dusk each evening time and continues until shortly after park closing.
Animal Kingdom Consuming
There are a selection of excellent places to eat in Animal Kingdom that current a risk to relax out and refuel.
Between sit-down consuming locations and quick-service walk-up counters, the options are limitless.
Our absolute favorite quick-service service restaurant (no reservations required) is Flame Tree BBQ located on Discovery Island. There’s tons of shaded exterior seating overlooking the lagoon – and in addition you utterly ought to try the Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Pulled Pork!
In case you want to splurge, try to snag superior reservations at Tiffins – probably the most well-liked table-service restaurant at Animal Kingdom.
Within the occasion you’re visiting Disney World on a worth vary, nonetheless, bear in mind ‘snacking’ your technique throughout the park, instead of spending giant bucks on Disney consuming.
A number of of our favorites embrace the Night time time Blossom slushie and Pongu Lumpia from Pongu Pongu inside Pandora and naturally, Dole Whip or the Simba Sunset from Tamu Tamu.
*Click on on proper right here for our distinctive FREE Family Journey Packing Itemizing and BONUS Disney Day Bag Packing Itemizing to complement your Disney journey!
Most interesting Lodging for Animal Kingdom
The proximity of onsite motels to the theme park entrance, and the Disney theme and buyer assist that carries over to their motels is a big enhancement to the final Disney experience.
As with all principal theme parks in Florida (Attempt our overview of on-property locations at Widespread Studios), we strongly recommend staying at a Disney resort or resort when you’ll be able to afford the dearer worth of their motels.
It’s moreover very useful whenever you’ve received youthful children and will need to take a break throughout the afternoon for a nap or a swim throughout the pool.
For households with older children who plan for his or her day from rope drop to park closing, proximity to the park will not be as mandatory.
Subsequently, you could want to try off-site motels for lower nightly costs.
Lodge Varieties at Disney World
Lodging at Walt Disney World are broken up into three categories- Deluxe, Affordable, and Price.
This categorization is in relation to their services and their nightly room costs. (Deluxe being in all probability probably the most luxurious and expensive, Price being in all probability probably the most basic and fairly priced.)
Disney moreover presents onsite Deluxe Villas and campgrounds.
Most guests bear in mind Disney’s Deluxe Lodging as being a bit further luxurious as they supply further services, beautiful rooms, and really immersive experiences.
The perks of Disney’s Deluxe Resort motels embrace additional Disney transportation decisions, location to the theme parks, and larger commonplace room sizes.
Disney’s Deluxe Resort Lodging embrace:
- Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Boardwalk Inn
- Fashionable Resort
- Grand Floridian Resort & Spa,
- Polynesian Village Resort
- Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Yacht Membership Resort
- Disney’s Seaside Membership Resort
- Furthermore, the model new Riviera Resort is taken under consideration a Deluxe Resort.
- Totally different select deluxe motels embrace: Disney’s Dolphin and Swan motels, and Swan Reserve
Disney’s Affordable Resort motels typically embrace a full-service restaurant together with meals courts, a swimming pool with a slide and scorching tub, recreation decisions, and some varieties of Disney transportation.
Significantly, on the Caribbean Seaside Resort, you could take the Skyliner to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, and you could take a ship from Fort Wilderness Resort to Magic Kingdom.
Disney’s Affordable Resorts embrace:
- Caribbean Seaside Resort
- Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- Coronado Springs Resort
- Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Disney’s Price Resorts are recognized to be in all probability probably the most budget-friendly.
The standard rooms on the Price Resorts are typically barely smaller in measurement, with fewer services than you’ll uncover on the Affordable or Deluxe Resorts.
Each Price Resort consists of an onsite meals courtroom, two or further swimming swimming swimming pools, and Disney transportation via bus.
In addition to, Disney’s Skyliner now presents aerial transportation from a shared station between Pop Century and Art work of Animation to Caribbean Seaside, the place guests change to each Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s Price Resort Lodging embrace:
- Pop Century Resort
- All-Star Music Resort
- All-Star Movies Resort
- Art work of Animation Resort
1 Day Animal Kingdom Itinerary: Conclusion
In conclusion, this Animal Kingdom itinerary was the proper combination of rides, factors of curiosity, and reveals.
We felt like we did all of it!
Every dad or mum is conscious of their children’ limits, along with is conscious of what touring plan goes to work for his or her family, nonetheless.
This consists of deciding on factors of curiosity that you may skip, versus must-do rides.
In our opinion, that’s the proper Animal Kingdom touring plan…we hope you suppose so too!
Within the occasion you appreciated finding out our Animal Kingdom Itinerary, proceed planning your Walt Disney World journey with us!
Disney World Touring Plans:
Disney World Expertise Recommendations:
Disney World Planning Recommendations:
Disney World Value:
*Sooner than leaving, bear in mind to confirm our Journey Belongings Internet web page to hunt out distinctive journey reductions and to e-book motels, rental autos, and guided excursions.*
