Disney World Florida: Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom was the fourth Walt Disney World park to have been built, and was opened on Earth Day in 1998. The centrepiece of the park is the magnificent Tree of Life, a huge sculpture of a baobab tree with all kinds of intricate carvings on the trunk. The carvings feature a huge range of animals, some of which you can meet in the park on the safari. You’ll hear the sounds of the jungle all around you as you walk through the tropical environment of this amazing park. You can also learn about the past inhabitants of the earth; the dinosaurs, in Dinoland USA.
Like most of the Disney parks, Animal Kingdom is split into sections, each showcasing different wonders of nature.
Oasis
You’ll enter into Oasis, where you can turn down living paths and meet giant anteaters, babirusas, and spoonbills. Also in Oasis you’ll find the well-known Rainforest Café where you can try all kinds of foods. You can enter the Rainforest Café from the outside of the park as well as the inside.
Tip: Ask a cast member where and when you might find DiVine, a walking tree who shows off her grace to all onlookers.
Discovery Island
From Oasis, it’s a few steps over a bridge to Discovery Island where you can meet all kind of animals like Lemurs and Otters, as well as a couple of famous mice named Mickey and Minnie, in Adventurers Outpost. Head underneath the Tree of Life and enter the wondrous world of an insect in a 3D experience called ‘It’s Tough to be a Bug’. There are plenty of places to eat and drink on Discovery Island, like the Flame Tree Barbecue and Isle of Java.
Tip: Visit the Wilderness Explorers lodge by the bridge and pick up a guidebook to follow a specific trail. Each wild adventure will teach you loads of interesting things about the world around us.
Dinoland USA
Ride the fast-paced rollercoaster Primeval Whirl and fly high on TriceraTop Spin, before leaving the prehistoric fair to save a real dinosaur from extinction on the indoor ride DINOSAUR. Kids can visit The Boneyard and explore in the dirt to see what they can excavate. Then you could then to the theatre to see Finding Nemo – The Musical, a 40-minute display of puppetry and vocal talents, featuring original songs and vibrant puppets.
Tip: The nature of Dinoland USA means that the sun is strong pretty much all over, so bring lots of sun cream and bottled water to stay cool.
Asia
Next on your adventure you can visit the exotic jungles of Asia, encountering animals like tigers, gibbons and even real Komodo dragons! Ride the Kali River Rapids in a raft - but be prepared to get pretty wet - and go on a real, thrilling adventure to find a yeti on Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. You can try some Asian cuisine at Yak & Yeti or visit the Anandapur Ice Cream Truck for a cool, refreshing snack.
Tip: There are plenty of places along the walls and rocks surrounding the area to take a seat in the shade with a snack and a drink.
Africa
After Asia it’s round to Africa, where you can embark on a fantastic safari or follow an exploration trail on which you can meet The Lion King’s Rafiki. Then, head over to the Harambe Theatre to learn his story at Festival of the Lion King, a wonderful show for the whole family involving acrobatics, incredible vocals, and some familiar friends. You can grab some snacks at the Harambe Market, or sit down for a character dining experience at Tusker House Restaurant. You could even head to Zuri’s Sweet Shop to get yourself a treat to take away with you.
Tip: If you’re with confident little ones, try and sit near the front of the Harambe theatre and they might be asked to get involved with the show.
Pandora – The World of Avatar
The last stop is relatively new to Animal Kingdom. Disney teamed up with James Cameron, the director of Avatar, to bring Pandora to life. You’ll walk through an amazing, tropical environment with glowing plants and interactive stones. The area has two main attractions, Na’vi River Journey in which Pandora shows off the amazing plants and animals it has to offer, and Avatar Flight of Passage where you board a banshee and embark on an adrenalinadrenaline-inducinge. Here, you can eat at Satu’li Canteen to try some Pandoran cuisine, or try some slushy, fruity drinks at Pongu Pongu. You can even head to Windtraders, an Avatar themed gift shop, and adopt a shoulder banshee!
Tip: Visit Pandora at night to watch the place truly come to life.
Find out everything you need to know about Disney World Florida, or take a look at our Disney Cruise Line cruise and stay holidays to see what options there are for combining a Disney Cruise Line cruise with a few days in the parks. Discover more about the rest of the parks as here:
Magic Kingdom - Hollywood Studios - EPCOT - Water Parks & Other Attractions