What is there to do at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for adults?
Everything!
When it comes to exploring Disney World, my suitcase never rests. The latest notch in my Walt Disney World for grown-ups belt was Animal Kingdom (DAK).
Animal Kingdom park is the newest addition to the Disney family in Florida. It is also the most misunderstood park.
Think of it and several questions pop into mind.
Is it a zoo? It sure has a lot of exotic animals.
Does it have rides? Eight of them.
But the loudest question that thumps at the back of the mind remains – is Disney’s Animal Kingdom for adults.
Luckily, when it comes to Walt Disney World (WDW), age is just a number. I mean you don’t have to be 13 to live your childhood dreams.
However, for those adults who still feel self-conscious or a little iffy about going to the Disney parks, Animal Kingdom has good news for you.
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What to expect at Animal Kingdom?
This park has exotic animals from all over the world, but runs low on the thrill rides when compared to most theme parks.
That does not mean it is boring or any less entertaining than the others.
On the contrary, what makes it great for adults is that it has so much more to enjoy among the attractions.
However, lesser rides do not mean you won’t need the Lightning Lane Passes for Animal Kingdom. Remember, it has Avatar’s Pandora inspired land.
In fact, the new Pandora – World of Avatar attractions witness the longest waits and why not? Riding in them is like losing yourself to another world.
There are other rides like the Kilimanjaro Safari that constantly need a Lightning Lane reservation as well.
So, if you asked me which is one of the best Disney park for adults and solo adult travelers, I’d totally recommend the Animal Kingdom.
If it makes more sense, you can approach the park as a day at the zoo instead of a theme park to feel more comfortable as an adult.
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Can I do Animal Kingdom in one day?
Since the park is easy to explore within a day, you can split your Disney trip between Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, another great option for adults.
Many people scoff and claim it is a “half-day” park, and like many, I believed them when I planned my first trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
But with its natural landscapes and relaxing walkways, it was hard to rush through.
Plus, with additions of night-time entertainment and Pandora, there is no way you could enjoy the park if you were rushing trying to do it.
Being the youngest among the four, it certainly has a unique feel.
Designed with wider sidewalks and a variety of nooks with hidden treasures, the park is meant to be strolled leisurely, at a slower pace, possibly with beer.
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10 Best Things to Do at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for Adults
Here is a list of things to do in Animal Kingdom with additional tips to plan the perfect day.
- Hang out at the Nomad Lounge
- Watch the Festival of the Lion King
- Do the Wild Africa Trek tour
- Journey through Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
- Have Lunch at Tiffins
- Explore Harambe and watch the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe
- Create your own foodie tour
- Play the Wilderness Explorers
- End your day with the Savor the Savanna private tour and dinner
- Get up close with elephants in the Caring for Giants tour
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6 Tips to Plan an Adult Disney Trip to the Animal Kingdom
Despite being a bit further away from the other Disney Parks, the park is popular, which means managing time and planning your day becomes vital to creating the perfect trip.
The on-going expansion in the park also makes research and planning essential.
As I previously mentioned, some might remember Animal Kingdom as the “half-day” park, today it is four times the size of Magic Kingdom.
The sprawling massiveness alone can cause a bout of jitters to an easily-overwhelmed person like me.
Strategies to Follow
To ensure you don’t have to worry about it, I have listed the best Animal Kingdom tips that I found on the Internet or learned during my own trip to the park.
- Plan your Animal Kingdom itinerary around Pandora – The World of Avatar
- Always save a Lightning Lane Pass for one of Pandora’s rides, preferably Avatar Flight of Passage.
- Expect to spend more time in Pandora than planned with the shops and the restaurants, and be okay with it
- Do not get locked in on rides or restaurants – spend time interacting with the animals even after finishing the Kilimanjaro Safari
- Wear comfortable shoes because a 580-acre landscape of the park will require lots of walking
- Use the My Disney Experience app to examine the map of the park and develop a walking path beforehand to ensure you manage your itinerary from attraction to another without having to walk extra
Read NEXT: The Ultimate Walt Disney World Packing List for Adults
Best Animal Kingdom Rides for Adults
Although the park is a great choice for Disney adventure for adults and has a lesser number of rides, not all of them are exciting for the grown-ups.
You’d still want to be picky about which one to spend time riding.
Here is a list of all must-try rides at the kingdom for grown-up visitors like us.
- Flight of Passage
- Na’vi River Journey
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Expedition Everest
- DINOSAUR
- Kali River Rapids
Hipster Power Tip: Expedition Everest coaster has a single-rider line, which can be good for adult-only or solo trips.
Best Disney Animal Kingdom Shows for Adults
The park boasts a lively street-like ambiance that frequently rings with music. It is hard to explore the park without getting sucked into the magical world of Disney with the talented Cast Members.
There are acts like the Viva Gaia on Discovery Island and Tam Tam Drummers in Harambe that make you dance.
Perhaps, the best shows are those that are live. The park hosts three indoor live shows.
- Festival of the Lion King (widely praised and totally unmissable)
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! (a puppet show interpretation of the movie with great costumes, bubbles, and songs is a must-watch)
- Feathered Friends in Flight! (good but missable for those on a tight schedule)
Not only are live shows entertaining and creative to watch, but those performed indoors offer a break from the heat.
However, tagging them all in a single-day schedule will be a struggle as they all run for a bit longer duration.
Also, there are some awesome nighttime shows to juggle too! (Told you, not a half-day park).
Nighttime Shows
The recent addition of nighttime shows has given the park a completely new dimension. Though the park already teems with storybook charm, it becomes truly fantastic past the sundown.
There are four of these Animal Kingdom nighttime shows that are all absolutely unmissable. Some of them are a harlequin glow-in-the-dark version of the park’s morning shows.
- Pandora at Night
- Kilimanjaro Safari (evening rides are the best)
- Tree of Life (I love exploring it in the evening)
Riding Expedition Everest at Night
Apart from these, there’s the nighttime show of Expedition Everest too. The ride takes you through a glowing Everest.
It is short and you might want to enjoy this eye-popping nighttime version of it if you have extra time on your hands.
Pandora at Night
Topping the sundown charm is Pandora: The World of Avatar. It is a show that you will want to watch during the day as well as at night.
This gorgeous Avatar-themed area is heavy on details with its floating mountains and immersive Valley of Mo’ara.
There is no denying the lush beauty of Pandora under the sun. However, Pandora at night takes on a completely different vibe when the plants shimmer in its Bioluminescent forest.
It is so enchanting that I lost myself to its ethereal glow.
A Safari Night Ride
If you only want to ride the Kilimanjaro Safari once, I’d suggest you do it during the sunset.
This way you get to watch the animals under the dimmed sunlight, while still see nocturnal creatures.
Tree of Life
Among all the nighttime shows in the park, the most easily accessible is the Tree of Life.
It’s not in the true form that it used be for the official Tree of Life Awakenings show; however, you can admire it as it transforms in the evening with mystical lighting, music and imagery.
So, you can adjust a walk to it anytime you want.
Recommended: The Solo Theme Park Traveler’s Guide
Must-Do Animal Kingdom Attractions for Adults
For you, visiting the Disney World and not meeting the characters is like traveling Paris and missing the Notre Dame. It is the best childhood memory that actually comes to life.
At Animal Kingdom, you do not want to leave it to chance on meeting with the iconic Disney characters.
If you are anything like me, you’d want to rush to the Discovery Island at least once before setting out.
You can check the Characters section on the My Disney Experience app to know who is greeting and you will most likely find out that it is Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
The Animal Kingdom also has many interactive spaces too. Among those, the following are the once I’d highly recommend:
- Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Africa
- Maharajah Jungle Trek in Asia
- Discovery Island Trails
- The Oasis Exhibits
- Wilderness Explorers
- Rafiki’s Planet Watch
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What makes Disney’s Animal Kingdom unique?
When it comes to entertainment, Disney is always booming and offering more than we would anticipate. But at the Animal Kingdom, the list just seems to go on.
This is what makes the Animal Kingdom a unique park in the WDW family. With lesser rides and attractions, the park offers plenty to do even when you’ve think you’ve explored them all.
If you are running tight on schedule and can manage only one themed area, I’d say go for the shows in Africa.
After all, it is here that the drum-thumbing, groovy Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe, and Kora Tinga Tinga are performed.
The vibe of Africa in The Animal Kingdom is a pure mix of care-free, fun-geared, and somewhat bold.
Even if you are a shy solo traveler, you’d not be able to help but dance and clap along with the drum beats.
WATCH: 13 Beginner Tips for Going to Disney World This Year!
Food and Drink Scene at The Animal Kingdom
With the two main themed areas dedicated to Asia and Africa, the Animal Kingdom restaurants offer a diverse menu.
Although the dishes are adapted to appeal to the American palate, they impress by incorporating authentic international ingredients and flavors.
The other themed parks serve a range of standard American park fare.
The best overall Animal Kingdom dining option is the open-air Harambe Market in Africa. It offers a variety of street-food inspired selection.
On hot days, the air-conditioned Tiffins or the Yak and Yeti Disney restaurants come to the rescue with their worldly delicious mishmash of Indian and Southeast Asian dishes.
Head straight to the Tamu-Tamu for refreshments with dark rum on the top, and to the Smiling Crocodile for healthy salads.
For the familiar taste, head to the Starbucks masquerading as Creature Comforts.
If you are a visitor on a special diet or with allergies/aversions, then Mr. Kamal’s Fries is your best bet in The Animal Kingdom.
Here you will get delicious vegan, dairy-free, or/and gluten-free food.
5 Best Drinks for Adults at Animal Kingdom
- Maharaja Lime Margarita: Sauza Silver Tequila, Triple Sec, Agave Nectar and Lime Juice at Warung Outpost
- Himalayan Ghost: Snow Leopard Vodka, Guava and Odwalla® Lemonade at Thirsty River Bar & Trek Snacks
- DOLE Whip® Pineapple Cup with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum at Tamu Tamu Refreshments
- Lamu Libation: Starr African Rum, Cruzan Banana Rum, and Guava Purée with Orange, Lime, and Pineapple Juices topped with Gosling’s 151 Rum at Nomad Lounge
- Ngumu Jungle Juice: Snow Leopard Vodka, Bols Peach Schnapps and Tusker’s famous Jungle Juice at Tusker House
Unforgettable Adult-Friendly Things to do at Animal Kingdom
- Eating Your Way Around the Globe at Animal Kingdom: I recommend that you create your own version of foodie tour around the world at this incredible park. Read how here.
- Savor the Savanna: Evening Safari Experience: During the evening hours, Disney offers a private safari, African-inspired tapas, beverages and more. This is one of the BEST tours you as a solo traveler can enjoy on a visit to Animal Kingdom.
Hipster Power Tip: Visit Nomad Lounge for the ultimate adult experience at Animal Kingdom. You’ll be welcomed with incredible cocktails, great conversation with Cast Members and a relaxing ambiance.
What to Know Before You Go to Disney World
Now that you know how to conquer this Disney park as a grown-up, let’s go through some of the most common questions.
Can I explore Animal Kingdom in half-day?
Yes, you can but you might miss some great attractions or get all huffy-puffy. I’d recommend taking your time on the walkways, food sections, and themed areas.
Which is the best weekday to visit Animal Kingdom?
Wednesday is the best with lower wait times on rides. Skip Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Should I get early to the park?
With all the half-day and low-ride claims, Animal Kingdom may come off as an unpopular park. However, it sees as much crowd as the Magic Kingdom or Epcot.
So, you might want to reach at least 30 minutes early to beat the crowd.
Which rides are tier 1 at The Animal Kingdom for Lightning Lane?
The Pandora ride – Avatar Flight of Passage is tier one.
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Let’s Wrap It Up
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is as much fun and engaging as any other multi-day Disney park. Despite having heard and read many disappointing reviews, a visit to it is totally worth it.
It’s actually becoming one of my favorite Disney parks.
If anything, the low number of rides at this kingdom only makes the experience unique and more entertaining if you know where to head off to.
Take full time, relax, and enjoy exploring the park at a slower pace, that is the key to having a whale of a time here.
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipster!
About the Author
My name is Nikky. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor, and a writer who loves ALL things amusement park related!
Traveling alone to the parks has changed my life and I want to show how you can create your own solo theme park memories.
Connect with me on Instagram!
(Original Article Date: June 25, 2020/Updated on July 9, 2024)