Animal Kingdom is the most recent addition to Disney World and the largest Disney theme park in the world!
Guide to Animal Kingdom (Maps, Tips and More)
What sets this park out from the rest of Disney World is that it has a focus on animal conservation with more than 300 different animal species inside its massive complex.
While you will find many different types of animals and animal habitats to explore, there are also rides and attractions to keep the entire family entertained.
Map of Animal Kingdom
The iconic Tree of Life sits in the center of Discovery Island. and the lands of Africa, Asia, Pandora – The World of Avatar, and DinoLand U.S.A. all surround it.
Each different land has various rides & attractions for guests to enjoy.Animal Kingdom Lands
Discovery Island
This is the central hub of the park with the Tree of Life at the center. Beneath the tree of life you will find the popular show “It’s Tough to be a Bug!”
There is a path to each of the other lands directly from Discovery Island
Africa
An authentic African village is filled with sights and sounds of the mysterious continent. You will find the following rides & attractions in this part of Animal Kingdom:
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
- “Festival of the Lion King”
Asia
Find Asian ruins and live exotic animals including tigers, a Komodo dragon, and giant fruit bats. This part of the park has the park’s most thrilling rides, Expedition Everest and Kali River Rapids. There is also the live show UP! A Great Bird Adventure.
DinoLand U.S.A.
Here’s where the world’s fascination with dinosaurs comes to life. You will find plenty of Dinosaur themed fun along with “Finding Nemo-The Musical”
Pandora – The World of Avatar
Pandora celebrates the magic of nature where guests can walk among the floating mountains during the day and explore the glowing fauna and flora after dark. There are two rides located in this part of Animal Kingdom and they are some of the most popular: Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey
Rafiki’s Planet Watch
In order to get to this part of Animal Kingdom, you will need to board the Wildlife Express Train for the 7-minute train ride to a remote area of the park.
Although it takes a bit to get there, it is worth the trip to be able to visit the Affection Section petting zoo, Habitat Habit discovery trail and the on-site animal care facility, Conservation Station.
Planning Your Day at Animal Kingdom Park
In order to make the most of your time in Animal Kingdom Park, you are going to want to make sure you plan your day in advance.
I suggest getting to Animal Kingdom when it opens (if not before) and heading straight over to Pandora, World of Avatar where it tends to get busiest.
The most popular ride is Flight of Passage and if you aren’t able to get in the Lightning Lane for it, you will want to line up early.
You should also know that Animal Kingdom tends to be one of the hottest parks in Disney World.
The thick layer of trees shields any breeze that might cool you off and seems to make the heat coming off the dark pavement near unbearable in the summer.
Make sure that you bring a refillable water bottle and a misting fan!
Animal Kingdom Tickets
When it comes to getting the best price for your Animal Kingdom Tickets, you are going to want to do your research.
While you can go through the Disney World site to get tickets, you will find that you can get a better price by working with a Discount Ticket outlet, like Orlando Vacations.
Animal Kingdom Park Tips & Information
Have you been to Animal Kingdom? What was your favorite part?