Top Ten in Animal Kingdom!
In our third episode we are continuing our “Top Ten” series for Walt Disney World parks with Disney’s Animal Kingdom! This list includes our favorite attractions and experiences but not food or drinks! But don’t worry, we’ll be going through our favorite dining in a future episode!
Jessica’s Favorites
#10 - The Character Flotillas
I’m pretty sure that this started during the pandemic to keep social distancing with characters but they’ve continued it and it’s so cute! Characters will appear on pontoon boats, “flotillas”, throughout the waterways in the parks like Pocahontas and Meeko, Rafiki, and more! I love it, they are constant and it just makes the park feel so alive!
#9 - Watching Live Performers at the Dawa Bar
We spend a lot of time in this spot in the Africa area! There’s so much happening, its such a festive area with lots of performances happening all day long!
#8 - Rafiki’s Planet Watch
There are a few things that I love about this. There’s the train ride out there, there’s a drawing class you can take, the petting zoo area, there’s SO much back there! There are a lot of trips we don’t do this at all because it can feel like such a to do getting there, but there really is way more to do than you think there is and it’s totally worth it!
#7 - Na’vi River Journey
This is one of the rides that when we bring people to Disney with us who have never been before, we always have to ride it because it’s just so beautiful! My favorite thing with this ride though is the Shaman of Songs, but because she is larger scale wise and SO realistic, she kind of freaks me out in the best way! I love that feeling of just being a little unsettled!
#6 - Festival of The Lion King
This show! We’ve got fire, we’ve got acrobats, and absolutely incredible singers! It’s a spectacle that truly has it all that everyone of all ages will love! I will say as a word of caution that this is one attraction where Disney is very strict on the return times for Lightning Lanes, they absolutely will not let you in after ten minutes prior to show time. And speaking of Lightning Lane, this is one that I definitely recommend you use Lightning Lane for because the stand-by line is always really long and even if you join the line there is a point where cast members may let you know that you won’t make it in and might have to wait for the next performance, so to me the Lightning Lane is definitely worth it here.
#5 - Maharaja Jungle Trek
This trail has cool animals to see of course but also has ruins of an old palace as you’re walking through, it’s so peaceful and like Tyler said, it feels like you’re a million miles away! Definitely my favorite out of all the walking trails!
#4 - Dinosaur
This ride is the same track as Indiana Jones in Disneyland which is so cool to me first of all. Secondly, the first time I rode this I was genuinely terrified but of course as I rode it more and more it gets less terrifying but it’s still so thrilling!
#3 - Finding Nemo The Musical
I am such a sucker for shows, but this one especially feels like such a Broadway caliber show! Singing, sets, costumes, everything feels like that high quality you expect from a Broadway show, plus it’s structured so well that at no point does it feel slow. In fact when it’s done I kind of still want more!
#2 - Expedition Everest
The moment you see the Yeti is SO cool to me, even after riding it so many times it never stops being cool to me! Another thing I think is just so cool is as you’re going up in the beginning you can see EVERYTHING, like the whole park, other parks, resorts etc, it’s incredible!
#1 - Avatar Flight of Passage
This is unlike anything I’ve ever ridden and I get emotional every time! You go into this room and you sit on a motorcyle like thing and they flip on a screen and you’re like “Okay cool I know what’s gonna happen” but no you don’t know! You really feel like you’re on the back of the banshee and flying through the air and they make it feel like the creature is breathing under you which is so unbelievable! It feels real you guys, I can’t explain it more than that. It feels so real!
Tyler’s Favorites
#10 - Na’vi River Journey
This is a slow moving boat ride but there are a few things I really love about it! As you’re heading into the forest and get deeper into the ride on your way to visit the Shaman of Songs, the music gets louder and things get more vibrant and when you finally come across the Shaman, it is so cool! I’m not sure if this is still the case but for a while this animatronic was the most advanced and realistic that Disney has ever created, the movements are so fluid and smooth you honestly might think she’s real! Unfortunately the last few times we went the animatronic was gone, presumably out for repair, and there was a screen instead.
#9 - It’s Tough To Be A Bug
This show is actually IN the Tree of Life and every time I see it, it’s more fun than I remember! There are tons of interactive effects like getting sprayed with water or feeling like there are bugs crawling on the ground etc. It’s so cool!
#8 - The Walking Trails
I think that this is something that a lot of people miss which is such a shame because they are so well themed, there are animals to see throughout and you feel like you’re a million miles away! They’re also accessible so if you’re in an ECV or wheelchair you can still go through them and experience it all. There are tons of little spots to duck in and see, for example by the Starbucks there is a viewing area for the otters and SO many people rush through and miss them entirely! Animal Kingdom is the perfect park to slow down and take everything in!
#7 - Finding Nemo The Musical
So they just redid this show, they’ve made a ton of positive changes included some projections and screens and modernized it a bit but they did also remove some things that were really cool, like Crush who used to fly out during “Go With The Flow”. It’s soo close to being the same as the old one but they cut a few of my favorite parts BUT it’s still definitely worth seeing!
#6 - People Watching
This is a recurring theme for me in every single park! But I love getting an iced coffee or an Old Elephant Foot IPA and taking a little time to relax. Some of my favorite areas are by the Dawa Bar, in the walkway between Africa and Asia behind the Tree of Life and over by Expedition Everest!
#5 - Festial of The Lion King
This show is incredible and I would say that these are the BEST singers on property! We’ve seen tons of different casts and they are always amazing! Plus you’ve got the costumes, the acrobats, the props, and there are these giant floats that I believe used to be part of a parade and they repurposed them for this show which I think is just really cool!
#4 - Dinosaur
This ride genuinely gives me butterflies in my tummy and I think it’s one of the most thrilling rides at Disney! I also love that Disney used similar technology as they did for Indiana Jones in Disneyland but still made it a unique attraction with it’s own storyline.
#3 - Expedition Everest
This is really THE thrill ride at Animal Kingdom that’s really a top tier roller coaster feel also within the setting of a really great storyline! Next to Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster this is my top rollercoaster at Walt Disney World, the theming of Everest is just so incredible and immersive. Quick pro tip: if you’re able to, take the single rider line. There will be a two hour wait and we’ll take the single rider line and be on and off the ride in fifteen minutes!
#2 - Kilamanjaro Safari
This is the whole point of the park! The whole point is to go and see animals you never see in a more natural environment which you get to do in this attraction! If you go first thing in the morning especially or after it rains you’ll notice a lot of the animals are incredibly active, it’s such a cool experience!
#1 - Avatar Flight of Passage
If you’ve ever ridden Soarin’ it’s a similar thing but not really. There’s a screen, you’ve got 3-d glasses but there’s so much more to it than that! If you can suspend belief for a moment, it truly feels like you’re flying, it’s incredible!
We also asked our followers on Instagram what their favorite things in Disney’s Animal Kingdom were and there were TONS of amazing responses! Here’s just a few to add to your list for your next visit!
Early mornings on Kilamanjaro Safari’s!
Kali River Rapids and Kilamanjaro Safari’s!
Finding Kevin!
Walking around Pandora at night - the lights are gorgeous!
Watching the kites crash landing during Kite Tails!
Finding the old McDonald’s sponsorship signs in Dinosaur!
Walking the trails with coffee!
The macaw show by the Tree of Life!
Feathered Friends in Flight!
Nomad Lounge for churros to watch the floats go by!
Walking around the Tree of Life!
Mr Kamal’s Seasoned Fries!
The Boneyard kid’s playground
Be sure to follow us on Instagram to participate in polls, questions and more fun things that may show up in a future podcast episode and/or blog post!
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