It’s true that Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park doesn’t have nearly as many rides and attractions as the Magic Kingdom Park, and it doesn’t have the nighttime hours or entertainment that the other three Walt Disney World parks have (yet). These factors have given Animal Kingdom the reputation of being a “half-day park” for many guests. But if you’re someone who feels there isn’t enough to do at Animal Kingdom, you may be missing out on some fun experiences.
Surely you’ve ridden Expedition Everest, adventured on the Kilimanjaro Safaris, and seen the Festival of the Lion King, but there’s much more to the park than these fan-favorite experiences. Here are eight things that you might want to check out on your next trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park!
1. Animal Viewing Trails
Take your time and wander through the amazing animal viewing trails throughout Asia and Africa. On the Maharajah Jungle Trek, you’ll travel through Southeast Asia on a quest to find majestic tigers, birds, and incredible giant fruit bats.
The Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail is often missed by guests rushing off Kilimanjaro Safaris and heading to the next big attraction. Home to more of the park’s native African animals, yet to see gorillas and hippos on this trail. If you’re lucky, a hippo may be swimming when you visit, which means an up-close and personal view of the hippo from the eye-level underwater tank!
2. Discovery Island Trails
These walking paths allow you to get extremely close to the base of the Tree of Life- in some cases, passing under the roots. As you meander through these trails, you’ll see lemurs, flamingos, and other interesting creatures. Take some time to study over 300 detailed animal carvings on the iconic Tree of Life!
3. The Boneyard
You can take kids to the most impressive theme park in the world, and they’ll still ask to play in the play areas! Here’s a great dinosaur-themed one for your little ones to enjoy.
This is less of a playground and more of a simulated dig site for fossils. Kiddos can climb and explore as they learn about the creatures that wandered the Earth millions of years ago!
*Please note: The Boneyard will close permanently on September 1, 2025, as part of DinoLand U.S.A.’s transformation into Pueblo Esperanza.
4. Dining Experiences
When people think of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, “dining” probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, whereas it may be at the top of the list when thinking of the other parks. However, Animal Kingdom boasts some worthy dining experiences, so if you haven’t experienced some of these, it’s time to try!
Does your family love character dining? You’ve probably tried Chef Mickey’s and Cinderella’s Royal Table, but have you tried Animal Kingdom’s Tusker House? Tusker House features a buffet of African and American dishes and hosts Animal Kingdom’s only character dining experience for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Definitely make advance reservations for this one.
In the mood for a nice sit-down meal? You probably have some reservations for the EPCOT World Showcase restaurants, but save a spot for the Yak and Yeti Restaurant, too. Yak and Yeti is a beautifully decorated Nepalese-style sit-down restaurant that offers a wide variety of delectable Asian food.
More of a Quick Service fan? Try some of Walt Disney World Resort’s most flavorful food at Flame Tree Barbecue and Satu’li Canteen.
5. Character Greetings
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park has some really fun and unique character greeting opportunities. Animal Kingdom is the only regularly scheduled meeting place for Dug and Russell from Up (2009) and Pocahontas. You’ll also find Moana, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto, and of course, Mickey and Minnie.
Check the daily entertainment schedule on the My Disney Experience app for an up-to-date list of character greetings.
6. Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… And Beyond!
This fantastic show certainly isn’t a secret, but people might pass it up because the Festival of the Lion King has such a stellar reputation. By early afternoon, families are choosing what show to see, and many may opt for Festival of the Lion King over Nemo. They may not feel like sitting through another performance, possibly missing out on this one.
If you haven’t seen Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…And Beyond!, make it a “must-do” for your next trip. The reimagined show takes the animated story, Finding Nemo (2003), and transforms it into a musical told through beautiful puppetry.
7. Winged Encounters
Watch as live birds soar over Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and land on Discovery Island near the Tree of Life. Animal caretakers share fascinating information and answer guest questions as they show off up to six different species of South American macaw: hyacinth, green-winged, blue and gold, scarlet, blue-throated, and military.
8. Street Performances
Adding to what Disney refers to as the “streetmosphere” are several musical acts that appear at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park throughout the day. Although not lengthy shows with formal locations or seating, they include some of the more authentic cultural acts and are fun to catch if you are in the area. Some favorites include the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe, Burudika, Chakranadi, and the foliage-clad stiltwalker, DiVine.
Have you experienced all that Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park has to offer? What is your favorite way to spend a day there? Let Disney Fanatic know in the comments!
