The holiday season at Walt Disney World Resort brought a historic surge of visitors, leaving crowds at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park to contend with record-breaking wait times. As Florida parks struggled to manage the holiday chaos, one iconic attraction reached new congestion levels.
A New Record for Kilimanjaro Safaris
During the week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park faced extraordinary crowd levels. Kilimanjaro Safaris reportedly hit a record wait time of 210 minutes on December 28, 2024. Reddit user u/traviscat observed the 3.5-hour wait and detailed the rising times throughout the day.
“I saw the Kilimanjaro Safaris set a new record wait time today, 210 minutes,” they wrote. “It opened at 8, by 8:24 it was at 60 minutes and it hasn’t gone below 85 since 9:06 with an average at over 100.”
Kilimanjaro Safaris is a must-do experience for many Disney Parks fans, offering an unforgettable journey through an African-inspired wildlife preserve. However, the extraordinary wait times left some guests questioning whether the ride was worth it.
“It’s my favorite ride but there is no way I would wait nearly 4 hours for one ride,” the Redditor added. “I’ve ridden it 8 times in a row in the same 4-hour window before, and waiting the same time for one ride would be insane.”
Holiday Crowds Take Over Disney’s Animal Kingdom
The week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day is notorious for its intense crowds, and 2024 was no exception. Central Florida saw a massive influx of visitors as families flocked to Walt Disney World Resort for the holiday festivities. Disney Park Pass reservations and Lightning Lane Premier Passes sold out on multiple days, leaving many guests to endure lengthy standby lines.
Across the parks, attractions like Magic Kingdom Park’s Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, EPCOT’s Frozen Ever After, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance also reported extended wait times. However, the 210-minute line at Kilimanjaro Safaris seemed to highlight the overwhelming demand at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
Navigating the Chaos
While Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t confirmed whether the 210-minute wait for Kilimanjaro Safaris marks an official record, it stands as a testament to the challenges of holiday travel. For guests planning visits during peak times, preparation is key. Early arrivals, park reservations, and strategic use of the My Disney Experience app can help navigate the crowds.
What’s the longest wait time you’ve seen at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Disney Fanatic would love to hear from you in the comments!
