Disney’s Animal Kingdom is full of new adventures to experience around every corner. From thrilling coasters to multi-cultural cuisine—and, of course, unforgettable animal encounters—it’s no surprise that this park is the biggest (by far) of any at Walt Disney World!

There’s something uniquely special about Disney’s Animal Kingdom that is particularly difficult to put into words. Of course, at any Disney park, we expect to find “classic Disney” experiences—whether enjoying a Mickey Pretzel or adding to your Disney pin collection. But, at Animal Kingdom, the expectations you quickly build as you walk up to the main entrance are quite different (dare we say, “more”).

At this park, we get to initiate or develop our connection to nature. Here, it’s practically innate to heighten our appreciation for animals and feel moved to support conservation efforts—in the most magical way possible. Thanks to Joe Rohde, former Imagineer (and a life-long hero of mine), Disney’s Animal Kingdom continues to inspire its millions of guests to take a step (or several) closer to nature.

Explore Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Animal Kingdom Lands
• Animal Kingdom Dining
• Animal Kingdom Shopping
• Animal Kingdom Entertainment
• Animal Kingdom Transportation

Animal Kingdom Lands

Oasis

The entrance to the park, Oasis acts as a tranquil introduction to the world of Animal Kingdom. It features lush landscaping and showcases a variety of small animals. Walking paths meander past streams and waterfalls, leading guests into the heart of the park. Read more about The Oasis.

Pandora – The World of Avatar

This area is themed around James Cameron’s Avatar film series” It includes floating mountains, bioluminescent plants, and alien wildlife. Major attractions include Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey, both of which immerse guests in the lush, otherworldly environment of Pandora. Read more about Pandora – The World of Avatar.

Asia

Themed after a remote Himalayan village, Asia offers attractions such as Expedition Everest, a thrilling roller coaster with a fearsome yeti, and Kali River Rapids, a water ride that highlights conservation messages about deforestation. The Maharajah Jungle Trek provides a walking tour to see Asian animals. Read more about Asia in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Africa

Designed to resemble an East African village named Harambe, this area features attractions such as Kilimanjaro Safaris, where guests can see African animals in a naturalistic habitat, and Festival of the Lion King, a live stage show. Read more about Africa in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

DinoLand, U.S.A.

This land focuses on dinosaurs and their history, featuring a whimsical setting that includes attractions like DINOSAUR, a dark thrill ride through prehistoric times, and TriceraTop Spin. The area combines educational elements with fun, family-friendly attractions. Read more about DinoLand U.S.A.

Rafiki’s Planet Watch

Accessible via a train ride from Africa, this area focuses on animal conservation, featuring interactive exhibits and opportunities to meet animal keepers and veterinarians. It includes Conservation Station, the Affection Section petting zoo, and various educational displays. Read more about Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

Discovery Island

Situated at the center of the park, Discovery Island connects all the other sections. It is home to the iconic Tree of Life, a massive artificial tree with animal carvings on its trunk. This land features attractions like “It’s Tough to be a Bug!” and various animal exhibits, along with shops and restaurants. Read more about Discovery Island.

Animal Kingdom Dining

Animal Kingdom offers a variety of dining options with all kinds of different tastes and dining preferences, ranging from quick-service snacks to upscale sit-down meals. You can choose from:

• Quick-service restaurants, which offer speedy, time-saving meals you can order and carry to a table of your choosing (or enjoy on the go)
• Table service restaurants, which offer a more traditional dining experience, with servers; these typically require an advance dining reservation
• Snack carts and stands located throughout the park, including popcorn and churro carts

Animal Kingdom Quick-Service Restaurants

For guests looking to grab a quick bite, Disney’s Animal Kingdom provides tons of quick-service restaurants. These are convenient and generally budget-friendly options that offer a variety of foods such as American classics, healthy salads, pizzas, and sandwiches. Just a few notable quick-service locations include:

• Flame Tree BBQ: Quick barbeque in a colorful setting.
• Harambe Market: Little booths selling curried corn dogs, BBQ ribs, chicken skewers and little salads are available here.
• Restaurantosaurus: Burgers, salads, and more with a great toppings bar
• Satu’li Canteen:  Experience the exotic tastes of Pandora in the RDA mess hall

Animal Kingdom Table Service Restaurants

Those looking for a sit-down meal with table service will find several great options within Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including these:

• Tusker House: “Awaken the Day” at Donald’s Safari Breakfast buffet. You can also get a unique lunch and dinner buffet here with characters.
• Tiffins: A signature dining location will feature an exotic menu
• Rainforest Cafe: Dine in a tropical rain forest.

Animal Kingdom Snack Spots, Carts, and More

There are so many delicious small bites and snacks you can get throughout Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Some of the most popular snack options include:

• Grilled corn at Harambe Fruit Market in Africa
• Fudge at Zuri’s Sweet Shop in Africa
• Seasoned fries at Mr. Kamal’s in Asia

Check out each of our land pages for more information on each of the restaurants offered.

Animal Kingdom Shopping

Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers a diverse range of shopping experiences that cater to fans of nature, wildlife, and Disney magic. As visitors wander through the park, they’ll encounter numerous stores, each uniquely themed to complement the various lands and their naturalistic settings. Here are the types of shops guests can look out for:

• General Merchandise: Many stores throughout Animal Kingdom offer a broad selection of Disney-themed apparel, accessories, toys, and collectibles. A notable example is Island Mercantile, located on Discovery Island, which acts as a comprehensive merchandise hub. This store provides everything from animal-themed clothing to eco-friendly home décor, serving as a convenient all-in-one shop for those passionate about nature and conservation.
• Specialty Items: For guests interested in more unique or land-specific merchandise, Animal Kingdom features several specialty shops. For instance, you’ll find various shops in Pandora – The World of Avatar selling unique merchandise inspired by the Avatar movies, such as Na’vi cultural artifacts and bioluminescent decor. These specialty stores offer items that immerse guests deeper into the themes of each land, enhancing the overall park experience.

Animal Kingdom Entertainment

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to some of the most exciting shows you’ll find in all of Disney World. Along with musical performances, you’ll find live entertainment with animals you won’t find anywhere else.

Animal Kingdom Shows and Spectaculars

From daily shows to special events, here’s the entertainment you may find during the year:

• Tree of Life Awakenings: On select nights the iconic Tree of Life is transformed through a series of beautiful projections and lighting effects that bring to life the spirit of nature, depicting various stories inspired by the wildlife carved into its trunk.
• Festival of the Lion King: This high-energy live stage show combines acrobatics, dance, puppetry, and songs from the classic Disney movie The Lion King, captivating audiences with its vibrant celebration of life and its story.
• Winged Encounters: This is a colorful, informative display featuring a variety of free-flying macaws that soar over and around Discovery Island, showcasing their spectacular colors and aerial abilities.
• Feathered Friends in Flight: Set in the Asia section of the park, this show educates and entertains guests with the natural behaviors and talents of birds from around the world, including parrots, hawks, and eagles.

Animal Kingdom Characters

Guests have numerous opportunities to meet their favorite Disney characters throughout the park. You’ll find that you can meet characters one-on-one via experiences like:

• Character dining
• Character encounters throughout the park
• Designated character meet and greet locations

Here’s more of what you can expect:

• Character Meet-and-Greets: Locations throughout the park offer dedicated spots for meeting characters such as Moana, as well as Dug and Russell from Up. Character meet-and-greets include:
  • Moana: Character Landing on Discovery Island
  • Chip and Dale: In DinoLand, U.S.A.
  • Mickey and Minnie: Adventurers Outpost on Discovery Island
• Character Dining: You also have the opportunity to meet characters through character dining experiences. These include:
  • Tusker House: Dine with Donald, Mickey, Goofy, Minnie, and friends in their safari gear as this buffet.
• Random Encounters: Besides scheduled meet-and-greets, characters also appear randomly throughout the park, providing delightful surprises for guests as they explore different areas.
  • Characters may appear on “floatillas” around the park’s water. This could include Pocahontas, Meeko, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Chip, Dale, Goofy, and more.

Animal Kingdom Transportation

Unlike the other parks, the transportation options for Disney’s Animal Kingdom are limited. The only way to get from your resort hotel to Animal Kingdom is by bus.

Bus

The bus is the only way to get to Animal Kingdom from your hotel. The buses are frequent, usually arriving every 20 minutes, and are designed to accommodate a large number of guests, including those with disabilities, making it a reliable and accessible option for park-goers.