Is Animal Kingdom Worth It? Discover All the Facts for Your Vacation

If you have limited time during your Disney World or Florida vacation, you might be looking for things to potentially skip to save yourself some time. A common question asked by some families visiting Disney World for the first time can be “Is Animal Kingdom Worth It”?

Take a look below to find my honest take on the newest of four Disney World Parks and my thoughts on skipping the park during your vacation.

Is Animal Kingdom a Half Day Park?

Animal Kingdom like all of the other parks at Disney World can be a half day park if you decide just to spend half a day there. However, to fully enjoy the park and everything it has to offer it is definitely not a half day park. To do everything fully I would recommend you spend two days at Animal Kingdom.

There is a lot to see and enjoy in every area of the park and it does offer a very different experience to the other three Disney World parks. Yes, you could spend half a day in the park but you wouldn’t get the full Animal Kingdom experience. Animal Kingdom is definitely worth some of your vacation time.

What About the Park Itself?

There is lots to see at the park and it does have a nice flow to it which each area linking well to the next and Discovery Island acting as the hub of the park with the Tree of Life as its focal point. You will find lots of trees and plant life throughout the park as you make your way around. There is also a lot of detail to take in each area of the park especially Africa, Asia and Pandora.

Animal Kingdom has the following areas:

The Oasis, Discovery Island, Pandora: The World of Avatar, Africa, Asia and Dinoland USA.

You can find a map of Animal Kingdom on the Disney World website here.

Are the Rides at Animal Kingdom Worth It?

Some of my favorite rides are found in Animal Kingdom with Expedition Everest being one of the Best Disney World Roller Coasters in my opinion. Expedition Everest is a wonderful roller coaster with a great theme and thrilling ride experience. Avatar Flight of Passage is also an absolutely fantastic ride that has to be experienced. Flying through Pandora on a Banshee is an experience you won’t forget. You also have Dinosaur which is a thrilling dark ride as well as Kali River Rapids and others too.

There is more to Animal Kingdom than just the rides. However, you will find some of the best rides Disney World has to offer inside the park.

Are the Shows at Animal Kingdom Worth It?

Festival of the Lion King is one of the best live action shows at any Disney World Park. It is a brilliant show with great performers and of course featuring the classic songs from the movie too. Finding Nemo the Musical is a really entertaining and immersive show too and It’s Tough to Be a Bug is very good too. The shows at Animal Kingdom are to a very high standard as are the array of performers that you will come across in the park.

Having highlighted some great rides and shows in Expedition Everest, Flight of Passage, Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo you could have easily spent the best part of half a day enjoying these attractions.

You can find my favorite Animal Kingdom rides and shows here.

Are There Lots of Animals to See at Animal Kingdom?

The simple answer is yes. There are Lions, Gorillas and Tigers to see. There is a wide variety of birds to see as well as Giraffe’s, Elephants and so much more. Kilimanjaro Safaris is always fun as you never quite know what you are going to see and how the animals will be behaving as you tour the savannah and other areas in your safari truck.

There are lots of animals to see. With the following being must see attractions:

Kilimanjaro Safaris

Tour the savannah and other areas in this guided tour taken in a safari truck. Expect to see Giraffes, Lions, Elephants and more.

Gorilla Falls Exploration Trails

Take a walk around the trail where you will get to see Animal Kingdoms Gorillas. You can also get pretty close them to for some great photos.

Conservation Station

Take a train ride to the conservation station to see some of the behind-the-scenes animal care and conservation work that is undertaken by Disney. You will also find the affection section here where you can feed and pet the park goats.

Maharajah Jungle Trek

Take a short trek to see the Tigers whilst also seeing lots of other animals that would normally be found in Asia.

If you plan to visit Animal Kingdom to see lots of animals, you won’t be disappointed.

Will My Kids Enjoy Animal Kingdom to Make it Worth Visiting?

If you have teenagers to entertain then don’t worry as they will probably love Expedition Everest, Dinosaur and Flight of Passage. If you have younger children, they will love seeing the animals, going on safari, watching the shows and bumping into various Disney characters as you explore the park.

Animal Kingdom has a little something for kids of ages. There is also a great play area in the park too called the boneyard where you can let them run around and have some fun while you take a bit of a break. The play area is based on an archaeological dig site and my kids loved playing there when they were smaller.

What About the Dining Options at Animal Kingdom?

Animal Kingdom offers a wide variety of dining options from snacks and drinks to signature dining offerings. If you are looking for a standard burger and fries, you’ll find it along with more adventurous options when exploring Africa, Asia and Pandora.

I would recommend Tusker House for a fun character dining experience with Mickey Mouse and friends in their safari outfits. I would also recommend Yak and Yeti as they have a great menu full of Asian inspired dishes.

You can find a full guide on where to eat at Animal Kingdom here.

What Could Be Improved at Animal Kingdom?

The lack of an evening show is something that could be improved upon at Animal Kingdom. Previously you could watch the Rivers of Light show in the evening which was a decent show and has never been replaced.

Also, the Dinoland USA section of the park is a little unimaginative for Disney Standards and since Primeval Whirl closed the carnival themed area doesn’t have a great deal to offer. That being said the Dinosaur Ride section of the land is OK with some Jurassic Park type vibes to it.

You can find my favorite Animal Kingdom Activities here.

Should You Skip Animal Kingdom During Your Vacation

No, in my opinion you should not skip Disney’s Animal Kingdom because it has too many good experiences to miss. Pandora is one of the best themed lands you will come across in any theme park in Florida and at night it is something else. With a great theme throughout the whole park with some great rides, shows and animal experiences you are going to be missing out by skipping the park.

Is Animal Kingdom Worth It?

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is very much worth it when it comes to a Disney World or Florida vacation. The Park offers some great rides along with some of the best Disney World shows along with lots of food and drink options to enjoy too. I wouldn’t go to Disney World and not visit Animal Kingdom.

Take a look at my Disney World Parks Blog Page.

My Thoughts on Animal Kingdom

I have to admit that prior to my first visit to Disney World, Animal Kingdom was the park that I was least excited about visiting. This was before Pandora was built but I still had a lot of fun once I got inside the park. With each visit to Disney World I now seem to spend more time at Animal Kingdom. It is a wonderful park to explore whilst enjoying the food, drinks and attractions and it is great to dip in and out of the park if like me you enjoy park hopping during your time at Disney World. I have also been fortunate enough to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge which felt like an extended part of the park and was a lovely resort.

Yes, there are a few improvements that could be made to the park but that can pretty much be said about any theme park in the world. I would honestly never skip Animal Kingdom; it is a park definitely worth visiting. If you can make some time for Animal Kingdom I honestly don’t think you will regret it.

You can get our free 10-page parks guide by signing up to our newsletter here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Darren