Complete Guide to Disney Animal Kingdom Rides (2022)

We're going to encompass traditional rides and attractions first (starting with the best, must-ride attractions), before we go to spaces to explore and then entertainment. In the past, we heralded the entertainment at Animal Kingdom every bit the best function of the park, but the recent cuts have left that aspect greatly reduced.

Hither'southward how the post breaks downwardly…

  • The Best Rides at Animal Kingdom - Where we list our must-practise rides (and attractions) at Animal Kingdom.

  • The Rest of the Rides at Animal Kingdom - This is anything else that is a ride at Fauna Kingdom, along with attractions with Genie+

  • Exploration and Interactive Spaces at Animal Kingdom - These are spaces that are designed to exist walked through or explored, forth with minor, interactive attractions.

  • Amusement at Beast Kingdom - A land-by-land breakdown of the major shows at the park, followed past a breakup of the streetmosphere of the park, which is finally starting to return in late 2021

Despite being really long, this listing isn't totally exhaustive. There are several animal encounters that we don't list, some of which aren't even listed on the app or times guide, they only pop up. Similarly, characters can pop upwards, and if you're interested in seeing them you should check the "Characters" section of the My Disney Feel app.

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While nosotros're going to do our all-time to go along this guide up to date, the entertainment offerings at Animal Kingdom tin can change. You should always check the My Disney Experience app and the times guide for the nigh current offerings. The guide too doesn't list temporary closures or refurbishment.

The Best Rides at Animal Kingdom

There are three rides that nosotros consider the best at Animal Kingdom. The best rides at Brute Kingdom that you must do are:

  1. Avatar Flight of Passage

  2. Expedition Everest

  3. Kilimanjaro Safaris

Let's talk more about them.

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While several groovy rides accept opened the terminal few years, some arguably better than Flight of Passage, the ride is still a marvel and uniquely emotionally satisfying. It's a must ride and by far the well-nigh popular ride in the park.

Riding It: Flight of Passage is not be a part of Genie+ and instead has an individual paid Lightning Lane. If you lot don't desire to pay for that Lightning Lane, you'll need to wait in line for the ride.

If you have Early Entry, we recommend starting your day with Flight of Passage. If you don't take Early Entry, we're tentatively recommending you lot plan to wait for it later in the day, mayhap around the time the park closes.

Trek Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

Land:Asia
Peak: 44 in / 112 cm
Type: Thrill / Roller Coaster
Queue: Standby or Individual Lightning Lane
Read More About Trek Everest

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Expedition Everest is a roller coaster feel unlike any other. While many will offset by discussing the rides queue, the ride actually stands out every bit y'all walk through the park, crossing bridges and communicable sight of it in the distance.

The Forbidden Mountain looms large even from a altitude. And then there is the queue, which is filled with accurate design and artifacts reflecting the Nepalese and Tibetan relationships with the Yeti.

Finally, at that place is the ride itself. Despite featuring a "broken" Yeti effect that, allow's face information technology, probably won't e'er go fixed, the ride is i of Disney'south best thrill rides. It'due south not for the faint of heart though, and notably is the simply ride our thrill-antisocial friend said she'd never go on again at Walt Disney World.

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Riding It: Everest is not a part of Genie+ and instead offers a paid individual Lightning Lane. We recommend riding information technology (without paying for the Lightning Lane) early on in the mean solar day. At that place's also a unmarried passenger line if you lot want to ride again without a long wait.

Bonus Read: Check out our list ranking the roller coasters of Walt Disney World to see where Everest falls in that list.

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Kilimanjaro Safaris is a unique ride: a meandering ride through the landscapes of Africa with existent animal sightings along the style. At ane fourth dimension, Disney loaded it with a convoluted plot. They've since simplified the concept, although the remains of the former days are a bit scattered, mostly in the queue.

Either way, the gamble to ride among the animals in their natural habitats is not to be missed. This is a ride that is different every time.

Whether you get stuck for 10 minutes behind a zebra or have your guide awkwardly leave it to parents to explicate what the giraffes were doing (er, "making a baby"), the ride will be beautiful and unexpected. We even rank it as ane of the best Disney rides in the world.

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Riding Information technology: Kilimanjaro Safaris will not be a role of Early Entry but is a part of Genie+. If you take Genie+, it volition probably be one of your first two picks. Without Genie+, just head in that location effectually the time it opens or shortly thereafter. Morning safaris are best.

The Rest of the Rides at Brute Kingdom

Na'vi River Journey

State: Pandora - The World of Avatar
Height: Any
Type: Boat
Queue: Standby or Genie+ Lightning Lane
Read More than About Navi River Journeying

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Na'vi River Journey is an all-ages offer in the form of a boat ride through Pandoras wildlife. The imagineering involved is absolutely stunning, and really no full solar day at Animal Kingdom would be consummate without the ride.

Riding It: Na'vi River Journey is a bit tricky to fit into your day. Ideally you'd hop right on in the forenoon, after Flight of Passage, when it has a short await. If that doesn't piece of work out, y'all can either use a Genie+ reservation for it or just pick any time the ride has less than a 45-minute look to hop in line.

DINOSAUR

Land: DinoLand U.Due south.A.
Height: 40 in / 102 cm
Type: Thrill / Dark
Queue: Standby or Genie+ Lightning Lane
Read More than About DINOSAUR

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If at that place's a ride in Animal Kingdom that simply hasn't anile well technologically, it'due south DINOSAUR. The technology is borrowed from the Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland. A 12-person vehicle powers through the bumps and jerky turns of the jungle in search of a specific dinosaur, hoping to track it down before a meteor strike kills near life on the planet.

It's worth riding, but the ride feels dated. The timing is very clunky. Animatronics that once shocked and awed now seem similar they'd be more at home on the Jungle Cruise. Things just experience a bit...off.

Riding Information technology: DINOSAUR isn't a very high priority. If you can get to it early on or late it should accept a short wait. If y'all have Genie+, yous shouldn't have too much problem snagging a time.

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Kali River Rapids is probably the worst of the Disney raft rides worldwide. Y'all volition get wet, so be prepared for that. If you want to know how wet, there are bridges that overlook the ride both well-nigh the start of the queue and at the ride's exit (by the Kali River Rapids entrance, take a correct at Maharajah Jungle Trek).

The queue is swell and lays the foundation for a story that sort of makes its way into the ride, merely beyond that in that location's little to speak of. The ride itself is actually painfully brusk, peculiarly for the two-hour wait fourth dimension you'll occasionally see.

Riding It: Many days, Kali River Rapids opens later on than the rest of the park, and the all-time way to ride it is to be there when information technology opens. You shouldn't have much trouble getting on if you take Genie+.

Otherwise, the ride is truthfully one of the most difficult rides in all of Walt Disney World to time. Its crowds will depend on estrus and rain throughout the day. For usa, nosotros try and become on it when it opens or just go on an eye hoping for a wait under xxx minutes sometime during the day.

It's Tough To Exist A Bug

Land: Discovery Island
Height: Whatsoever
Type: 3D Show / Scary Moments
Queue: Standby or Genie+ Lightning Lane

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This is maybe a controversial choice for the best rides at Animal Kingdom, merely the reasoning is straightforward. First, information technology'south just a great attraction. While most probably wait a straightforward 3D show featuring Flick, the evidence comes with a few surprises sure to scare some and entertain all.

Beyond that, the prove usually has a short expect of 20 minutes or less. The actual testify time is viii minutes, and your bodily wait is rarely longer than 10 minutes. Finally, it actually has a prissy lesson that information technology imparts without to much preaching.

TriceraTop Spin

Land: Dinoland U.s.A.
Elevation: Any
Type: Dense (aeriform carousel)
Queue: Standby But (No Lightning Lane)
Read More About TriceraTop Spin

This is a standard, Dumbo-type ("aerial carousel" is the technical term) ride. You sit in a Triceratops, spinning around a center as your vehicle moves up and downward.

Wildlife Express Train

Land: Africa / Rafiki's Planet Sentinel
Elevation: Whatsoever
Type: Slow Ride

The Wildlife Express Train isn't so much a ride equally it is the means of getting from Africa to Rafiki's Planet Lookout (and back). That said, our toddler really enjoys the train, so fifty-fifty if we're not planning to visit Rafiki's, we'll often spend the ~xx minutes to ride the Wildlife Express roundtrip.

Encounter Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost (Returns June 19)

Land: Discovery Island
Top: Any
Type: Character Greeting

To see who is at this greeting, visit the "Characters" section of the My Disney Experience app. Typically it is Mickey and Minnie.

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Primeval Whirl (PERMANENTLY Closed)

Land: Dinoland U.S.A.
Tiptop: 48 in / 122 cm
Type: Thrill / Kiddie Coaster

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Update: Primeval Whirl is permanently closed, this department lives as discover of that fact and a retentiveness of a ride that once was.

Exploration and Interactive Spaces at Animal Kingdom

As we emphasized higher up, we put these attractions downwards here for the sake of organization, not considering nosotros think they're worse than all the rides. We really detect the highlight of Disney's Brute Kingdom to be the spaces to explore and the entertainment to watch, and so nosotros highly recommend setting some fourth dimension bated for these attractions.

The Haven Exhibits

Land: Oasis
Height: Any
Blazon: Exploration

Oasis is the first land you'll walk through at Fauna Kingdom. Throughout are pocket-sized animate being exhibits. Since you'll probably be rushing to Pandora for your start ride when the park opens, we recommend coming back hither for a quick stroll at some point later in the day.

Discovery Island Trails

Land: Discovery Isle
Pinnacle: Any
Type: Exploration

We love the Discovery Isle Trails. These trails surroundings the Tree of Life and near park visitors don't even notice them, except possibly when they pass through them leaving It'southward Tough to be a Bug!

While the trails do have a few animal exhibits throughout, the highlight is the tree of life and its roots, which are filled with animal engravings. On well-nigh days, the trails are quite serene, with only a few guests wandering about. This is a swell place to come up if yous demand a moment away from the crowds.

Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail

Land: Africa
Superlative: Any
Type: Exploration

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The Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail is one of two zoo-like brute trails in Disney's Animal Kingdom (the other is the Maharajah Jungle Trek). Gorilla Falls features gorillas, birds, zebras, and a few other animals. Program about 30 minutes to get through this trail.

Maharajah Jungle Trek

Land: Asia
Height: Any
Type: Exploration

Some other zoo-like trail, this time featuring tigers. Y'all can probably get through this one a picayune quicker than Gorilla Falls, probably in about 20 minutes.

The Boneyard

Land: Dinoland The statesA.
Pinnacle: Any
Blazon: Exploration / Interactive

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The Boneyard is essentially a dig-site themed playground. Kids can run around, climb, go down slides, and even dig for a Wolly Mammoth in a sandpit (of fake, nonstick sand). Information technology's worth a quick peek to savour some of the subtleties of the Disney design, though families might find information technology difficult to pull kids away (we certainly exercise).

Rafiki's Planet Watch

Rafiki'south is a highly conservation-centric area, but the petting zoo and Blitheness Experience are appealing to a broad range of guests. Because you'll need to accept a ride on the railroad train—the Wild animals Limited, mentioned above—to become in that location, and then explore the surface area, and then catch the train back, yous should plan for any visit to take at to the lowest degree an 60 minutes out of your solar day, with 90 minutes departure to return being a more reasonable expectation.

Affection Section

Country: Rafiki's Planet Watch
Height: Whatever
Type: Interactive

Affection Section is a small petting zoo located in Rafiki'southward Planet Sentinel. As we said above, Rafiki's is continued to the residual of the park by the Wild animals Limited Train. This means you lot're dedicating probably 30 minutes to waiting and getting to/from (30 minutes total) the state just to see any of the attractions there.

We're the blazon to fill a full day at Animal Kingdom without ever making it to Rafiki's Planet Sentry. If the petting zoo actually appeals to you, swing by. If you're not feeling Animal Kingdom enough to make full your day with the other offerings, it's unlikely that Rafiki's volition offer you lot anything worthwhile. Amore Section is a seasonal offering, simply it did reopen with Rafiki'south on July 11.

Conservation Station

Country: Rafiki'due south Planet Sentinel
Height: Whatsoever
Type: Interactive / Exploration

Located at Rafiki's Planet Watch, Conservation Station is a real striking or miss. Basically, it'south a small, conservation themed educational space. You'll sometimes see vets working or some absurd animal encounters, but sometimes there'southward zip much at all going on. Conservation Station is a seasonal offering.

Wilderness Explorers

Country: Park-broad
Height: Whatsoever
Type: Exploration / Interactive

Wilderness Explorers is a park-wide interactive allure for guests of all ages. Basically, you get a volume and visit different Wilderness Explorers stations throughout the park to earn badges from troop leaders (bandage members).

This is definitely worth the 5 minutes it will take to start, and if your family decides it's worth the time, it can be a great mode to fill up some down time in the park, peculiarly when ride lines get long.

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Entertainment at Brute Kingdom

This section was terminal updated in June 2022. Offerings may change, and yous should always check the My Disney Feel app for the latest offerings and schedule.

Major Shows at Animal Kingdom

KiteTails

Country: Asia
Meridian: Whatever
Type: Live Kite Show

KiteTails is a new offering at Brute Kingdom that occurs at scheduled times throughout the day in the Discovery River Theater (the huge outdoor theater around the water near Expedition Everest—tin't miss it). There are two shows, a Jungle Book evidence and a Lion Male monarch evidence.

KiteTails is quite fun, though nosotros personally prefer to just view the giant kites from a distance passing through the area. These are actually cool, and sometimes unexpected things happen.

Brute Kingdom Cavalcades

The cavalcades are more streetmosphere than major entertainment, simply as they're a newer offering at the park I'm highlighting them hither.

As part of the reopening of the park, four new cavalcades are performed throughout the day on a gunkhole that rides around the Discovery River (the main body of h2o in the park) . The cavalcades replace all other entertainment and character greetings. These cavalcades are (links to video):

  • Discovery River Character Prowl

  • Discovery Isle Drummers

  • Donald's Dino Boat Bash!

  • Mickey & Friends Flotilla

Festival of the Lion King (Modified As Of Summer 2021, Original Returns Summer 2022)

State: Africa
Height: Any
Type: Alive Functioning

Update: Festival of The Lion Male monarch has returned equally a slightly modified testify "Commemoration of Festival of The Panthera leo Rex."

Festival of the Lion Male monarch is an awesome, xxx-minute musical and acrobatic King of beasts Rex evidence. We're big fans of this show, non but considering of our nostalgic connection to The King of beasts King, merely considering of the great acrobatics the show offers.

Watching Information technology: You can sometimes squeeze into a show right at first time and you'll accept seats in the back. Alternatively, grab some food and make it line 20 - 30 minutes before the show (45-60 minutes on busier days). You tin can eat in line as long as you lot end before y'all enter the theater.

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Up! A Great Bird Hazard (Temporarily REPLACED)

Notation: This show has been temporarily replaced by "Feathered Friends in Flight." Attractions Mag has coverage of the new prove.

Land: Asia
Elevation: Any
Type: Live Show

This prove recently replaced Flights of Wonder. It's a fiddling worse than Flights of Wonder is, merely the same concept: birds performing some tricks as part of an otherwise uninteresting narrative. As it now features the characters from Up!, it will be a must-do for many fans. We don't particularly dear the show, but we tin can usually make time for it.

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Finding Nemo - The Big Bluish and Beyond (Opens June 13)

State: Dinoland U.s.a.A.
Tiptop: Any
Blazon: Live Bear witness

Afterward a lengthy hiatus, Finding Nemo - The Musical has been replaced by this new, presumably similar prove. This will be shorter than the old bear witness, and should fit well into most days at the park.

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Streetmosphere at Animal Kingdom

Streetmosphere is entertainment that you don't accept to arrive early on for and which occurs merely throughout the park in open areas. Much of it is notwithstanding temporarily suspended, or perhaps at this point permanently closed. We note the suspended things in this post, though nosotros're hopefully annihilation we've kept in here will return at some point.

Streetmosphere at the Tree of Life

Winged Encounters is a parrot show that takes place in front of the Tree of Life throughout the day. The schedule varies, but a typical schedule might exist posted as 9:15AM to 3:15PM, with bodily showtimes on the 15s with a skipped show at either 11:15AM or 12:15PM. A Bandage Member in front of the tree should exist able to tell you.

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Have your photographic camera ready to become, preferably ready to slow-movement mode, to take hold of some awesome shots when the parrots take flight.

On select nights the Tree of Life is brought to life via projections. Depending on the season / celebration, this might be Tree of Life Awakenings, Tree of Life Holiday Awakenings, or Beacon of Magic (Disney World 50th Anniversary addition). These are very short but very absurd bit of imagineering.

Streetmosphere in Africa

Africa is our become-to land for entertainment. If you lot ever need to rails united states of america down while we're at the Walt Disney Earth theme parks to yell at us nigh telling you to skip Frozen and ride Gran Fiesta Tour, you can probably find us nearly Dawa Bar watching the shows in Africa.

The stage in Africa is located direct in front of the span from Discovery Island, near Dawa Bar, Tusker Firm, and Tamu Tamu Refreshments. A secondary stage (currently used by Karibu Sisters) is located on the other side of Harabe, between Zuri's Sweets Shop and Harambe Market.

No day at Disney's Fauna Kingdom is complete without watching the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe. We sometimes arrive in the middle of a bear witness just to enjoy the walk from Discovery Island into Harambe, letting the sound of the drums grow equally we get nearer.

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Besides the keen evidence itself, yous'll accept awesome people-watching (or the chance to be watched) and the drummer pull people into dancing every bit function of their functioning.

The Tam Tam Drummers are a morning show, currently alternating performances with Kora Tinga Tinga, a performance of an African kora.

As morning turns to afternoon, the Harambe Village Acrobats (currently suspended) take over. If y'all're fresh off watching Festival of the Lion King, the acrobats might non impress that much, only they're nevertheless an impressive squad with some fun tricks.

Streetmosphere in Asia

Across from the Anadapur Theater (used for Up! A Neat Bird Adventure), a minor stage hosts the new Bollywood Beats (currently suspended) dance show. We really savor this testify and think it has that aforementioned level or organic audience participation that makes the Harambe performances so great.

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Also in Asia is Chakranadi, a sitar role player who usually plays well-nigh Yak & Yeti (I suspect sometimes y'all might find him on the other stage, though).

Streetmosphere on Discovery Isle

The Discovery Island stage is located across from Flame Tree Barbecue, just before the bridge to Dinoland UsA. Currently, that phase is just home to afternoon performances past Viva Gaia Street Band. Viva Gaia is a very energetic grouping, earning lots of audience participation in their shows.

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Streetmosphere in Pandora - The Globe of Avatar

Pandora currently has two entertainment offerings. First, there is Swotu WayƤ Na'vi Drum Ceremony (currently suspended). This show occurs throughout the twenty-four hours at the Pandora drum circle.

We institute this to be the second worst of Animal Kingdom'southward entertainment offerings. The drums ring as incredibly inauthentic (because, you lot know, they're plastic alien drums...) and the functioning just falls apartment for us.

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Second, there is the Pandora Rangers (currently suspended), which we consider the worst piece of entertainment in Animal Kingdom. Maybe 1 day we'll hear a kid become "COOOOOL!" and it will bring tears to our eyes and change our view of things, but until then...just...why?

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Streetmosphere in Dinoland The statesA.

Dinoland The statesA.'s entertainment offerings are in their infancy, and nosotros haven't had the take chances to feel them yet. They're also not given detailed schedules in the app, so you lot might need to cheque the times guide or inquire a cast member if you'd like to grab them.

Donald's Dino-Bash! is sometimes listed every bit entertainment. Really, this is more than of a land overlay, encompassing some blueprint changes, character greetings, and the "show," Dino-Riffic Dance Party! (currently suspended)

I believe the Dino-Riffic Trip the light fantastic Party is restricted to holidays and perhaps Creature Kingdom After Hours now. I'm leaving it here because it's the sort of thing that feels like information technology might pop upward, but don't expect it on your visit.

All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered

Don't be overwhelmed past Disney World planning! Take a second to check out our virtually important content and you'll not simply exist an expert, merely yous'll relieve big $$$ forth the mode.

Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney Earth planning guide! If you're still picking dates, nosotros've got everything you demand to know virtually Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, bank check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.

When it comes time to book nosotros'll help yous notice discount Disney Earth tickets. Decide whether you need a dining programme in our Complete Guide to Disney Earth Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney Globe Advance Dining Reservations!

Don't forget to chief your Disney Earth Genie+ and Lightning Lane strategy a few months in advance. Nosotros'll keep yous out of long lines and so you can maximize the magical fourth dimension in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Epcot Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Beast Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, and Hollywood Studios Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.

Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn nearly the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.

Finally, before yous head out, be sure to check out our to-the-indicate packing list, 10 essentials yous forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, at that place's no better list than our 53 Means to Save on your Disney trip from kickoff to terminate.