The Lands of Animal Kingdom
Asia
Expedition Everest
Take a speeding railway car toward the top of Mt. Everest. Enjoy hairpin turns, sudden drops and a reckless backwards retreat. This thrill ride is the headlining attraction at Animal Kingdom, and the best way to experience it is with Fastpass.
No matter what time you get to the park, we recommend that your very first stop should be the Fastpass distribution center for Expedition Everest.
Kali River Rapids
Ride a circular rubber raft down a wide river. You’ll enjoy beautiful and detailed theming, and some small drops and rapids on this whitewater adventure. You will get very wet! On a cold day, you should wear a poncho or have something dry to change into.
This ride is popular, especially on hot days, so plan to ride early, or late in the afternoon, or use Fastpass if you plan to ride in the middle of the day.
Great snacks in Asia
Enjoy a Tea or Frozen Chai Tea at the Royal Anandapur Tea Company.
Fried rice or Egg Rolls from Yak and Yeti are also great snacks, priced under four dollars each.
Entertainment
On the paths between Asia and Africa, look for DeVine. This costumed entertainer conceals herself as a towering vine. When she is still, she’s almost impossible to detect, but she reveals herself when she moves!
DeVine’s schedule is published in the Times Guide.
Africa
Kilamanjaro Safari
Go on a mini-safari through realistic African scenery and see the exotic animals of Africa outside your open-sided safari vehicle. Every ride will be unique, as animals are free to move about the Safari and different animals are active at different times of day.
You’ll see fewer animals during the hottest parts of the day, so you should plan to see this attraction early in the morning or late in the afternoon. You can also Fastpass this attraction for less standing in line.
This can be a bumpy ride, but it will be the roughest in the back!
Entertainment
You can stop for an impromptu jam session on the drums in the Muziki area in Africa. You can stroll over to the Dawa Bar to watch a percussion and dance show by the Tam Tams of Congo. Or for more entertainment, visit the Mombassa/ Tamu Tamu Courtyard to see the African drummer, Mor Thiam perform. Incidentally, Mor Thiam is the father of R&B Singer Akon.
An outing for animal lovers
Ride a rustic African train from the station in Harambe to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. You’ll get a glimpse of some backstage areas along the way like the home of the lions at Animal Kingdom, Pride Rock. Once you get off the train, you’ll walk past some habitats and exhibits on the way to Rafiki’s Planet Watch.
The highlight of this expedition occurs each morning, when the inhabitants of Animal Kingdom Park receive their veterinary care. Disney veterinarians perform anything from routine physicals to surgeries, which can be viewed from a special viewing area. Disney has a Cast Member stationed outside the exam room that can explain the procedures as they occur and can answer any questions.
Emergency procedures can arise at any time, making it impossible to publish a schedule in advance. So while you won’t know what type of procedure you might be able to witness, you’ll generally be able to see some kind of activity between 9:30AM and noon.
DinoLand USA
Dinosaur
Climb into your time-traveling vehicle, and go back 65 million years to the time of the dinosaurs. You’ll have an exciting adventure, but to get back, you’ll have to escape the deadly Carnotaurus!
Dinosaur is a teen-pleasing attraction, but be forewarned – this is a rough and noisy ride. If you don’t like to be bounced around or you dislike loud noises, you may want to skip the Dinosaur attraction.
You can usually walk on to Dinosaur with no line if you go early in the day or close to park closing.
Primevil Whirl
Primeval Whirl is a carnival-style coaster with short drops and curves and a Dinosaur theme. While the cars speed along the track, they also rotate. You’ll have no control over the spinning, so just hang on and enjoy the ride!
Entertainment
Enjoy the music of the Caribbean Steel Drum Band, the Tropicals, as they perform in DinoLand USA. Or you can grab a seat on the shady bench outside of Chester and Hester’s to enjoy the Afternoon Dance Party with DJ Dino-Mite & Truckosaurus.
For a fun sack, try an ice cream sandwich from Dino Bites. You get to choose your cookies and type of ice cream.
Tree of Life
It’s Tough to be a Bug is the 3D movie at Animal Kingdom, and it’s located inside the park’s central icon – the Tree of Life. This attraction can be scary for kids (and people who aren’t comfortable with insects,) but the special effects are well integrated with the movie, and the whole thing is well done. It’s worth taking the time to see if you have the time and interest.
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