5 Mistakes Disney World Rookies Make in Animal Kingdom

Since it opened back in 1998, Animal Kingdom — which, believe it or not, is still Disney World’s “newest” theme park almost 30 years later — has been arguably the most unique Disney park in the U.S. thanks to its mix of real animals, heavily detailed theming, and advanced attractions.

However, if you find yourself visiting Animal Kingdom for the first time — or the first time in a long time — there are some mistakes you NEED to avoid.

“Skipping the Smaller Animal Experiences and Trails”

While the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction is the park’s premier live animal experience, there are several other animal experiences tucked away around the park, including the tiger-centric Maharajah Jungle Trek and the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, each of which is home to dozens of species, as well as some awesome Cast Member guides who can share fun facts about the animals.

In addition, there are some even smaller experiences scattered around Discovery Island which allow guests to see animals fed up close and personal. These trails and other encounters are a great option for filling in time between Lightning Lanes or shows, and they’re a great way to relax and enjoy the atmosphere while you sip on your afternoon coffee.

“They Don’t Check Park Hours”

Generally, Animal Kingdom closes much earlier than most other Disney World parks, often at 6:00 PM, though it varies by season. So, if you’re planning an Animal Kingdom day, don’t plan on being there late into the night. However, the park is offered as part of Extended Evening hours, where guests staying at Disney Deluxe Tier or Deluxe Villa resorts can access select theme parks for two extra hours after the park closes to the general public.

“They Try to Ride Flight of Passage in the Middle of the Day”

Since its opening back in 2017, Avatar: Flight of Passage has been the most popular ride at Animal Kingdom — and one of the busiest at Walt Disney World — with wait times often over an hour. The ride has only gotten busier recently, thanks to the construction of the Tropical Americas: Pueblo Esperanza expansion.

If you want to avoid peak wait time at the attraction — and aren’t able to score a Lightning Lane Single Pass for the attraction — avoid the middle of the day! Instead, rope drop the attraction early in the morning, or head over to Pandora shortly before park closing.

They Underestimate Bluey

After years of waiting, characters from the smash hit Australian series are finally coming to Disney World. Both Bluey’s Wild World and Jumping Junction will open at the park’s Conservation Station on May 26th. Guests will be able to meet Bluey and Bingo, as well as encounter animals native to Bluey’s home country of Australia.

While some guests may think that a meet & greet based on a show aimed at young children won’t be a big draw, the MASSIVE crowds that are swarming the Bluey show being presented at Disneyland beg to differ.

“They Look for the Dinosaurs and Dragons”

Understandably, a guest walking into Animal Kingdom for the first time might expect to find dinosaurs and dragons represented in the park, given their presence in the entrance and remnants of older park logos. However, they’ll be disappointed.

Dragons were meant to be part of the legendary Beastly Kingdom, a planned land that was meant to celebrate mythical animals that never truly existed. The land’s premier E-Ticket attraction would have been Dragon’s Tower, a thrill attraction that would have used an inverted roller coaster ride system to tell the tale of a group of bats stealing treasure from the evil dragon who lords over a ruined medieval castle and village.

Despite being promoted, Beastly Kingdom was dropped from the park’s opening phase to make room for a different land (we’ll get there in a second) before being canceled altogether.

The land chosen over Beastly Kingdom? Why, that was Dinoland U.S.A., themed to extinct creatures. The land was a staple from the park’s opening day, and was headlined by the E-Ticket thrill ride Countdown to Extinction, later renamed Dinosaur, until it closed for good in 2026 to make room for the upcoming Tropical Americas.

“They Try to Bring in Banned Items”

While there are items banned from every Disney Park, Animal Kingdom has an even more stringent list, thanks to the live animals. So items like plastic straws and even the iconic Mickey Balloons are NOT allowed.

Whether your next visit to Animal Kingdom is your first or your 101st, make sure to avoid making these mistakes. Stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney World tips.

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Have you been to Animal Kingdom recently? Let us know in the comments below.

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