Honey, we are not in Florida anymore. Disney’s Animal Kingdom took us to a land of wildlife and nature. From Africa to Asia and everything in between this park has it all! This is a true adventure and a roar of a time!
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Transportation
Since we rented a car while we were there, it was easy to get to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. We paid the $25 day pass and parked in one of the main parking lots in front of the park. We then walked to the main entrance.
Oasis
Once we entered the park we stepped into the world of animals. We saw Spoonbill birds, anteaters, and babirusas (pig with tusks). While this land doesn’t have any attractions, it was a good point for us to get settled and see where to start our journey in the Kingdom. We also ended up eating lunch here.
- Rainforest Cafe: The Rainforest Cafe was the perfect spot to grab lunch. The cafe fit perfectly in the Animal Kingdom setting.
We saw different animal animatronics like gorillas, giraffes, and rhinos! Since we were in the rainforest the restaurant would go dark and it would start raining and thundering. Of course everyone stayed dry and it is all apart of the experience!
For our appetizer, we had the awesome appetizer adventure, which was a variety of chimi-cha-chas, spinach & artichoke Dip, cheese sticks and chicken strips. It was a perfect dish to share!
For our entrees, Sierra had the fried shrimp which came with fries and Jonah had the BBQ bacon burger with was also served with fries. Both were very tasty.
Pandora: The World of Avatar
This mystical land that is based on the movie, Avatar, holds one of the best rides we have been on in Disney!
- Avatar Flight of Passage: This was the first ride we rode in the Animal Kingdom, due to it being the most popular. Even with getting there as soon as the park opened, we still ended up waiting about 2.5 hours in line. It was definitely worth the wait though!
We took a thrilling ride on a banshee, through the land of Pandora! It was exhilarating and felt so real.
- Na’vi River Journey: This was a slow boat ride moving through Pandora’s glowing rainforest. It is a perfect ride to go on right after a meal and good for all ages!
Discovery Island
Just as the name states, this Island is all about discovery and has a variety of activities for kids, including the 3D film, “It’s Tough to be a Bug”. For us though, the only thing we were interested in seeing was the Tree of Life. There are a few different restaurants and shops to see as well.
Dinoland, U.S.A.
Dinoland is a mix of carnivalesque and prehistoric charm. Most of it seemed to cater to the kids so we just popped in for one exciting ride.
- DINOSAUR: For this ride, we boarded a time machine vehicle that took us through a rainforest filled with all kinds of different dinos. It reminded us of the Indiana Jones ride, with the fast turns and feeling of adventure.
Asia
- Expedition Everest-Legend of the Forbidden Mountain: This climb is not for the weak. We set off to explore Everest and all of its mysteries. This is a fast roller coaster and is super fun as it goes both forward and reverse throughout its track. We even got a glimpse of the yeti patrolling the caves of the mountain! We highly suggest this ride but be prepared for a long wait!
- Kali River Rapids: Even though we were visiting in March, the Florida sun (or should we say the Asian sun?) was shining on us. We wanted to get a little wet and try the Kali River Rapids. This ride was so fun and it was perfect for a hot day! Make sure to avoid the mid part of the day since that is the busiest.
- Yak & Yeti Restaurant: Below Everest, we found the Yak &Yeti Restaurant. It came highly recommended so we made sure to check it out to grab some drinks and dessert. Sierra had the Kiwi Kimono ($12) and Jonah had the Yak Attack ($12) both very delicious drinks. For our mid-afternoon dessert Jonah had the amazing Fried Wontons ($11.99) and Sierra had the Pineapple Upside Down Cake which unfortunately does not look to be on the menu currently.
Africa
- Kilimanjaro Safaris: We took a ride on the wild side! Exploring some of the wildest animals across the world. We boarded a safari tour truck and we saw hippos, elephants, zebras, and some wild cats! This was a super fun tour and it was nice to sit down for a bit since we were walking all day!
Where to Stay
- The Disney Contemporary Resort: This hotel is famous for having the Disney Monorail run through it and is the closest hotel to the Magic Kingdom. The rooms are very nice, boasting soft and comfortable beds and a spacious bathroom with a lot of room to get ready.
We highly suggest staying at the Contemporary Resort and make sure to look into the Disney Food Plan. It might save you some money if you plan to stay around a week. Rooms start at $421/night for a Garden Wing-Standard View to $2,190 for a Bay Lake View- 2 Bedroom Suite.
- Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort: This resort was very nice and we definitely recommend staying here. Our 2 bedroom villa had all of the great amenities with wifi, a kitchen, and a washer and dryer.
It was also close to Disney World, only within a 15-25 minute drive for any of the parks. Rooms start at $126/night for a one bedroom and go up from there depending on how many rooms you want.
- Maingate Kissimmee Hotel: If you aren’t up for paying for Disney hotels or villas, you can stay at this hotel. We wanted something close to the parks and this one was very close to Epcot, with it only being a 5 mile drive. It was a clean and comfortable stay with an outdoor pool that we didn’t use, but looked nice. We paid $215 for a 3 night stay so we definitely won with the price.
Some of our wildest adventures in Walt Disney World took place in this park and we can’t wait to return back for more fun times in the future!
Travel Tip: Be sure to order your fast passes for attractions and make reservations for dining as soon as possible! Spaces fill up and if you don’t want to wait in line this is the way to go. If you stay at a Disney Resort you can do this 60 days in advance or 30 days if you are not.
*Note: This trip was taken pre-COVID.
