No planned visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom is complete without an Animal Kingdom ride guide of all its attractions!
The most recent theme park to open at Walt Disney World, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a theme park with “animals… real, ancient and imagined: a kingdom ruled by lions, dinosaurs and dragons; a kingdom of balance, harmony and survival; a kingdom we enter to share in the wonder, gaze at the beauty, thrill at the drama, and learn.” ~ Michael D. Eisner
Open on Earth day in 1998, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is one of the largest and most unique theme parks in the world. Dedicated and themed entirely around the natural environment and animal conservation, Disney’s Animal Kingdom features incredible rides and attractions as well as hundreds of species of live animals on exhibit.
This is your ultimate guide to every ride and attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Important Details to Know About Rides at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Table of Contents
Knowing some simple-but-important details about the rides at Animal Kingdom is key to a magical vacation.
In this guide, you’ll find a understanding of each ride’s storytelling. You’ll also learn what type of guest will enjoy each ride and what type of guest might want to skip it. Next, you’ll learn which rides offer specific access options such as single rider or Lightning Lane service. Finally, you’ll learn each ride’s height requirement in order to understand if you and your group can ride together.
The following guide has each of these bits of information to make understanding the rides at Lightning Lane easier.
Before jumping into each Lightning Lane ride, let’s briefly cover several ride access options you can expect to see.
Single Rider and Rider Switch Options
Walt Disney World has Single Rider lines at only 4 rides – only 1 of them are at Animal Kingdom.
Single Rider lines are specifically for 1 person who fills up any remaining open spaces on certain attractions. This potentially cuts your wait time down compared to going through the standby queue. However, with the widespread use of Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass, single rider lines are few and far between.
Guests also have the option of using Rider Switch, which is popular among families with kiddos who can’t or don’t want to ride a particular ride. Similar to the Rider Switch option utilized at Disneyland Resort, 1 person stays with the non-rider while the other responsible party (age 14 and up) and accompanying guests (up to 2) enjoy the attraction. Once finished, they can switch riders in order to experience the same attraction without having to wait again in the queue.
Rider Switch is a great way to ensure that anyone can ride without worrying about their younger kiddo!
Useful Tools for Reduced Wait Times: Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass
More prevalent across the Disney World theme parks is Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass – both paid services that allow you to make attraction “reservations” through the My Disney Experience mobile app.
A complete replacement of the FastPass+ service from years past, Lightning Lane Multi Pass gives guests specific return-times to ride multiple attractions throughout the day. On the other hand, the Lightning Lane Single Pass, allows you to purchase individual reservations for the most in-demand rides and attractions.
Both of these tools, when used strategically, allow you to experience a high number of rides and attractions you otherwise couldn’t do on a busy Disney park day.
Animal Kingdom Ride Guide: Rides by Area
Just like every other Disney theme park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has gone through several major changes to ensure the guest experience is top notch.
Designed by an incredible team led by the Disney Legend Joe Rhode, Disney’s Animal Kingdom boasts 500 acres and is home to some 1,700 animals representing 250 different species throughout the theme park. As it stands today, Disney’s youngest theme park is made up of 6 different themed area that each offer a variety of rides and attractions for you and your party.
Let’s go over each themed area and their respective rides and attractions in our Animal Kingdom ride guide.
Oasis
Featuring several types of animals and beautiful vegetation, Oasis is Animal Kingdom’s version of Main Street, U.S.A.
Oasis provides a transition from the world of man to the world of animals. While there are no specific rides here, you can stroll and view beautiful waterfalls, meandering streams, and colorful flora. Here, you can also find fascinating animals and signs giving you interesting facts about them. You also never know if you’ll run into DeVine, pictured above!
Going from the hustle and bustle of the Disney parking lot and through the relaxing area around Oasis is a great way to set the stage for the rest of the theme park.
Discovery Island
Located right at the center of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Discovery Island is the central hub connecting you to the rest of the theme park.
With the theme park’s icon the Tree of Life literally connecting you with the rest of the theme park, Discovery Island houses 1 classic attraction.
It’s Tough to be a Bug
This 3D film and live show based off Disney Pixar’s A Bug’s Life allows you to experience what it’s like to be a bug.
This attraction, housed inside the Tree of Life, features Flik, everyone’s favorite bug, in an “Off-Bugway” show. You’ll learn about the bugs’ survival techniques, including the flying quills of a tarantula, the putrid “defense stench” of a stink bug, and the (harmless) spray of a soldier termite.
Be careful though – when Hopper unexpectedly shows up, the theater goes bug-wild!
Skip If: This attraction features several loud moments, special effects coming from your seats, and a larger-than-life Hopper (grasshopper) animatronic – all in a dark theater. This show may not be suitable for your kiddos if they’re easily scared
Access: Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Height Requirements: Any Height
Tip: While waiting for the next showing, make sure to explore all the “movie” and “play” posters, which are bug-puns based on popular movies and musicals.
Pandora – The World of Avatar
Themed after James Cameron’s film series Avatar, Pandora – The World of Avatar is an extremely popular addition to Disney’s Animal Kingdom since its opening in 2017.
Pandora is a moon 4.37 lightyears away from Earth. Several generations after the great war of the Avatar films, Alpha Centauri Expeditions (ACE) and the Pandora Conservation Initiative (PCI) now use this area as their headquarters for the Mountain Banshee Project, which allows eco-tourists like you to visit Pandora.
Let’s go over the 2 popular attractions in this Avatar themed land.
Avatar Flight of Passage
Thanks to ACE and PCI, you now have the chance to experience what it’s like to bond with a mountain banshee.
Named “Iknimaya,” this rite of passage for Na’vi hunters peaks with an incredible flight over Pandora, full of breathtaking views of the floating mountains, the ocean, and the wildlife. You’ll feel just like a Na’vi hunter on these powerful winged creatures as they soar over the moon’s beautiful landscape.
This 3D ride is easily one of the best in all of Walt Disney World!
Skip If: You’re prone to motion sickness or have a fear of heights
Access: Lightning Lane Single Pass, Rider Switch
Height Requirements: Guests must be at least 44″ (112cm)
Tip: While this ride often times sees long wait times, you’ll want to wait in the standby queue if the wait time is under 1 hour. Once you enter the indoor portion of the queue, you’ll be surrounded by the flowing flora of Pandora and eventually walk into an PCI lab, complete with a full-sized avatar. It’s gorgeous, but you won’t be able to experience this through the Lightning Lane Single Pass!
Na’vi River Journey
This gentle boat ride takes you deep into Pandora’s caves.
Full of bioluminescent flora and mystical creatures, this is a must-do Disney attraction simply for its beauty. While it’s relatively short at 4.5 minutes, you’ll get endless views of plants, insects, and creatures native to Pandora. Toward the end of your journey, you’ll get to join the legendary Na’vi Shaman of Songs, an incredible 10-foot-tall creature that moves gracefully and sends positive energy into the forest through her music.
There’s a reason many guests want to ride this attraction over and over again.
Skip If: The wait time is longer than 1 hour
Access: Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Rider Switch
Height Requirements: Any Height
Tip: Wait times for this ride also tend to be high, but we recommend keeping an eye on wait times in the My Disney Experience mobile app as they can still fluctuate throughout the day. Additionally, since the ride queue isn’t nearly as detailed as the queue in Flight of Passage, using Lightning Lane Multi Pass won’t have you miss out on much of the queue experience. So, using the Lightning Lane queue here is a good idea if wait times are above 1 hour.
Africa
One of the original areas of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Africa is set in the fictional East African port village of Harambe.
Named after the Swahili word for “come together,” Africa is full of authentic theming, including a faux water-stained, crumbling old building and private home originally seen in Kenya.
Africa has a number of rides and attractions for your entire party to enjoy.
Kilimanjaro Safaris
This is a truly wild adventure that is never the same when you ride it again.
On Kilimanjaro Safaris, you board an open-air vehicle for a guided tour of a lush African savanna, home to over 30 species living in 110 acres of open plains, shady forests, and rocky wetlands. This 18-minute expedition into Harambe Wildlife Reserve gives you the chance to see some amazing animals, including hippopotamuses, lions, giraffes, cheetahs, and crocodiles.
Kilimanjaro Safaris is an absolute must-do when you visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Skip If: The wait time is longer than 1 hour
Access: Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Rider Switch
Height Requirements: Any Height
Tip: For the most immersive experience, we recommend riding Kilimanjaro Safaris either early in the morning when it opens or in the late afternoon right before the theme park closes. Not only will you experience shorter wait times, you’ll also likely see more active animals.
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
One of several exploration trails throughout Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail allows you to a variety of animals in a lush tropical forest.
Along this trail, you’ll encounter hippos, zebras, meerkats, hippos, and naked mole-rats. Two crowd-favorites are the gorillas and monkeys.
During this self-guided tour, you can take photos of these magnificent animals and learn from knowledgable Cast Members hanging out along the trail.
Skip If: It’s hard to find a good reason to skip this trail!
Access: None – there is rarely any wait for this self-guided tour
Height Requirements: Any Height
Tip: This trail is a wonderful way to take a mid-park break, with plenty of shade along the way. Make sure to take your time exploring this trail, asking questions to Cast Members along the way. They’re there specifically to help you learn!
Festival of the Lion King
Disney fans can rejoice while watching one of the most classic Disney animated features alive on stage.
Festival of the Lion King is an incredibly popular live show based on the 1994 Disney film The Lion King. You’ll be treated to 30-minutes of some of Disney’s best entertainment, retelling the story of Simba. The crowd will even get to participate in the fun!
Full of color and vibrance, Festival of the Lion King is a wonderful show the entire family will enjoy.
Skip If: It’s hard to find a good reason to skip this show!
Access: Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Height Requirements: Any Height
Tip: Make sure to check the My Disney Experience mobile app for showtimes. Additionally, there’s no bad seat in this theater-in-the-round show!
Rafiki’s Planet Watch
Located next to Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch has 3 areas for you to explore and learn more about wildlife.
To get to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, you must board the Wildlife Express Train. At your arrival, you can explore Conservation Station, Affection Section, or Habitat Habitat!
- Conservation Station showcases various conservation efforts supported by the Walt Disney Company. This is also where The Animation Experience is located, where you can learn how to draw beloved Disney characters from a Disney animator.
- Affection Section is a petting area that features goats, sheep, and other domesticated animals.
- Habitat Habitat! is a path you can explore and take a self-guided tour, learning about the efforts taken to protect endangered primates.
This not-so-well-known area is a must-visit for everyone.
Skip If: It’s hard to find a good reason to skip this entire area!
Access: Lightning Lane Multi Pass (The Animation Experience only)
Height Requirements: Any Height
Tip: If you are really interested in learning about how Disney takes care of animals, make sure to visit Conservation Station before noon. You’ll more than likely be able to see a variety of procedures performed on animals!
Asia
Asia is a set in the fictional kingdom of Anandapur.
Named after the Sanskrit word for “place of many delights,” Asia comprises of 2 villages and is the center of animal research and tourism in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Asia has a number of rides and attractions for your entire party to enjoy.
Maharajah Jungle Trek
This self-guided walking tour of Southeast Asia gives you a glimpse of the many animals from this region.
As you cross towering footbridges, roam around jungle bends, and behold cascading waterfalls, you’ll encounter many animals, including eld’s deer, blackbuck, Komodo dragons, and water buffalo. Make sure to spent some extra time int he chirping aviary, full of over 50 species of birds!
Don’t forget to say hi to the tigers here!
Skip If: It’s hard to find a good reason to skip this trail!
Access: None – there is rarely any wait for this self-guided tour
Height Requirements: Any Height
Tip: Like many of the other self-guided tours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we recommend taking this tour as a break between attractions. It’s a great way to decompress, relax, and recharge before your next attraction.
Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
This thrilling coaster ride takes you through the Forbidden Mountain of the Himalayas.
As travelers on a tour of the Himalayas put on by Himalayan Escapes, you’ll board a train going through Mount Everest. However, rather than a journey around the “Forbidden Mountain,” your tour goes through it. As you take a steep ascent, your train picks up speed and races into the darkness. Inside the cavern, a mythical tale comes true as you see the shadow of the Yeti!
This exciting ride includes a steep climb, a backwards descent, a double-looping turn, and an 80-foot drop!
Skip If: You’re prone to motion sickness, have a fear of heights, or think you or other members of your party may be afraid of loud noises, dark places, or frightening creature effects
Access: Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Single Rider, Rider Switch
Height Requirements: Guests must be at least 44″ (112cm)
Tip: We recommend riding this attraction early and getting in the standby queue. It’s full of artifacts and detail explaining the story of the mysterious Yeti, a snow monster that lives deep in the mountain. In fact, many of the items you’ll see in the queue are authentic items taken from the base of Mount Everest!
Kali River Rapids
If you’re looking to cool off on a hot day in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, this is it.
Kali River Rapids is a thrilling whitewater adventure through the lush jungle in the heart of Asia. You’ll load a large, circular 12-passenger raft that glides up a 90-foot knoll into a mist. You’ll then sail through an erupting geyser and descent the mountain that includes a dramatic 20-foot slope.
If you don’t get wet from any of these obstacles, you’ll likely get wet from other guests spraying water on you through the elephant-themed water sprayers!
Skip If: You’re prone to motion sickness or do not want to get wet
Access: Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Rider Switch
Height Requirements: Guests must be at least 38″ (97cm)
Tip: If you want to ride this attraction but do not want to get soaked, we recommend wearing a poncho while riding. Additionally, there are lockers located across from the entrance of the ride that you can place your belongings (free for a limited amount of time).
DinoLand U.S.A.
DinoLand U.S.A. is a completely different from what you’ll find in the rest of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
So the story goes, DinoLand U.S.A. started as a small highway town where an amateur fossil-hunter found some dinosaur bones. After contacting a few scientist friends, they gathered their money together to purchase the site. Since then, scientists, volunteers, and grad students have been living there trying to find answers about dinosaurs.
Meanwhile, Chester and Hester, 2 locals, were determined to make a quick buck and converted their gas station into a fossil souvenir shop and the parking lot into a small amusement park!
Be aware though, several of our favorite attractions here will close permanently starting January 2025 to make way for a new South American-themed land in 2027!
Dinosaur
This ride allows you to travel back in time on a perilous race to rescue an Iguanadon before the meteor strikes.
This dark thrill ride based on the 2000 Disney film Dinosaur takes you on a 12-seat Time Rover through the Late Cretaceous time period. After boarding your Time Rover, you’ll go back in time and explore a primeval forest filled with life-like dinosaurs, careen through unpredictable hairpin turns, and dart around fearsome predators.
As the clock counts down, you won’t quite know whether or not you’ll make it!
Skip If: You’re prone to motion sickness or dislike loud sounds in the dark, or menacing dinosaurs
Access: Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Rider Switch
Height Requirements: Guests must be at least 40″ (102cm)
Tip: If you’re familiar with Disneyland Park’s Indiana Jones Adventure attraction, you’ll be familiar with the ride track layout for Dinosaur. Both attractions share the same layout!
TriceraTop Spin
Guests of all ages can enjoy TriCeraTop Spin!
This carnival-inspired attraction takes you up into the air as you bob up and down, forward and back through the air to festive music. With 4 guests to each gondola, everyone is able to control their gondola’s motion.
Don’t be surprised if something prehistoric appears from the giant crown in the center of the top!
Skip If: You’re prone to motion sickness or have a fear of heights
Access: None (other than standby queue)
Height Requirements: Any Height
Tip: In general, this area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is exposed to the sun. When it’s hot, the sun reflects off the ground to make you feel even hotter. We recommend riding this attraction earlier in the day or later in the afternoon.
Finding Nemo – The Big Blue… and Beyond!
Based on Disney Pixar’s film Finding Nemo, this live-action musical stage show is filled with puppets and singers and is set underwater!
This exciting show invites you to experience the tale of Nemo and friends from a whole new point of view. It also features fan-favorite songs such as “In the Big Blue World” and “Go with the Flow.”
With live performers, animated backdrops, and a theater decked out with innovative lighting, sound effects, and special effects, you’ll be sure to love this show.
Skip If: It’s hard to find a good reason to skip this musical stage show!
Access: Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Height Requirements: Any Height
Tip: Make sure to check the My Disney Experience mobile app for wait times as this musical is shown several times per day