Disclosure
Affiliate links are used in this post. You can read my full disclosure here.
Rides
Na'vi River Journey
We did this ride right at rope drop because none of us wanted to do Flight of Passage, and back in 2018, it had a 90-minute wait, so we were unable to get on. This time around, we walked on. It is a nice, slow-moving boat ride, but it felt a bit lacking. Our child liked it though, and we rode it again right before they started closing down at 7 PM. It was a walk-on at the end of the day too, so definitely recommend going first thing in the morning (if you're not interested in Flight of Passage) or doing it in the evening.
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Kilimanjaro Safaris
I remember doing the safari when I was a kid, and it traumatized me with the shaky bridge over the crocodiles, so I hadn't been on it since. This year, we decided to give it a go, and thank goodness that bridge no longer shakes! The ride is still bumpy, but it at least it didn't scare my child like it had me, and we even rode it again later in the day.
If you have the time, I definitely recommend taking the safari ride in the morning when the park opens, and then coming back after dinner. We saw different animals each time!
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Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
My husband enjoyed this ride, and I believe he rode it twice.
Shows
Festival of the Lion King
We missed this show in 2018, so I made it my goal to make it to one of the performances this time. I was expecting more of a stage performance or reenactment of The Lion King, but it was more of an acrobatic performance featuring music from The Lion King. It was good, but I don't think I need to see it again.
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Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!
This was a cute stage production reenacting the movie, but I found it hard to stay awake! (And I'm almost certain the person next to me fell asleep) Maybe it was because it was later in the afternoon and the theater was dark, but I would recommend drinking some coffee before this one, or maybe skipping it.
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Zootopia: Better Zoogether!
Our child loves Zootopia, so this was the second thing we did in the park. It's a 4D show, so it can strain the eyes. My child complained it made her head hurt afterwards. We probably will skip this next time.
Activities
Wilderness Explorers
Epcot has Kidcot, which I read about before the trip, but I wasn't aware the Animal Kingdom had something similiar. Kids can pick up a booklet from any station and travel to each location to get a "badge" (it's a sticker). We didn't discover it till later in the morning, so there was no way we were going to get all the stickers, but our child was okay with that as she only had a select few she wanted.
The booklet contains activities that kids can do later, which came in handy at Universal Studios while waiting for the park to open.
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
Besides gorillas, there are birds, naked mole rats, reptiles, zebras, antelopes, and many more animals to see. Our child really loved the aviary part. The birds were not afraid of people; some would fly right by my head.
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Maharajah Jungle Trek
On this trek, there are tigers, bats, komodo dragons, monkeys, another aviary, and more animals to see.
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Characters
Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps
Since our child is a Zootopia fan, we had to get in line to see Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps. I noticed a line starting to form about twenty minutes before they were scheduled to appear, so I hopped in while my child and husband explored the nearby shop.
We only had to wait around 10 minutes to see them, and like Anna & Elsa, they give you a decent amount of time to interact with them. They can't speak, but there are lots of hugs and gestures.
Food & Drink
Satu'li Canteen
I had the Cheeseburger Steamed Pods (Bao Buns), my husband had the Spicy Pork Steamed Pods, and my child had the Cheese Quesadilla.
The Cheeseburger Steamed Pods were basically an Americanized version of traditional Chinese Bao Buns. They were the only thing on the menu that didn't seem "spicy," so it was my safe choice, and I wouldn't mind having it again. However, the Ube Cold Brew with Rum, was definitely the highlight of this meal (There is a non-alcoholic version too).
My husband enjoyed his Spicy Pork Steamed Buns and our child approved of her quesadilla, so this was a hit for all of us.
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Anandapur Ice Cream Truck
Our child wanted a Mickey's Ice Cream bar for a treat, so we stopped here. They had a special version of the classic treat, which was a Hand-dipped Mickey's Premium Ice Cream Bar, and she approved. My husband and I got a Motunui Ube Sundae to share, and that was the best decision ever. It was so good.
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Yak & Yeti™ Local Food Cafes
Not to be confused with the Yak & Yeti restaurant, this is located outside next to the main restaurant. It accepts quick service dining plans and has outdoor seating.
I tried the Korean Fried Chicken Sandwich, which ended up being spicier than I would have liked. My husband tried the Korean Barbecue Rib Tips, and our child got the Cheeseburger. My husband said it was just alright, and our child said the cheeseburger wasn't as good as at previous restaurants.
We would recommend skipping this one.
In Summary
Highlights:
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps
Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
Motunui Ube Sundae
Ube Cold Brew with Rum
Disappointments:
Yak & Yeti™ Local Food Cafes
Not getting to see Pandora and The Tree of Life light up
- Animal Kingdom closes early, and even though they were open an hour the day we went, it was still too bright at 8 PM to fully enjoy the blacklights. If this is a must for you, avoid going in the summer and opt for late fall or winter.
The park had an extended hour when we went, until 8 PM, but everything still closed at 7 PM
- Even with the extra hour, all rides and most of the shops closed at 7 PM.
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