Disney' s Animal Kingdom is the newest of the four Walt Disney World theme parks and like the others it is open every day of the year although opening and closing times vary. I find Animal Kingdom usually closes earlier than the other Disney Parks but you can check opening times on line.
If you visit without children try to go on a school day to avoid the largest crowds. If you need to visit during a school holidays it can get very busy the week between Christmas and New Year' s and the Fourth of July.
It is always advisable to buy your tickets before you arrive at the Parks to avoid the queues. We usually buy Park “Hopper” tickets which allows us to visit as many Disney Parks as we like on one day.
Try to arrive at the park' s front gate before the park opens in the morning, leaving yourself time to park and either walk or take a tram from the parking lot to the front gate. It is lovely at this time of the morning as many characters are there to welcome you and you will also find the animals are more alert.
Turn right when you reach the Tree of Life and head into the park' s Asia section, where you will start your day with a ride on Expedition Everest.
After Everest we usually go back through Asia and into the Africa section of the park, for a ride on Kilimanjaro Safari.
After the ride we head back across the Discovery River into the Camp Minnie-Mickey section of the park and get in line for the Festival of the Lion King. You will love this show and it also gives you a welcome sit down!
When we leave the Lion King we cut back past the Tree of Life to Dinoland USA. If you have one hour or less before the next performance of Finding Nemo quickly go over to Dinosaur to pick up Fastpasses for that ride, then go back and queue for Nemo. If the next Nemo performance is more than one hour away, and the wait is less 45 minutes for Dinosaur, go on Dinosaur now. I know it sounds a bit complicated but it works well like this.
You have now reached lunch time and you have several choices for lunch. We do not normally eat at either of Animal Kingdoms table service restaurants at this time of day but sometimes go to their Flame Tree Barbeque. More often than not we head back to our villa for a light lunch and a couple of hours in or around the pool.
If you visit without children try to go on a school day to avoid the largest crowds. If you need to visit during a school holidays it can get very busy the week between Christmas and New Year' s and the Fourth of July.
It is always advisable to buy your tickets before you arrive at the Parks to avoid the queues. We usually buy Park “Hopper” tickets which allows us to visit as many Disney Parks as we like on one day.
Try to arrive at the park' s front gate before the park opens in the morning, leaving yourself time to park and either walk or take a tram from the parking lot to the front gate. It is lovely at this time of the morning as many characters are there to welcome you and you will also find the animals are more alert.
Turn right when you reach the Tree of Life and head into the park' s Asia section, where you will start your day with a ride on Expedition Everest.
After Everest we usually go back through Asia and into the Africa section of the park, for a ride on Kilimanjaro Safari.
After the ride we head back across the Discovery River into the Camp Minnie-Mickey section of the park and get in line for the Festival of the Lion King. You will love this show and it also gives you a welcome sit down!
When we leave the Lion King we cut back past the Tree of Life to Dinoland USA. If you have one hour or less before the next performance of Finding Nemo quickly go over to Dinosaur to pick up Fastpasses for that ride, then go back and queue for Nemo. If the next Nemo performance is more than one hour away, and the wait is less 45 minutes for Dinosaur, go on Dinosaur now. I know it sounds a bit complicated but it works well like this.
You have now reached lunch time and you have several choices for lunch. We do not normally eat at either of Animal Kingdoms table service restaurants at this time of day but sometimes go to their Flame Tree Barbeque. More often than not we head back to our villa for a light lunch and a couple of hours in or around the pool.