Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the largest Disney theme park in the world!
As big as 250 football fields, there’s plenty of space for the many animal species that call it home.
Opened on Earth Day in 1998, the park is entirely dedicated to exploration, discovery, and animal conservation.
Following the success of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney CEO Michael Eisner immediately launched plans for a park entirely dedicated to animals.
The task was given to Joe Rohde, an Imagineer who had worked on EPCOT. He spent months traveling through the Far East to gather inspiration.
To make sure you don’t miss anything from my explanation, download the park map.
The park is divided into six different areas:
- Oasis
- Discovery Island
- Pandora – The World of Avatar
- Africa
- Asia
- Dinoland U.S.A.
Oasis
Oasis is a kind of Main Street, and its purpose is to immediately immerse you in the wild nature of Animal Kingdom, surrounded by tall trees, streams, and animals.
Discovery Island
At the center of Discovery Island stands the Tree of Life, a massive artificial tree that rises 44 meters (145 feet) high, with over 8,000 branches and more than 100,000 leaves.
Carved into its bark are 325 animals, each representing a species found within the park.
But the Tree of Life isn’t just the symbol of Animal Kingdom—it also houses one of the most entertaining 4D shows I’ve ever experienced: It’s Tough to be a Bug! Based on Pixar’s *A Bug’s Life*, this show delivers laughs and surprises. Unmissable!
When park hours allow, the Tree of Life lights up for an evening show called Tree of Life Awakenings, where four different video mapping mini-shows bring the tree to life.
Discovery Island also serves as the park’s central hub, connecting all the other lands.
Pandora – The World of Avatar
This is the latest land added to Animal Kingdom—and what a land it is!
Once again, Joe Rohde delivered his best work.
It took six years of planning and construction, but it was worth the wait. Pandora is the most immersive Disney land I’ve ever seen with my own eyes.
There are “only” two attractions:
- Na’vi River Journey
- Avatar Flight of Passage
Na’vi River Journey is a nighttime boat ride through the bioluminescent jungle of Pandora.
The level of detail is so high that it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s not.
Near the end, you’ll encounter the Na’vi Shaman—brought to life by the most advanced animatronic Disney has ever built. Worth the wait just for that!
But the real gem of Pandora—possibly of the whole park—is Avatar Flight of Passage.
It’s hard to explain how this ride works: you’ll soar on the back of a banshee through the floating mountains of Pandora. You’ll feel like you’re really there—every sense will be overwhelmed.
Let me just say: I cried after the ride. It’s that impressive.
The land itself is a full-blown attraction.
Following the movie’s spirit, the vegetation appears to live and breathe—especially at night.
Bioluminescence is everywhere—everything glows and changes color in sync with nature.
Africa
Africa is the largest land in the park.
Kilimanjaro Safaris is a recreation of a classic African safari—but what a recreation!
The trail winds through a savanna the size of 50 football fields, where you can spot lions, rhinos, antelopes, giraffes, and much more—without fences or cages.
They’ll be the most surreal 22 minutes of your day.
At the exit of Kilimanjaro Safaris, you’ll find the entrance to the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail—a walking trail where you can see gorillas, hippos, and exotic birds up close.
There’s also a train at Animal Kingdom. Okay, it won’t take you all around the park like at Magic Kingdom, but the Wildlife Express Train will take you to the Conservation Station, the medical heart of all of Walt Disney World.
Here you can see the labs and operating rooms where WDW animals are treated—including the large sea creatures from EPCOT.
Outside, there’s a fun area called Affection Section where you can pet friendly farm animals always ready for cuddles.
Asia
This is the land I love the most.
It opened one year after Animal Kingdom’s grand opening and was the park’s first major expansion.
In Asia, you’ll find:
- Feathered Friends in Flight!
- Maharajah Jungle Trek
- Kali River Rapids
- Expedition Everest
Feathered Friends in Flight! is a brand-new show where Animal Kingdom’s top trainers introduce various bird species and their habitats.
Maharajah Jungle Trek is a walk-through trail set in Southeast Asia, where you’ll encounter tigers, monkeys, bats, and Komodo dragons. It’s incredibly immersive—feels like you’re actually in Asia!
Kali River Rapids is the classic whitewater raft ride seen in many parks—but here, the rafts are huge, and the final drop is steep and drenching. You won’t leave dry!
Expedition Everest held the title of most expensive attraction ever built for years, until it was surpassed by Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal Studios. The scale of this 60-meter (200-foot) mountain is unmatched—so is the theming of the queue and ride path. It’s hands down the most “wow” coaster in all of Walt Disney World.
Dinoland U.S.A.
This area is mainly family-focused.
Fossil Fun Games is a giant playground where kids can safely dig for fossils and have fun.
TriceraTop Spin is the Jurassic version of Disney’s classic Dumbo ride.
DINOSAUR isn’t for everyone—you’ll go back in time aboard a very bumpy 4-wheel vehicle, but beware of the T-Rex! (see photos to believe 😅)
Dinoland U.S.A. is also home to one of my favorite restaurants in all of Animal Kingdom—Restaurantosaurus. Its theming is as wild as it is cozy.
Final Thoughts
Many visitors tend to skip Animal Kingdom, but as you can see, it’s full of incredible attractions and emotions—and there’s even more when the park’s two legendary indoor shows return: Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo – The Musical, both absolutely amazing!
If you want to dive deeper into the park, check out my vlog from my 2019 trip, and don’t miss the *Animal Kingdom* series on Disney+.
