Why you shouldn’t miss Animal Kingdom
For many, the park is not that high on the priority list, some even only plan half a day for it. I would like to show you why this park is in no way inferior to the others and how you can spend the perfect day there and discover all its facets. Animal Kingdom is the largest of the four parks in Disney World. It is dedicated to the theme of nature and wildlife. Disney films that fit the theme are of course represented, where you can watch a Lion King musical, fly on a banshee from the film Avatar or see Pocahontas sail past on the raft boat. What I appreciate about the park is the diversity, the peaceful places and simply following your inner spirit of discovery. The park is usually the first of the four to open. You can check the current opening times on the website. I would definitely use this morning hour, for me it is the "golden hour". The day comes to life and offers a very special atmosphere and you have the advantage that there are not so many people in the park yet. When you come in, you immediately see the park's landmark: the Tree of Life from the film The Lion King. The impressive tree symbolizes the cycle of life and inspires reflection - but also discovery! Over 300 animals have been carved into the roots and it is great fun to discover as many as possible. The tree is the perfect photo subject and that is why I recommend taking a souvenir photo right away. There will also be many opportunities in the park, but you can never photograph it from enough angles. Genie+ is usually not necessary for this park, but I would highly recommend an Individual Lightning Lane (ILL) for "Flight of Passenger", because then you can now walk against the crowds of people towards Asia. It is quite possible that you can now explore this themed part on your own. The colorful flags, the earthy colors and the pagodas immerse you. Stop for a moment and enjoy the sun rising over the river.
Anyone who is ready for a thrill will be able to ride the "Expedition Everest" attraction without having to wait in line for long. Since it is likely that you will have free choice of seats, be sure to get in at the front. The theme is that you are an explorer walking through the Himalayas and encountering a Yeti there, and a quick escape is called for. The attraction cost a whopping 100 million, and the technical effect of seamlessly switching into reverse gear was particularly special at the time. Everest is not just a roadway, but also a beautiful backdrop. So don't forget to take a photo in all the excitement. We follow the signs towards Africa, past the monkey enclosure, which loudly announce that they are already awake. The special thing about the Animal Kingdom is the zoological aspect, which allows you to observe animals or there are special "trails" (walking paths) where you can discover lots of animals, from small to large. We'll stick with the theme of animals and get into the safari car in Africa. The largest part of the park is not open to the public because it contains a large number of wild animals that are only separated from cars by natural barriers such as moats. This makes it easy to observe the animals. An experienced guide drives you through the area and passes on his knowledge as you go. The safari lasts a good 20 minutes and it is recommended to do it in the morning or evening when the animals are more active because it is not yet so hot. We drove past elephants, lions, rhinos and discovered huge termite mounds.
Right next to the Safari Station you can get on the little train that takes you to "Rafiki's Planet Watch". The perfect place to escape the midday heat and a little insider tip. There is a petting zoo and the Conservation Station here. If an animal is being operated on, you can watch on the screen if you want. The main reason we are here is the drawing course. Here you can learn to draw like the pros in a short 30-minute session. We painted the dog Dante from the film "Coco" and I can tell you I can't paint at all, but it's amazing how well it turns out if you follow the tips of the pros. You return with a great self-painted souvenir. Your stomach is rumbling and the little kiosk in Africa, right by the train station, offers very good grilled corn and sells a few other small items. It is very likely that you will meet the African music group at this time, who drum incredibly well and create a great atmosphere. Sit down, enjoy your meal and then dance to the music. These facets make the park special for me. You discover so much if you keep your eyes open. You find moments of calm and excitement and are surprised every time by what there is to see and experience. We are now walking towards Pandora. It is quite possible that a boat with Disney characters will pass by on the river. They announce themselves with loud music; we were lucky enough to see Pocahontas. You might also spontaneously come across Kevin the bird from the film "Up" or the very well camouflaged ivy woman DiVine.
Pandora from the film Avatar is the park's newest themed area and is simply breathtaking. Discover the flying rocks and the exotic flora. Check your Individual Lightning Lane (ILL) reservation. Is it time for the park's most popular attraction yet? "Flight of Avatar" simulates a flight on a banshee. It's state-of-the-art technology and you feel so free when you fly over the beautiful landscape. The next attraction is "Navi River Journey". A quiet, contemplative river trip past the Tree of Souls, which gives you a foretaste of how great everything looks at night, because the plants are fluorescent and glow. Once you've explored Pandora extensively and taken enough photos in front of the flying rocks, you move on to the last themed area, Dinoland USA. On the way we walk past the Life of Tree again and visit the attraction "It's Tough to Be a Bug" from the film A Bug's Life. Yes, you heard right, there is a 4D cinema in the tree. The show is very funny and above all the queue gives you the chance to get very close to the tree and discover everything again in detail. Dinoland has many attractions for small children such as a playground with dinosaur fossils or fairground stalls with classic games such as ball throwing. Here you can also meet Donald, Chip and Dale. But the reason we are here is the musical "Finding Nemo". The shows do not cost extra to enter and are nevertheless very professionally put on with a beautiful stage set. The perfect break for tired feet. We are again very close to the Asia themed area and there we cool off briefly at the Navi River Journey. If you don't want to get wet on the rafting course, you should definitely wear a raincoat. To dry off, we walk along the Maharajah Jungle Trail. For me the most atmospheric of all the trails, after all you can see a fully grown tiger. The name says it all, the setting takes you back to the old Indian royal times with painted walls and magnificent doors. I also really liked the walk-in bird terrarium. I learned about so many new species of birds and you can see them up close. I find the trails very educational and would always plan to do at least one on my visit.
If you miss the famous mouse, you can now have dinner at the Tusker House. Here you eat with Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and Donald. The buffet offers a good selection of dishes from all over the world, but of course also some American classics such as macaroni and cheese. The characters wear safari outfits and I really liked the atmosphere. Alternatively, you can get grilled food at the Flame Tree Barbecue and simply visit Mickey and Minnie at their meet and greet stop. After we've finished eating, we go straight on and visit Pandora at night. It has a completely different atmosphere. Buy a Pongu Lumpia, a fruity-sweet spring roll, for dessert at Pongu Pongu. Find a nice place where you can enjoy the view of this unreal world and end your evening that way. To put it in Timon and Pumba's words, "Hakuna Mata" ("No worries").