Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's fourth park, which blends the central Tree of Life, real African savanna safaris and Pandora from Avatar. Flight of Passage is the park's best ride.

Disney's Animal Kingdom opened in 1998. It covers 230 hectares, making it the largest park at Walt Disney World, and it's an accredited zoo home to about 2,000 animals. Its landmark is the 44-meter artificial Tree of Life at the center of the park, with more than 300 animals carved into its trunk. Inside the tree is the 4D theater It's Tough to Be a Bug! The must-do attractions include Pandora – The World of Avatar, which opened in 2017 and features floating mountains and bioluminescent plants that glow at night. Avatar Flight of Passage, a ride that takes you soaring over the planet on a banshee, is the highest-rated attraction at Walt Disney World. The wait is usually 1–2 hours throughout the day, so buy a single Lightning Lane or head there right at opening. Na'vi River Journey is a gentle boat ride. In Africa, Kilimanjaro Safaris takes you through 45 hectares of savanna in open-air trucks to see giraffes, lions, elephants and rhinos. Each vehicle follows a different route, and the animals are most active in the morning. In Asia, Expedition Everest, a roller coaster with a Yeti theme, and Kali River Rapids are the main attractions. In DinoLand, DINOSAUR is a dark ride. The shows are of high quality. The Lion King celebration and the Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond! musical are both excellent, and you need to reserve a spot for The Lion King in the app. In the evening, the Tree of Life hosts the 'Awakenings' projection show. Planning tips: this park is mainly for sightseeing, so plan 6–8 hours. It's often combined with Disney's Hollywood Studios in a single day using a park-hopper ticket. With children, take the Discovery Trail to see gorillas and ride the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch. Getting there: free Disney hotel buses run directly to the park. Self-parking costs 30 USD. Notes: most paths are open-air, so bring shade and water in summer. Flash photography is not allowed in the animal areas.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

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