10 Reasons Why Animal Kingdom Is the Most Underrated Park at Disney World

Covering over 500 acres with lush vegetation and habitats for over 2,000 animals, Disney's Animal Kingdom boasts impeccable artistry inspired by cultures spanning the far corners of the globe.

With fewer attractions than its three Disney World companions, some vacationers dismiss it as a half-day park or even skip it altogether, but those of us in the know consider it an underrated gem with the most authentic design and the best vibes at Disney World.

Don't Overlook Disney's Animal Kingdom

While every Disney theme park provides a unique guest experience, Animal Kingdom's emphasis on nature and wildlife conservation sets it apart from the rest. A zoological paradise stretched across a tapestry of painstakingly detailed fictional (but stunningly realistic) settings, this park is an escape within an escape. Here are ten reasons why we think Animal Kingdom might be the best park at Disney World.

The Best Entertainment on Property

Animal Kingdom is home to high quality, can't-miss stage shows, each of which has its own merits.

Festival of the Lion King is a perennial favorite that has weathered many seasons of change, and between the animated character floats, talented vocalists, impressive feats of athleticism and aerial acrobatics, and Timon's antics, it offers something for everyone. Although stylistically it's more variety show than full-length musical, “Festival of the Lion King” features Broadway-caliber set pieces, costumes, and performances.

I admit I was disappointed to discover that, like many other aspects of post-pandemic Disney, “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” is a condensed, lesser version of the former “Finding Nemo: The Musical,” my favorite show at Disney World. However, this new incarnation still has many of the components that gave the original such immense production value. Skilled puppetry and colorful motion-sensitive designs bring the beloved Pixar characters to life on stage, and the creative use of movement and props by the chorus performers make the ocean setting its own character in the musical, drifting into the foreground and sometimes into the seating area. Memorable songs by the Academy Award winning writers for Frozen, Frozen II, and Coco will make you wonder why Finding Nemo wasn't a musical originally.

The last entertainment offering at Animal Kingdom is more of an animal encounter than a theatrical production. Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight showcases a variety of the park's feathered residents, but the headliners are six species of brightly-colored South American macaws. It's a brief but educational and rewarding opportunity to get up close and personal with these birds.

The Immersive Atmosphere Is Next Level

Disney is all about escape, and the immersive quality of their theme parks has long inspired their competitors to strive for more detailed theming. Exquisite, perhaps unrivaled detail is a defining characteristic of Animal Kingdom. A horticulturally complex series of trails winding past rippling streams, dense tropical flora, and peaceful waterfalls greets guests as they arrive and meander through the aptly-named Oasis area.

The iconic Tree of Life—a giant man-made baobab tree with a stunning array of wildlife sculpted into its trunk—resides on Discovery Island, where guests can get lost among densely landscaped animal enclosures, cave-like tunnels, and tranquil vistas.

Floating mountains and otherworldly plants that begin to shimmer with bioluminescence at dusk are highlights of Pandora, a gorgeous piece of storytelling based on James Cameron's Avatar.

Another notable area of the park is the fictional kingdom of Anandapur, where crumbling ruins, ancient temples, the palace of a Maharajah, and a Himalayan base camp showcase a conglomeration of cultural and architectural elements inspired by countries like Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, and Thailand.

Of course, the most authentic piece of Imagineering at Animal Kingdom is the representation of East Africa with the village of Harambe, a bustling port town including “hotels,” restaurants, live entertainment, and an open air marketplace.

Animals!

With a vast array of creatures representing approximately 300 species living at Disney's Animal Kingdom, we don't want to understate the role animals play at this park. From the moment you enter the front gates, there are signs of wildlife all around. The call of birds from the Oasis trails immediately welcomes you into the celebration of life in this magical, nature-centric place. And yes, zoos are common (you can visit one in nearly every city), but watching animals navigate a small zoo enclosure is sobering after you've seen them roaming free in Disney's conservation-minded paradise.

Unique Character Experiences

Character experiences are one of the hallmarks of Disney theme parks, and each one offers different opportunities to interact with beloved personalities from Disney films. Animal Kingdom's offerings tend to be a bit special and more rare than those at other locations, however.

Where else can you see Kevin, the giant blue “snipe” from Up, wandering around gaping at guests and looking for her babies? Or wave to popular classic and rare characters as they drift past on colorful “floatillas” from the Flame Tree patio as you enjoy lunch beside the picturesque Discovery River?

You can meet Moana, Scrooge McDuck, and Launchpad McQuack and see Pocahontas and friends, Russell and Dug, Rafiki, and Timon! Characters in creative costumes abound here as well, including Mickey, Minnie, and friends in their safari gear and Donald, Daisy, Chip, and Dale in brightly hued dinosaur ensembles (for now).

Educational Opportunities

Board the Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki's Planet Watch, where you'll find an animal nutrition center, veterinary treatment window, reptile, invertebrate, and amphibian exhibits, and a science center. Animal experts are available here and at various other locations throughout the park to provide information and answer questions. The Wilderness Explorers program is another fun learning opportunity for guests of all ages! Just pick up a free Wilderness Explorers handbook and complete the self-guided activities inside to earn over 25 badges.

A Slower Pace

The worthwhile benefit of fewer rides is less time spent waiting in lines and more time spent soaking up the atmosphere at this beautiful park. Instead of scrambling to fit attractions into your day, you're free to explore hidden pathways and savor the abundant detail in each carefully crafted setting. Because you likely don't have to rush to make your next Lightning Lane time, you can stop to enjoy the Tam-Tam drummers, Harambe acrobats, or other “streetmosphere” entertainers, relax at the Nomad Lounge, or seek out your favorite animal encounter.

Diverse Dining Options

Dining options at Animal Kingdom are plentiful and feature cuisine for every palate, from the pickiest of eaters to the most adventurous. For the comfort-zone crowd, pizza, delicious barbecue, and traditional theme park fare are available at Pizzafari, Flame Tree BBQ, and Restaurantosaurus.

Harambe Market and Tusker House serve African flavors along with more familiar menu items, and the latter provides the only character meal in the park. The ornately decorated Yak and Yeti and its quick service counterpart both offer variations on Asian favorites, and I can't mention quick service without mentioning my favorite, Satu'li Canteen, where you can build a customizable entree bowl with a variety of bases, sauces, and proteins or try the intriguing cheeseburger bao buns.

If you're interested in a more upscale dining experience, Tiffins is the premier fine dining location at Animal Kingdom, and the theming here is exceptional. Epicurious guests will be delighted by the abundance of international cuisine, and travel-hungry adventurers will appreciate the galleries of lavish artwork inspired by the notes and field sketches of globetrotting Disney Imagineers.

Finally, the rustic Nomad Lounge is a warm and inviting exploration-themed haven with globally influenced libations and a relaxing outdoor covered patio offering lovely views of Discovery River.

A Variety of Attractions

Although there is admittedly less emphasis on “rides” at Animal Kingdom than at other Disney World parks, the attractions you'll find here provide a wide variety of novel experiences to enjoy. First and foremost, the Imagineers responsible for the development of Animal Kingdom designed the entire park around the ambitious Kilimanjaro Safaris, a guided tour in a rugged, open-air vehicle through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, where over 30 species of animals roam free across the Disney recreation of an African savanna. You'll see giraffes, elephants, lions, zebras, crocodiles, and more, and since animal behavior can be unpredictable, every expedition is different.

Attractions for thrill-seekers, like the immaculately-themed Expedition Everest and the not-yet-extinct DINOSAUR, are also part of this park's DNA. Avatar: Flight of Passage is thrilling in a more sensory way – the luscious Pandora scenery, the sweet scents wafting by as you soar through the verdant landscape, and the feeling of your banshee breathing against your legs all contribute to the exhilarating effect of the ride. Contrastingly, Pandora's second attraction, Na'vi River Journey, is a calm boat ride along a peaceful rainforest waterway, past glowing flora and fauna, among the soothing sounds of nature and the musical chanting of the Shaman of Songs.

Animal Kingdom also features my family's favorite play area, The Boneyard in Dinoland. With slides for every young age group, rope bridges, caves to explore, surprise interactive elements, and a dig site where kids can excavate “fossils,” this outdoor attraction is the most exciting opportunity for much-needed free play at a Disney World theme park. While Dinoland will soon be undergoing a transformation, the timeline for this change is vague, and we have hope the new theming will include a similar reimagined play space in this area of the park.

Quiet Trails

Due to its size, sprawl, and ample vegetation, Animal Kingdom provides a nice reprieve from the typical theme park hustle and bustle. Specifically, you can find quiet moments and sometimes even solitude along its varied animal viewing trails. Asia's Maharajah Jungle Trek is a personal favorite because of the elaborate palace theming and rich, vibrant decor, and the gorgeous tigers and fascinating Malayan flying foxes are splendid to watch.

The Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail at the end of Kilimanjaro Safari is another interesting animal encounter, and a great opportunity to learn about conservation efforts for western lowland gorillas, but since it's near the exit for Kilimanjaro Safaris, it can become a bit crowded at times. Because they wind around and through the base of the Tree of Life, the Discovery Island Trails are probably the best place to explore in search of peace and quiet, and you'll spot diverse animal species like red kangaroos, ring-tailed lemurs, and Galapagos tortoises along the way.

Potential for Expansion

Animal Kingdom's most recent addition, Pandora – The World of Avatar, includes several expansion pads within its layout, large enough to house additional attractions, restaurants, and shops, so this is a potential area of expansion in the future.

More immediately, though, we just learned at this year's Destination D23 that Disney Parks is planning an exciting new expansion to replace Dinoland with a new land inspired by the “tropical Americas” region. This new land could possibly include new experiences based on Encanto and Indiana Jones. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high for a reimagined version of the existing Dinosaur ride, featuring an Indy adventure like the one over in Disneyland!

There are definitely some dramatic changes coming to what is already an amazing theme park with so much to offer guests who are willing to delve into its wonders.

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