Animal Kingdom vs. EPCOT – Which Disney World Park is Best?

It is extremely hard to choose which of the four Disney World theme parks is the best because there are many differences between each, and it all depends on personal preference. Animal Kingdom and EPCOT are two of my favorite Disney World theme parks, and I'm going to break down a direct comparison of Animal Kingdom vs. EPCOT to show which each one has to offer. 

Walt Disney World is home to four world-class theme parks which offer so many amazing experiences including their rides and attractions, entertainment, character meet and greets, restaurants, shopping, and much more. These theme parks have millions of visitors each year for good reason.

I am a Disney World annual passholder, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Member, and Florida resident who visits all of Disney World's theme parks monthly. In this article I will compare various categories between Animal Kingdom and EPCOT which may help you decide which theme park to choose to visit on your next trip to Disney World. These categories include Rides and Attractions, Dining options, Character Meet and Greets, Entertainment, Location, and Overall Atmosphere. 

You can also see our comparison of Magic Kingdom vs. Hollywood Studios for more guidance in deciding which park to visit. 

Animal Kingdom vs. EPCOT – Rides and Attractions

When it comes to rides and attractions, both Animal Kingdom and EPCOT probably have the least amount of rides at all the Disney World theme parks. Regardless of the number of attractions, the quality of these rides at both parks is top tier, and these parks have some of the best attractions in all of Disney World. In this section I will list all of Animal Kingdom and EPCOT's rides and attractions, including the top three most popular attractions in each park.

Animal Kingdom Rides and Attractions

Currently, Animal Kingdom offers the following rides and attractions (check out our top favorite Animal Kingdom attractions according to various categories here):

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• Na'vi River Journey
• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• DINOSAUR (soon to be reimagined into Indiana Jones)
• TriceraTop Spin (will likely be closed due to the reimagination of Dinoland)
• Kali River Rapids
• Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki's Planet Watch
• It's Tough to be a Bug (soon to be reimagined into Zootopia)

Although all of Animal Kingdom's attractions are unique and enjoyable, the top attractions include:

• Avatar Flight of Passage: Most people will tell you Flight of Passage is the best ride in all of Animal Kingdom, maybe even in all of Disney World. This 4D simulator ride takes guests on a banshee ride for a breathtaking flight over Pandora's otherworldly landscape. The only type of person I would not recommend this attraction to is those who easily get motion sickness or are afraid of heights. Otherwise, this flight is an incredible journey and makes you feel as if you have escaped to another world. 

• Kilimanjaro Safaris: Animal Kingdom's Kilimanjaro Safaris is one ride that sets Animal Kingdom apart from any other theme park, especially at Disney World. This is a 20-30 minute journey in an open air vehicle driven by a tour guide through an African savanna with live animals roaming free. Every safari is different, so it never gets old and can always surprise guests or allow them to see a new animal each time. We recommend going on Kilimanjaro Safaris as early as possible or during sunset, as that appears to be when the animals are most active. However, I have gone on this attraction at multiple times throughout the day and in various weather conditions, and it never ceases to disappoint!

• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain: For adrenaline junkies, Expedition Everest has the highest drop of any roller coaster in Disney World at 80 feet with speeds reaching 50 miles per hour. It even goes backwards and has several intense G forces in the dark. The theming and intensity of this rollercoaster sets it apart from most rollercoasters at Disney World and other theme parks. Even from a distance, you can't deny how cool this ride is both from the outside as well as from the inside while guests are riding.

EPCOT Rides and Attractions

EPCOT also has many unique rides and attractions, including several shows throughout the World Showcase (check out our favorites here). The current list of rides and attractions in EPCOT include:

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Soarin' Around the World
• Moana – Journey of Water
• Test Track
• Journey into Imagination with Figment
• Frozen Ever After
• Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
• Living with the Land
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Turtle Talk with Crush
• Spaceship Earth
• Mission: SPACE
• Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
• Impressions de France
• Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360
• Reflections of China
• Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
• Awesome Planet

The most popular attractions at EPCOT include:

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind: Many agree that EPCOT was not nearly up to par with their attractions until the opening of Cosmic Rewind in May 2022. This roller coaster is the longest indoor rollercoaster in the world and has many unique sequences such as a backwards launch and 360 degree rotations! Before you visit EPCOT, make sure you know all about Disney's virtual queue system as it is the only way to ride Cosmic Rewind without an Individual Lightning Lane. This has become probably my favorite ride in all of Disney World and I never miss a chance to ride.

• Remy's Ratatouille Adventure: A clone from the original ride opened in Disneyland Paris, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure is a trackless 4D ride that shrinks riders into the size of a rat as they scurry and dash through the bustling kitchen. This is a very fun ride that is very popular among guests since it's opening in October 2021. It is family friendly and enjoyable for guests of all ages.

• Soarin' Around the World: Lastly, one of EPCOT's best attractions, Soarin' Around the World, lifts guests on a multi-passenger hang glider for a scenic aerial tour of breathtaking wonders around the world. This is an older attraction compared to Cosmic Rewind and Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, however it's always a classic. When I visit Disney World with guests who have never been on Soarin', they are always pleasantly surprised with the ride's technology and feeling of flying on a hang glider. 

When it comes down to it, I would have to say Animal Kingdom has the best overall rides and attractions despite having a lower quantity compared to EPCOT. With that said, a trip to EPCOT to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a must do. This attraction is what has really drawn more visitors to EPCOT since this roller coaster opened in 2022. It truly is hard to compare these two park's rides and attractions and I recommend trying to visit both parks in order to enjoy some of the best rides and attractions in all of Disney World.

Animal Kingdom vs. EPCOT – Dining

For many parkgoers, food and drinks are a top priority. As many know, EPCOT probably has the best theme park food anywhere, which makes it a popular theme park for adults. However, although it again is hard to compare the two parks, Animal Kingdom also has some great restaurants and dining options throughout their park. Let's compare the dining options between Animal Kingdom and EPCOT.

EPCOT Dining

EPCOT's dining experiences are the most unique compared to Animal Kingdom and all other Disney World parks. This is mainly due to EPCOT's World Showcase, which includes 11 different country pavilions offering various food and drink items. Additionally, EPCOT has several festivals throughout the year which offer even more unique food and drinks. This includes International Festival of the Arts, International Flower and Garden Festival, International Food and Wine Festival, and the International Festival of the Holidays. I never miss any of these festivals, and we recommend trying to visit Disney World during different months of the year so that you can experience each one.

In addition to the World Showcase pavilions, EPCOT also has many quick-service, table service, and restaurants with character meet and greets including:

• Quick Service: Connections Eatery, Connections Café, Crêpes À Emporter by La Crêperie de Paris, Katsura Grill, La Cantina de San Angel, Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie, Lotus Blossom Cafe, Refreshment Port, Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue, Sommerfest, Sunshine Seasons, and Yorkshire County Fish Shop
• Table Service/Buffet: Biergarten Restaurant, Chefs de France, Coral Reef Restaurant, La Crêperie de Paris, La Hacienda de Angel, Nine Dragons Restaurant, Rose & Crown Dining Room, San Angel Inn Restaurante, Spice Road Table, Tutto Italia Ristorante, Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria, and Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya
• Character Meals: Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and Garden Grill Restaurant
• Upscale Dining: Space 220 Restaurant, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Monsieur Paul, and Teppan Edo
• Bar/lounge: La Cava Experience

Animal Kingdom Dining

It's hard to compare Animal Kingdom's restaurants to Epcot's long list of dining experiences, however, this park still has a ton of great dining options, including:

• Quick Service: Creature Comforts (with Starbucks), Dino Diner, Flame Tree Barbecue, Harambe Market, Pizzafari, Restaurantosaurus, Satu'li Canteen, The Smiling Crocodile, Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes, Terra Treats, Pongu Pongu, Anandapur Ice Cream Truck, Caravan Road, Dino-Bite Snacks, Eight Spoon Cafe, Isle of Java, Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery, Mahindi, Tamu Tamu Refreshments, Trilo-Bites, Warung Outpost

• Table Service: Rainforest Cafe and Yak & Yeti Restaurant
• Character Meals: Tusker House Restaurant
• Upscale Dining: Tiffins Restaurant
• Bar/Lounge: Nomad Lounge, Dawa Bar, Drinkwallah, Thirsty River Bar and Trek Snacks

Overall, it's hard to beat or even compare the dining options at EPCOT, which makes it one of the best theme parks, especially for adults. However, the dining experiences at Animal Kingdom should never be overlooked. Both parks have amazing restaurants and lounges for every family's budget and taste preferences when you compare Animal Kingdom vs. EPCOT.

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Animal Kingdom vs. EPCOT – Character Meet and Greets

Another factor many family's consider when visiting a Disney World park is which characters are available for meet and greets. Both Animal Kingdom and EPCOT have options to meet unique characters. While Animal Kingdom has several great options such as Moana and wandering characters including Kevin from UP! and DiVine, EPCOT has more opportunities to meet characters, especially if you are interested in meeting princesses. More on Animal Kingdom vs EPCOT characters below.

Animal Kingdom Character Meet and Greets

Animal Kingdom has many opportunities to meet characters as well as see performers and wandering characters throughout the park. One of my favorite wandering characters in all of Dsney World is DiVine, who is a stilt walker covered in leaves. She is typically found right at front right-side walkway when you enter Animal Kingdom. 

• Meet Favorite Disney Pal at Adventures Outpost (Mickey and Minnie dressed up in Safari costumes)
• Meet Moana at Character Landing
• Roaming characters- DiVine and Kevin from UP!
• Boat Cavalcades with various characters such as Russell and Dug from UP!, Pocahontas, Meeko, Launchpad McQuack, and Scrooge

EPCOT Character Meet and Greets

Compared to Animal Kingdom, EPCOT has many more opportunities to meet characters. However, most of their characters are princesses, so if you aren't as interested in princess, you may not be as impressed with the characters at EPCOT. However, EPCOT is the only park where you can meet Figment, a fan favorite character, as well as Joy from Inside Out. Some of these characters are regularly available to meet throughout the day, however some are only during certain times, so be sure to check the MyDisneyExperience app for possible meet and greet times.

The list of regular character meet and greets in EPCOT include:

• Meet a Friend from the Hundred Acre Wood (Winnie the Pooh) in the United Kingdom
• Meet Alice in the United Kingdom
• Meet Anna and Elsa at Royal Sommerhus
• Meet Belle in France
• Meet Disney Friends near EPCOT Main Entrance
• Meet Donald in Mexico
• Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Disney and Pixar Film Festival
• Meet Joy and Figment inside ImageWorks
• Meet Mulan in China
• Meet Princess Aurora in France
• Meet Princess Jasmine in Morocco
• Meet Snow White in Germany

Another pretty cool tip is many times EPCOT cast members train character meet and greets in the alleyway near the America pavilion in the World Showcase. During a recent visit, we were able to meet Goofy, Donald Duck, Winnie the Pooh, and more characters without any line! Although this happens on a whim, it's a cool experience, so keep an eye out next time you are near the America pavilion!

Although Animal Kingdom has unique wandering characters and boat cavalcades, I think EPCOT slightly wins the character meet and greet category primarily due to the amount of opportunities you can meet characters throughout the park. There are many princesses you can meet in the World Showcase, such as Anna and Elsa, Snow White, Alice, and Belle. Additionally, Figment is a popular addition to the EPCOT character meet and greets which makes it a great park to visit.

Animal Kingdom vs. EPCOT – Shows and Entertainment

Another category that sets all Disney World theme parks apart from others is their shows and entertainment throughout the day. Both EPCOT and Animal Kingdom have incredible performances with many talented artists. The showtimes for each of these performances can be found in the MyDisneyExperience app, some of which even have Genie+ bookings available for fast and prime seating. 

Animal Kingdom Shows and Entertainment

Animal Kingdom offers several amazing performances throughout the day including probably the most popular show, The Festival of the Lion King at Harambe Theatre. This is a must do show while you are at Animal Kingdom, and many compare it to a Broadway level performance. It is so much fun for all ages and includes acrobats, fire dancers, and fun audience interactive moments.

All of the regular performances seen at Animal Kingdom include:

• Festival of the Lion King
• Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
• Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight Bird Show near the Tree of Life
• UP! A Great Bird Adventure Show
• Feathered Friends in Flight! 
• Fossil Fun Games in Dinoland
• Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe
• Viva Gaia Street Band!

EPCOT Shows and Entertainment

Although EPCOT does not have as many unique shows and performances as Animal Kingdom, they do offer several unique performers, especially in the World Showcase pavilions. From jugglers and mimes to live bands, there is likely a show for everyone in your party at EPCOT. Additionally, during some of the festivals throughout the year, EPCOT has live performances from some of Broadway's best performers as well as popular bands. 

• Matsuriza stage show in China
• Luminous The Symphony of Us Fireworks
• The American Adventure
• Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
• Command Performance
• Entertainment at Canada Mill Stage
• Entertainment at Germany Gazebo
• JAMMitors
• Music of Mexico
• Rose & Crown Pub Musician
• Sergio (mime and juggler performer)
• Voices of Liberty   

Overall, Animal Kingdom does the better job at giving it's guests top tier shows and entertainment throughout the park. From live bird shows to Broadway-level musicals, this park has so many amazing shows that you shouldn't miss. The only potential downside is Animal Kingdom does not have any fireworks shows compared to EPCOT and all the other Disney World theme parks, however it is still my favorite park to see their amazing performances and entertainers. 

Animal Kingdom vs. EPCOT – Location to Disney World Resorts

When it comes to location, EPCOT by far outranks Animal Kingdom. There are only a handful of resorts that are located close to Animal Kingdom, compared to almost ten resorts that have easy access to EPCOT, including several that are even within walking distance. Additionally, EPCOT is more centrally located within Disney World property, meaning even if you are staying at a resort near the Magic Kingdom, it still won't take long to travel to EPCOT. On the other hand, Animal Kingdom will be a further drive from most resorts due to it's location. As seen in the map above, EPCOT is closest to Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Disney Springs, and is also close to Disney's BoardWalk.

Guests of many resorts can also use Disney's Skyliner transportation to easily travel to EPCOT from their resort. The only mode of Disney transportation to and from Animal Kingdom is by bus. If you are not staying at a resort near Animal Kingdom and plan to use Disney's free transportation, we highly recommend getting to the bus stop early especially if you are planning to rope drop Animal Kingdom. 

Animal Kingdom vs. EPCOT – Overall Atmosphere

Both Animal Kingdom and EPCOT have incredible theming and an overall atmosphere throughout each park. EPCOT has gone through a lot of transformation in the last couple years, and construction throughout the park is still continuing. The World Showcase is beautifully inspired by dozens of regions around the globe, and some sections truly make you feel as if you have traveled thousands of miles to another country. The Mexico pavilion in particular has a lovely ambiance and feel as if you have stepped into a Mexican market with beautifully crafted jewelry and accessories. I could spend a whole day just wandering the shops and taking in the sights of EPCOT's World Showcase.

However, if I had to compare EPCOT to Animal Kingdom's overall atmosphere, I think Animal Kingdom cannot be beat. It is such a large and beautiful park and each section flows nicely throughout. I have been to Animal Kingdom dozens of times and sometimes I still get lost because of how well the park comes together. With the impressive Tree of Life as it's center, and animal encounters at every corner, I think the overall atmosphere of Animal Kingdom is incredible. Hopefully as EPCOT continues to transform, the overall atmosphere and theming will take an even bigger step into the future.

Animal Kingdom vs. EPCOT – Overall Thoughts

Both Animal Kingdom and EPCOT offer incredible attractions, dining, character meet and greets, entertainment, and an overall atmosphere that exceeds most theme parks around the world. It's hard to choose the better park, however there are arguably better areas of each park depending on interest. Either way, it goes to prove that we highly recommend spending at least some time in each park in order to get to experience all they have to offer. 

If we had to pick, the best park in each category includes:

• Rides and Attractions: Animal Kingdom
• Dining: EPCOT
• Character Meet and Greets: EPCOT
• Shows and Entertainment: Animal Kingdom
• Overall Atmosphere: Animal Kingdom
• Location to Disney World Resorts: EPCOT

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