Tackling Animal Kingdom in a day is do-able. Very do-able. But tricky – especially currently with Extra Magic Hours (EMH) now available every day until November 2nd. (After November 2nd the schedule will vary.) And EMH is only available for Disney Resort guests and staying on property may not be in the budget for your family.
This post will highlight the best tips to maximize Animal Kingdom in a day. With so many variables to consider, we’re going to break it down .
First Things First….
FastPass+ allows you to legally “cut” the line, considerably cutting your wait time for an attraction. For more on how to make your FastPass+ selections click here. With the opening of Pandora in 2017 everything changed.
The most difficult FastPass and most coveted FastPass is for Flight of Passage. This should be your first priority when making FastPass selections for the day. Our family hasn’t had good luck with the single rider line in Flight of Passage. The wait that splits us up can be quite lengthy and is not worth the lost time.
And Animal Kingdom is Walt Disney World’s largest park, covering 580 acres and is currently listed as the largest theme park in the world. Get a map and study it. You’ll save a lot of backtracking and blisters.
Focus your FastPasses on the following:
High Priority
- Flight of Passage
- Kilimanjaro Safaris (for AM or PM – avoid riding between 12pm-6pm. Animals are not as lively during this time.
- Expedition Everest (can do single rider line if your party doesn’t mind being split up)
- Kali River Rapids
Next Priority
- DINOSAUR
- Rivers of Light (evening light show for prime seating)
- Primeval Whirl
- Na’Vi River Journey
The Rest
- Festival of the Lion King
- Finding Nemo – The Musical
- It’s Tough To Be A Bug
- Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventure Outpost
We have rarely found a need for a FastPass in “The Rest” category. So, unless someone in your family absolutely must see Finding Nemo or meet Minnie in Safari dress, don’t waste your FastPass. Or, if you strike out with a “must do” in the top category use your FastPass for one of these early in the day. Then, once all of your FastPasses are used up you can try to add a fourth FastPass – but this is a gamble. Plan accordingly.
To Rope Drop Or Not To Rope Drop?
While I almost always recommend getting to the parks an hour before Rope Drop (when the park is scheduled to open) I’m a little more iffy with it comes to Animal Kingdom in a day.
IF you have secured FastPasses for Flight of Passage (any time of day) and Kilimanjaro Safaris (in the early evening)….and IF the park is open later than 6pm this might be the day to sleep in and skip Rope Drop. (My husband just gasped! Finally – a day to sleep in!)
Gone are the days when Animal Kingdom was only open until 6pm. With evening hours and the right FastPasses in place you can skip the morning madness.
However, if you were NOT able to secure the FastPasses you wanted – Rope Drop is in your future. Get there early (an hour before open) so you can hightail it to your must-do attractions before the lines get horrendous.
Taking A Break
The park has a lot of ground to cover so you’re going to need a break from time to time.
Re-fueling
Our favorite eateries include:
- Yak & Yeti (both dine-in and counter service)
- Tusker House (a fantastic character dining experience
- Flame Tree Barbecue (counter service)
- Pizzafari (counter service)
- Satu’li Canteen (counter service with tasty healthy choices)
- Tiffins (a Signature Dining experience or, in Disney speak, very pricey but worth the splurge)
Resting the Tootsies
This is the time to take in a show. Nemo – The Musical, Festival of the Lion King and It’s Tough To Be A Bug and all great options.
In A Nutshell
- Go early or go later
- Strategize your FastPasses
- Know the lay of the land – get a map!
- Take scheduled breaks
- Hydrate
- Enjoy a relaxing meal
And have a magical time!
