Disney’s Animal Kingdom for Preteens

A lush jungle of landscaping and trees, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is part nature park, part zoo (though themed to the nth degree, and unlike any zoo you’ve ever seen before), and part amusement park. In its early years, it was plagued with problems of not having enough to do, though that has changed in recent times. Preteens will like the natural setting well enough, but there aren’t a lot of rides to fill up a second or third day. Much of the interest comes from exhibits and environments rather than rides.

Rides

Your preschoolers or school-age child may be interested in shows, but cares primarily about rides. Here are the rides they shouldn’t miss, arranged in order of importance.

1. Expedition Everest – a roller-coaster ride through the mountain, including a stint backward, in the dark, in a circular helix. Culminates with the enormous robotic yeti. Height requirement is 44”
2. Kilimanjaro Safari – an outdoor jeep ride, this attraction is the closest thing to a real safari you will find outside of Africa. All the recognizable animals are here, presented in enclosures so cunningly hidden you’ll swear they are free to roam around and attack each other. The journey is bouncy, which adds a nice touch of faux realism.
3. Primeval Whirl – a “wild mouse” roller-coaster with little theming, the cars not only move through the track, they spin on their own. Height requirement of 48”
4. Kali River Rapids – a raft ride that includes a large drop, soaking many visitors, and a height requirement of 38”
5. Dinosaur – a motion simulator set atop a jeep-like vehicle, placed in the context of time travel to the dinosaurs. Very dark, unusually loud, and exceptionally intense, this ride has a height requirement of 40” but parents are highly advised to exercise discretion. Young children should steer clear or face traumatization.
6. It’s Tough to be a Bug – a 3-D movie with theater-level effects. Boys especially will revel at the insectoid theme and the creepy-crawly effects, many of which poke and prod the audience members directly. The attraction is designed to startle, shock, and entertain visitors—in that order.
7. Maharaja Jungle Trek – a nature walk, passing by several smaller animal exhibits before culminating in an impressively-themed tiger enclosure. Visitors really feel like they’ve slipped into Southeast Asia in this space.
8. Pangani Forest Exploration Trail – a nature walk with smaller exhibits and encounters with silverback gorillas (either across a gorge or behind very thick glass).
9. TriceraTop Spin – a classic “spinner” attraction like Dumbo, themed to cartoony dinosaurs. Fortunately, it seldom has a line. Small children always like these rides, despite their limited appeal to adults.

Two attractions generate most of the lines at this park: Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris. On hot days, Kali River Rapids also sports very long lines. Use FASTPASS liberally for these attractions. Many guides advise seeing the safari first thing in the morning, as animals are more active. That may be true, marginally, but the lines are much longer in the morning as a result, so much so that it would be worthwhile to visit this attraction later in the day, facing greatly reduced lines. Be aware, however, that the safari closes earlier than the park sometimes, if sundown approaches before the park hours end.

Entertainment

Disney’s Animal Kingdom makes liberal use of shows; use your own judgment if you are the kind of person who likes shows as much as rides. Here is my list of shows at this park, ranked in order of importance for infants:

1. Finding Nemo: The Musical – a phenomenal Broadway-quality musical that will delight young and old alike. This is the only truly “don’t miss” stage show at Disney World.
2. Festival of the Lion King – a rollickin’ indoor musical show, this offering vibrates with energy and kinetic activity, ideal for kids of all ages. Its mood is boisterous and uplifting, leaving visitors energized and entertained.
3. Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade – a modest (and modestly successful) parade that combines plant and animal motifs into the floats, somewhat the same way plants and animals form the basis for all attractions at this park (seen most clearly in the carvings on the Tree of Life).
4. Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends – a more intimate stage show that mixes live actors, theater effects, and live animals in a cute setting.
5. Flights of Wonder – a standard bird show with minor tricks and somewhat heavy conservationist overtones. Attempts at cuteness and humor fall flat about as often as they hit.

FASTPASS

Always use FASTPASS. This free service is open to everyone—simply stick your park ticket into machines outside the most popular rides, and receive a reservation time when you can return and bypass most of the line. In the meantime, maximize your day by riding other attractions or stopping at a restaurant. To really use the system to its fullest advantage, always hold a FASTPASS. You can only make one ride reservation at a time, but as soon as you’re allowed to get another one (see the bottom of the ticket you already hold for more information), obtain one from another attraction—not doing so would mean missing out on a chance to skip more lines.

Be aware that some rides offer FASTPASS but do not need them, and you may be better off using your FASTPASS reservation for something else at this park. Conversely, some rides have intolerable stand-by lines, and you’ll definitely want to use FASTPASS on them. Here is my list of rides that are important to use FASTPASS on at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, presented in order:

1. Expedition Everest
2. Kilimanjaro Safaris
3. Kali River Rapids
4. Dinosaur
5. Primeval Whirl
6. It’s Tough to be a Bug

Many visitors opt to use FASTPASS only on their favorites, and ride those multiple times in one day, with the assistance of FASTPASS. That may be a wise strategy even if you do want to see the attractions near the end of the list; the ride reservation ticket is simply not necessary there. At this park in particular, the bottom three rides barely need FASTPASS.

Dining

Starting in 2007, Yak and Yeti offers table-service dining inside Animal Kingdom; just outside the park’s gates also stands Rainforest Café for further options.

Most of the dining inside the park is quick-service. Tusker House in Africa has some tasty and unique dishes, or you could eat at the Flame Tree BBQ for savory, though slightly less adventurous, tastes. If you’re in the mood for more traditional food, Pizzafari seems a safe bet (it also has the most tables and chairs in a climate-controlled setting), and you can’t get more familiar than the food at Restaurantosaurus, which is merely a highly-themed McDonald’s. This is also the only location for character dining at Animal Kingdom, which takes place in the morning only.

Beyond all these choices are the highly visible food stands along major paths, offering everything from turkey legs to hot dogs to pretzels. The park was designed to encourage wandering and exploration on foot more than loitering and eating, so factor that into your planning for food.

Characters

In addition to the Character Dining mentioned above, you can occasionally find costumed characters that simply walk around, but this is uncommon at this park. More commonly, the characters can be found at the character meeting areas set aside specially for them:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o <!--[endif]-->DiVine – an Animal Kingdom specialty, this is an acrobat dressed in heavy makeup and ivy props, and wearing stilts. Properly situated and still, she waits amid the bushes, becoming disconcertingly invisible. Not out at all hours.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o <!--[endif]-->Discovery Boat Dock – minimal waits for classic Disney characters on this boat dock, visible from the main entrance bridge but accessed near Flame Tree BBQ.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o <!--[endif]-->Character Greeting Trails at Camp Minnie-Mickey – several open-air verandas are dedicated to a rotating crew of characters, with lines blazing a trail through thick hedges.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o <!--[endif]-->Conservation Station – Disney characters associated with wild animals can often be found here, with very little lines.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o <!--[endif]-->Outside the Main Entrance – in the afternoon and towards closing, Disney characters are often out between the security check and the ticket booths, though lines here can be long and slow-moving.

You may also have luck spotting characters in the break between the trees when walking toward Camp Minnie-Mickey. Also, some cheesy dinosaur characters created just for this park wander through Dino-Rama occasionally.

PhotoPass

At all the character interactions, as well as key photogenic locations, you may run across park workers offering to take your picture and “put it on a card.” This is a free service and ideal for vacationers. On your first such encounter, you’ll get a card. On all future encounters, hand over the card and they’ll swipe it, making sure that whatever photos are taken get added to your account. When you return home after your vacation, you can view the pictures online, and order prints of any that you desire, with no pressure whatsoever.

Hidden Treasures

Here are a few experiences that don’t draw nearly as many crowds, but may be of paramount importance to your particular child (pick and choose as your preferences dictate):

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o <!--[endif]-->Wildlife Express Train – almost an attraction unto itself, this train exists only to provide transportation to the labs and petting zoo. Still, virtually all kids like trains.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o <!--[endif]-->Conservation Station – small educational displays augment the working labs (and veterinarian station and operating table) located here.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o <!--[endif]-->Affection Section – the outdoor petting zoo, which features only sheep and a few goats.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o <!--[endif]-->Tree of Life and Discovery Island Trails – the distinctive Tree of Life is home to It’s Tough to be a Bug, and the animals carved into the tree will fascinate children. But don’t miss out on the chance to meander through the trails surrounding the tree. They lead seemingly nowhere, but you’ll stumble across animal exhibits and secluded areas that will do much to relax you. It’s just more for you to look at, but this time without crowds.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o <!--[endif]-->Oasis Exhibits – small animal exhibits ring the Oasis, just inside the Main Gate, and are often completely overlooked, especially in the middle of the day.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o <!--[endif]-->Cretaceous Trail – prehistoric plants and fossilized dinosaur bones give this trail some character.