Pandora, safari, and snacks: A day at Animal Kingdom 🦁

Animal Kingdom was a fascinating experience. Of the three Disney parks we visited, it had the most immersive landscaping. Every path, structure, and detail made it feel like we had stepped into different parts of the world—or even another planet.

The park is inspired by Africa, South Asia, and Pandora, the fictional world from Avatar. Since many Disney films and attractions feature animals from Africa and South Asia, it makes sense that Animal Kingdom is centred around these regions.

Arriving at Animal Kingdom

We arrived at the park at 8 AM, right as it opened. Resort guests get early access at 7:30 AM, which felt incredibly early. My father-in-law couldn’t believe we wanted to be dropped off that early and joked that we must work there!

But waking up before the sun was worth it because we got to rope drop Na’vi River Journey. We could have ridden Flights of Passage twice if we had jumped in line immediately after, but we didn’t. Rookie mistake!

Entering Pandora: A World Like No Other

As we stepped into the park, rain pelted down. We speed-walked past the Tree of Life and into Pandora, a breathtaking area that felt like we had left Earth entirely.

The floating mountains, lush alien plants, and bioluminescent details made it look like something out of a dream.

Na’vi River Journey had no line, so we walked right on. The animatronics were stunning, especially the famous Na’vi shaman—she looked so lifelike!

The ride itself was peaceful and beautifully designed, with glowing plants and soft music. We got a light misting of water along the way, but nothing too dramatic.

A Safari Unlike Any Other

With an hour to spare before our Lightning Lane for Flights of Passage, we headed to Africa and hopped on the Kilimanjaro Safari. This isn’t your typical zoo experience.

The animals have vast, open spaces to roam freely. There are no obvious fences or enclosures, which makes it feel much more natural. If an animal wanted to walk up to our safari truck, it could—but they mostly kept their distance.

The cold and rainy weather meant fewer animals were out, but we still saw cheetahs, elephants, hippos, zebras, an ankole cattle, an eland, an impala, crocodiles, and flamingos. It would have been amazing to see more, but since I had never seen many of these animals in real life, it was still a special experience.

The Magic of Flights of Passage

After our safari, we made our way back to Pandora for Flights of Passage—the ride I had been most excited for. The pre-ride experience was long, as Disney likes to make every attraction feel like an experience. We stood on light-up circles, watched instructional videos, and got “paired” to our banshee before finally boarding.

Once strapped in, the magic began. The ride felt like soaring through Pandora itself. The banshee beneath us breathed as if it were alive. The screen wrapped around our vision, making it feel like we were truly flying. When we dipped into water, a light mist sprayed us. The wind rushed past our faces. The visuals, music, and movement made it one of the most emotional and immersive rides I’ve ever been on. Seeing my husband’s face light up with pure joy made it even better. If you ever visit Animal Kingdom, this ride is a must.

Snacks, Shopping, and The Lion King

After Flights of Passage, we checked out the Pandora store, which was designed to look like a lab.

It had glowing blue sections, interactive elements, and the option to create your own Avatar doll.

Next to the store was Satuli Canteen, but nothing on the menu appealed to us, so we skipped it.

We wandered back to Africa and stopped at Starbucks, which had a gorgeous, themed design. I ordered my go-to matcha with cane syrup, sugar-free vanilla, and a scoop of vanilla bean powder (it’s the best combo).

We browsed the shops, where I noticed plenty of Up and The Lion King merchandise, as well as Joffrey’s Coffee, which I hadn’t seen anywhere else.

Next, we watched Festival of the Lion King, a live performance filled with music, acrobatics, and incredible puppetry. It was a nice break from walking, and we really enjoyed it.

Exploring Asia and Dinoland U.S.A.

In search of a snack, we made our way to Mr. Kamal’s in Asia to try the famous seasoned fries. My husband said they were one of the best things he ate at Disney. We also shared the baked mac ‘n’ cheese, which was delicious.

Before leaving Asia, we explored the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Unfortunately, we had just missed a tiger sighting.

Most of the animals were hiding due to the weather, but the theming of the area was incredible. Walking through the temple ruins and lush greenery made it feel like an adventure.

After a quick photo in front of the Tree of Life, we headed to Dinoland U.S.A.. Rumours say parts of it might be demolished soon, so we made sure to check it out.

We rode Dinosaur, which was insanely bumpy for no reason. The ride was chaotic, but the theming was fun.

On our way out, we spotted Dino Donald Duck, which was a cute surprise.

Before leaving, we caught Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!. The show was fantastic, though my husband fell asleep (his loss!).

Stopping by Discovery Island

On our way back to Discovery Island, we spotted Dug, Russell, and Kevin from Up! While we didn’t get to meet them, seeing Kevin wandering around was such a fun touch.

We also stopped by Feathered Friends in Flight, a live show featuring exotic birds. It was fascinating to see how these birds are trained and interact with their handlers. The highlight was watching large birds soar over the audience. I wish we had sat closer so we could have had one land near us!

Restaurant Options We Didn’t Try

Animal Kingdom has several dining options, but we didn’t get to try them all. Pizzafari offers quick-service pizza and Italian-inspired meals, perfect for families looking for a casual bite.

Flame Tree Barbecue is another popular choice, known for its smoky ribs, pulled pork, and chicken platters. While we didn’t stop there, I heard the outdoor seating area offers a fantastic view of the Discovery River. If we return, we’d love to explore more of these dining spots.

Final Thoughts on Animal Kingdom

Overall, Animal Kingdom was our least favourite park. It’s undeniably beautiful, but it felt like there wasn’t much to do compared to other Disney parks. The day ended earlier than we expected, and the lack of animal sightings made it feel more like a high-end zoo than a full-fledged theme park. Still, the highlights—Pandora, the safari, and Flights of Passage—were unforgettable.

After leaving the park, we took a shuttle to Disney Springs and finally tried Gideon’s Bakehouse. Later that night, we had dinner at Bahama Breeze with my father-in-law. The food was incredible—fried chicken with Johnny cakes and habanero maple syrup, paella, and a salmon salad. It was the perfect way to end the day.

Would we go back to Animal Kingdom? Maybe. If more animals were out, I think we’d have enjoyed it more. But if you’ve never been, it’s still worth experiencing at least once—especially for Flights of Passage. If you love animals, nature, and immersive worlds, you’ll find plenty to appreciate at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.