UPDATED MAY 2024

Traveling With Young Kids

Part III in our series on visiting the Disney parks for the first time focuses on traveling to Animal Kingdom with young children (the 6-and-under set).

Animal Kingdom is part theme park and part zoo. What’s nice about this park is that it’s an explorers’ mecca with a really fun playground. This park requires a lot of walking, so don’t be tempted to leave strollers behind.

As we mentioned in Part I and Part II, every family is different. So, if any Disney pros are out there reading, please send us your comments and suggestions. We don’t want to miss a thing.

Also, with all the Disney parks, it’s best to arrive when the park opens (rope drop) on a weekday. If you can avoid major school holiday breaks, you will experience less crowds.

If you want shorter lines, invest in Genie+ and an Individual Lightning Lane pass for Avatar Flight of Passage (44“ and up).

How to Spend a First Day at Animal Kingdom with Young Kids

#1 Tree of Life

The Tree of Life is to the Animal Kingdom what Cinderella’s Castle is to the Magic Kingdom. When you enter Animal Kingdom, you can’t see the Tree of Life right away. You actually have to pass through the Oasis first. Take your time. The Oasis is filled with small animals and birds, and poking about is fun, especially in the morning when the animals are most active and noisy. But once you emerge from the Oasis’ greenery, you will get “that Disney feeling“ as you see the majestic Tree of Life before you. The artistry is like nothing else on earth. It takes a minute for your brain to realize that it’s not just a larger-than-life tree standing before you but a melding of every creature into one.

Fun Tip: Pick up a Wilderness Explorer activity book on Discovery Island. Throughout the day, your kiddos can stop at dozens of WE locations for an activity and stamp for their book.

#2 The Safari

Experiencing the Kilimanjaro Safari first thing in the morning is a great way to kick off the day. You have a good chance of seeing the animals walking about and interacting. The attraction entrance is located in Africa, at the far back of the park. The experience takes guests on a 22-minute ride through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. In that time, you will see dozens of animals in their natural habitats. The highlights are the elephants and the giraffes, but you never know what animal might be showing off that day.

#2 Festival of the Lion King

This show alone is worth the price of admission to Animal Kingdom. The Festival of the Lion King is a Broadway-worthy combination of music, dancing, acrobatics, and costumes. No matter how old you are, the Festival of the Lion King will entertain you. This attraction is also located in Africa.

#3 Pandora – The World of Avatar

For the younger set, take a trip on the Na’vi River Journey and see the bioluminescent rainforest. Only those 44 inches and up can ride Avatar Flight of Passage (and if you plan on riding it, get an Individual Lightening Lane pass or plan to spend a few hours of your day waiting in line). Don’t miss the Windtraders shop and the “not-from-this-world“ food and beverages at Satu’ll Canteen. The pods are delicious!

#4 Discovery Island Trails

Use the trails to closely examine the Tree of Life, where you’ll also encounter some incredible live animals along the way. This area is only sometimes well utilized by guests. You can get some great family photos without strangers in the background. (Caution: The attraction, It’s Tough to Be a Bug!, is located in this area. Be aware that this show is scary for a lot of kids—giant spiders drop from the ceiling, the lights go out, and your seat has some interactive pokes and movement.)

#5 Dinoland U.S.A.

After the calm of Discovery Island, ramp up the fun at Dinoland U.S.A. The Boneyard is a fun playground where kids can walk through caves, climb high, and dig for dinosaur bones. There’s only one way in and out, so parents can camp out near the entrance/exit and let their kids have some freedom. However, the equipment is big enough for you to join them in their explorations.

Dinoland has its prehistoric version of the Dumbo ride called TriceraTop Spin. The center of the land includes several carnival games. (These are fun, but unfortunately, there is a charge to play, and it’s not easy to win a prize.) Don’t miss the puppet show Finding Nemo—The Big Blue…and Beyond.

The other attraction, Dinosaur, is more for older children. It has a lower height requirement (40 inches) but be warned that the dinosaur Audio-Animatronics are SCARY.

#6 Maharajah Jungle Trek

This is a self-guiding walking tour in Asia. Here, you’ll see one of the rarest tiger species—the Sumatran tiger. Another highlight is the giant fruit bats—the Malayan Flying Foxes.

The Jungle Trek is near two of Animal Kingdom’s thrill rides—the Kali River Rapids and Expedition Everest. For the grownups in your group, we highly recommend using a rider switch option (where the adults can take turns riding) for Expedition Everest. The queue for this ride is intriguing and contains tons of artifacts and information about the region. Anyone 38“ and up can enjoy Kali River Rapids, but be warned, you will get drenched. You may want to save this one until you are ready to go home for the day.

#7 Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail

The other walking trail to explore is Gorilla Falls. Here lives a troop of western lowland gorillas. The vast tropical forest habitat is impressive, and a few of the gorillas almost always sit near the viewing area for a close-up encounter.

#8 Animal Kingdom Lodge

All the walking can be a lot for little ones. At this point, you’ve explored most of the park. It’s totally fine to call it a day and head back to your resort. If you want some quiet time but would like to return to the park, we suggest taking the complimentary Disney bus transportation to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The Lodge has some of the best restaurants on Disney property (Sanaa, Jiko, Boma, and The Mara), its own savannah to explore, wonderful African Art, and lots of quiet nooks.

#9 Safari II & Pandora II

Try another safari trip late in the day and see the savannah at sunset. Better yet, experience a nighttime safari tour. Also revisit Pandora—The World of Avatar. We hear the land is a completely different experience at night.

Congratulations! You just had a magical day.

More stories from our First Time Visitor Series:

Part I Magic Kingdom With Young Children

Part II Epcot With Young Children

Part III Animal Kingdom With Young Children

Part IV Hollywood Studios With Young Children

Part V Magic Kingdom Without Children

Part VI Epcot Without Children

Part VII Animal Kingdom Without Children

Part VIII Hollywood Studios Without Children

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