What’s Great at Animal Kingdom, and What Needs Work?
When’s the last time you visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom?
Honestly, unless you answered 2017 or before that, not much has changed.
That’s the beauty of Disney theme parks. They’re always pretty much the same whenever you visit them.
Animal Kingdom
Still, some parks are better about staying current than others.
So, let’s talk about what’s good at Animal Kingdom and what needs work.
Good:
Let’s start by acknowledging the obvious. Many guests identify Animal Kingdom as their favorite park.
That statement alone reinforces its greatness. Families can play together at the world’s best combination of zoo and theme park.
Still, what I said previously remains accurate. Disney has only opened one “new” attraction over the past five years.
Credit: Disney
That attraction is the rebooted Finding Nemo show. Sure, it’s better, but it’s not an impactful change.
Animal Kingdom has pretty much stayed the same for years now, which is a feature, not a bug.
Management wants this experience to remain dependable and consistent, kinda like the zoo equivalent of Main Street, U.S.A.
Animal Kingdom
That approach does come with some drawbacks, which we’ll discuss in the second half of the article.
Overall, the park is impeccable and a joy to visit, especially for parents with young children.
Let’s quickly discuss a few of its highlights.
Affection Section
Photo: Disney Wiki Fandom
Quite simply, this is an animal petting zoo hosted and operated by Disney and its marvelous Cast Members.
Many of the people working in this area have at least some zoological training, and some are even professionals in the field.
Your animal interactions will be the best possible due to this level of professionalism plus a touch of Disney Pixie Dust.
Photo: Disney Touring Plans
While Walt Disney World hosts three theme parks that emphasize rides, Animal Kingdom’s name hints at its core concept.
You’re visiting a kingdom – well, many kingdoms – of animals. As the invited guest, you’re allowed to pet your new friends.
A trip to Affection Section ensures that you’ll make unforgettable memories…like that time I hugged that baby goat.
Pandora — The World of Avatar
After six excruciating years, Disney finally rewarded its patient fans in 2017.
That’s the year when Pandora – The World of Avatar opened to the public.
How successful was Disney’s creation? The next negative comment I read about the themed land will be the first.
In this day and age, universal consensus borders on a functional impossibility.
Even Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge developed its share of critics…but not Pandora.
We all know how marvelous this creation is. The Floating Mountains dazzle us from high above the land.
Photo: diz-abled.com/
Then, we have the two immersive attractions here, one of which carries us through the seas and forests of Pandora.
The other sweeps us into the air on the back of a Banshee as we explore Pandora skies above those Floating Mountains.
Even the attraction queues at Pandora embrace the immersion of visiting a faraway planet.
That science lab Na’vi remains one of Disney Imagineering’s finest achievements.
Finally, I’d be remiss if I overlooked Satu’li Canteen, the place whose pods and bowls deliver protein punches in small bites.
Pandora is legitimately in the conversation for the greatest thing Disney has ever done.
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Photo: Disney
Somehow, a second Animal Kingdom attraction earns a spot on that list as well.
On Kilimanjaro Safaris, guests explore the natural habitats of the many animals who live at the park.
As part of their daily lives, they watch humans in giant Jeeps drive by them all the time.
Photo: Disney
So, they may not even acknowledge you as you drive by them.
These adorable creatures are too busy eating, playing, sleeping, and sometimes even fighting.
I’m not sure I’ve ever had more fun on a safari ride than on the occasions when rambunctious animals chased each other into other habitats.
Photo: Disney
These authentic momentums define Animal Kingdom as a whole. Nature is, by definition, uncontrollable.
Somehow, Disney keeps everyone happy, though. Did you see this baby Okapi?
Tree of Life
There are two kinds of people in this world: People who have visited Walt Disney World and people who don’t have a picture of themselves at the Tree of Life.
We all do this because the setting is ideal. Perhaps the only comparable one at Disney World is Cinderella Cast.
At the Tree of Life, you can stay by a (fake but seemingly real) giant tree and appreciate the beauty of nature.
No matter when you visit the park, you’ll discover a crowd around the Tree of Life because it’s so seminal to a park visit here.
This spot embodies the best of Animal Kingdom in a different way than Pandora, Affection Section, or Kilimanjaro Safaris…but an equally important one.
Needs Work
Photo: Disney
Technically, I’m starting a new series with this piece.
If you’re new here, every few months, I try to evaluate each park and determine what you’ll love about it.
This time, I’m also gonna offer a few suggestions above what could use a bit more love.
Frankly, at Animal Kingdom, that’s an easy conversation to have. It starts with…
Attractions
Unless you count Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!, a reboot of an existing show, Animal Kingdom hasn’t added a ride since 2017.
Yes, both 2017 additions were spectacular E-ticket attractions, but that was nearly seven years ago.
Every other Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort theme park has debuted a new E-ticket attraction since then.
Last year, I wrote an article about which Disney park needs a new ride.
I said Animal Kingdom, so I’m merely being consistent here.
However, the amusing part came from the comments section.
Our exceptional social media team reposted that article multiple times.
In each instance, everyone agreed the answer was Animal Kingdom. We ALL know this one. And Disney does, too…
DinoLand U.S.A.
DinoLand USA
During the Destination D23 parks panel last year, Disney officials revealed a plan.
The blueprints exist for a rebooting of the current DinoLand U.S.A. with a Central Americas theme.
As part of that reimagining of the current land, Disney would add attractions based on Indiana Jones and Encanto.
This change would almost assuredly signify the end of DinoLand U.S.A.’s best attraction, DINOSAUR.
Many Disney fans seem perfectly willing to sacrifice that ride for the greater good of a better themed land.
Even as a DINOSAUR superfan, I accept the reality here. DinoLand U.S.A. simply doesn’t draw the crowds.
Every morning when Animal Kingdom opens, people head left to Pandora or back toward Asia and Africa.
The percentage of people who veer right toward DinoLand U.S.A. is disproportionately low.
We all know that Disney could use this space better, and it seems like that will happen, although I should stress something here.
Disney only hinted at the DinoLand U.S.A. conversion. It is NOT official yet.
So, what do you think is good about Animal Kingdom, and what needs work? Tell us what you think in the comments!
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