The 5 Best Things To Do At Animal Kingdom For Adults

What are the best things to do at Animal Kingdom for adults?

If it will be your first visit to Animal Kingdom as an adult and you plan to spend a day in the park, you have arrived at the right place.

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I just returned from a Walt Disney World trip to Orlando with my son’s high school band. We spent one day in Animal Kingdom, one day in Magic Kingdom, and one day in Hollywood Studios, plus two days in Universal Studios and one day in Volcano Bay. And it was the first time for us in Disney World and Universal Orlando.

As expected, I spent my time with other adults in the park because our kids preferred to hang out with their friends. I think that’s one good thing about visiting Disney with high schoolers. You don’t have to escort them.

In my case, the kids had to be in a group of four minimum. My son walked with eleven of his friends. I wasn’t worried at all.

Besides, Disney Animal Kingdom is not huge. We met my son and his friends and other band kids several times.

Now let’s start with what you must have before you visit Animal Kingdom as an adult. It’s crucial for your visit to the park.

Useful Things to Have Before Your Visit to Disney Animal Kingdom

I’m not talking about how to get the best price for Disney tickets. We went on a group tour arranged by the school’s Band Department. They had an activity that was uniquely for band kids. So, our trip fees included that specific activity.

These are the things you must have before you enjoy all the best things to do at Animal Kingdom for adults. The things that will make your visit more satisfying.

1. Download the My Disney Experience app from the app store. This app will allow you to learn about the park before the trip. Disney Genie, mobile service, attractions hours, and photo passes are some of them. You can even buy your ticket through this app. 

2. Bring a poncho or a rain jacket. It was raining every day when we were in Orlando. It didn’t rain for long, but it was pouring.

You can always buy a Disney poncho in the park, but it means extra spending unless that’s the plan. I wore the cheap poncho that worked well for the six days I was in Orlando. 

The rainy season in Orlando runs from June through September, but it can rain anytime during the year.

3. You might want to wear fast-dri shorts or T-shirts. In case you get wet, it will dry fast. My friend had to buy a pair of shorts at Universal Studios.   

4. Wear a hat. The sun is shining straight on your head.

5. A pair of comfortable walking shoes or sandals is a must-have. You will do a lot of walking. I love my Merrel Moab with its wide-toe box. It’s a hiking shoe, but I wear it daily like walking shoes. 

6. Don’t forget sunscreen. An Aloe vera will be a helpful addition in case you get burned.

7. A cooling towel will be great, too. I wish I brought one like my friend.

8. Or, a hand-free portable neck fan. We saw lots of people using it when we were in the parks.

9. Bring a water bottle. There are refill stations everywhere in the park. It will save you a ton of money. 

10. Bring a day pack that is spacious enough for your necessities, like a wallet, cellphone, power bank, poncho, sunscreen, water bottle, and snacks.

Best Things To Do At Animal Kingdom For Adults

1. Avatar Flight of Passage

Remember in the Avatar movie when the Na’vi hunter sits on a mountain banshee and flies all over Pandora?  

This 3D attraction will make you feel like you climbed atop a winged mountain banshee flying over Pandora’s incredible landscape. The views are fantastic, and you can feel the wind and water splashing on you during the ride. My favorite attraction in the whole Walt Disney World Orlando parks!

Avatar Flight of Passage is a thrill ride, meaning there are restrictions for people with heart problems, high blood pressure, pregnancy, and more.
 
My friend, a roller coaster freak, felt a bit of motion sickness when we flew to the bottom of Pandora from the highest point. I didn’t feel dizzy or nauseous. I love this ride very much.

If you don’t have problems riding a roller coaster, you might want to do this attraction more than once if time permits.

This ride is popular! Everyone headed to this ride when they got to the park. I suggest you do the same. 

It took more than two hours for us to do this ride, from the queue line to finally leaving the room. If your ticket includes an early theme park entry, go here first.

2. Na’vi River Journey

It’s a magical river ride for all ages that adults will like. You will glide smoothly deep into Pandora’s glowing bioluminescent rainforest.
 
You’ll glide through a series of caves and see exotic plants and creatures become alive. At one point, the legendary Na’vi Shaman of Songs sends positive energy into the forest through her music.

It’s an experience that you must see to believe it.

We did this boat ride in the afternoon because the waiting line was long after we did the Avatar Flight of Passage.

3. Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

On this roller coaster ride, you will race to escape from Yeti. Yes, that monster mountain that lives around Mount Everest. 

You will board a train to the top of the world. After a steep ascent, the train will pick up speed and race into the darkness. When you leave the dark tunnel, the train stop because of a broken and twisted track ahead. Then suddenly, the train plummets backward into total darkness.

This thrill ride is full of surprises: sudden drops, sharp turns, traveling forwards and backward through dark and winding tunnels. Make sure you are fit for it.

We did this when most park visitors had lunch, so the wait line was short.

4. Kilimanjaro Safaris

It’s your chance to go on a safari-like journey in a rugged safari vehicle.

An expert guide drove us through Harambe Wildlife Reserve, explaining the animals we spotted that day. We saw giraffes, cheetahs, hippos, wildebeests, elephants, crocodiles, and many more. 

Our safari trip got delayed because a giraffe decided to spend time in the middle of the road. Haha.  

Although it’s fun to see the animals, I prefer seeing them roaming freely in a spacious land like their natural habitat.

5. Kali River Rapids

What’s more fun than whitewater rafting through a lush jungle in Asia?

This water ride will take you across an erupting geyser, drift below a canopy of lush vegetation, and you’ll whisk along fast-moving rapids. 

It’s getting more fun when you plummet down a 20-foot slope!

You will get wet. If you don’t bring extra clothes or a towel to dry off, this is where your poncho comes in handy.

I wish we could do this ride. But the two rainstorms during the visit caused the park to close the rapids. When they reopened in the afternoon, it was about time for us to leave the park.

My top attractions at Animal Kingdom are:

1. Avatar Flight of Passage

2. Expedition Everest 

3. Na’vi River Journey

Other Best Attractions at Animal Kingdom for Adults:

1. Tree of Life

You won’t miss this big tree after you cross the bridge towards Discovery Island in the middle of the park. 

Tree of Life is the iconic symbol of Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. It towers over the land and it is 145 feet tall. There are over 300 shapes of animals carved into the tree. Of course, it’s not a real tree. It is pretty cool, though.

2. Maharajah Jungle Trek

Explore a lush tropical paradise on a self-guided tour. You will see Asian tigers and other wild animals like gibbons, a Komodo dragon, a Malayan flying fox, and over 50 species of birds.   

There is no additional fee for this activity.

3. Dinosaur

Some adults enjoyed this attraction, but my high schooler said it was mediocre. Prove it yourself.

You will be on a mission to bring a 3.5-ton Iguanadon back to the present. The problem is the giant meteor that wiped out life on Earth is on the way.

Enjoy your expedition on a rugged Time Rover vehicle through an ancient forest with life-like dinosaurs and unpredictable hairpin turns. 

4. Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail

It’s face-to-face with a gentle troop of western lowland gorillas on a grassy hillside.

But that’s not the only wild animals at Animal Kingdom you will encounter on this self-guided tour. You will see meerkats, zebra, hippos, and more.

My son said it’s pretty neat.

5. Wild Africa Trek (Animal Kingdom Private Safari)

You will go on a safari tour, walk along a grassland path, cross a rope bridge, and ride in a rugged safari vehicle over an open savanna while looking for African creatures.

This 3-hour Wild Africa Trek is a privately guided tour. The price is $199 per person (tax not included.) And that is beside the themed park admission. Yes, it’s not cheap!

Animal Kingdom Showtimes

Like other Disney World Theme Parks, there are shows in Animal Kingdom you want to watch.

1. Festival of the Lion King.

My friend told me if there’s one show in Animal Kingdom that I want to watch, it should be The Lion King Show at the Harambe Theater in the African region. 

I didn’t get to watch it, but another group of adults did. They were impressed with the show.

The show runs for 40 minutes and starts every hour from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Check your My Disney Experience app for queue information and show availability, which is subject to change.

2. Finding Nemo.

This 20 minutes show runs every hour from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Check your My Disney Experience app for queue information and show availability.

Animal Kingdom Tips

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is not huge. Many people suggest you can visit this park for half a day. After I went there, I didn’t understand how they could recommend that.

Most people can visit during the high season, like me and probably you.

Maybe those people went when there were no other people in the park, the weather was nice, no other visitors in the restaurant, and they stayed in one of Disney’s resorts.

We stayed at Universal Studios resort and arrived an hour late because of traffic. Things can happen on the day of your visit to Animal Kingdom in Disney. So half a day in Animal Kingdom is not enough.

Here are some tips or expectations for your visit to Animal Kingdom:

1. If you can’t stay at one of Disney’s resorts, stay at the nearest hotel to the park. And leave early from your accommodation.

2. Planning your trip in the park ahead of time. Don’t jump from one region to another region like we did.

I suggest you start with Avatar Flight of Passage in Pandora. It is the most popular ride in the park, so expect a long queue. They don’t offer a single-rider line, but they will ask for a single rider if there’s one space available. Or, buy Lightning Lane passes that cost you between $11-$16 per person per ride, depending on the day of your visit.

The wait line was 70 minutes long when we were there. When we were about to enter the room for the ride, they told us to wait because a rider before us had motion sickness and threw up on the floor. They finally sent us back to the waiting line because they had to clean and disinfect the room.

It was more than two hours from we started the queue until we finished the ride. Everything can happen. Don’t plan to stay for half a day at the park. 

At this time, the waiting line for the Na’vi River Journey must be long. I suggest you do this attraction at the end of the day. When it’s dark, they light up Pandora. It looks magical. I didn’t see it because we left for Texas at 7. My sister-in-law got to see it, and she said it was fantastic!

3. Explore the park clockwise after you start with Pandora.

4. Don’t forget to check your My Disney Experience app for show times. 

5. Take a Wildlife Express Train for a little break from walking.

6. Hopefully, it’s not raining, but I already reminded you above that you must bring a poncho.

7. If possible, reserve a table for lunch at the restaurant in the region where you think you will arrive around lunchtime.

Where to eat at Animal Kingdom

There are three ways of eating places in Animal Kingdom: a table service where you must make a reservation, quick service at a restaurant, and quick service at a hut-type restaurant that sells snacks or snack-size meals and drinks.

Here are some of them:

1. Satu’li Canteen – quick service restaurant.

My friends and I ordered different food, and we liked them. They tasted delicious and looked beautifully presented. I would say it’s for adventurous people. It’s not a place for my picky eater son.

The restaurant was packed during lunch hour (noon to 2 p.m.) There are indoor and outdoor sitting.  

I had Chili-Spiced Crispy Fried Tofu Bowl with red and yellow potatoes as the base. There’s a hint of spicy in the potatoes. I swore they got inspired by the Indonesian fried spicy potatoes. (Originally, I’m from Indonesia, that’s why I could tell.) 

My friends had Chili-Garlic Shrimp Bowl and Slow-Roasted Sliced Grilled Beef Bowl. I tested a bit of their food, and they all tasted delicious.

I saw people order a bao bun, a Chinese steamed bun, and it made me mouthwatering. It’s one of my favorite snacks back home. It turned out it was a Cheeseburger inside, so I decided not to try it. I had enough cheeseburgers for the trip. Haha.

One of the band girls had a Metkayina Mousse for dessert. It looked irresistible, and she said it tasted delicious. Too bad it contains chocolate. I couldn’t try it.

Location: Pandora – The World of Avatar

2. Pizzafari – quick service retaurant.

It was where my son and his friends had lunch. He said the pizza was good, but I would prefer to eat other than pizza or burger. He’s a picky eater, though. 

Location: Discovery Island

3. Rainforest Cafe – table service, reservation required.

A group of kids made a reservation for supper here. I told my friends we could eat at Rainforest Cafe back home. Haha. So we skipped their invitation to join them for supper. Besides, we were still full from late lunch.

Location: Main Entrance

4. Pongu Pongu – quick service hut-style.

Most of the band kids bought a colorful beverage Night Blossom from this drink stand. Then I saw adults come with a blue drink from the same place. It’s the adult version with a margarita in it. Hehe. 

Later in the day, I bought Night Blossom. It tasted sweet and sour with passion fruit Bobba Balls on top.

I wanted to try their Pongu Lumpia but I was full already. It was a pineapple-cream cheese spring roll. Does it sound interesting to you?

Location: Pandora – The World of Avatar, between the Avatar Flight of Passage and Santu’li Canteen.

5. Tamu Tamu Refreshments – quick service hut-style.

It is where you get a DOLE Whip Pineapple with watermelon, strawberry, and coconut-flavored syrup.

Location: Harambe village.

6. Tiffins Restaurant – table service, reservation required.

It’s a signature dining at the park. You will spend over $50 per person.

Location: Discovery Island

7. Creature Comforts – quick service, hut-style.

Starbucks lovers, this is your place.

Location: Discovery Island

8. Eight Spoon Cafe – quick service, hut-style.

If you’re not hungry, grab your snack-size meals from here. Their baked macaroni & cheese, served with pulled pork, and a pulled pork sandwich, served on a jelly donut, sounds sensational.

Location: Discovery Island

9. Flame Tree Barbecue – quick service. 

Who doesn’t like barbecue? But we come from Texas, so we preferred to try different food.

Location: Discovery Island            

10. Yak & Yeti Restaurant – table service, reservation required.

At first, we wanted to eat here after riding Expedition Everest. Too bad they were full and required a reservation. It serves a pan-Asian feast.     

Location: Asia

You noticed that most of the locations of the restaurants above are on Discovery Island. Discovery Island is the center of the park. These restaurants are spread out around Discovery Island.

I hope my 1-day Animal Kingdom itinerary reflects the best rides at Animal Kingdom for adults like you. Have fun at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Florida!