Disney’s Animal Kingdom – tickets, prices, what to expect

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is unlike any other theme park in Orlando. It is part zoo, part theme park, and completely immersive. It is the largest Disney park by size, which means you will do a lot of walking.

Many people think this is only a “half-day park.” If you only care about thrill rides, that might be true. But if you want to see the animals, watch the world-class shows, and explore the incredible trails, it is easily a full-day experience.

Important Updates for 2025 Visitors

Before you plan your day, you must know about recent changes to the park.

  • DinoLand U.S.A. is Closing: This area is being slowly shut down to make room for new “Tropical Americas” attractions (featuring Indiana Jones and Encanto).
    • Already Closed: TriceraTop Spin, The Boneyard play area, and carnival games are gone.
    • Still Open (Until Early 2026): The thrill ride DINOSAUR and the Restaurantosaurus dining location are still open for now.
  • NEW Show Now Open: “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” has officially replaced “It’s Tough to be a Bug!” inside the Tree of Life theater.
  • Lightning Lane Changes: The old Genie+ system is now called Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

Tickets and Prices

Disney World uses “dynamic pricing.” This means tickets cost more on busy days (like Christmas or summer weekends) and less on quiet days (like Tuesdays in September).

Here is what you need to know about budgeting for Animal Kingdom.

1. Base Ticket Prices (One Park Per Day)

If you only want to visit Animal Kingdom for one day, it is usually the cheapest of the four Disney World parks.

  • Price Range: A one-day ticket to Animal Kingdom typically costs between $119 and $174 (plus tax), depending on the date.
  • Children: Kids under age 3 do not need a ticket. They get in for free. Kids aged 3–9 pay slightly less than adults (usually about $5 less per day).

2. Should You Buy “Park Hopper”?

The “Park Hopper” add-on lets you visit multiple Disney parks on the same day. It costs an extra $70 to $85+ per ticket.

  • Skip it if: It is your first time at Animal Kingdom. There is enough to do here to fill a whole day from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
  • Buy it if: You only want to ride Avatar Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest and then leave by 2:00 PM to go to Magic Kingdom or EPCOT.

3. Extra Costs to Budget For

Besides the entrance ticket, remember these optional costs:

  • Lightning Lane Multi Pass: Costs roughly $15 to $35 per person, per day at Animal Kingdom.
  • Individual Lightning Lane (Flight of Passage only): Costs roughly $13 to $18 per person to skip the line for this one specific ride.
  • Parking: If you drive your own car, standard parking at the theme park is roughly $30 per day. (It is free if you are staying at a Disney-owned hotel).

Best Time to Arrive

Animal Kingdom usually opens earlier than the other Disney parks, often at 8:00 AM or sometimes 7:30 AM for Disney hotel guests.

You should arrive 30 to 45 minutes before the park opens.

There are two main reasons for this:

  1. Animals are active: It is cooler in the morning, so the animals on the safari are up and moving. They often sleep during the hot afternoon.
  2. Lower Wait Times: You can ride the most popular attractions, like Avatar Flight of Passage, without paying extra if you rush there first thing in the morning (this is called “Rope Dropping”).

Must-Do Attractions by Visitor Type

For Thrill Seekers (Big Rides)

These rides have height requirements and can be intense.

  • Avatar Flight of Passage (Pandora): This is widely considered the best ride in the park. It is a breathtaking 3D flying simulator. You will sit on a vehicle that feels like a breathing creature. (Height requirement: 44 inches)
  • Expedition Everest (Asia): A fast roller coaster that goes forward and backward. Look out for the Yeti! (Height requirement: 44 inches)
  • DINOSAUR (DinoLand U.S.A.): A very dark, loud, and bumpy ride through a prehistoric jungle. It features scary animatronic dinosaurs. Ride it soon before it closes forever. (Height requirement: 40 inches)

For Families and All Ages (No Height Requirements)

  • Kilimanjaro Safaris (Africa): This is essential. You board a real truck for an 18-minute ride through the savannas. You will see real giraffes, elephants, lions, rhinos, and hippos.
  • Na’vi River Journey (Pandora): A slow, gentle boat ride through a glowing alien rainforest. It is very relaxing and beautiful.
  • It’s Tough to be a Bug! (Discovery Island): A 3D show inside the Tree of Life. Warning: It can be scary for very small children because it is dark and loud.

The World-Class Shows

Do not skip the shows here. They are Broadway-quality and a great way to escape the heat.

  • Festival of the Lion King (Africa): A huge show with acrobats, fire dancers, massive floats, and incredible live singing. It is often voted the best show at Walt Disney World.
  • Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! (DinoLand): A 25-minute musical retelling of the Nemo movie using spectacular puppets.
  • Feathered Friends in Flight! (Asia): An entertaining show featuring live, free-flying birds that swoop right over the audience’s heads.

Don’t Miss the Animal Trails

Many visitors rush past these, but they are the heart of the park. These are walking paths where you can see animals at your own pace, with no lines.

  • Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail (Africa): Located near the exit of the Safari. You can see a family of gorillas, meerkats, and zebras.
  • Maharajah Jungle Trek (Asia): A beautifully themed path that looks like ancient ruins. This is where you will find the magnificent tigers and giant bats.

Where to Eat (Dining Quick Guide)

Animal Kingdom has some of the best food in Disney World.

  • Best Quick Meal (No reservation needed): Satu’li Canteen in Pandora. They serve healthy, delicious bowls with grilled beef, chicken, or tofu. It is much better than standard theme park burgers.
  • Best BBQ: Flame Tree Barbecue on Discovery Island. They offer large portions of ribs, chicken, and pulled pork. The outdoor seating area has beautiful views of the water.
  • Best Sit-Down Restaurant (Reservation needed): Yak & Yeti in Asia. This restaurant is heavily themed and serves excellent Pan-Asian food like crispy honey chicken and Ahi tuna nachos.
  • Best Place for Adults to Relax: Nomad Lounge. Located next to Tiffins restaurant, this lounge has fantastic specialty drinks and small plate appetizers. You usually do not need a reservation, but you may need to join a walk-up waitlist on your phone.

Lightning Lane Strategy

Do you need to pay to skip lines at Animal Kingdom?

Often, the answer is NO. If you arrive early, you can usually do everything without buying Lightning Lane passes.

If you do decide to buy them, here is how they work at this park:

1. Lightning Lane Single Pass (Pay per ride)

  • The only ride that uses this is Avatar Flight of Passage.
  • If you are not arriving early in the morning, you might want to buy this to avoid a 90+ minute wait.

2. Lightning Lane Multi Pass (Pay once for multiple rides)

  • Animal Kingdom does not use “tiers” for its rides like Magic Kingdom does. You can choose any 3 available rides to start your day.
  • Best choices for your initial 3 selections:
    1. Na’vi River Journey
    2. Kilimanjaro Safaris
    3. Expedition Everest

3 Essential Tips for Your Visit

  1. Respect the Heat: Animal Kingdom always feels hotter than other parks because of the dense vegetation and humidity. Drink water constantly and plan indoor shows for the hottest part of the day (1:00 PM to 3:00 PM).
  2. Use Single Rider for Everest: If you don’t mind being split up from your group, the “Single Rider” line at Expedition Everest is often less than a 15-minute wait, even when the main line is an hour long.
  3. See Pandora at Night: If the park is open after sunset, go back to Pandora – The World of Avatar. The entire land glows with bioluminescent lights at night. It is magical.
Check Prices & Availability