First Time At Disney World’s - Animal Kingdom In Orlando, Florida
I’ve been to Florida and Disney World more times than I can count, and have explored all the other Disney parks, but somehow, my family and I never made it to Animal Kingdom—until now! On our most recent trip to Orlando, we finally checked it off our list, and here’s a quick look at our highlights, tips, and insights from the day.
March 8th, 2025 – Disney Animal Kingdom Day + Disney Springs Dinner
Waking up on the East Coast is a bit challenging for someone used to the Mountain West (MST) time zone. Traveling two hours ahead, getting up for Disney at 5:45 a.m. (EST)—which feels like 3:45 a.m. (MST) at home—can be a bit of a challenge. But since I’m a morning person, especially when it’s for getting to a Disney Park by rope drop, it’s totally worth it!
After we woke up, everyone got ready, had cereal for breakfast, packed our backpacks with everything we needed, and put on our Disney walking shoes, we left our hotel and drove to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
We’ve visited the other three Disney World parks—Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Epcot—but we had never taken the time to go to Animal Kingdom on any of our previous visits to Orlando. So, we were really excited to explore everything that the magical Animal Kingdom had to offer.
Once we arrived at the parking lot entrance, we opted for preferred parking (around $50 per day per vehicle), which is about $20 more than standard parking (around $30 per day per vehicle). We usually don’t like to spend extra on things like this, but when it comes to parking close to Animal Kingdom or Magic Kingdom, it's worth it! Our parking spot was so close, making the walk into the park easy and quick.
I loved walking in and seeing the Animal Kingdom welcome sign right where you scan your Disney tickets. It was colorful, detailed, and full of animals, with that signature Disney magic that gets you excited for the day ahead!
Our Day at Animal Kingdom
7:40 a.m. – Arrived at the park
8:00 a.m. – Scanned in and waited for rope drop
8:10 a.m. – Rode Expedition Everest (2x) – 10-minute wait time for both rides
9:00 a.m. – Explored Kilimanjaro Safaris (1x) – 50-minute wait
10:30 a.m. – Ate “brunch” at Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes
11:30 a.m. – Walked through Maharajah Jungle Trek
12:30 p.m. – Rode the Wildlife Express Train – 10-minute wait
1:00 p.m. – Got churros and grapes at Harambe Fruit Market
2:00 p.m. – Explored animal viewing locations around the "Tree of Life"
3:00 p.m. – Rode Avatar Flight of Passage – 85-minute wait
4:30 p.m. – Rode Na’vi River Journey – 50-minute wait
5:00 p.m. – Grabbed and shared two Mickey-shaped pretzels from Isle of Java
5:30 p.m. – Rode Dinosaur (soon closing for a revamp to an Indiana Jones ride!) – 30-minute wait
6:00 p.m. – Shopped at Discovery Trading Company & Island Mercantile
6:00 p.m. – Left the park after a satisfying day
Our day was simple and flowed smoothly, from rides to food to shopping. We ended up loving many elements of Animal Kingdom. Was it our favorite Disney World park? Probably not. I don’t think anything can beat Magic Kingdom or Epcot. But Animal Kingdom definitely stood out with its unique experiences, animal habitats, and the incredible theming of different cultures. It was a park that transported us to faraway places we might never visit in real life, like hiking Everest or going on an African safari.
Highlights of Animal Kingdom
1. Expedition Everest – Takes Your Breath Away
We started our day by riding Expedition Everest, a thrilling steel roller coaster located in the Asia section of the park. This ride is an expedition into the Himalayas to search for the mythical yeti.
Despite watching several YouTube videos beforehand, the part where the "track had been torn apart by the yeti" was a total surprise! After that, the coaster switched tracks and sent us hurtling backwards into a dark mountain tunnel. The gravitational force as we sped backwards at 50 mph in total darkness was unlike anything we expected. I couldn’t stop laughing and screaming—until we got off and my dad jokingly said, “My stomach was in my head!”
We loved the thrill of the ride and, despite my parents feeling a little sick, me and my sister rode it again with a short five-minute wait.
2. Pandora – World of Avatar – A Different World
In the afternoon, we ventured into Pandora – World of Avatar. This land truly felt like stepping onto another planet, with its massive floating rocks, glowing plants, and immersive atmosphere. It was like walking through a dream land.
I loved Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey, both of which expanded on the incredible world around us. These rides made the world of Avatar come alive with even more color and detail.
Tip: Avatar Flight of Passage is the most popular ride in the park, so it has the longest wait times. If you want to avoid the crowds, consider riding it during lunchtime (1:00-2:00 p.m.) or later in the afternoon (4:30-6:30 p.m.).
3. Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes – Delicious Breakfast
For breakfast, we stopped at Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes, a quick-service spot that doesn’t require a reservation. Their breakfast menu offers hearty options like breakfast bowls (vegetarian or with meat), egg white English muffin sandwiches, fruit salads, and yogurt parfaits.
The breakfast bowls, with creamy scrambled eggs, melty cheddar cheese, and a mix of potatoes, onions, and peppers, were delicious. My yogurt parfait with vanilla yogurt, strawberry compote, and crunchy granola was the perfect sweet touch. It was the perfect meal to fuel us for the rest of the day.
Tip: If you're planning meals at the park, download the Disney World app to easily check restaurant menus, food locations, and meal times.
Dinner at Disney Springs
After a full day at Animal Kingdom, we headed to Disney Springs for our 8:30 p.m. dinner reservation at Summer House on the Lake. While the restaurant’s atmosphere was chic, the loud music and bar-like setting weren’t ideal for our family. People around us were a bit rowdy, and it was hard to have a conversation.
What we ordered:
Mom: Chicken Adobo ‘Del Alma’ Tacos
Dad: Herbed Chicken Breast Paillard
Me: Costa Mesa Salad
Little Sis: Mac and Cheese with buttered peas (off-menu request)
The food was good but not overly memorable, and the atmosphere left something to be desired. We had a nice time, but we probably won’t return in the future.
After a filling dinner, we drove back to our hotel, the Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas, and went straight to bed, exhausted from a full day of fun, food, and Disney magic.
Last but not least - Random Tip: The Kilimanjaro Safaris ride is best done in the morning when animals are more active due to the cooler temperatures. Wait times might be slightly longer in the morning, but it’s worth it to see more animal activity.
