Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is filled with great rides, shows, character greetings, and encounters with real, live animals. Animal encounters are located throughout the park, and there are plenty of things to do and see that don’t have lines. In my opinion, Animal Kingdom is a great park to wander and enjoy on your own time without feeling the pressure of getting to everything.
To ensure you have plenty of time to explore, you will want to be intentional with your Lightning Lane selections so you don’t miss out on the best attractions or spend all day waiting in line. Here are my picks for the 6 rides or attractions you really should use Lightning Lane for at Animal Kingdom:
Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
If you are 44” or taller, this ride is a must-do, and enjoy thrill rides! It also attracts some of the longest lines in Disney, so it is a no-brainer for Lightning Lane selection. You will twist and turn your way through the Himalayan Mountains and come face to face with the legendary Yeti.
(Note: This ride does have a single rider lane, so if everyone in your party is old enough to ride alone, you might skip the Lightning Lane selection and hope for a short wait in the single rider line.)
Credit: Disney
Kali River Rapids
While many of the attractions at Animal Kingdom are educational, this one is just pure fun! You will buckle into a 12-person raft for an adventurous ride down the Kali River. Prepare to scream and laugh as you spin, drop, and splash your way down the river with your crewmates. You will get wet and potentially soaked, so planning for this ride is key.
Choose a Lightning Lane time in the heat of the afternoon so that you will welcome getting wet or one that allows you time to dry off before your next attraction!
Kilimanjaro Safaris
This attraction is one of the most unique in Walt Disney World, as it takes you on safari to see real, live animals, and it is worth using Lightning Lane for. Animal Kingdom’s 110-acre Harambe Wildlife Preserve is home to over 30 species of wildlife, and Kilimanjaro Safaris lets you see them – up close and personal!
The guides do a great job of pointing out the animals, teaching about them, and ensuring you get good photo ops. This ride makes Animal Kingdom what it is, and since every safari is different, you may want to use Lightning Lane for the morning and revisit later in the day if the lines aren’t too long!
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
This is another great option for a Lightning Lane selection at Animal Kingdom. Walt Disney World is known for the quality of its live entertainment, and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! is one of its best productions. This show is a must-see, with Broadway-quality songs, beautifully designed puppets, and talented performers. It can be easy to skip shows with long lines, so using Lightning Lane will ensure you see it!
Festival of The Lion King
Festival of the Lion King is another great Lightning Lane option, for similar reasons to Finding Nemo. Animal Kingdom visitors often debate which shows are better—Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! or Festival of the Lion King.
Encourage you to see both and decide for yourself! If you are in the mood to sing along to your favorite Lion King songs, you will love this show.
Credit: Disney
Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventure Outpost
No trip to Walt Disney World is complete without a character photo. Meeting Mickey and Minnie at Adventure Outpost is a great experience for visitors of all ages. You get to meet the two most classic Disney characters with the added spin of the safari outpost theming. Another bonus is that the greeting is inside, offering a nice air-conditioned break from the heat!
While character experiences can change, this meet-and-greet remains a favorite for many Disney fans, and using Lightning Lane will help you skip the long lines.
