The Best Animal Kingdom Itinerary for Adults in Disney
With its stunning scenery, thrilling rides, incredible food options, and exotic wildlife, there’s so much to love about Animal Kingdom. Starting with an early morning rope drop and ending with a delicious African-inspired dinner, this adults-only itinerary skips the kid-oriented experiences and focuses on the best rides, foods, and drinks that adults in Disney will absolutely love. If you’re overwhelmed with planning options, Hakuna Matata! No worries – we’ve got your ultimate itinerary for the best adults-only day in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
We’ve lost count of how many times we’ve visited Animal Kingdom over the years. As kids, we enjoyed it, but wouldn’t consider it our top favorite park. But as adults? This Disney park is winning us over! While it doesn’t have the most rides or craziest snacks, it has vibes for days and a much slower pace than the other parks.
And dozens of visits, we can confidently say this is also the one day in your Disney Itinerary that doesn’t require purchasing Lightning Lanes for the day. Instead, you can use that saved money on an extra cocktail at Nomad Lounge or an extra snack in Pandora!
Ready for an epic day in Disney’s “wildest” park? Let’s do this!
Before the Animal Kingdom Park Day Begins
Animal Kingdom opens earlier than any other Disney park, but if you want to get the most out of your day, you’ll want to arrive early. The park typically opens at 8 a.m., with early entry opening to Disney resort hotel guests at 7:30 a.m. And we know it’s crazy early, but we recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before the early entry opening to take advantage of “rope drop.” When it’s finally time, cast members drop the rope (hence the term “rope drop”), and you’re allowed to rush in towards your desired ride or area along with the rest of the early birds. By arriving early, you can be one of the first in line to ride the most popular attractions before the crowds arrive.
To make it to the parks by at least 7:00-7:15 am before the early entry rope drop, you’ll need to catch the first bus from your Walt Disney World Resort to Animal Kingdom. Plan to arrive at your resort’s bus stop by 6:30 am. I know, I know! It’s so early, but the ride from most resorts to Animal Kingdom typically takes about 20 minutes, so you’ll need the extra time in the morning to arrive before everyone else.
Morning in Animal Kingdom
Rope Drop Ride: Flight of Passage
Once you’ve rope dropped and dashed towards Pandora – World of Avatar section, head straight to Flight of Passage ride. This is one of the most popular and highly rated rides in Walt Disney World, especially the most sought-after ride in Animal Kingdom. The longer you wait for this ride, the longer the wait will be. By riding it early, you’ll be able to experience it with minimal wait.
Cruise Through Na’vi River Journey
After you’ve ridden Flight of Passage, head to the nearby Na’vi River Journey. This is another popular ride in Pandora but typically has shorter wait times than Flight of Passage. This casual boat ride takes you through a beautiful bioluminescent forest and is perfect for relaxing after the thrill of Flight of Passage.
Explore Pandora – The World of Avatar
Once you’ve ridden both of the Pandora rides, take some time to explore the rest of this stunning area. You’ll find incredible theming, fantastic food and drink options, and plenty of photo ops. This area is incredibly interactive with light-up plants, hidden bongos, and occasionally a musical performance.
Afternoon in Animal Kingdom
Nomad Lounge For a Drink & Early Lunch/Brunch
After exploring Pandora, go to Nomad Lounge right before its 11 am opening time. Why should you get there early? If you made rope drop, you’ve been awake for quite some time and could probably go for an early lunch! But mostly, this cozy, casual lounge has one of the best patios in the park – and they don’t take reservations. The early birds get the best and most comfortable seats on the patio facing the water.
The view, food, and drinks are all spectacular here! Nomad Lounge offers a wide variety of drinks and small plates and is an excellent spot for a light early lunch. We recommend trying the refreshing Sinaloa Sangria and the delicious Tiffins Bread Service. Take your time here and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere before moving on to your next adventure.
And one of the best parts? With a view of the water, you’ll have a front-row seat to the flotillas of characters that pass by periodically! You’ll be able to hear African drums, wave to Pocahontas, and see Mickey and Minnie in their cutest safari clothes without ever having to wait in line for a posed interactive to do the classic meet and greets like the families with kiddos often do.
Ride Kilimanjaro Safari
Next up, head over to the Kilimanjaro Safaris in the Africa section of the park. This unique ride takes you through an African savanna, where you can see various exotic animals, such as giraffes, elephants, and lions. The animals are free-roaming, so each ride is different and unpredictable. Make sure to go before the afternoon heat to ensure the best opportunity for animal sightings!
Watch the Festival of the Lion King
Once you’ve refueled, head to the Festival of the Lion King show. This incredible live-action show features acrobatics, singing, and dancing. It’s one of the most popular shows in Animal Kingdom, so be sure to arrive early to secure a good seat.
Grab a Snack & Explore the Africa Area of Animal Kingdom
After your safari and wild entertainment, grab a snack and further explore the African area of the park. There are several options to choose from, such as the delicious pulled pork fries from Harambe Market or the refreshing pineapple Dole Whip from Tamu Tamu Refreshments. And while it’s not a ride, one of the coolest things to do to continue your safari is to walk the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. Within less than half a mile, you can see many beautiful, powerful gorillas in a well-kept habitat.
Detour to Discovery Island to See Zootopia: Better Zoogether
After exploring the African area, you’ll need to let your snack settle in your stomach before taking on the wildest rides in the park. As you walk towards the Asia area of the park from Africa, take a quick detour along the way to make your way to “Zootopia: Better Zoogether.” This is a 3D movie experience that takes you into the world of Zootopia. It’s a cute enough show that features a few surprises. Since it rarely has a wait and allows you to sit down for about 10 minutes, it’s a great option to fill in some time before your next big ride.
Ride Expedition Everest
Our personal favorite ride in the park is Animal Kingdom’s only technical roller coaster. While there are no loops or corkscrews like Hollywood Studios’ Rock N’ Roller Coaster, it’s not without its thrills. Featuring a fast ride, a few drops, a yeti-jump-scare, and even a surprising backward twist, this ride is a must. Want to get on the ride even faster? We highly recommend making a Genie+ Lightning Lane reservation or jumping in the single rider line.
Take a Photo With the Iconic Tree of Life
No visit to Animal Kingdom would be complete without a photo with the park’s iconic centerpiece, the Tree of Life. This stunning tree stands 145 feet tall and features intricate carvings of various animal species. There are several spots around the tree for great photo opportunities, so take your time and snap a few pictures to remember your visit.
After a Day in Animal Kingdom
Dinner at Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge
For dinner, we recommend taking a bus to the to dine at Sanaa at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. This restaurant offers a fantastic dining experience with views of the savanna and a menu featuring delicious African and Indian cuisine. It’s one of our absolute favorite dining experiences at Disney! Be sure to try the famous bread service, which comes with a variety of unique dips and spreads. It’s a great way to end your day in Animal Kingdom and experience some of the best food that Walt Disney World has to offer. Pro tip: be sure to make reservations as soon as you’ve purchased your park tickets!
End of Night Options
Animal Kingdom closes earlier than any other Disney park, so even though you’ve had a long day, you have a few choices after dinner! If you’re satisfied from dinner and exhausted after a long but fun park day, catch an Uber or Lyft back to your resort hotel to rest up for the next day.
(Nope – no Disney buses take you from one hotel to another. You could technically take a bus from Animal Kingdom Lodge to a different park, then hop on a bus from that park to go back to your hotel, but honestly – sometimes spending a little bit on saving yourself an hour of time and hassle is totally worth it.)
If you’re looking for more nighttime entertainment, we recommend heading to Disney Springs. Disney Springs is a shopping and dining district with various restaurants, shops, and entertainment options. You can catch a movie at the AMC theater, see a live band at the House of Blues, enjoy drinks at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, or play a game of bowling at Splitsville.
If you still want more fun in the parks, take a bus to Magic Kingdom. This park is open late and features nighttime fireworks and lower wait times for some of the park’s most popular attractions, like Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.