Opened in 1998, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is home to animals, animated attractions, and thrilling rides for the entire family. The animal lovers in your entourage will swoon over the fun, informative Kilimanjaro Safari Rides, during which you’ll take an open-air vehicle across the “savanna” to spot herds of giraffes and elephants, while thrill seekers will love the roller coasters, rafting rides, and character meet-and-greets. There are also exhibits on everything from gorillas and okapis to hippos, flamingos, and living coral reef, as well as the new Pandora—The World of Avatar area, which features 3-D rides and other, milder attractions for little ones. Standard admission tickets include enough to keep you busy for two days, plus you can add on experiences like evening safari rides, dining packages, and behind-the-scenes tours with naturalists to learn about the day-to-day care of the African elephant herd.
Guests look out over a wildlife-filled savanna on Wild Africa Trek, where adventure comes alive in an exciting experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The add-on offering invites intrepid explorers to up-close encounters with the park’s wildlife. As part of their expert-led adventure, guests take safari vehicles to a serene overlook where they can savor Africa-inspired food and beverage while observing giraffes, elephants, gazelle and more. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is part of Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kent Phillips, Photographer)
Kent Phillips
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Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Opened in 1998, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is home to animals, animated attractions, and thrilling rides for the entire family. The animal lovers in your entourage will swoon over the fun, informative Kilimanjaro Safari Rides, during which you’ll take an open-air vehicle across the “savanna” to spot herds of giraffes and elephants, while thrill seekers will love the roller coasters, rafting rides, and character meet-and-greets. There are also exhibits on everything from gorillas and okapis to hippos, flamingos, and living coral reef, as well as the new Pandora—The World of Avatar area, which features 3-D rides and other, milder attractions for little ones. Standard admission tickets include enough to keep you busy for two days, plus you can add on experiences like evening safari rides, dining packages, and behind-the-scenes tours with naturalists to learn about the day-to-day care of the African elephant herd.
Wild Africa Trek
Anyone can take the ride through the Animal Kingdom park to see hippos and lions. For those with a slightly higher sense of adventure, a 3-hour guided hike gets you closer to the habitat and the animals. As perfectly safe as it all is, it still feels tremendously adventurous, especially the rope bridge over a canyon.
