Animal Kingdom: Family with Young Kids

Families with children under 7, mostly under 44 inches tall.

Animal Kingdom is surprisingly one of the best parks for young kids, and most families don't realize it until they're there. The safari is mesmerizing for children who've never seen a giraffe outside a picture book. The animal trails put them face to face with gorillas and tigers. Na'vi River Journey is a gentle boat ride through a glowing forest. The stage shows are spectacular. And the whole park feels like walking through a storybook jungle. The ride count is lower than Magic Kingdom, but the experiences here are irreplaceable, your kid will not stop talking about the safari.

Flight of Passage (44") and Expedition Everest (44") are the two headliners most young kids can't ride. That's a real loss, Kali River Rapids, 38", some older preschoolers and kindergartners will make it, you WILL get soaked. But everything else at Animal Kingdom works for small children, and the non ride experiences are where this park truly shines for families.

What Can My Kid Actually Ride?

No height requirement (everyone rides): Kilimanjaro Safaris, open air vehicle through a savanna with real animals, the highlight of Animal Kingdom for kids, giraffes, elephants, lions, rhinos, every ride is different, kids are mesmerized. Na'vi River Journey, gentle boat ride through Pandora, glowing plants, bioluminescent forest, beautiful animatronic at the end, calm, no drops, no scares. Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, walking trail with gorillas, hippos, meerkats, right after the safari, kids love the animals, take your time. Maharajah Jungle Trek, walking trail with tigers, bats, Komodo dragons, tigers behind glass are a highlight, the aviary is gentle and beautiful, some kids are scared of the fruit bats, they're big. Discovery Island Trails, animals along the walkways, kangaroos, Galapagos tortoises, easy to walk past without noticing, point them out to your kids. Festival of the Lion King, stage show, incredible production, singers, dancers, acrobats, fire, indoor, air conditioned, kids love it. Finding Nemo show, stage show, puppetry and live performers retelling the Nemo story, indoor, air conditioned, perfect for young kids. Zootopia: Better Zoogether!, 4D show inside the Tree of Life, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, indoor, air conditioned. Feathered Friends in Flight!, bird show, free flying birds over the audience, the dollar bill stealing bit gets every kid, covered outdoor theater. Winged Encounters, macaw flyover, short, on Discovery Island, check times, kids love the colorful birds.

Rider Swap

If one parent wants to ride Flight of Passage or Expedition Everest while the other stays with the kids, use Rider Swap. Your whole family goes to the ride entrance. Tell the Cast Member you need Rider Swap. Parent A rides while Parent B waits with the kids nearby. When Parent A finishes, Parent B rides using the Lightning Lane entrance, no second wait.

This is especially useful for Flight of Passage. Both parents get to ride one of the best experiences at Disney World without leaving anyone stranded.

Getting There

Check park hours first: Go to disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars and find Animal Kingdom's opening time for your date. Also check closing time, Animal Kingdom often closes earlier than other parks. Early Entry for Disney resort guests begins 30 minutes before the official park opening time.

Animal Kingdom has a single entrance with its own parking lot. Drive directly to the lot and take the tram, or use Disney bus service from any resort.

Stroller note: Bring your stroller. Animal Kingdom has more walking than you'd expect, the trails, the safari exit path, the trek between themed areas. Even kids who "don't need a stroller" will need one by afternoon. You can also rent strollers at the park entrance.

If driving: Trams run from the lot to the entrance. With a stroller, fold it for the tram. Take a photo of your row sign. Check current parking pricing on the Disney website or app. Annual Passholders get free standard parking. Disney Resort guests also park free.

If you're at a Disney resort: Animal Kingdom Lodge is the closest resort, short bus ride. All other resorts use the bus as well. Allow extra time with kids.

Be at the gates before opening. With young kids, this means early wake ups, but most small children are up at dawn anyway. You'll need time for waking up, feeding everyone, getting out the door, driving, parking, tram, and security. With young kids, everything takes longer. Build in extra buffer.

Lightning Lane Priorities for Young Kids

Book at 7 a.m. Kilimanjaro Safaris first, skip the line and ride during peak animal activity hours. Na'vi River Journey second, the standby wait is often long relative to the ride length. Kali River Rapids third, if your kids meet the 38" requirement, the outdoor queue in the heat is rough.

Flight of Passage is Lightning Lane Single Pass only. Only useful if a parent is using Rider Swap. If so, book at 7 a.m. Lightning Lane pricing varies by date. Check the My Disney Experience app for current prices.

Rope Drop

If you're staying at a Disney resort (Early Entry): Kilimanjaro Safaris first, morning animals are the priority, get the best safari possible. Na'vi River Journey second, gentle, beautiful, no height requirement, head to Pandora after the safari. Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail third, walk back through Africa and do the trail before it gets hot. Why not Flight of Passage first? If your kids can't ride it, there's no reason to go to Pandora first. If a parent wants to Rider Swap, do it after Na'vi River Journey when you're already in Pandora.

If you're staying off property (no Early Entry): Your disadvantage is that resort guests have had 30 minutes of riding. Head straight to Africa for Kilimanjaro Safaris. The animals are most active in the morning, and an early safari is a completely different experience than an afternoon one. Your kids will be wide eyed the entire ride. After the safari, walk through Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail right at the exit, don't skip it. Then head to Pandora for Na'vi River Journey.

Morning (Park Open to 11:00 a.m.)

This is the best time at Animal Kingdom. The animals are active, the temperature is manageable, and the trails are at their best. Spend the morning outside with the animals before the afternoon heat drives everyone indoors.

Kilimanjaro Safaris, first priority, always, morning animals are the best animals. Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, right after the safari, gorillas, hippos, meerkats, take your time, let kids watch. Na'vi River Journey, gentle boat ride, beautiful for kids, no scares. Discovery Island Trails, kangaroos, tortoises along the walkways, point them out, kids miss them otherwise. Maharajah Jungle Trek, tigers, fruit bats, aviary, some kids find the bats scary (they're large), the tigers are a highlight. Winged Encounters, check the app for times, the macaw flyover is quick and kids love the colorful birds.

Let kids set the pace on trails. The trails are self paced. There's no line, no schedule, and no rush. If your kid wants to watch the gorillas for a long time, let them. If they want to run ahead to the next animal, let them (within reason). This is one of the few places at Disney World where there's no pressure to move to the next thing.

The Shows

Animal Kingdom's stage shows are the best at Disney World, and they're your most valuable tool for young kids in summer.

Festival of the Lion King: Indoor, air conditioned, and spectacular. Singers, dancers, acrobats, stilt walkers, fire effects, and the Lion King music. Kids are transfixed. Even toddlers who can't follow a plot respond to the music, colors, and movement. This is a must do.

Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond!: Indoor, air conditioned. Puppetry and live performers retelling the Nemo story. Perfect for young kids who know the movie. The puppets are beautifully done.

Zootopia: Better Zoogether!: 4D show inside the Tree of Life on Discovery Island. Judy and Nick on screen, with 4D effects (water spritz, air puffs, motion seats). Some toddlers may be startled by the effects. Indoor, air conditioned.

Feathered Friends in Flight!: The bird show in Asia. Free flying birds over the audience. The dollar bill stealing bit is a crowd favorite. Covered outdoor theater, not fully air conditioned but shaded.

Afternoon (11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Animal Kingdom's afternoon heat is serious, and the park's biggest draws (the safari, the trails) are all outdoors. By noon, the animals have retreated to shade and your kids are overheating.

Hotel break: Leave after the morning safari, trails, and a show or two. Lunch somewhere easy (hotel, something you packed). Nap time, pool time, air conditioned downtime. Return to the park late afternoon if park hours allow.

The closing time problem: Animal Kingdom often closes earlier than other parks. If it closes at 7 p.m. and you leave at noon, you may decide it's not worth returning for just a couple of hours. In that case, consider park hopping to EPCOT for the evening instead (park hopping is available after 2 p.m.).

If you're staying in the park, indoor cool down rotation: Festival of the Lion King (check showtimes, plan your afternoon around this), Finding Nemo show, Zootopia show.

Lunch: Satu'li Canteen in Pandora has indoor seating and decent food. Flame Tree Barbecue on Discovery Island has covered waterfront seating. Harambe Market in Africa has multiple food windows with outdoor covered seating.

Kali River Rapids: If your kid meets the 38" height requirement and everyone's prepared to get soaked, the afternoon heat makes this ride a welcome cooldown. Bring ponchos or accept the drenching.

Packing Checklist for Young Kids at Animal Kingdom

Stroller (or plan to rent at the entrance). Sunscreen (reapply regularly, trails and safari are outdoors). Refillable water bottles for everyone. Ponchos (storms + Kali River Rapids). Change of clothes (if riding Kali River Rapids). Snacks (always have snacks ready). Portable phone charger. Comfort item for meltdown moments. Binoculars (optional, makes the safari even better for kids).

The 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Storm Window

Most summer days, a thunderstorm rolls through in the afternoon. Get inside before it hits, a show theater, a restaurant, or a shop on Discovery Island. The safari and outdoor trails close during lightning storms. Thunder can scare young kids, have a comfort plan ready and frame it as exciting ("look at the big rain!"). Have snacks. Trapped inside with a hungry kid is worse than trapped inside with a fed kid.

After the storm: Temperature drops, the park becomes much more pleasant. If the safari reopens, a post storm ride can be fantastic, cooler air brings animals back out. Some families leave. Lines may shorten.

Evening

Check the park hours for your date. Animal Kingdom's evening options depend on how late it's open.

If the park has evening hours: Pandora at dusk and after dark is magical for kids, the plants glow, the walkways light up. Na'vi River Journey re ride (shorter evening waits). Tree of Life awakening projections, animated scenes light up the carved tree. A post storm or evening safari can be excellent if available.

If the park closes early: Don't force it. If kids are fading, head out. Park hop to EPCOT for an evening of Frozen Ever After, the aquarium, and World Showcase lights if kids have energy.

Dining with Young Kids

Quick service: Satu'li Canteen in Pandora, customizable bowls, indoor seating, air conditioned, good quality for quick service. Flame Tree Barbecue on Discovery Island, BBQ, covered waterfront seating, kids eat ribs and chicken tenders. Harambe Market in Africa, multiple food windows with different options, outdoor seating under cover.

Table service (reservation recommended): Tusker House in Africa, character dining with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy in safari outfits, buffet with kid friendly options plus African inspired dishes for adults, reservation essential, if your kids want characters over a meal this is the spot at Animal Kingdom. Yak & Yeti in Asia, pan Asian food, full bar for the parents, menu has kid friendly options. Rainforest Cafe at the park entrance (outside the gates), themed with animatronic animals, thunderstorm effects, aquariums, kids love the atmosphere, the food is mediocre but the experience is the point, can eat here without park admission.

When the Plan Breaks

"My kid is melting down and we just got here." Step off the path. Find shade, Animal Kingdom has better tree cover than most parks. Discovery Island shops are air conditioned, and the trails around the island give kids space to move without standing in a line. Snack, water, comfort item. Five minutes of reset can save the next two hours.

"The safari line is too long and my kid can't wait." If you didn't get Lightning Lane for the safari, check the app for wait times throughout the day. A late afternoon ride can have shorter waits and the animals may be more active as temperatures drop. Don't force a long wait with a small child, it's not worth the meltdown.

"My kid is scared of the Maharajah Jungle Trek bats / the dark parts of Pandora." Both are valid fears for small children. The fruit bats in the Maharajah Jungle Trek are large and hanging upside down behind glass, some kids find this terrifying. Skip that section of the trail if needed; the tigers are in a different area. Pandora's bioluminescent forest on Na'vi River Journey is dark but gentle, most kids love it, but some are unsettled by the darkness.

"The park closes at 7 p.m. and we've done everything." Park hop to EPCOT. Frozen Ever After, the Seas aquarium, and the World Showcase lit up at night can fill a great evening for young families. Park hopping opens at 2 p.m.

"It's too hot and my kid won't drink water." Frozen lemonade stands, Pongu Pongu's Night Blossom (frozen, sweet, kid friendly), ice cream. Whatever gets fluid into them. The cooling stations throughout the park have misters, walk through them.

End of Night

If you drove: Walk to the tram with your stroller. Fold for the tram, ride to your car. If crowds are heavy after close, wait a few minutes near the shops.

If you're at a Disney resort: Animal Kingdom Lodge, bus, short ride home. All other resorts, bus from the main entrance. Lines can build after park close. If your kid is fading, consider leaving before close to beat the bus rush.