Last updated on January 11th, 2024 at 10:35 am
Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park is all about the animals, but it also boasts some of the best rides and attractions in all of Walt Disney World. And if you are traveling with older kids or adults, good thrill rides are important! Here’s a guide to the best rides at Animal Kingdom.
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Disney’s Animal Kingdom Thrill Rides
Read any list of the best rides at Walt Disney World, and more than likely many of the top picks will be at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. As the mom of a teenager, it is one of our favorite parks to visit because it has the most thrilling rides.
Much like the Magic Kingdom is defined by areas such as “Tomorrowland” and “Adventureland,” Disney’s Animal Kingdom is separated into areas – or “lands” – as well. Animal Kingdom is designed with a hub and spoke layout; the Tree of Life on Discovery Island is the hub in the center of the park, and each land spokes out from there.
The thrill rides at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are spread out in different lands around the park.
Dinoland USA
If you veer to the right when leaving Discovery Island, you’ll find yourself in Dinoland USA.
This is a quirky land, with several rides, a children’s play area set up to look like a anthropological dig, and a 1,500-seat theater. The standout attraction in Dinoland USA and one of the best rides at Animal Kingdom is DINOSAUR.
DINOSAUR
This thrill ride will take you back in time to the prehistoric ages where you’ll witness dinosaurs – friendly and ferocious – up close and personal.
If you have gone on the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland in Anaheim, DINOSAUR will feel very familiar! That’s because it uses the same type of vehicles and track system. The ride is fast, bumpy, jerky, loud, dark and exciting! While here are no drops or inversions like a traditional roller coaster, DINOSAUR is definitely a thrill ride!
Asia
Inspired by the temples, architecture and legends of India, Thailand, Nepal and Indonesia, Animal Kingdom’s Asia is a beautiful tribute to this mythical land. The rides in this section of the park truly capture the excitement of the region.
Expedition Everest
Expedition Everest is a fast, fun and thrilling coaster ride – or what Disney might have called an E-Ticket ride back in the old days. Your train climbs high into the Himalayan mountains, twisting and turning through caverns and canyons and speeding past the ominous Abominable Snowman.
What makes this ride truly unique is that it not only goes forward, but backwards too. Backwards and up a hill. Up a hill! If you have never sped backwards and up a hill, it is a sensation you will not soon forget and one I can’t promise you will necessarily enjoy. It is a very different feeling.
Expedition Everest is a very smooth ride, even at its peak speed of about 50 miles per hour, so you get none of the shakiness one sometimes experiences on an older or wooden coaster. It is a thrilling train ride in every sense.
If the sensation of going backwards uphill leaves you as unsettled as it left me, try turning just the slightest bit sideways during that part of the ride, but keep your head back against the headrest for safety. Just this slight change in body position really made a difference for me and allowed me to enjoy the rest of the ride!
Kali River Rapids
On a hot day in Florida, nothing feels as good as getting a little wet. And the best place to get wet when you are at Animal Kingdom is on the Kali River Rapids.
Kali River Rapids is a whitewater raft ride. You will sit in a round, 12-person raft that essentially floats freely down the course of the ride. Expect to get wet. Actually, expect to get drenched! Because the river is fairly wide, the raft will spin and bob freely, so there is no anticipating where you will be when the splashes hit.
The ride itself is pretty short – less than five minutes – and the drops are not that steep. This makes it a fun and fairly fearless ride for kids. (With a height requirement of only 38 inches, even the little ones can enjoy this ride.)
The real genius of this ride though are the visuals – it begins as you stand in line and weave your way through an intricately decorated Southeast Asian temple. The river raft ride itself starts off peacefully as you drift through a lush jungle, but then the waters get rougher as the ride progresses through a landscape ravaged by illegal logging, complete with fire and chainsaw sounds.
The finale is a wet and wild 20 foot drop down the waterfall.
Expect the line to be long from mid-morning until late afternoon, because everyone knows this is the place to be to cool off! But even if you do have to wait in line, Disney’s great theming will help to get you in the mood for this Asian adventure.
If possible, leave your belongings in a locker or with a friend who isn’t riding. There is a covered storage area in the center of the raft, but that is no guarantee your stuff won’t get wet!
Also, while riding through the rough patches, keep your feet elevated off the floor or you will find yourself squishing around in wet shoes for the rest of the day! Unfortunately, I learned that lesson the hard way our first time out.
Pandora – The World of Avatar
Pandora – The World of Avatar is the newest area of Animal Kingdom. It opened in 2017 and is home to two amazing attractions, Flight of Passage & Na’vi River Journey, as well as some innovative places to shop and eat. Flight of Passage is an electrifying thrill ride and definitely among the best rides at Animal Kingdom.
Avatar Flight of Passage
Take a flight on a Banshee across Pandora on Flight of Passage. You’ll be lifted in front of a giant screen – much like Soarin’ but sooo much better!
Avatar Flight of Passage incorporates the sights, sounds, and smells of the Pandora, and has you flying above Mo’ara’s floating mountains, swooping through treetops and diving into caves. This is a ride you really have to experience to fully understand and appreciate, so make sure it is at the top of your bucket list when you visit Walt Disney World!
As the park’s newest thrill ride, be prepared for a lengthy wait or arm yourself with a FastPass. Flight of Passage has not one, but two pre-shows. In the first one, you will be matched with your avatar.
Africa
If you ever wanted to travel to Africa and go on safari, this area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the closest to the real thing you’ll ever experience. Africa is a colorful display of shows, food, markets and attractions. There is even some fantastic street entertainment here in the form of African dancers and music.
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Though not a “thrill” ride in the spirit of Expedition Everest or DINOSAUR, Kilimanjaro Safaris is no less thrilling. In fact, you might even say this is the centerpiece of the park, and definitely one of the best rides at Animal Kingdom!
Kilimanjaro Safaris sprawls across 110 acres. This one ride alone is larger than the entire Magic Kingdom!
Lions, giraffes, hippos, rhinos and elephants are just some of the animals you’ll witness on Kilimanjaro Safari. As your vehicle traverses the terrain, your driver (aka safari guide) will entertain and inform, as well as talk about conservation efforts. My family and I have gone on this many times, and no two rides are ever the same! Between the animals roaming the driver’s remarks, it is always a fresh experience.
Go in the morning, for the best chance of seeing animals during their most active time of day. Later in the afternoon, Kilimanjaro Safari makes a nice break. The ride clocks in at 22 minutes.
Trying to decide on a hotel for your Walt Disney World vacation? Don’t miss this article on the Best Disney Deluxe Resorts.
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