Animal Kingdom in the Walt Disney World Resort is one of the best Disney parks for toddlers! It can still be intimidating to take on with little ones though. Let this post be your guide to Animal Kingdom for toddlers.
Animal Kingdom is a Walt Disney Company theme park that has rides and animals in it. You probably recognize the big tree there called the Tree Of Life.
While a trip here is not exactly relaxing like a Disney Cruise Line vacation, it is still a ton of fun and you can go as fast or slow paced as you and your family need to.
In this post we’ll give you all of our best tips and tell you which rides toddlers can go on.
Animal Kingdom For Toddlers
If you’re looking spend your time going on ride after ride all day long, then Magic Kingdom might be a better fit for you. Animal Kingdom is a great park for toddlers and I think it’s better for them than Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
I know my kids love rides and seeing animals, so that’s why Animal Kingdom is a fun park for toddlers and little kids. There are also fun treats and shows to go to.
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Animal Kingdom Rides For Toddlers
The rides that do not have height requirements are perfect for toddlers and for babies. The ones with height requirements will not work for your baby though.
1. Kilimanjaro Safaris
Kilimanjaro Safaris is one of the coolest attractions that this Walt Disney World park has to offer. You go on a 18 minute safari ride through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve.
You’ll be in an open air vehicle and will see real live animals roaming around. Your guide will point out animals and share facts about them.
Sometimes the animals get really close to your vehicle, but you obviously are not allowed to touch them.
Some of the animals you might spot are lions, hippos, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, elephants, crocodiles, and more.
It is a slow ride with no height requirement, which makes it suitable for all ages.
2. Na’vi River Journey
This ride is located in Pandora – The World Of Avatar. It has no height req. It is a ride with individual Lightning Lane.
This is a gentle boat ride that goes through Pandora’s glowing bioluminescent rainforest and caves. It’s beautiful and mesmerizing.
3. TriceraTop Spin
TriceraTop Spin is suitable for any height and any age. It is located in DinoLand USA.
You’ll ride in a triceratops gondola that holds 4 people. It’ll go up an down and spin around. It is somewhat similar to the Dumbo ride in Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.
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4. Wildlife Express Train
This train ride is in Africa in Animal Kingdom. It has no height requirement. It is a 1.2 mile journey that takes 7 minutes.
It takes you over to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, then back to Harambe, Africa.
5. Kali River Rapids
Make sure to measure your kids before going on this attraction since it has a 38″ height requirement. This is a whitewater rafting ride located in Asia.
It has small drops and spinning, so you’ll need to decide if that’s too much or not for your toddler. Also, this is a ride that you will get wet on, so I suggest bringing a change of clothes for your kids.
Animal Kingdom Shows For Toddlers
Shows are a great way to sit down, take a little break, and still keep your toddler entertained. These are the current shows running at Animal Kingdom.
You can check show times on the Disney World website or the My Disney Experience App, or ask a cast member.
1. Donald’s Dino-Bash!
This show is in DinoLand USA. It has Donald Duck and some friends. You’ll see Daisy Duck, Pluto, and Chip and Dale dressed up as dinosaurs.
2. Festival Of The Lion King
This is an indoor show at Harambe Theater in Africa. It is 40 minutes long. It has classic songs from the Lion King.
3. Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… And Beyond!
This is located in DinoLand USA. It has puppets, singers, and more from the Disney Pixar movie Finding Nemo.
4. It’s Tough To Be A Bug!
This show is in Discovery Island, located near the base of the Tree of Life. It is a 3D film and live show based on the movie A Bug’s Life.
Warning- this show can be too loud, dark, and scary for some.
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Other Things For Toddlers To Do In Animal Kingdom
I love how Animal Kingdom has places for kids to run around.
1. Discovery Island Trails
Walk around these trails around the Tree of Life. There are tunnels, wooden bridges, trees, plants, and of course animals.
Some of the animals you might see are a red kangaroo, a macaw, a ring-tailed lemur, and African crested porcupine, and more.
2. Boneyard
The Boneyard is a great place for kids age 10 and under to dig, excavate fossils, climb across rope bridges, and go down slides.
3. Animal Encounters
You can see macaws flying at the Winged Encounters or go see animals at Conservation Station.
4. Get Snacks
Stop and get a Dole Whip at Tamu Tamu Refreshments, popcorn at Mahindi, fresh fruit at Harambe Fruit Market, a Mickey Pretzel at Dino-Bite Snacks, or a soft-serve waffle cone at Adandapur Ice Cream Truck.
Needless to say, there are plenty of great food options in this park for people of all ages.
5. Meet Characters
Go to Adventure’s Outpost in Discovery Island to meet your favorite Disney characters. Here you’ll find world travelers Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. They’re so cute in their adventure outfits!
Characters you might see in DinoLand are Pluto, Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, Chip n Dale, Goofy, and Scrooge McDuck.
At Discovery Island you may find Timon, Rafiki, and Kevin, Russell, and Dug from Up. You can also find Pocahontas behind the Tree of Life.
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6. Rafiki’s Planet Watch
This has a petting zoo, trails animals, and a behind the scenes look at the veterinary care of the animals.
At the Affection Section you can interact with and pet sheep, goats, and more.
7. Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
This is located in Africa. You can walk around and see gorillas, zebras, meerkats, hippos, and more in their natural habitats.
8. Maharajah Jungle Trek
Walk around this trail in Asia to see Asian tigers, water buffalo, Komodo dragons, birds, and more.
Animal Kingdom For Toddlers FAQ
A 2 year old will not be able to go on every ride in the park, but they can still go on a fair amount of rides and do other things. So yes, it is worth it to take your 2 year old to this theme park.
Both parks are great, but Animal Kingdom is definitely better, especially if your toddler loves seeing animals and learning about them. Both parks have a few attractions that toddlers can go on.
This depends on exactly what type of day you want, but overall Magic Kingdom is better for toddlers. Both parks have characters and fun snacks. Magic Kingdom has a lot more rides that young children can go on though, but it does not have the animals like Animal Kingdom.
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