Enjoying Animal Kingdom with Toddlers

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Animal Kingdom with Toddlers | What You Need To Know

Animal Kingdom is a beautiful and magical place for toddlers and parents alike. There are so many fun things to see and do that it can be hard to know where to start exploring Animal Kingdom with toddlers.

If you’re looking for some tips on making the most of your time there, read on!

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Soak in the beauty of Kilimanjaro Safaris, take a spin on a Triceratops, or take a relaxing ride through a mystical place.

There are so many things that make Animal Kingdom such a fantastic experience for young children. Let’s get started!

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Exploring Animal Kingdom with Toddlers

Our first trip to Disney World was in June 2021 for my birthday. It was a no-brainer for us, especially since toddlers under 3 years old are free at all theme parks in Flordia.

Our initial plan was to go to Magic Kingdom, but when I hit refresh on my computer, there were no more reservations available for the dates we would be in Orlando with our toddler.

The only other option was Animal Kingdom and having watched the series on Disney+, I figured it would still be a lot of fun.

We took the plunge and headed to Animal Kingdom with our 2-year-old on my 32^nd birthday. Here is how we explored Animal Kindom with our 2-year-old.

SHOWS AT ANIMAL KINGDOM FOR TODDLERS

Disney isn’t just about rides, there are some great family-friendly shows at Animal Kingdom to watch with your toddler.

Tip: You will do a lot of walking at Animal Kingdom with your toddler. Shows are the best way to get a break and have some AC (in some places).

See It’s Tough to be a Bug Show

Our first stop at Animal Kingdom was the show It’s Tough to be a Bug. You walk around the tree of life and see the cool artwork on the tree.

There wasn’t a line, so we took the long journey around the tree of life to get into the theatre. The doors opened, we filed into our seats, and the magic began.

I should warn you. If your toddler is afraid of the dark, you may want to skip this show. Our little guy is okay with the dark, but the spurts of air surprised him. I put him in my lap, and he enjoyed the show.

It was difficult getting him to wear the 3-D glasses, so we didn’t bother. He watched the show without glasses.
Although he didn’t get the full effect, he still had a great time.

Finding Nemo the Musical

UP! A Great Bird Adventure

Festival of the Lion King Show

As a kid growing up in the ’90s, The Lion King was my favorite movie. I watched the tape constantly for years. In my opinion, The Lion King is the best movie Disney has ever created.

We waited until the last minute to see The Lion King show, and by the time we got in line, there were no seats left.

I didn’t want to wait in the sun for nearly an hour for the next show, so we decided to skip it this time around, but we certainly plan on coming back to see the Festival of The Lion King.

Here are the showtimes:

10:00 AM
11:00 AM
12:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
5:00 PM

The show is 40 minutes, so you may want to have snacks and a drink for your little one. In case they get a little antsy.

Tip: Try to see one of the earlier shows when you arrive at the park. Most people will head straight to the rides, so you will have better luck getting seating if you go early.

Disney KiteTails – New!

Disney KiteTails is a new show introduced this year as part of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. We plan to see the show when we go to Animal Kingdom in the early fall.

The performance is at the Discovery River Amphitheater. There are two shows with high-flying kites that glide to the beat of Disney’s most iconic songs.

The inspiration for these themed shows was The Lion King and The Jungle Book. We can’t wait to check it out in September.

ANIMAL KINGDOM RIDES FOR TODDLERS

Magic Kingdom is definitely the place to be when it comes to having the best rides for toddlers, but Animal Kingdom is the next best thing for toddlers.

Our son loves animals, which is to be expected considering we spend much of our time at the San Diego Zoo when he was a baby.

Ride the Train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch

Rafiki’s Planet Watch is the perfect area for little kids. The best thing about going to Rafiki’s Planet Watch is getting to ride the train.

Our son LOVES trains, so he was excited to get on a train (although he’s been on several) while exploring Animal Kingdom.

Note: You will need to learn your stroller at the train station before boarding the train. I recommend taking your diaper bag with some snacks and water for your time here.

Affection Section

After walking through a winding path, you will get to the petting zoo. This area has lots of animals for your little one to get hands-on with.

We had an embarrassing moment when our 2-year-old decided to run under the rope to try to play with the animals. Since our toddler couldn’t contain his excitement, we used our child safety restraint.

Along with having a petting zoo, this is where your little ones can learn about conservation.

The Conservation Station is in this area, where your toddler can see other reptiles and amphibians. Our toddler wasn’t interested in the inside activities, so we spent most of our time in the petting zoo.

Tip: The Conservation Station is the perfect place to cool off on a hot day.

The Animation Experience at Conservation Station

This is where your toddler can draw their own Disney character. In this class, kids learn how Disney makes their characters come to life using real-life animals.

Your little one will get step-by-step instructions to illustrate their favorite character. Each class is over 20 minutes, so I recommend this for toddlers over 3 years old.

Tip: You will need to board the train at least 30 minutes before the class starts to make it on time.

Explore DinoLand U.S.A.

DinoLand is a fun area for toddlers. Here are some of the things you can do at DinoLand with your toddler.

The Boneyard – This play area is perfect for toddlers. They can dig for fossils, cross a rope bridge, or go down slides.
TriceraTops Spin – This is a fun dinosaur ride that takes your little one in the air. It is similar to Dumbo at Magic Kingdom, which he loved.
DINOSAUR – This ride may be too scary for most toddlers. The height requirement is 40 inches, but it is dark and loud. I only recommend this for kids 4 and up, unless your toddler is a thrill-seeker.
Restaurantosaurus – Have some dinosaur-themed food, while taking a break.

Tip: The Boneyard has shaded seating with fans, so this is a good pitstop when you need a break from walking.

Unfortunately, the play area was closed while we were at Animal Kingdom with our toddler, but the reduced capacity made it easier for him to ride the Triceratops several times.

I rode it with him at least three times, and my wife rode it with him another 2 to 3 times while I was on another ride. He got to get on here at least 5-6 times within 30 minutes.

I’m sure this was because of the reduced capacity. It was nice to get on a ride within 5 minutes of waiting in line. I didn’t even have to put on Booba to keep him distracted. He waited his turn in line like a big boy, which was a huge win.

Pandora – The World of Avatar

Pandora – The World of Avatar is by far my favorite area at Animal Kingdom.

Honestly, this section almost makes the Disney prices worth it because it does not disappoint with coolness.

Your toddler can spend 30 minutes just exploring this area. We walked around for a while and got a treat before getting on the rides.

Na’vi River Journey

Honestly, this is where you see your money at work because the Na’vi River Journey is phenomenal. I cannot put into words how cool this ride is for toddlers at Animal Kingdom.

The wait was over 45 minutes, but it was certainly worth it. The tranquil boat ride is perfect for toddlers.

It is like their imagination comes to life with a ride through a rainforest full of colorful butterflies, wildlife sounds, and of course an Avatar.

This is an absolute must if you are visiting Animal Kingdom with toddlers.

Note: There isn’t a height requirement for this ride, so if you have a baby they can join you. You can even babywear if needed.

Kilimanjaro Safari

You can’t forget the animals at Animal Kingdom. One of the best ways to see the beautiful animals here is to take the Kilimanjaro Safari.

It feels like you are on a real African safari as you learn about the different animals at Disney. We loved seeing the giraffes, ostriches, zebras, rhinos, antelope, and many other animals.

The line can be long, but it was constantly moving. I recommend having something to keep your little one entertained. I used my extra phone for our toddler to watch Numberblocks while we waited.

Characters at Animal Kingdom

The character encounters have stopped at Animal Kingdom since the pandemic. Unfortunately, close encounter character meetings are not back at Animal Kingdom, but hopefully, they will be returning soon.

For now, the best way to see characters at Animal Kingdom with toddlers is from a secret spot. Catch Mickey and Friends on the flotilla. You can see them sailing on the Discovery River throughout the park.

The best spot to get the best view is heading towards Pandora — The World of Avatar from Africa (or vice versa). From here, you can get a great view of the characters on the boat. Some of the characters that ride by are:

Mickey, Minnie, & Pluto
Goofy, Donald & Daisy
Launchpad
Chip ‘n’ Dale
Pocahontas & Meeko
and many more

We got to see the characters while they crossed in front of The Tree of Life. I didn’t get a picture because we were trying to be in the moment, but I will next time!

Tip: If you want to have a socially distanced character encounter, check out Tusker House Restaurant. Your little one can get a picture with some of the characters while dining.

Animal Kingdom with Toddlers | Making the Most of Your Time