Disney’s Animal Kingdom has plenty to offer for all ages, but you may be wondering what there is to do specifically with toddlers. There is actually quite a bit, especially if you have a dino or animal lover. The park is very large, so with little ones, it is good to know ahead of time what to prioritize.
What is Disney’s Animal Kingdom?
Animal Kingdom is the largest of the four theme parks in Walt Disney World. Discover seven different themed lands: Africa, Asia, Discovery Island, The Oasis, DinoLand U.S.A., Rafiki’s Planet Watch, and Pandora- The World of Avatar. Each land celebrates nature and animals with unique rides, attractions, characters, and dining. I find this park to be the most immersive of all of the Disney World theme parks because of all the details put into the theming.
Things to do in Disney’s Animal Kingdom with a Toddler
Live Action Shows
Watch some of your favorite characters come to life in captivating performances the whole family will love, especially your little ones. Download the My Disney Experience App for daily showtimes.
Festival of the Lion King: This 40 minute show features characters, songs, and stories from The Lion King. Larger than life puppets and floats create a unique atmosphere for this fan favorite show. This show is located in Harambe Village of Africa.
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond! This 25 minute newly updated show features the characters from the Finding Nemo movie. You will be immersed under the sea with Nemo and his friends as puppeteers and performers sing and dance to create a fun show for all with popular songs. This show is located in DinoLand U.S.A.
Feathered Friends in Flight: This is a 35 minute show that features the free-flying birds of Animal Kingdom. Check this out if you have a little one who loves birds or up close encounters with animals. Please note that birds do fly about in the theatre, so if you have nervous kids, prepare them ahead of time. No birds will touch you, but they are flying above and near you at certain points of the show. This show is located in Asia.
Animal Kingdom Attractions
Become immersed in the unique theming at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with these toddler-friendly attractions. From animal encounters, to live music, there is so much fun for you and your kids to enjoy.
Performers of Africa: Let your toddler dance along to traditional African music as the whole family enjoys these excellent performances throughout Africa.
- Viva a Gaia Street Band
- Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe
- Kora Tinga Tinga
- Harambe Village Acrobats
Winged Encounters: The Kingdom Takes Flight: Watch the free-flying macaw’s of Animal Kingdom fly around the Tree of Life in Discovery Island.
Rafikis Planet Watch: Hop on the Wildlife Express train from Harambe station to head over to Rafikis planet watch. Here, your toddler (with supervision) can head over to the affection section to pet farm animals at this petting zoo. If your toddler is train-obsessed or loves animals, this is a must do.
The Boneyard: Located in DinoLand U.S.A., the Boneyard is an outdoor play yard that features slides, climbs, tunnels, and sand to dig up dinosaur bones. Young toddlers can enjoy the sandy areas with parents under shade and fans on hot days.
Animal Exhibits: Explore all of the uniquely themed animal exhibits throughout the park.
- Discovery Island Trails: Located in Discovery Island
- The Oasis Exhibits: Located in the Oasis near the entrance of the park
- Maharajah Jungle Trek: Located in Asia
- Gorilla Falls: Located in Africa
Rides
Are you wondering which rides to reserve your genie + selections for? Well, here you go! Animal Kingdom does have thrilling ride options, but here are my recommendations for little ones. All of these rides have no height requirements and allow for lap sitting.
Kilimanjaro Safaris: Ride in a safari across an African savannah and encounter different animals along the way. My toddler loves this ride because it is relaxing, different every time, and he can see many of the animas he loves. I recommend doing this ride first thing in the morning or at sunset, as that’s usually the animals feeding times and you’re more likely to see more.
Na’vi River Journey: This slow-moving dark ride in Pandora-The World of Avatar takes you in a boat through the scenery of Pandora. The bioluminescent rainforest is beautiful and this ride is one of a kind with an amazing animatronic.
TriceraTop Spin: Much like Dumbo in Magic Kingdom, this ride slowly spins in the sky while you control how high you go up or down. Your dino-loving toddler will get a big kick out of this and this often has a much shorter wait time than Dumbo.
Character Experiences in Animal Kingdom
Whether you’re looking for meet and greets, character dining, or seeing your favorites from a distance, Animal Kingdom offers it all. Find daily showtimes on My Disney Experience App.
Chip & Dale: Find this classic duo in DinoLand U.S.A. at the Upper Cretaceous Trail.
Donald: Find him in DinoLand U.S.A. at the Welcome Center.
Daisy: Find her in DinoLand U.S.A. at Daisy’s Design Studio.
Mickey and Minnie: Meet Mickey and Minnie at Adventurers Outpost in Discovery Island. The pair will be dressed in their expedition outfits.
Kevin: Find him wondering through DinoLand U.S.A.
Moana: Find her at Character Landing near the Tree of Life
Character Floats and River Cruises: Wave as some of your favorite character float by on the Discovery River. This is perfect for those kids who are nervous around the characters.
- Adventure Flotilla- Up: Featuring Russel and Dug
- Adventure Flotilla: Featuring Scrooge McDuck and Launchpad McQuack
- Dino-Bash Flotilla: Featuring Goofy and Pluto
- Discovery River Cruise- Pocahontas: Featuring characters from the Pocahontas movie
- Discovery River Cruise- The Lion King: Featuring characters from The Lion King
Character Dining: Meet Donald, Mickey, Goofy, and Daisy for a buffet-style meal at Tusker House Restaurant in Africa. Click Here for more information about this character dining experience.
There is plenty for your toddler to enjoy while visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. When making this list, I included things I feel the majority of toddlers would enjoy. Other things to consider for more adventurous toddlers, or those approaching preschooler age, are It’s Tough to be a Bug or the Wilderness Explorers.
