With development tools digging in Dinoland and a number of sights closed, many Walt Disney World trip planners are questioning whether or not they need to skip Animal Kingdom on their journeys between now and someday in 2027 when Tropical Americas opens. This put up covers what’s occurring, when tasks might be accomplished, and the way they’ll affect your expertise on upcoming visits.
In relation to radical Walt Disney World overhauls, there are two present ‘templates’ primarily based upon current tasks: EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Each of those park reimaginings considerably impacted visitors, albeit in markedly other ways. Animal Kingdom’s overhaul will likewise little doubt weigh on the park expertise for the subsequent couple of years. The query thus turns into, do you have to skip Animal Kingdom?
Most followers will doubtless be aware of the Big EPCOT Grime Pit, which concerned a number of years of so-called progress partitions to interchange a fountain, flex constructing, and dated design parts with some planters and timber, flex constructing, and barely much less dated design parts. The associated fee in visitor burden, time or {dollars} was not “price it” for the tip outcome–which is generally a lateral change with barely improved placemaking. However we’re not right here to relitigate the half-baked EPCOT overhaul.
Then there was the Disney’s Hollywood Studios growth. Throughout that, a number of sights closed to ensure that development to happen, together with flagship and opening day experiences that outlined the park, together with different less-popular choices. There have been fewer sights to expertise, however the development at DHS didn’t considerably affect the ambiance or visitor expertise.
Most development occurred inside buildings or out of the best way, with partitions up at dead-ends however not in essential thoroughfares or locations creating visible blight. You would see the development as you walked round Disney’s Hollywood Studios, however for probably the most half, it was not really detrimental to the visitor expertise. Even the attraction capability that was misplaced was kind of offset by fewer visitors voluntarily visiting the park throughout development.
The top outcome was effectively price it at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as we bought Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and a few improved placemaking. We did lose a few OG sights that old-timers (like me!) beloved, and I nonetheless lament the dearth of the Osborne Household Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Christmas. However on stability, I acknowledge that the overhaul was objectively a serious web optimistic for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
For the file, we by no means suggested visitors keep away from DHS in the course of the development. We introduced it to readers’ consideration in a “do with this info what you’ll” method, however nonetheless beneficial the park. Against this, we beforehand had a full article devoted as to whether it’s best to skip EPCOT. The reply was all the time “it relies upon,” however earlier iterations prompt that possibly sure was the right reply for some visitors.
This brings us to the Animal Kingdom development mission, which is like Disney’s Hollywood Studios in visitor affect however has (clearly) resulted in an identical ‘do you have to skip?’ article. And since I don’t have a behavior of writing posts for zero cause in any way, you may surmise that (spoiler alert) the reply is not going to be “undoubtedly not–everybody ought to do DAK.”
This text ending in something however a full-throated, unequivocal endorsement of Disney’s Animal Kingdom goes to anger some Walt Disney World followers. Now that old fashioned EPCOT Heart has been gone for a few a long time, these purists (my individuals!) have been changed by DAK diehards.
The important thing distinction between the Animal Kingdom and EPCOT lovers is easy: cynicism. Or relatively, a scarcity thereof. The latter are crucial of just about each change, whereas the Animal Kingdom advocates may very well be dubbed DAK defenders. And understandably so, because the park has been the topic of scorn, unfair ridicule and criticism. In a phrase, Animal Kingdom is misunderstood.
If this describes you, that’s superb–improbable, even! However you also needs to perceive that the audience of this put up isn’t individuals who already love Animal Kingdom. If it’s your favourite park at Walt Disney World, you shouldn’t skip Animal Kingdom. For those who assume it’s an exemplar of themed design, you shouldn’t skip Animal Kingdom. Not at this time and never when development is as its crescendo in 2026. However you already knew that.
For everybody else, Animal Kingdom already was extremely skippable even earlier than the development started.
In accordance with Themed Leisure Affiliation knowledge (the gold customary for measuring annual attendance), Animal Kingdom is the worst performing park at Walt Disney World. Over the last yr for which knowledge is offered, it was the one park at Walt Disney World not within the prime 10 for worldwide theme park attendance.
Animal Kingdom ranked #16, with 8.8 million annual guests. It’s the one Walt Disney World park that didn’t hit the ten million mark, and it had lower than half the annual guests of Magic Kingdom, the #1 theme park on this planet. So even pre-construction, Animal Kingdom was the most-skipped park at Walt Disney World, with half of visitors who opted to go to the flagship fortress park opting to skip DAK.
Our expectation is that this hole will proceed to develop. Animal Kingdom is the park most faraway from its final improvement cycle, and it has misplaced greater than it has gained since March 2020. It is going to be damage by its personal lack of choices and development, and is the park far and away almost certainly to lose attendance to Epic Universe at Common. The following few years might be robust for DAK, which very effectively may find yourself within the 7 million vary earlier than it begins rebounding with Tropical Americas in 2027-2028.
That is exactly why we’ve been advocating for additions at Animal Kingdom for the final a number of years and a larger sense of urgency from Walt Disney World management to make DAK a compelling vacation spot. The writing has been on the wall since March 2021 when Epic Universe resumed development. At that time, Disney ought to have began working to create new nighttime leisure and develop sights that might open by this yr, not 2027. That they didn’t is borderline dereliction of responsibility.
Level being, Walt Disney World visitors are already voting with their wallets and ft and skipping Animal Kingdom. For those who merely need the consensus reply and never my opinion, it’s sure, Animal Kingdom is skippable–and more and more so. However you’ve learn this far, so hopefully you’re after commentary, and never simply statistics.
I’ve had conflicted emotions about Animal Kingdom because the park opened. My household went opening yr, and it was our least favourite park at Walt Disney World. When Sarah and I returned throughout school, Animal Kingdom had improved, however it was nonetheless the park we visited least usually within the aughts.
Sooner or later, Animal Kingdom began to “click on” for us. As we visited Walt Disney World extra usually, we had time to decelerate and take the parks at a extra leisurely tempo. We turned extra serious about Imagineering, design and particulars, which is the place Animal Kingdom really shines. That led to the put up, “I Was Improper About Disney’s Animal Kingdom” again in 2013 (since up to date to account for Pandora – World of Avatar).
A powerful argument could be made that Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the most effective theme park in Florida. While you emphasize the theme in theme park, we’d rank it #1 at Walt Disney World. Animal Kingdom is an exemplar of themed design, and arguably Disney’s most “pure” park on the subject of coherent storytelling. That is true even after the Avatar addition, which was weaved into the park’s overarching concepts masterfully.
The issue, because it’s ever been, is a scarcity of rides. Walt Disney World launched into an notorious Nahtazu advertising initiative following the debut of Animal Kingdom. For these unfamiliar with that, it was pronounced “not a zoo” and I’m positive you may surmise from that what it entailed.
Company had been skipping Animal Kingdom as a result of they considered it as not too dissimilar from their native zoos–why pay Disney’s costs and spend restricted trip time to expertise one thing they might at residence? The factor is, the advert marketing campaign was tacit admission of the difficulty. Company had been proper, there have been too few rides and never sufficient daylight between Animal Kingdom and a very nice zoo.
This isn’t to say visitors had been fully proper. Once more, Animal Kingdom is miles above the common zoo, or perhaps a standout one just like the San Diego Safari Park. Nonetheless, the trip depend was approach too low and the park leaned too closely on animal reveals and walk-through trails. These had been (and are) nice enhancements, however they had been (and are) referred to as on to hold an excessive amount of of the load. We’ve warned visitors to house these experiences out to keep away from “animal fatigue,” and this is without doubt one of the the reason why there’s an early afternoon exodus from Animal Kingdom.
Animal Kingdom’s lack of rides drawback has by no means been totally addressed. Sights have been added through the years, with Expedition Everest and Pandora – World of Avatar being enormous belongings, among the many finest rides in all of Walt Disney World.
Even after these additions, Animal Kingdom has by far the lightest trip roster of any park at Walt Disney World. And that has solely gotten worse in 2025, with the closure of two conventional theme park type sights. The park is now down to six rides that put up wait occasions. Develop that to incorporate main exhibits and the attraction depend is 9 or 10.
This massively understates the totality of the visitor expertise at Animal Kingdom, because it doesn’t depend a number of main animal reveals (like Maharajah Jungle Trek or Gorilla Falls) that might be among the many highlights of a go to. It additionally doesn’t think about characters, atmospheric leisure, or quite a few different issues that Animal Kingdom does so, so effectively.
We are able to spend a full day at Animal Kingdom and have an immensely satisfying and well-rounded expertise on par with any of the parks at Walt Disney World. You’ll be able to too, as long as you go in with the correct expectations, know the place to search for the park’s hidden gems, and tempo your self in order to keep away from “animal fatigue.”
Personally, I don’t assume the the attraction closures to this point in 2025–a spinner and a 3D present–transfer the needle on that. When it goes extinct in early 2026, DINOSAUR would be the a lot greater blow. However by the point DINOSAUR closes, Zootopia: Higher Zoogether will open. That’s undoubtedly not a 1:1 substitute, however the brand new 3D present will assist. And hopefully there’s extra leisure on faucet for 2026 to assist ease the rising pains.
In relation to development affect when it comes to visible blight or navigational points, there actually isn’t a lot of 1. Dino-Rama is the realm that’s walled off, and the cheesy roadside carnival contributed simply as a lot visible blight when it was open, if no more. The partitions are much less of an eyesore, should you ask me.
Even so, we might proceed recommending Animal Kingdom to anybody with 4 or extra days at Walt Disney World that enjoys wildlife and desires an immersive theme park expertise that entails exploration and savoring the little issues, and never simply bouncing from trip to trip.
The truth that most visitors deal with Animal Kingdom like a half-day park and attendance will additional lower by means of 2027 may very well be considered as an asset to savvy visitors, particularly these with Park Hopper tickets. Go very first thing within the morning or in late afternoon, and also you’ll be capable to take pleasure in low to reasonable crowd ranges ~300 days of the yr. No want for Lightning Lanes!
You too can simply spend a full day at DAK. In reality, the argument may very well be made that Animal Kingdom is quite a bit like World Showcase–gentle on rides however heavy on surroundings and ambiance–and visitors hardly ever complain about World Showcase. Most everybody views that space of EPCOT as an asset, and enjoys making their approach world wide. Animal Kingdom is similar to that, however grittier and fewer romanticized…plus animals!
Paradoxically sufficient, there are literally a number of promoting factors of visiting Animal Kingdom quickly…all of that are animals!
The plain all-star of Animal Kingdom proper now could be Bakso, the park’s lovable Sumatran tiger cub. Watch in awe because the cub and his mom, Sohni, playfully pounce and prowl collectively of their lush habitat full of cascading waterfalls, timber, hills and logs. Maharajah Jungle Trek gives ample alternatives for the massive cats to conduct naturally–speaking, resting, hiding, and exploring. Above all else, the duo likes to play, and their conduct is heartwarming and acquainted to any guardian.
Extra just lately, Kilimanjaro Safaris welcomed a towering addition to its household as Mara, the park’s beloved Masai giraffe, gave delivery to a good looking child boy named Tucker! Mara, who joined the savanna in 2015, has proudly expanded her household 3 times now! It looks as if simply yesterday Walt Disney World was celebrating the delivery of her first calf, Jabari, in 2019. (Actually, that is the primary giraffe calf delivery at Walt Disney World since 2021.) As with Bakso the tiger cub, Tucker can also be lovable.
Rounding out the trio is a trio: Butternut, Biscuit, and Potato (sure, Potato) are the most recent Asian small-clawed otter infants to debut at Animal Kingdom! These otters and their dad and mom, Kevin and Mae, are actually showing within the Otter Grotto habitat on the Discovery Island Trails. Personally, I can not wait to see Potato the Otter. (Severely, don’t miss Otter Grotto–it’s one other of the improbable animal trails that’s usually neglected!)
To not disparage lovable animals, however none of that is actually that notable. It’s heartwarming, however not a marketable draw for vacationers. Animals are born repeatedly at Animal Kingdom.
In relation to different additions that’ll draw visitors, Animal Kingdom is the one park with nothing deliberate in Summer season 2025. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is getting the Villains and Little Mermaid stage exhibits. Magic Kingdom is getting Disney Starlight Night time Parade. EPCOT is getting Check Monitor 3.0, GEO-82 Lounge Inside Spaceship Earth, and Goofy’s Takeover of CommuniCore Corridor.
The park that wants probably the most is getting the least. It’s nonetheless completely baffling that Animal Kingdom isn’t getting a drone present, because the park badly wants to provide visitors a cause to remain late. The entire cause why I waited till after Walt Disney World introduced its summer time slate is as a result of I hoped DAK drone present was the ace up its sleeve–{that a} blockbuster nighttime spectacular would put this complete dialog to relaxation.
Whereas we very a lot would love for everybody to understand Animal Kingdom as a lot as we do, we’re additionally realists. There’s a cause why the the park has decrease attendance, a day exodus, and offers visitors “animal fatigue.” It’s additionally true that you could routinely end each trip in Animal Kingdom earlier than 11 am! There’s a divergence between how hardcore followers and informal visitors every understand Animal Kingdom, and that is price discussing, relatively than simply pretending the overwhelming majority of informal guests are “doing it fallacious.”
Then there’s the elephant within the room: Epic Universe. After having had the possibility to expertise this brand-new theme park, I’m now of the assumption that ride-oriented visitors with restricted trip time eager to “make room” for Common Orlando’s new theme park may need to lower Animal Kingdom from the plans. (See We’re Reside Inside Epic Universe for Paid Previews: Photographs & Video for extra–plus tons extra protection to return.)
On opening day, Epic Universe can have 11 rides and two main exhibits, plus atmospheric leisure, play areas, and extra. For these conserving rating at residence, that is extra rides than Animal Kingdom. When you broaden that to all sights and compelling choices (minus animal reveals), the rosters are arguably comparable. I’m however satisfied that the common visitor will want the attraction slate at Epic Universe to that of Animal Kingdom.
Principally, the kind of one that felt the necessity to learn this put up (and never hate learn, however for planning functions) will most likely be higher suited by Epic Universe. Each parks have excessive factors and are extremely compelling in their very own methods, however there are extra main rides which can be must-dos at Epic Universe. And whereas I acknowledge recency bias may very well be coloring my opinion, I’d actually relatively spend time at Epic Universe within the subsequent couple of years over Animal Kingdom. It has a number of heavy-hitters with limitless re-rideability.
Paradoxically sufficient, that is the outcome-determinative issue. Not something about Animal Kingdom itself. From our perspective, the development partitions aren’t notably impactful, and the sights which have closed additionally are usually not the straw that breaks the camel’s again. The difference-maker isn’t something occurring at Animal Kingdom. In a vacuum, the park is kind of as worthwhile of a draw at this time because it was throughout any of the previous few years.
It’s really an externality that gave rise to this put up and likewise makes the reply “sure” for some visitors. That externality is Epic Universe, a brand new theme park that competes for the restricted trip {dollars} and time of vacationers. And whereas this kind of comparability has lengthy been attainable with Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey–which most likely at the least partially explains why DAK has decrease attendance than the opposite Walt Disney World parks–it’s way more pronounced now with Epic Universe.
Once more, it didn’t must be this manner. Walt Disney World may have launched a brand new nighttime spectacular that includes drones, added leisure, enjoyable trip overlays or seasonal occasions–something to assist buoy Animal Kingdom and make it extra aggressive for the subsequent couple of years. That wouldn’t have made the reply to this put up an across-the-board “no,” however it might’ve made “no” a extra frequent reply. Staying on-site and visiting all 4 of the Walt Disney World theme parks is the cheaper and simpler possibility–the trail of least resistance. Puncturing the Disney Bubble is extra of a trouble that will increase prices and logistics–however it’s an possibility that’s worthy of consideration for a lot of visitors in 2025 by means of 2027 for the sake of seeing Epic Universe.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study lodges on our Walt Disney World Motels Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot you must know!
Your Ideas
Will you be visiting Animal Kingdom within the subsequent couple of years? For those who’re skipping DAK, are you doing so to keep away from development and closed sights, and ready till new rides and Tropical Americas opens? Or are you taking your restricted trip time and reallocating the day from DAK to Epic Universe? Some other suggestions on upcoming modifications and the way they’ll affect the expertise? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
With development tools digging in Dinoland and a number of sights closed, many Walt Disney World trip planners are questioning whether or not they need to skip Animal Kingdom on their journeys between now and someday in 2027 when Tropical Americas opens. This put up covers what’s occurring, when tasks might be accomplished, and the way they’ll affect your expertise on upcoming visits.
In relation to radical Walt Disney World overhauls, there are two present ‘templates’ primarily based upon current tasks: EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Each of those park reimaginings considerably impacted visitors, albeit in markedly other ways. Animal Kingdom’s overhaul will likewise little doubt weigh on the park expertise for the subsequent couple of years. The query thus turns into, do you have to skip Animal Kingdom?
Most followers will doubtless be aware of the Big EPCOT Grime Pit, which concerned a number of years of so-called progress partitions to interchange a fountain, flex constructing, and dated design parts with some planters and timber, flex constructing, and barely much less dated design parts. The associated fee in visitor burden, time or {dollars} was not “price it” for the tip outcome–which is generally a lateral change with barely improved placemaking. However we’re not right here to relitigate the half-baked EPCOT overhaul.
Then there was the Disney’s Hollywood Studios growth. Throughout that, a number of sights closed to ensure that development to happen, together with flagship and opening day experiences that outlined the park, together with different less-popular choices. There have been fewer sights to expertise, however the development at DHS didn’t considerably affect the ambiance or visitor expertise.
Most development occurred inside buildings or out of the best way, with partitions up at dead-ends however not in essential thoroughfares or locations creating visible blight. You would see the development as you walked round Disney’s Hollywood Studios, however for probably the most half, it was not really detrimental to the visitor expertise. Even the attraction capability that was misplaced was kind of offset by fewer visitors voluntarily visiting the park throughout development.
The top outcome was effectively price it at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as we bought Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and a few improved placemaking. We did lose a few OG sights that old-timers (like me!) beloved, and I nonetheless lament the dearth of the Osborne Household Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Christmas. However on stability, I acknowledge that the overhaul was objectively a serious web optimistic for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
For the file, we by no means suggested visitors keep away from DHS in the course of the development. We introduced it to readers’ consideration in a “do with this info what you’ll” method, however nonetheless beneficial the park. Against this, we beforehand had a full article devoted as to whether it’s best to skip EPCOT. The reply was all the time “it relies upon,” however earlier iterations prompt that possibly sure was the right reply for some visitors.
This brings us to the Animal Kingdom development mission, which is like Disney’s Hollywood Studios in visitor affect however has (clearly) resulted in an identical ‘do you have to skip?’ article. And since I don’t have a behavior of writing posts for zero cause in any way, you may surmise that (spoiler alert) the reply is not going to be “undoubtedly not–everybody ought to do DAK.”
This text ending in something however a full-throated, unequivocal endorsement of Disney’s Animal Kingdom goes to anger some Walt Disney World followers. Now that old fashioned EPCOT Heart has been gone for a few a long time, these purists (my individuals!) have been changed by DAK diehards.
The important thing distinction between the Animal Kingdom and EPCOT lovers is easy: cynicism. Or relatively, a scarcity thereof. The latter are crucial of just about each change, whereas the Animal Kingdom advocates may very well be dubbed DAK defenders. And understandably so, because the park has been the topic of scorn, unfair ridicule and criticism. In a phrase, Animal Kingdom is misunderstood.
If this describes you, that’s superb–improbable, even! However you also needs to perceive that the audience of this put up isn’t individuals who already love Animal Kingdom. If it’s your favourite park at Walt Disney World, you shouldn’t skip Animal Kingdom. For those who assume it’s an exemplar of themed design, you shouldn’t skip Animal Kingdom. Not at this time and never when development is as its crescendo in 2026. However you already knew that.
For everybody else, Animal Kingdom already was extremely skippable even earlier than the development started.
In accordance with Themed Leisure Affiliation knowledge (the gold customary for measuring annual attendance), Animal Kingdom is the worst performing park at Walt Disney World. Over the last yr for which knowledge is offered, it was the one park at Walt Disney World not within the prime 10 for worldwide theme park attendance.
Animal Kingdom ranked #16, with 8.8 million annual guests. It’s the one Walt Disney World park that didn’t hit the ten million mark, and it had lower than half the annual guests of Magic Kingdom, the #1 theme park on this planet. So even pre-construction, Animal Kingdom was the most-skipped park at Walt Disney World, with half of visitors who opted to go to the flagship fortress park opting to skip DAK.
Our expectation is that this hole will proceed to develop. Animal Kingdom is the park most faraway from its final improvement cycle, and it has misplaced greater than it has gained since March 2020. It is going to be damage by its personal lack of choices and development, and is the park far and away almost certainly to lose attendance to Epic Universe at Common. The following few years might be robust for DAK, which very effectively may find yourself within the 7 million vary earlier than it begins rebounding with Tropical Americas in 2027-2028.
That is exactly why we’ve been advocating for additions at Animal Kingdom for the final a number of years and a larger sense of urgency from Walt Disney World management to make DAK a compelling vacation spot. The writing has been on the wall since March 2021 when Epic Universe resumed development. At that time, Disney ought to have began working to create new nighttime leisure and develop sights that might open by this yr, not 2027. That they didn’t is borderline dereliction of responsibility.
Level being, Walt Disney World visitors are already voting with their wallets and ft and skipping Animal Kingdom. For those who merely need the consensus reply and never my opinion, it’s sure, Animal Kingdom is skippable–and more and more so. However you’ve learn this far, so hopefully you’re after commentary, and never simply statistics.
I’ve had conflicted emotions about Animal Kingdom because the park opened. My household went opening yr, and it was our least favourite park at Walt Disney World. When Sarah and I returned throughout school, Animal Kingdom had improved, however it was nonetheless the park we visited least usually within the aughts.
Sooner or later, Animal Kingdom began to “click on” for us. As we visited Walt Disney World extra usually, we had time to decelerate and take the parks at a extra leisurely tempo. We turned extra serious about Imagineering, design and particulars, which is the place Animal Kingdom really shines. That led to the put up, “I Was Improper About Disney’s Animal Kingdom” again in 2013 (since up to date to account for Pandora – World of Avatar).
A powerful argument could be made that Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the most effective theme park in Florida. While you emphasize the theme in theme park, we’d rank it #1 at Walt Disney World. Animal Kingdom is an exemplar of themed design, and arguably Disney’s most “pure” park on the subject of coherent storytelling. That is true even after the Avatar addition, which was weaved into the park’s overarching concepts masterfully.
The issue, because it’s ever been, is a scarcity of rides. Walt Disney World launched into an notorious Nahtazu advertising initiative following the debut of Animal Kingdom. For these unfamiliar with that, it was pronounced “not a zoo” and I’m positive you may surmise from that what it entailed.
Company had been skipping Animal Kingdom as a result of they considered it as not too dissimilar from their native zoos–why pay Disney’s costs and spend restricted trip time to expertise one thing they might at residence? The factor is, the advert marketing campaign was tacit admission of the difficulty. Company had been proper, there have been too few rides and never sufficient daylight between Animal Kingdom and a very nice zoo.
This isn’t to say visitors had been fully proper. Once more, Animal Kingdom is miles above the common zoo, or perhaps a standout one just like the San Diego Safari Park. Nonetheless, the trip depend was approach too low and the park leaned too closely on animal reveals and walk-through trails. These had been (and are) nice enhancements, however they had been (and are) referred to as on to hold an excessive amount of of the load. We’ve warned visitors to house these experiences out to keep away from “animal fatigue,” and this is without doubt one of the the reason why there’s an early afternoon exodus from Animal Kingdom.
Animal Kingdom’s lack of rides drawback has by no means been totally addressed. Sights have been added through the years, with Expedition Everest and Pandora – World of Avatar being enormous belongings, among the many finest rides in all of Walt Disney World.
Even after these additions, Animal Kingdom has by far the lightest trip roster of any park at Walt Disney World. And that has solely gotten worse in 2025, with the closure of two conventional theme park type sights. The park is now down to six rides that put up wait occasions. Develop that to incorporate main exhibits and the attraction depend is 9 or 10.
This massively understates the totality of the visitor expertise at Animal Kingdom, because it doesn’t depend a number of main animal reveals (like Maharajah Jungle Trek or Gorilla Falls) that might be among the many highlights of a go to. It additionally doesn’t think about characters, atmospheric leisure, or quite a few different issues that Animal Kingdom does so, so effectively.
We are able to spend a full day at Animal Kingdom and have an immensely satisfying and well-rounded expertise on par with any of the parks at Walt Disney World. You’ll be able to too, as long as you go in with the correct expectations, know the place to search for the park’s hidden gems, and tempo your self in order to keep away from “animal fatigue.”
Personally, I don’t assume the the attraction closures to this point in 2025–a spinner and a 3D present–transfer the needle on that. When it goes extinct in early 2026, DINOSAUR would be the a lot greater blow. However by the point DINOSAUR closes, Zootopia: Higher Zoogether will open. That’s undoubtedly not a 1:1 substitute, however the brand new 3D present will assist. And hopefully there’s extra leisure on faucet for 2026 to assist ease the rising pains.
In relation to development affect when it comes to visible blight or navigational points, there actually isn’t a lot of 1. Dino-Rama is the realm that’s walled off, and the cheesy roadside carnival contributed simply as a lot visible blight when it was open, if no more. The partitions are much less of an eyesore, should you ask me.
Even so, we might proceed recommending Animal Kingdom to anybody with 4 or extra days at Walt Disney World that enjoys wildlife and desires an immersive theme park expertise that entails exploration and savoring the little issues, and never simply bouncing from trip to trip.
The truth that most visitors deal with Animal Kingdom like a half-day park and attendance will additional lower by means of 2027 may very well be considered as an asset to savvy visitors, particularly these with Park Hopper tickets. Go very first thing within the morning or in late afternoon, and also you’ll be capable to take pleasure in low to reasonable crowd ranges ~300 days of the yr. No want for Lightning Lanes!
You too can simply spend a full day at DAK. In reality, the argument may very well be made that Animal Kingdom is quite a bit like World Showcase–gentle on rides however heavy on surroundings and ambiance–and visitors hardly ever complain about World Showcase. Most everybody views that space of EPCOT as an asset, and enjoys making their approach world wide. Animal Kingdom is similar to that, however grittier and fewer romanticized…plus animals!
Paradoxically sufficient, there are literally a number of promoting factors of visiting Animal Kingdom quickly…all of that are animals!
The plain all-star of Animal Kingdom proper now could be Bakso, the park’s lovable Sumatran tiger cub. Watch in awe because the cub and his mom, Sohni, playfully pounce and prowl collectively of their lush habitat full of cascading waterfalls, timber, hills and logs. Maharajah Jungle Trek gives ample alternatives for the massive cats to conduct naturally–speaking, resting, hiding, and exploring. Above all else, the duo likes to play, and their conduct is heartwarming and acquainted to any guardian.
Extra just lately, Kilimanjaro Safaris welcomed a towering addition to its household as Mara, the park’s beloved Masai giraffe, gave delivery to a good looking child boy named Tucker! Mara, who joined the savanna in 2015, has proudly expanded her household 3 times now! It looks as if simply yesterday Walt Disney World was celebrating the delivery of her first calf, Jabari, in 2019. (Actually, that is the primary giraffe calf delivery at Walt Disney World since 2021.) As with Bakso the tiger cub, Tucker can also be lovable.
Rounding out the trio is a trio: Butternut, Biscuit, and Potato (sure, Potato) are the most recent Asian small-clawed otter infants to debut at Animal Kingdom! These otters and their dad and mom, Kevin and Mae, are actually showing within the Otter Grotto habitat on the Discovery Island Trails. Personally, I can not wait to see Potato the Otter. (Severely, don’t miss Otter Grotto–it’s one other of the improbable animal trails that’s usually neglected!)
To not disparage lovable animals, however none of that is actually that notable. It’s heartwarming, however not a marketable draw for vacationers. Animals are born repeatedly at Animal Kingdom.
In relation to different additions that’ll draw visitors, Animal Kingdom is the one park with nothing deliberate in Summer season 2025. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is getting the Villains and Little Mermaid stage exhibits. Magic Kingdom is getting Disney Starlight Night time Parade. EPCOT is getting Check Monitor 3.0, GEO-82 Lounge Inside Spaceship Earth, and Goofy’s Takeover of CommuniCore Corridor.
The park that wants probably the most is getting the least. It’s nonetheless completely baffling that Animal Kingdom isn’t getting a drone present, because the park badly wants to provide visitors a cause to remain late. The entire cause why I waited till after Walt Disney World introduced its summer time slate is as a result of I hoped DAK drone present was the ace up its sleeve–{that a} blockbuster nighttime spectacular would put this complete dialog to relaxation.
Whereas we very a lot would love for everybody to understand Animal Kingdom as a lot as we do, we’re additionally realists. There’s a cause why the the park has decrease attendance, a day exodus, and offers visitors “animal fatigue.” It’s additionally true that you could routinely end each trip in Animal Kingdom earlier than 11 am! There’s a divergence between how hardcore followers and informal visitors every understand Animal Kingdom, and that is price discussing, relatively than simply pretending the overwhelming majority of informal guests are “doing it fallacious.”
Then there’s the elephant within the room: Epic Universe. After having had the possibility to expertise this brand-new theme park, I’m now of the assumption that ride-oriented visitors with restricted trip time eager to “make room” for Common Orlando’s new theme park may need to lower Animal Kingdom from the plans. (See We’re Reside Inside Epic Universe for Paid Previews: Photographs & Video for extra–plus tons extra protection to return.)
On opening day, Epic Universe can have 11 rides and two main exhibits, plus atmospheric leisure, play areas, and extra. For these conserving rating at residence, that is extra rides than Animal Kingdom. When you broaden that to all sights and compelling choices (minus animal reveals), the rosters are arguably comparable. I’m however satisfied that the common visitor will want the attraction slate at Epic Universe to that of Animal Kingdom.
Principally, the kind of one that felt the necessity to learn this put up (and never hate learn, however for planning functions) will most likely be higher suited by Epic Universe. Each parks have excessive factors and are extremely compelling in their very own methods, however there are extra main rides which can be must-dos at Epic Universe. And whereas I acknowledge recency bias may very well be coloring my opinion, I’d actually relatively spend time at Epic Universe within the subsequent couple of years over Animal Kingdom. It has a number of heavy-hitters with limitless re-rideability.
Paradoxically sufficient, that is the outcome-determinative issue. Not something about Animal Kingdom itself. From our perspective, the development partitions aren’t notably impactful, and the sights which have closed additionally are usually not the straw that breaks the camel’s again. The difference-maker isn’t something occurring at Animal Kingdom. In a vacuum, the park is kind of as worthwhile of a draw at this time because it was throughout any of the previous few years.
It’s really an externality that gave rise to this put up and likewise makes the reply “sure” for some visitors. That externality is Epic Universe, a brand new theme park that competes for the restricted trip {dollars} and time of vacationers. And whereas this kind of comparability has lengthy been attainable with Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey–which most likely at the least partially explains why DAK has decrease attendance than the opposite Walt Disney World parks–it’s way more pronounced now with Epic Universe.
Once more, it didn’t must be this manner. Walt Disney World may have launched a brand new nighttime spectacular that includes drones, added leisure, enjoyable trip overlays or seasonal occasions–something to assist buoy Animal Kingdom and make it extra aggressive for the subsequent couple of years. That wouldn’t have made the reply to this put up an across-the-board “no,” however it might’ve made “no” a extra frequent reply. Staying on-site and visiting all 4 of the Walt Disney World theme parks is the cheaper and simpler possibility–the trail of least resistance. Puncturing the Disney Bubble is extra of a trouble that will increase prices and logistics–however it’s an possibility that’s worthy of consideration for a lot of visitors in 2025 by means of 2027 for the sake of seeing Epic Universe.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study lodges on our Walt Disney World Motels Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot you must know!
Your Ideas
Will you be visiting Animal Kingdom within the subsequent couple of years? For those who’re skipping DAK, are you doing so to keep away from development and closed sights, and ready till new rides and Tropical Americas opens? Or are you taking your restricted trip time and reallocating the day from DAK to Epic Universe? Some other suggestions on upcoming modifications and the way they’ll affect the expertise? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
With development tools digging in Dinoland and a number of sights closed, many Walt Disney World trip planners are questioning whether or not they need to skip Animal Kingdom on their journeys between now and someday in 2027 when Tropical Americas opens. This put up covers what’s occurring, when tasks might be accomplished, and the way they’ll affect your expertise on upcoming visits.
In relation to radical Walt Disney World overhauls, there are two present ‘templates’ primarily based upon current tasks: EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Each of those park reimaginings considerably impacted visitors, albeit in markedly other ways. Animal Kingdom’s overhaul will likewise little doubt weigh on the park expertise for the subsequent couple of years. The query thus turns into, do you have to skip Animal Kingdom?
Most followers will doubtless be aware of the Big EPCOT Grime Pit, which concerned a number of years of so-called progress partitions to interchange a fountain, flex constructing, and dated design parts with some planters and timber, flex constructing, and barely much less dated design parts. The associated fee in visitor burden, time or {dollars} was not “price it” for the tip outcome–which is generally a lateral change with barely improved placemaking. However we’re not right here to relitigate the half-baked EPCOT overhaul.
Then there was the Disney’s Hollywood Studios growth. Throughout that, a number of sights closed to ensure that development to happen, together with flagship and opening day experiences that outlined the park, together with different less-popular choices. There have been fewer sights to expertise, however the development at DHS didn’t considerably affect the ambiance or visitor expertise.
Most development occurred inside buildings or out of the best way, with partitions up at dead-ends however not in essential thoroughfares or locations creating visible blight. You would see the development as you walked round Disney’s Hollywood Studios, however for probably the most half, it was not really detrimental to the visitor expertise. Even the attraction capability that was misplaced was kind of offset by fewer visitors voluntarily visiting the park throughout development.
The top outcome was effectively price it at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as we bought Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and a few improved placemaking. We did lose a few OG sights that old-timers (like me!) beloved, and I nonetheless lament the dearth of the Osborne Household Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Christmas. However on stability, I acknowledge that the overhaul was objectively a serious web optimistic for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
For the file, we by no means suggested visitors keep away from DHS in the course of the development. We introduced it to readers’ consideration in a “do with this info what you’ll” method, however nonetheless beneficial the park. Against this, we beforehand had a full article devoted as to whether it’s best to skip EPCOT. The reply was all the time “it relies upon,” however earlier iterations prompt that possibly sure was the right reply for some visitors.
This brings us to the Animal Kingdom development mission, which is like Disney’s Hollywood Studios in visitor affect however has (clearly) resulted in an identical ‘do you have to skip?’ article. And since I don’t have a behavior of writing posts for zero cause in any way, you may surmise that (spoiler alert) the reply is not going to be “undoubtedly not–everybody ought to do DAK.”
This text ending in something however a full-throated, unequivocal endorsement of Disney’s Animal Kingdom goes to anger some Walt Disney World followers. Now that old fashioned EPCOT Heart has been gone for a few a long time, these purists (my individuals!) have been changed by DAK diehards.
The important thing distinction between the Animal Kingdom and EPCOT lovers is easy: cynicism. Or relatively, a scarcity thereof. The latter are crucial of just about each change, whereas the Animal Kingdom advocates may very well be dubbed DAK defenders. And understandably so, because the park has been the topic of scorn, unfair ridicule and criticism. In a phrase, Animal Kingdom is misunderstood.
If this describes you, that’s superb–improbable, even! However you also needs to perceive that the audience of this put up isn’t individuals who already love Animal Kingdom. If it’s your favourite park at Walt Disney World, you shouldn’t skip Animal Kingdom. For those who assume it’s an exemplar of themed design, you shouldn’t skip Animal Kingdom. Not at this time and never when development is as its crescendo in 2026. However you already knew that.
For everybody else, Animal Kingdom already was extremely skippable even earlier than the development started.
In accordance with Themed Leisure Affiliation knowledge (the gold customary for measuring annual attendance), Animal Kingdom is the worst performing park at Walt Disney World. Over the last yr for which knowledge is offered, it was the one park at Walt Disney World not within the prime 10 for worldwide theme park attendance.
Animal Kingdom ranked #16, with 8.8 million annual guests. It’s the one Walt Disney World park that didn’t hit the ten million mark, and it had lower than half the annual guests of Magic Kingdom, the #1 theme park on this planet. So even pre-construction, Animal Kingdom was the most-skipped park at Walt Disney World, with half of visitors who opted to go to the flagship fortress park opting to skip DAK.
Our expectation is that this hole will proceed to develop. Animal Kingdom is the park most faraway from its final improvement cycle, and it has misplaced greater than it has gained since March 2020. It is going to be damage by its personal lack of choices and development, and is the park far and away almost certainly to lose attendance to Epic Universe at Common. The following few years might be robust for DAK, which very effectively may find yourself within the 7 million vary earlier than it begins rebounding with Tropical Americas in 2027-2028.
That is exactly why we’ve been advocating for additions at Animal Kingdom for the final a number of years and a larger sense of urgency from Walt Disney World management to make DAK a compelling vacation spot. The writing has been on the wall since March 2021 when Epic Universe resumed development. At that time, Disney ought to have began working to create new nighttime leisure and develop sights that might open by this yr, not 2027. That they didn’t is borderline dereliction of responsibility.
Level being, Walt Disney World visitors are already voting with their wallets and ft and skipping Animal Kingdom. For those who merely need the consensus reply and never my opinion, it’s sure, Animal Kingdom is skippable–and more and more so. However you’ve learn this far, so hopefully you’re after commentary, and never simply statistics.
I’ve had conflicted emotions about Animal Kingdom because the park opened. My household went opening yr, and it was our least favourite park at Walt Disney World. When Sarah and I returned throughout school, Animal Kingdom had improved, however it was nonetheless the park we visited least usually within the aughts.
Sooner or later, Animal Kingdom began to “click on” for us. As we visited Walt Disney World extra usually, we had time to decelerate and take the parks at a extra leisurely tempo. We turned extra serious about Imagineering, design and particulars, which is the place Animal Kingdom really shines. That led to the put up, “I Was Improper About Disney’s Animal Kingdom” again in 2013 (since up to date to account for Pandora – World of Avatar).
A powerful argument could be made that Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the most effective theme park in Florida. While you emphasize the theme in theme park, we’d rank it #1 at Walt Disney World. Animal Kingdom is an exemplar of themed design, and arguably Disney’s most “pure” park on the subject of coherent storytelling. That is true even after the Avatar addition, which was weaved into the park’s overarching concepts masterfully.
The issue, because it’s ever been, is a scarcity of rides. Walt Disney World launched into an notorious Nahtazu advertising initiative following the debut of Animal Kingdom. For these unfamiliar with that, it was pronounced “not a zoo” and I’m positive you may surmise from that what it entailed.
Company had been skipping Animal Kingdom as a result of they considered it as not too dissimilar from their native zoos–why pay Disney’s costs and spend restricted trip time to expertise one thing they might at residence? The factor is, the advert marketing campaign was tacit admission of the difficulty. Company had been proper, there have been too few rides and never sufficient daylight between Animal Kingdom and a very nice zoo.
This isn’t to say visitors had been fully proper. Once more, Animal Kingdom is miles above the common zoo, or perhaps a standout one just like the San Diego Safari Park. Nonetheless, the trip depend was approach too low and the park leaned too closely on animal reveals and walk-through trails. These had been (and are) nice enhancements, however they had been (and are) referred to as on to hold an excessive amount of of the load. We’ve warned visitors to house these experiences out to keep away from “animal fatigue,” and this is without doubt one of the the reason why there’s an early afternoon exodus from Animal Kingdom.
Animal Kingdom’s lack of rides drawback has by no means been totally addressed. Sights have been added through the years, with Expedition Everest and Pandora – World of Avatar being enormous belongings, among the many finest rides in all of Walt Disney World.
Even after these additions, Animal Kingdom has by far the lightest trip roster of any park at Walt Disney World. And that has solely gotten worse in 2025, with the closure of two conventional theme park type sights. The park is now down to six rides that put up wait occasions. Develop that to incorporate main exhibits and the attraction depend is 9 or 10.
This massively understates the totality of the visitor expertise at Animal Kingdom, because it doesn’t depend a number of main animal reveals (like Maharajah Jungle Trek or Gorilla Falls) that might be among the many highlights of a go to. It additionally doesn’t think about characters, atmospheric leisure, or quite a few different issues that Animal Kingdom does so, so effectively.
We are able to spend a full day at Animal Kingdom and have an immensely satisfying and well-rounded expertise on par with any of the parks at Walt Disney World. You’ll be able to too, as long as you go in with the correct expectations, know the place to search for the park’s hidden gems, and tempo your self in order to keep away from “animal fatigue.”
Personally, I don’t assume the the attraction closures to this point in 2025–a spinner and a 3D present–transfer the needle on that. When it goes extinct in early 2026, DINOSAUR would be the a lot greater blow. However by the point DINOSAUR closes, Zootopia: Higher Zoogether will open. That’s undoubtedly not a 1:1 substitute, however the brand new 3D present will assist. And hopefully there’s extra leisure on faucet for 2026 to assist ease the rising pains.
In relation to development affect when it comes to visible blight or navigational points, there actually isn’t a lot of 1. Dino-Rama is the realm that’s walled off, and the cheesy roadside carnival contributed simply as a lot visible blight when it was open, if no more. The partitions are much less of an eyesore, should you ask me.
Even so, we might proceed recommending Animal Kingdom to anybody with 4 or extra days at Walt Disney World that enjoys wildlife and desires an immersive theme park expertise that entails exploration and savoring the little issues, and never simply bouncing from trip to trip.
The truth that most visitors deal with Animal Kingdom like a half-day park and attendance will additional lower by means of 2027 may very well be considered as an asset to savvy visitors, particularly these with Park Hopper tickets. Go very first thing within the morning or in late afternoon, and also you’ll be capable to take pleasure in low to reasonable crowd ranges ~300 days of the yr. No want for Lightning Lanes!
You too can simply spend a full day at DAK. In reality, the argument may very well be made that Animal Kingdom is quite a bit like World Showcase–gentle on rides however heavy on surroundings and ambiance–and visitors hardly ever complain about World Showcase. Most everybody views that space of EPCOT as an asset, and enjoys making their approach world wide. Animal Kingdom is similar to that, however grittier and fewer romanticized…plus animals!
Paradoxically sufficient, there are literally a number of promoting factors of visiting Animal Kingdom quickly…all of that are animals!
The plain all-star of Animal Kingdom proper now could be Bakso, the park’s lovable Sumatran tiger cub. Watch in awe because the cub and his mom, Sohni, playfully pounce and prowl collectively of their lush habitat full of cascading waterfalls, timber, hills and logs. Maharajah Jungle Trek gives ample alternatives for the massive cats to conduct naturally–speaking, resting, hiding, and exploring. Above all else, the duo likes to play, and their conduct is heartwarming and acquainted to any guardian.
Extra just lately, Kilimanjaro Safaris welcomed a towering addition to its household as Mara, the park’s beloved Masai giraffe, gave delivery to a good looking child boy named Tucker! Mara, who joined the savanna in 2015, has proudly expanded her household 3 times now! It looks as if simply yesterday Walt Disney World was celebrating the delivery of her first calf, Jabari, in 2019. (Actually, that is the primary giraffe calf delivery at Walt Disney World since 2021.) As with Bakso the tiger cub, Tucker can also be lovable.
Rounding out the trio is a trio: Butternut, Biscuit, and Potato (sure, Potato) are the most recent Asian small-clawed otter infants to debut at Animal Kingdom! These otters and their dad and mom, Kevin and Mae, are actually showing within the Otter Grotto habitat on the Discovery Island Trails. Personally, I can not wait to see Potato the Otter. (Severely, don’t miss Otter Grotto–it’s one other of the improbable animal trails that’s usually neglected!)
To not disparage lovable animals, however none of that is actually that notable. It’s heartwarming, however not a marketable draw for vacationers. Animals are born repeatedly at Animal Kingdom.
In relation to different additions that’ll draw visitors, Animal Kingdom is the one park with nothing deliberate in Summer season 2025. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is getting the Villains and Little Mermaid stage exhibits. Magic Kingdom is getting Disney Starlight Night time Parade. EPCOT is getting Check Monitor 3.0, GEO-82 Lounge Inside Spaceship Earth, and Goofy’s Takeover of CommuniCore Corridor.
The park that wants probably the most is getting the least. It’s nonetheless completely baffling that Animal Kingdom isn’t getting a drone present, because the park badly wants to provide visitors a cause to remain late. The entire cause why I waited till after Walt Disney World introduced its summer time slate is as a result of I hoped DAK drone present was the ace up its sleeve–{that a} blockbuster nighttime spectacular would put this complete dialog to relaxation.
Whereas we very a lot would love for everybody to understand Animal Kingdom as a lot as we do, we’re additionally realists. There’s a cause why the the park has decrease attendance, a day exodus, and offers visitors “animal fatigue.” It’s additionally true that you could routinely end each trip in Animal Kingdom earlier than 11 am! There’s a divergence between how hardcore followers and informal visitors every understand Animal Kingdom, and that is price discussing, relatively than simply pretending the overwhelming majority of informal guests are “doing it fallacious.”
Then there’s the elephant within the room: Epic Universe. After having had the possibility to expertise this brand-new theme park, I’m now of the assumption that ride-oriented visitors with restricted trip time eager to “make room” for Common Orlando’s new theme park may need to lower Animal Kingdom from the plans. (See We’re Reside Inside Epic Universe for Paid Previews: Photographs & Video for extra–plus tons extra protection to return.)
On opening day, Epic Universe can have 11 rides and two main exhibits, plus atmospheric leisure, play areas, and extra. For these conserving rating at residence, that is extra rides than Animal Kingdom. When you broaden that to all sights and compelling choices (minus animal reveals), the rosters are arguably comparable. I’m however satisfied that the common visitor will want the attraction slate at Epic Universe to that of Animal Kingdom.
Principally, the kind of one that felt the necessity to learn this put up (and never hate learn, however for planning functions) will most likely be higher suited by Epic Universe. Each parks have excessive factors and are extremely compelling in their very own methods, however there are extra main rides which can be must-dos at Epic Universe. And whereas I acknowledge recency bias may very well be coloring my opinion, I’d actually relatively spend time at Epic Universe within the subsequent couple of years over Animal Kingdom. It has a number of heavy-hitters with limitless re-rideability.
Paradoxically sufficient, that is the outcome-determinative issue. Not something about Animal Kingdom itself. From our perspective, the development partitions aren’t notably impactful, and the sights which have closed additionally are usually not the straw that breaks the camel’s again. The difference-maker isn’t something occurring at Animal Kingdom. In a vacuum, the park is kind of as worthwhile of a draw at this time because it was throughout any of the previous few years.
It’s really an externality that gave rise to this put up and likewise makes the reply “sure” for some visitors. That externality is Epic Universe, a brand new theme park that competes for the restricted trip {dollars} and time of vacationers. And whereas this kind of comparability has lengthy been attainable with Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey–which most likely at the least partially explains why DAK has decrease attendance than the opposite Walt Disney World parks–it’s way more pronounced now with Epic Universe.
Once more, it didn’t must be this manner. Walt Disney World may have launched a brand new nighttime spectacular that includes drones, added leisure, enjoyable trip overlays or seasonal occasions–something to assist buoy Animal Kingdom and make it extra aggressive for the subsequent couple of years. That wouldn’t have made the reply to this put up an across-the-board “no,” however it might’ve made “no” a extra frequent reply. Staying on-site and visiting all 4 of the Walt Disney World theme parks is the cheaper and simpler possibility–the trail of least resistance. Puncturing the Disney Bubble is extra of a trouble that will increase prices and logistics–however it’s an possibility that’s worthy of consideration for a lot of visitors in 2025 by means of 2027 for the sake of seeing Epic Universe.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study lodges on our Walt Disney World Motels Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot you must know!
Your Ideas
Will you be visiting Animal Kingdom within the subsequent couple of years? For those who’re skipping DAK, are you doing so to keep away from development and closed sights, and ready till new rides and Tropical Americas opens? Or are you taking your restricted trip time and reallocating the day from DAK to Epic Universe? Some other suggestions on upcoming modifications and the way they’ll affect the expertise? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
With development tools digging in Dinoland and a number of sights closed, many Walt Disney World trip planners are questioning whether or not they need to skip Animal Kingdom on their journeys between now and someday in 2027 when Tropical Americas opens. This put up covers what’s occurring, when tasks might be accomplished, and the way they’ll affect your expertise on upcoming visits.
In relation to radical Walt Disney World overhauls, there are two present ‘templates’ primarily based upon current tasks: EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Each of those park reimaginings considerably impacted visitors, albeit in markedly other ways. Animal Kingdom’s overhaul will likewise little doubt weigh on the park expertise for the subsequent couple of years. The query thus turns into, do you have to skip Animal Kingdom?
Most followers will doubtless be aware of the Big EPCOT Grime Pit, which concerned a number of years of so-called progress partitions to interchange a fountain, flex constructing, and dated design parts with some planters and timber, flex constructing, and barely much less dated design parts. The associated fee in visitor burden, time or {dollars} was not “price it” for the tip outcome–which is generally a lateral change with barely improved placemaking. However we’re not right here to relitigate the half-baked EPCOT overhaul.
Then there was the Disney’s Hollywood Studios growth. Throughout that, a number of sights closed to ensure that development to happen, together with flagship and opening day experiences that outlined the park, together with different less-popular choices. There have been fewer sights to expertise, however the development at DHS didn’t considerably affect the ambiance or visitor expertise.
Most development occurred inside buildings or out of the best way, with partitions up at dead-ends however not in essential thoroughfares or locations creating visible blight. You would see the development as you walked round Disney’s Hollywood Studios, however for probably the most half, it was not really detrimental to the visitor expertise. Even the attraction capability that was misplaced was kind of offset by fewer visitors voluntarily visiting the park throughout development.
The top outcome was effectively price it at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as we bought Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and a few improved placemaking. We did lose a few OG sights that old-timers (like me!) beloved, and I nonetheless lament the dearth of the Osborne Household Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Christmas. However on stability, I acknowledge that the overhaul was objectively a serious web optimistic for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
For the file, we by no means suggested visitors keep away from DHS in the course of the development. We introduced it to readers’ consideration in a “do with this info what you’ll” method, however nonetheless beneficial the park. Against this, we beforehand had a full article devoted as to whether it’s best to skip EPCOT. The reply was all the time “it relies upon,” however earlier iterations prompt that possibly sure was the right reply for some visitors.
This brings us to the Animal Kingdom development mission, which is like Disney’s Hollywood Studios in visitor affect however has (clearly) resulted in an identical ‘do you have to skip?’ article. And since I don’t have a behavior of writing posts for zero cause in any way, you may surmise that (spoiler alert) the reply is not going to be “undoubtedly not–everybody ought to do DAK.”
This text ending in something however a full-throated, unequivocal endorsement of Disney’s Animal Kingdom goes to anger some Walt Disney World followers. Now that old fashioned EPCOT Heart has been gone for a few a long time, these purists (my individuals!) have been changed by DAK diehards.
The important thing distinction between the Animal Kingdom and EPCOT lovers is easy: cynicism. Or relatively, a scarcity thereof. The latter are crucial of just about each change, whereas the Animal Kingdom advocates may very well be dubbed DAK defenders. And understandably so, because the park has been the topic of scorn, unfair ridicule and criticism. In a phrase, Animal Kingdom is misunderstood.
If this describes you, that’s superb–improbable, even! However you also needs to perceive that the audience of this put up isn’t individuals who already love Animal Kingdom. If it’s your favourite park at Walt Disney World, you shouldn’t skip Animal Kingdom. For those who assume it’s an exemplar of themed design, you shouldn’t skip Animal Kingdom. Not at this time and never when development is as its crescendo in 2026. However you already knew that.
For everybody else, Animal Kingdom already was extremely skippable even earlier than the development started.
In accordance with Themed Leisure Affiliation knowledge (the gold customary for measuring annual attendance), Animal Kingdom is the worst performing park at Walt Disney World. Over the last yr for which knowledge is offered, it was the one park at Walt Disney World not within the prime 10 for worldwide theme park attendance.
Animal Kingdom ranked #16, with 8.8 million annual guests. It’s the one Walt Disney World park that didn’t hit the ten million mark, and it had lower than half the annual guests of Magic Kingdom, the #1 theme park on this planet. So even pre-construction, Animal Kingdom was the most-skipped park at Walt Disney World, with half of visitors who opted to go to the flagship fortress park opting to skip DAK.
Our expectation is that this hole will proceed to develop. Animal Kingdom is the park most faraway from its final improvement cycle, and it has misplaced greater than it has gained since March 2020. It is going to be damage by its personal lack of choices and development, and is the park far and away almost certainly to lose attendance to Epic Universe at Common. The following few years might be robust for DAK, which very effectively may find yourself within the 7 million vary earlier than it begins rebounding with Tropical Americas in 2027-2028.
That is exactly why we’ve been advocating for additions at Animal Kingdom for the final a number of years and a larger sense of urgency from Walt Disney World management to make DAK a compelling vacation spot. The writing has been on the wall since March 2021 when Epic Universe resumed development. At that time, Disney ought to have began working to create new nighttime leisure and develop sights that might open by this yr, not 2027. That they didn’t is borderline dereliction of responsibility.
Level being, Walt Disney World visitors are already voting with their wallets and ft and skipping Animal Kingdom. For those who merely need the consensus reply and never my opinion, it’s sure, Animal Kingdom is skippable–and more and more so. However you’ve learn this far, so hopefully you’re after commentary, and never simply statistics.
I’ve had conflicted emotions about Animal Kingdom because the park opened. My household went opening yr, and it was our least favourite park at Walt Disney World. When Sarah and I returned throughout school, Animal Kingdom had improved, however it was nonetheless the park we visited least usually within the aughts.
Sooner or later, Animal Kingdom began to “click on” for us. As we visited Walt Disney World extra usually, we had time to decelerate and take the parks at a extra leisurely tempo. We turned extra serious about Imagineering, design and particulars, which is the place Animal Kingdom really shines. That led to the put up, “I Was Improper About Disney’s Animal Kingdom” again in 2013 (since up to date to account for Pandora – World of Avatar).
A powerful argument could be made that Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the most effective theme park in Florida. While you emphasize the theme in theme park, we’d rank it #1 at Walt Disney World. Animal Kingdom is an exemplar of themed design, and arguably Disney’s most “pure” park on the subject of coherent storytelling. That is true even after the Avatar addition, which was weaved into the park’s overarching concepts masterfully.
The issue, because it’s ever been, is a scarcity of rides. Walt Disney World launched into an notorious Nahtazu advertising initiative following the debut of Animal Kingdom. For these unfamiliar with that, it was pronounced “not a zoo” and I’m positive you may surmise from that what it entailed.
Company had been skipping Animal Kingdom as a result of they considered it as not too dissimilar from their native zoos–why pay Disney’s costs and spend restricted trip time to expertise one thing they might at residence? The factor is, the advert marketing campaign was tacit admission of the difficulty. Company had been proper, there have been too few rides and never sufficient daylight between Animal Kingdom and a very nice zoo.
This isn’t to say visitors had been fully proper. Once more, Animal Kingdom is miles above the common zoo, or perhaps a standout one just like the San Diego Safari Park. Nonetheless, the trip depend was approach too low and the park leaned too closely on animal reveals and walk-through trails. These had been (and are) nice enhancements, however they had been (and are) referred to as on to hold an excessive amount of of the load. We’ve warned visitors to house these experiences out to keep away from “animal fatigue,” and this is without doubt one of the the reason why there’s an early afternoon exodus from Animal Kingdom.
Animal Kingdom’s lack of rides drawback has by no means been totally addressed. Sights have been added through the years, with Expedition Everest and Pandora – World of Avatar being enormous belongings, among the many finest rides in all of Walt Disney World.
Even after these additions, Animal Kingdom has by far the lightest trip roster of any park at Walt Disney World. And that has solely gotten worse in 2025, with the closure of two conventional theme park type sights. The park is now down to six rides that put up wait occasions. Develop that to incorporate main exhibits and the attraction depend is 9 or 10.
This massively understates the totality of the visitor expertise at Animal Kingdom, because it doesn’t depend a number of main animal reveals (like Maharajah Jungle Trek or Gorilla Falls) that might be among the many highlights of a go to. It additionally doesn’t think about characters, atmospheric leisure, or quite a few different issues that Animal Kingdom does so, so effectively.
We are able to spend a full day at Animal Kingdom and have an immensely satisfying and well-rounded expertise on par with any of the parks at Walt Disney World. You’ll be able to too, as long as you go in with the correct expectations, know the place to search for the park’s hidden gems, and tempo your self in order to keep away from “animal fatigue.”
Personally, I don’t assume the the attraction closures to this point in 2025–a spinner and a 3D present–transfer the needle on that. When it goes extinct in early 2026, DINOSAUR would be the a lot greater blow. However by the point DINOSAUR closes, Zootopia: Higher Zoogether will open. That’s undoubtedly not a 1:1 substitute, however the brand new 3D present will assist. And hopefully there’s extra leisure on faucet for 2026 to assist ease the rising pains.
In relation to development affect when it comes to visible blight or navigational points, there actually isn’t a lot of 1. Dino-Rama is the realm that’s walled off, and the cheesy roadside carnival contributed simply as a lot visible blight when it was open, if no more. The partitions are much less of an eyesore, should you ask me.
Even so, we might proceed recommending Animal Kingdom to anybody with 4 or extra days at Walt Disney World that enjoys wildlife and desires an immersive theme park expertise that entails exploration and savoring the little issues, and never simply bouncing from trip to trip.
The truth that most visitors deal with Animal Kingdom like a half-day park and attendance will additional lower by means of 2027 may very well be considered as an asset to savvy visitors, particularly these with Park Hopper tickets. Go very first thing within the morning or in late afternoon, and also you’ll be capable to take pleasure in low to reasonable crowd ranges ~300 days of the yr. No want for Lightning Lanes!
You too can simply spend a full day at DAK. In reality, the argument may very well be made that Animal Kingdom is quite a bit like World Showcase–gentle on rides however heavy on surroundings and ambiance–and visitors hardly ever complain about World Showcase. Most everybody views that space of EPCOT as an asset, and enjoys making their approach world wide. Animal Kingdom is similar to that, however grittier and fewer romanticized…plus animals!
Paradoxically sufficient, there are literally a number of promoting factors of visiting Animal Kingdom quickly…all of that are animals!
The plain all-star of Animal Kingdom proper now could be Bakso, the park’s lovable Sumatran tiger cub. Watch in awe because the cub and his mom, Sohni, playfully pounce and prowl collectively of their lush habitat full of cascading waterfalls, timber, hills and logs. Maharajah Jungle Trek gives ample alternatives for the massive cats to conduct naturally–speaking, resting, hiding, and exploring. Above all else, the duo likes to play, and their conduct is heartwarming and acquainted to any guardian.
Extra just lately, Kilimanjaro Safaris welcomed a towering addition to its household as Mara, the park’s beloved Masai giraffe, gave delivery to a good looking child boy named Tucker! Mara, who joined the savanna in 2015, has proudly expanded her household 3 times now! It looks as if simply yesterday Walt Disney World was celebrating the delivery of her first calf, Jabari, in 2019. (Actually, that is the primary giraffe calf delivery at Walt Disney World since 2021.) As with Bakso the tiger cub, Tucker can also be lovable.
Rounding out the trio is a trio: Butternut, Biscuit, and Potato (sure, Potato) are the most recent Asian small-clawed otter infants to debut at Animal Kingdom! These otters and their dad and mom, Kevin and Mae, are actually showing within the Otter Grotto habitat on the Discovery Island Trails. Personally, I can not wait to see Potato the Otter. (Severely, don’t miss Otter Grotto–it’s one other of the improbable animal trails that’s usually neglected!)
To not disparage lovable animals, however none of that is actually that notable. It’s heartwarming, however not a marketable draw for vacationers. Animals are born repeatedly at Animal Kingdom.
In relation to different additions that’ll draw visitors, Animal Kingdom is the one park with nothing deliberate in Summer season 2025. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is getting the Villains and Little Mermaid stage exhibits. Magic Kingdom is getting Disney Starlight Night time Parade. EPCOT is getting Check Monitor 3.0, GEO-82 Lounge Inside Spaceship Earth, and Goofy’s Takeover of CommuniCore Corridor.
The park that wants probably the most is getting the least. It’s nonetheless completely baffling that Animal Kingdom isn’t getting a drone present, because the park badly wants to provide visitors a cause to remain late. The entire cause why I waited till after Walt Disney World introduced its summer time slate is as a result of I hoped DAK drone present was the ace up its sleeve–{that a} blockbuster nighttime spectacular would put this complete dialog to relaxation.
Whereas we very a lot would love for everybody to understand Animal Kingdom as a lot as we do, we’re additionally realists. There’s a cause why the the park has decrease attendance, a day exodus, and offers visitors “animal fatigue.” It’s additionally true that you could routinely end each trip in Animal Kingdom earlier than 11 am! There’s a divergence between how hardcore followers and informal visitors every understand Animal Kingdom, and that is price discussing, relatively than simply pretending the overwhelming majority of informal guests are “doing it fallacious.”
Then there’s the elephant within the room: Epic Universe. After having had the possibility to expertise this brand-new theme park, I’m now of the assumption that ride-oriented visitors with restricted trip time eager to “make room” for Common Orlando’s new theme park may need to lower Animal Kingdom from the plans. (See We’re Reside Inside Epic Universe for Paid Previews: Photographs & Video for extra–plus tons extra protection to return.)
On opening day, Epic Universe can have 11 rides and two main exhibits, plus atmospheric leisure, play areas, and extra. For these conserving rating at residence, that is extra rides than Animal Kingdom. When you broaden that to all sights and compelling choices (minus animal reveals), the rosters are arguably comparable. I’m however satisfied that the common visitor will want the attraction slate at Epic Universe to that of Animal Kingdom.
Principally, the kind of one that felt the necessity to learn this put up (and never hate learn, however for planning functions) will most likely be higher suited by Epic Universe. Each parks have excessive factors and are extremely compelling in their very own methods, however there are extra main rides which can be must-dos at Epic Universe. And whereas I acknowledge recency bias may very well be coloring my opinion, I’d actually relatively spend time at Epic Universe within the subsequent couple of years over Animal Kingdom. It has a number of heavy-hitters with limitless re-rideability.
Paradoxically sufficient, that is the outcome-determinative issue. Not something about Animal Kingdom itself. From our perspective, the development partitions aren’t notably impactful, and the sights which have closed additionally are usually not the straw that breaks the camel’s again. The difference-maker isn’t something occurring at Animal Kingdom. In a vacuum, the park is kind of as worthwhile of a draw at this time because it was throughout any of the previous few years.
It’s really an externality that gave rise to this put up and likewise makes the reply “sure” for some visitors. That externality is Epic Universe, a brand new theme park that competes for the restricted trip {dollars} and time of vacationers. And whereas this kind of comparability has lengthy been attainable with Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey–which most likely at the least partially explains why DAK has decrease attendance than the opposite Walt Disney World parks–it’s way more pronounced now with Epic Universe.
Once more, it didn’t must be this manner. Walt Disney World may have launched a brand new nighttime spectacular that includes drones, added leisure, enjoyable trip overlays or seasonal occasions–something to assist buoy Animal Kingdom and make it extra aggressive for the subsequent couple of years. That wouldn’t have made the reply to this put up an across-the-board “no,” however it might’ve made “no” a extra frequent reply. Staying on-site and visiting all 4 of the Walt Disney World theme parks is the cheaper and simpler possibility–the trail of least resistance. Puncturing the Disney Bubble is extra of a trouble that will increase prices and logistics–however it’s an possibility that’s worthy of consideration for a lot of visitors in 2025 by means of 2027 for the sake of seeing Epic Universe.
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Your Ideas
Will you be visiting Animal Kingdom within the subsequent couple of years? For those who’re skipping DAK, are you doing so to keep away from development and closed sights, and ready till new rides and Tropical Americas opens? Or are you taking your restricted trip time and reallocating the day from DAK to Epic Universe? Some other suggestions on upcoming modifications and the way they’ll affect the expertise? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
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