If your toddler loves animals than you won't want to miss Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World!
My youngest daughter is a huge animal lover! Even though there is a lot of ground to cover (this park sits on 580 acres), we never miss it. There's an added bonus here, too, think about all the educational opportunities for your little ones. There is so much to see and do that you may want to allot some extra time when visiting Animal Kingdom with your little ones and or use it as a chance to teach them about animal conservation and animal safety.
I highly recommend getting to the park as soon as it opens and heading straight for Kilimanjaro Safaris. The animals tend to be more lively in the morning. You'll have a better chance to see them compared to later in the afternoon when it is hotter and the animals are tired.
Next you'll need to stop by It's Tough to be a Bug! On our last trip one little boy told me that this was his favorite ride at Disney because the bugs get your butt! Trust me (and him), it's pretty cool!
Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo-The Musical are two of the greatest shows I've seen at Walt Disney World. I know what's going to happen, but I'm always in awe of the actors, they're just fantastic and the kids are captivated by the sights and sounds. At this point you've been on some rides and you've seen some shows and what could be better for your picky toddler than pizza for lunch! Thank goodness for Pizzafari. Or perhaps you don't have a picky eater and you can get away with something a little more "grown-up", then YOU MUST head over to Yak & Yeti Restaurant.
After lunch, be sure to check out the Discovery Island Trails and see which animals you can find on the Tree of Life. If you need a bit of a break and want the kids to release a bit more energy check out The Boneyard in Dinoland U.S.A., here the little ones can play on a giant playground and dig for fossils to their hearts content. We spent almost two hours in this section on our last visit because the girls enjoy it sooo much!
Another highlight was Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade at Animal Kingdom. The props are extraordinary! One thing we did miss out on was the Wilderness Explorers. If you are a fan of the movie UP, as we are, then you'll have to check out these fun challenges where you can earn badges throughout the park. This is definitely on our list for next time!
Before you leave Disney's Animal Kingdom be sure to stop by the Greeting Trails. This campground style character spot is beautiful. You can choose to wait in line for one character or see a few of them depending on who hasn't "Gone Fishing" when you stop by. On our last visit we were able to see Donald Duck!
Are you a fan of Animal Kingdom? Which animal is your favorite at Disney's Animal Kingdom?
