Animal Kingdom was well worth it. My overall experience was great.
I had to wait in horrible long lines, but it was still well worth it. In the summer I think everyday is packed. I went on a Wed and the lines were still VERY long. HOWEVER, if you are park hopping or want to do the many trails, then save the big rides for last. At about 4pm all the ride waits are very short (10-20min). However, after 4pm they don't give out fast passes.. but you don't really need them cause the lines are very short.
This is a good park for people who have to carry stuff. I recommend (if you can) just have one small pack (waist pack) or very small bagpack. All the rides I rode had a compartment for them so your bags wouldn't be thrown around.
Also, I recommend wearing a swimsuit under your clothes and wearing tennis shoes. Although your tennis shoes will get wet, I still think its better than walking around (a lot) in flip flops and getting bug bites or stepping on werido things.
Bugs aren't really a problem in Animal Kingdom. However, you do smell animal.
Wear sunscreen, even if you don't burn. Summers in Florida are incredibly hot.
Recommended Game plan for the park:
I highly suggest getting there VERY early! Everyone (and you should too) rushes to the safari ride located in Africa for the first activity (to the left of the entrance). Its important to go to the safari first because later in the day all the animals will be sleeping because it is too hot. I waited forever, but it was well worth seeing the animals moving around.
Next, I suggest getting the fast passes (they are free) for the Kali River Rapids, Expedition Everest and Dinosaur. If there are only a few things that you do, do these rides!!
1) Safari (ride in car) and look at animals
- MUST do EARLY and first thing in morning to see animals moving!
2) Kali River Rapids
- Wear a swimsuit! You WILL get soaked, and there are no "dry" seats.
- The center of the ride has a compartment for your belongings so they don't get wet. Put them there. You don't need a plastic bag to keep them dry.
3) Expedition Everest
- Great rollercoaster! Scarier than I thought!!! Really good!
4) Dinosaur
- Great ride! Not quite a rollercoaster, but a great in between and well worth it.
- Right when he says "We aren't going to make it" (because the asteriod is going to hit) my ride died! haha At first, we all thought it was part of the ride.. The T Rex was practically drooling in my face when the ride broke down.. but they got it up and running in less than 5 min. I wouldn't have even known it was broke had it not been for the guy behind me telling me that this happened all the time (he had ridden it 4 times already)
5) Go on the trail in Asia (its where the tigers are)
- Watching the tigers was soooo cool!!!
** Do not eat at the Rainforest Cafe until you are done with the rides. Stop at one of the places in the park that is fast.. Although the Rainforest Cafe is a great buy for the amount of food and very neat to hang out in.. the wait is VERY long. It took us 1.5 hours to get a table, then 1.5 hours to eat! The time you spend sitting in the Rainforest Cafe eats up precious daylight hours that you need in Animal Kingdom. Eat a light lunch, snacks, or other things around the park. Save Rainforest Cafe for last!
Overall awesome time!
I'm sure there are horror stories, and I hated the waits.. but totally worth it!
