10 Things to Skip at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park is my personal favorite of all the parks. It's also the park I am most familiar with, so although it's hard to come up with ten things to skip in my favorite park, I feel confident with these choices.
10. Restaurantasaurus
This is a quick service dining location in the corner of the park in DinoLand. It used to be a McDonald's. While it appears to have evolved from that and no longer serves McDonald's branded food, it is still very much a burger and chicken tenders place.
Instead: When in a park with great dining options, which Animal Kingdom definitely is, you should not be eating burgers or pizza. Try Satuli Canteen.
9. Creature Comforts
This is a Starbucks. I believe I've already made clear how I feel about Starbucks being at Disney, but if not, this entry on my list should make that clear.
Instead: You should be able to find Joffrey's coffee at many Walt Disney World establishments. This is the coffee of Disney.
8. The Boneyard
The boneyard is a giant play area at the entrance to DinoLand USA. It's really well themed, but it's essentially a playground. I feel it is a time-suck.
Instead: Head to the next attraction!
7. Dinoland USA Carnival Games
The first time I saw this section of the park, I was delighted because it is incredibly well themed. Imagineers even thought to distress the blacktop in the carnival so that it really has that "county fair" feel to it. So creative!
On the other hand, I didn't go to Walt Disney World to go to my county fair. Perhaps this holds more appeal for those who are not from the United States... I really don't know. But after initially being pleased with the themeing, I found I did not want to stay.
Instead: Take some pictures, read the signs (they are hilarious), then move on.
6. Pizzafari
I feel like a heretic saying this because technically my role during my internship was under this Pizzafari Food Service area. To be clear, I did not work at Pizzafari. I worked at various ice cream and beverage carts throughout the park. Still.
Pizzafari is just a pizza place. At a park where there are so many delicious food options, getting quick service pizza is missing out.
Instead: Venture out and try something new. Or go to Flame Tree Barbecue because at least that's GOOD barbecue and this isn't even GOOD pizza.
5. DINOSAUR
Obviously, I do not like this ride. It was more tolerable when it was "Countdown to Extinction" and had some sort of plot. Now it's been modified to meet the theme of the movie by the same (new) name. Theoretically, this ride is amazing. The effects are great and the ride vehicle is one of the most advanced ride vehicles ever created.
That same ride vehicle, though, is used to bounce and jostle you throughout the entire ride. It's easily the roughest ride in the park and that includes Kilimanjaro Safaris (which is not on the list to skip). If you like a dramatic ride that sort of has a plot and some bruises to go with it, then this ride is for you.
Instead: Go see Dino-Sue. It tends to be quiet because many aren't interested in looking at fossil castings, but this is a casting of the real T-Rex, Sue.
4. Rivers of Light
I was super excited when I heard that Disney's Animal Kingdom would join the other parks in having a nighttime show. I've known for a long time how stunningly beautiful the park is at night, but I've also known how Disney has struggled with having a show that would not upset the animals, as fireworks often do. The solution of a water and light show made great sense. Theoretically, this should be great.
But in reality, it's not. Part of the problem is the seating situation. It's an amphitheater situation much like Fantasmic and you need to arrive and sit in this area for at the very least a half hour, and preferably an hour before the show starts. You miss tons of attractions during this time!
The FastPass+ area is even worse. You arrive much earlier, are sandwiched in with other guests, and it's not even a prime seating area. Disney really needs to work out the kinks on this one!
So after that long wait, I'm expecting something along the lines of World of Color, but it just isn't. It's a pretty sedate show. It is beautiful, but it's slow moving and doesn't have much of a plot.
Instead: I would have preferred to have been in Pandora or watching the Tree of Life Awakenings during this time.
3, 2, and 1:
Conservation Station/Rafiki's Planet Watch
Affection Section
Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki's Planet Watch
My final three picks for what to skip go together. Conservation Station/Rafiki's Planet Watch is a remote section of the Animal Kingdom park, accessible only by the Wildlife Express train. The Affection Section is a petting zoo-like exhibit in this remote part of the park.
The trip out here is a giant time-suck. You wait for the train, then take the 7-minute or so train ride, then you walk a somewhat long (for Disney) path, find that there is the small petting zoo and some vetrinary exhibits inside one building, and then wait for the train again and ride the train back.
Not only that, but the train doesn't even leave from a central part of the park, but leaves from the back corner of the Africa part of the park. To be honest, the whole thing wastes time and is a giant ho-hum.
Instead: Do Wilderness Explorers stops in other parts of the park to learn about conservation without taking time to get there.
For more 10 Things to Skip, see 10 Things to Skip at the Magic Kingdom and 10 Things to Skip at EPCOT.
Did I get it wrong? Do you have other suggestions for what you would skip? Comment below.
For more 10 Things to Skip, check out 10 Things to Skip at EPCOT and 10 Things to Skip at the Magic Kingdom.
