Things That Once is Enough and Things That I Can Never Get Enough of in Disney's Animal Kingdom
The title says it all. The way I travel to Disney now is different than the first time. The first time, I needed to try everything if I could (I couldn't). Now that I've spent some time there, there are some things I never do anymore because once in enough and other things that I do over and over again because I can't get enough of them.
One and Done!
Rainforest Cafe
I'm actually a huge fan of the Rainforest Cafe. I ate dinner at the one in Disney Springs once a week when I was in the College Program because I couldn't get enough of the tropical food and the crazy drinks. But that said, the Rainforest Cafe at the entrance to Disney's Animal Kingdom was never the best one on property to begin with (the one at Disney Springs was much better). And when you consider that it's a chain when just within the gates are all sorts of eateries that are unique to Walt Disney World, it's a one and done deal for me.
When Can I Do It Again??
Night Blossom at Pongu Pongu in Pandora
This qualifies as a snack. It's basically a boba smoothie with bursting boba that you can get plain or spiked with rum. It's wonderful on a hot day, has a festive pink and green striped pattern in the cup, and the bursting boba is so tasty and fun. I have to stop myself from buying one every time I pass Pongu Pongu in Pandora.
One and Done!
Kali River Rapids
I actually like this ride and I have gone on it more than once. I have this weak spot for the Asia land in Animal Kingdom and this ride is really well themed to the land. But if I never did it again, I would probably get by just fine. For one, the ride itself is quite short. Second, if you don't want to be soaking wet for the rest of the day, this ride requires some preparation, like wearing a poncho if you can and making sure to tuck it around you securely when you sit down in the raft.
When Can I Do It Again??
Flight of Passage
I ride and my eyes fill with tears at the beauty of it. The ride ends and I realize my mouth is dry from hanging wide open in a smile the entire time. Not only is the ride itself great, but the queue and the pre-show are also really neat. And if you're like me and enjoy checking out ride mechanics, look away from the screen once while riding (if you're not afraid of heights) and marvel at how it all works. I would do this ride literally all day every day if I could.
One and Done!
Finding Nemo - the Musical
Like most of the other "one and done" items I'm listing here, I like it. It's a good show, it has some great original music. I have a soft place in my heart for Nemo because it was the first movie my daughter ever saw (the day she was born in the hospital - she won't remember but I do). But it's a good chunk of your day and time is of the essence. And it's the same show every time, of course. There's not even any stunts like there were in its predecessor, Tarzan Rocks.
When Can I Do It Again??
The UP! Bird Show
This was previously Flights of Wonder. I love a show that involves real animals displaying their natural, but majestic, behaviors because it's somewhat unpredictable. Animals come and go, tricks change, animals misbehave... it's great. One time, a bird decided that was enough and flew out of the theater, not coming back until the end of the show. Another time, an owl flew silently over my head so that I couldn't hear it but felt the downburst of air from its wings. I'm a sucker for a bird show, maybe, but I do this every time I'm there.
One and Done!
Dinosaur!
If it's possible to strongly dislike a ride, this is the one for me. Pretty much every abrasive ride vehicle action occurs in this ride. It jostles you in every direction. Strobe lights seem to always be flashing. People are screaming at you to save the dinosaur! Get out of there! The meteor is coming! The time machine isn't working! Is that a T-Rex?! Ahhhhh!!! Some people are big fans of this ride. I think those people are young and like a thrill that isn't really a thrill ride but is more like a dark ride on steroids. I'm not one of those people.
When Can I Do It Again??
Walk the nature paths
This park isn't like any of the other theme parks at Walt Disney World, and it's entirely possible to miss the point, in my opinion, in favor of trying to cross attractions off your list. But the real attraction here, as designed by the Imagineers, is animals - real animals in enclosures that make it appear the animal could walk right up to you in some cases. And they are housed among gorgeously themed trails scattered with knowledgeable Cast Members who will talk about the animals and answer your questions. Every single time I walk a nature trail at Animal Kingdom, I learn another fact I didn't know before. There are three paths, Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, Maharajah Jungle Trek, and the Tree of Life Gardens. I prefer Maharajah Jungle Trek for animal viewing, but I have a warm spot in my heart for a particular spot in the Tree of Life Gardens where you walk under a waterfall.
One and Done!
Rivers of Light
I feel like this show was Animal Kingdom trying too hard to have a nighttime show in order to be like the other parks. Let's just face it - it isn't like the other parks. And that's a good thing! Animal Kingdom does not use fireworks in any shows because they can stress the animals who live there, so it created this water show with colorful lit water fountains and floats. It's pretty. But I'd rather be somewhere else during it like Pandora, or on a night safari, or hanging out by he Tree of Life to try to catch some Awakenings (where are really cool very short shows on the Tree of Life itself).
When Can I Do It Again??
Tiffins
Now, this one my budget will not allow me to do as often as I wish I could but I strongly believe this is the best meal on property... period. The food is delicious and gorgeously plated. The service is beyond excellent. And add to all of it that it's in a restaurant that is themed to pay homage to Joe Rohde, the Imagineer who floated the idea of Animal Kingdom, who designed Pandora, and who is now working on designing Disney's second private island in the Bahamas. This restaurant has a real sense of place in the Animal Kingdom. I love the peek it gives us behind the magic to see the travels and research that went into designing the iconic sites in the park.
One and Done!
Most Character Greetings
Perhaps because some people really don't know what to do with a park like this one, they gravitate to the familiar. Trying to please the kids, they get in line for Donald Duck or Russel and Doug or whatever it might be. While some characters truly are harder to find other places except Disney's Animal Kingdom (think the Bug's Life characters, and UP! characters), I do find any character line, unless it's absolutely your favorite character in the whole wide world, to not be worth the wait.
Truth be told, Rafiki is my favorite character in the whole wide world, and is uniquely found at Rafiki's Planet Watch at Disney's Animal Kingdom, but the train ride out there is 7 minutes one-way, then a walk to the pavilion, then a wait for Rafiki, then 7 minutes back. I LOVE Rafiki, but yeah... not doing that again.
One big exception here for me is DiVine, but DiVine is not really like other characters anyway. She's a product of Disney's Animal Kingdom itself, having branched off from the vines growing in the Oasis (pun intended). She doesn't host formal greetings. She appears when she wants to, wandering silently, winding her way through the vines, so look closely. She camouflages well, so sightings are rare. Last time I saw her I freaked out like Tom Hanks had just walked by. I absolutely love her.
When Can I Do It Again??
Kilimanjaro Safari
The real stars of Animal Kingdom are the animals, and the safari is the best way to see them. Every single safari is different. Sometimes you joke about how awful it was ("We had the bunny safari") and other times you can't believe what you just saw ("10 rhinoceroses just passed in front of our vehicle!"). Every time, in my opinion, it's worth it. Because it's as unscripted and real as Disney gets. Even if all you see is bunnies, the vistas are amazing. You'll see different things depending on what time of day it is, or how hot or cool it is outside, but I still think morning is the best time.
One great big caveat here is that I would not consider riding it unless the line was under 20 minutes or I have a FastPass. The queue for this ride is among the most miserable queues in Walt Disney World, a winding wooden walkway in the Florida heat with no interactive elements at all. There are TVs. They are on a loop and are a little bit annoying, though.
Those are my personal things where once is enough or I can't get enough of. If it's your first time going to Walt Disney World, then take this list with a grain of salt. You never know your own personal favorites until you try them once. So find your preferences, and if you like share them here in the comments or on our Facebook page. Until next time...!
