Disney’s Animal Kingdom first opened its doors on April 22, 1998 and it is the newest of all the parks. It’s home to 500 acres of wildlife preserves, 1,700 different animals and 250 species. A ride on a crowd favorite, the Kilimanjaro Safari, gives you a great chance to see many of these animals, though there are tons of ways to interact with nature – and take in a few great rides and shows, too!

The Many Lands of Disney’s Animal Kingdom

There are currently four lands in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, with a recently announced AVATAR Land set to open in 2017. The four current lands are: Africa, Asia, DinoLand USA, Discovery Island, and Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

It pays to have a plan when touring the Animal Kingdom, because it’s easily the largest and hilliest of all parks in the Disney World resort area. Take a look at each land, decide which rides, attractions, and shows are must-sees and then plot your course for the day.

Africa

You enter Africa through the welcoming village of Harambe, which is Swahili for “come together.” There are tons of incredible details in this area of the Animal Kingdom, including the thatched huts found throughout, which were crafted by 13 Zulu craftspeople from South Africa.

As you walk through Africa, you’ll have the opportunity to spot up to 34 different species of animals and birds. A great place for animal watching is the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, which is where you’ll see the popular silverback gorillas. There’s also a steam-powered train called the Wildlife Express, which cuts through some of the animal habitats to take you to the Conservation Station. There you’ll find an interactive center that manages to strike the perfect balance between entertainment and education.

Rides, attractions, and shows

There is one main attraction in Africa: the Kilimanjaro Safari. Here you can board a safari vehicle and be led, via guide, through an enormous wildlife preserve. One of the most popular shows in Disney World is also located in Africa: The Festival of the Lion King. It opened in a brand new theater in late spring of 2014, so we feel confident this beloved show isn’t going anywhere.

DinoLand U.S.A

For a total change from the rest of the Animal Kingdom, head over to DinoLand U.S.A., which is both a trip back in time and a great place to check out a Broadway-style show. You’ll head in under a 50-foot tall skeleton of a Brachiosaurus, which is right next to The Boneyard, a great playground for the kids. There are fossils to be unearthed, tons of creatures to climb, plus a xylophone that creates truly special and unique music.

Rides, attractions, and shows

There are numerous rides within DinoLand U.S.A., including Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, a midway-style attraction with flashing lights and lots of laughs. Those who love a thrill can head to Dinosaur, which takes them on a fossil-gathering mission in a vehicle with incredibly jarring and bone-shaking twists and turns. Primeval Whirl is a kid-appropriate coaster with the perfect size drops and dips for the kiddos.

Finding Nemo – The Musical is also located within DinoLand U.S.A. This is a true Broadway-level production put on in a huge air-conditioned theater. There you’ll see puppets, live actors, and an incredibly moving retelling of the beloved movie.