The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom with Babies & Toddlers

Visiting Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom with Babies & Toddlers:

Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom is the the biggest of Disney’s theme parks, but it is also the easiest to navigate with a baby or toddler. If this is your first visit to Walt Disney World and you are planning on spending a few days in the parks, Animal Kingdom is a great one to start with. You can ease into seeing how you all fare with the rides, attractions, and crowds without being overwhelmed and without the expectations that sometimes are associated with seeing Magic Kingdom for the first time.

Nothing can beat that initial glimpse of Cinderella’s Castle as the penultimate Disney experience. But, starting smaller and slower is an ideal way to begin your Disney vacation with a baby. I could also say the same about Epcot, but I personally would find it difficult to spend a whole day there.

Don’t forget to download the My Disney Experience app for park opening hours, ride wait times, dining option availability, character greeting places and times, and more. And if you’re not from the US, don’t worry about data or  roaming. Walt Disney World has free WiFi at all of their resorts and parks. It can be a bit spotty at times, as all free WiFi can be, but hey, it’s free – as are the Disney apps!

Basics for Animal Kingdom with Babies & Toddlers:

Don’t be alarmed by Animal Kingdom‘s size. Most of the over 500 acres is for all of the animals’ habitats. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, meaning they have met or exceeded the standards in education, conservation, and research. The icon (and centrepiece) of the park is the Tree of Life. It is located on Discovery Island and the park’s six remaining sections (Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia, DinoLand U.S.A., Oasis, and Pandora: The World of Avatar all revolve around the tree.

Animal Kingdom is a little remote, but Disney’s transportation system serves the park by bus from every resort. Animal Kingdom Lodge is the closest one.

Stroller rentals are to the right of the main entrance and, as with the other Disney Parks, they are the same molded plastic ones (different colour). Rental prices are consistent: $15.00 USD per day for a single-passenger stroller and $31.00 USD per day for a double. Disney offers a reduced-rate length of stay rental ticket for a one-time payment for as many days of stroller rental you will need. When you enter a park, show your receipt at the stroller rental location and you will be zipped to the front of the line. The multiple day stroller rental fee is $13.00 USD per day for a single stroller, and $27.00 USD per day for a double stroller.

Getting around Animal Kingdom with Babies & Toddlers:

As with all the Disney theme parks, Animal Kingdom is fully accessible. And the nice thing about all the trees is it’s probably the shadiest as well. While everything is quite spread out, it’s easy to navigate your way from one area to the next. Try to arrange your activities and must-dos to go either clockwise or counter-clockwise around the Tree of Life.

With little ones, you’ll probably be spending the most time in DinoLand U.S.A., which is fine since you’re right next to the Oasis area and the park’s main entrance. Stroller parking is strictly enforced. For the big shows like Finding Nemo the Musical and Festival of The Lion King (a MUST see!), the stroller parking areas can get crowded. As with the other parks, Disney Cast Members are constantly organizing and re-organizing the stroller parking areas. Don’t panic if your wheels aren’t exactly where you left them.

Great walks for baby’s nap time are the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail in the Africa area and Maharajah Jungle Trek in Asia. There’s also a small dinosaur walking area beside the Dinosaur! ride.

Rides at Animal Kingdom with Babies & Toddlers:

Speaking of the Dinosaur! ride, it’s awesome. It’s also really, really scary. It does have a height requirement of 40″. But even then if you think your child will be ok, prepare them for the dinosaurs. Cover their ears and eyes if you need to. My then-7-year-old kept her eyes shut!

There really are only three rides a baby or toddler can go on at Animal Kingdom: the Kilimanjaro Safaris (awesome and totally book a FastPass+ as soon as you can), the TriceraTop Spin (Animal Kingdom‘s version of the classic Dumbo ride at Magic Kingdom), and the Na’vi River Journey at Pandora: The World of Avatar. TriceraTop Spin‘s line usually moves quite quickly. Also in DinoLand, U.S.A. is The Boneyard. It’s a play area with mazes and slides that yes, you can fit through as you chase your toddler!

The Na’vi River Journey is a must-ride with a baby or toddler, especially if you won’t be visiting Animal Kingdom at night to see everything glow. It’s a gentle boat ride like Magic Kingdom‘s It’s a Small World but through a bioluminescent rainforest, with Disney‘s most advanced animatronics yet. It’s truly one of Disney’s best rides for babies.

The Kali River Rapids has a height requirement of 38″. It’s really not very scary but you might get very wet! The Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch goes back and forth to Africa. We rode it without getting off (the park was not busy) for about four trips. At two-and-a-half, my son absolutely loved it!

Dining at Animal Kingdom with Babies & Toddlers:

As with all the Disney Parks, they don’t blink when you bring in your own food. Obviously this is great when you’ve got a baby or toddler in tow. The Rainforest Cafe is a pretty big draw, and it has entrances both inside and outside the park, Tusker House restaurant in Africa has character meals with Donald Duck & friends for breakfast and lunch, the Yak & Yeti Restaurant in Asia has Pan-Asian cuisine, and there is plenty of quick-service dining and kiosks throughout the park.

On very busy days you may not save a table in the restaurant if you haven’t already purchased food. However, we had no issue getting a table for our party of eight at Restaurantosaurus in DinoLand, U.S.A.  The cast members directed us once we had our trays. There are plenty of high chairs (the larger, open wood kind), and strollers are not allowed inside most restaurants.

The kids’ meals automatically come with carrots or grapes and milk. If you would prefer a different (read: less healthy) side or drink you must specifically request that substitution. The restaurants do not have the means to heat bottles, but that brings us to the Baby Care Center…

Animal Kingdom’s Baby Care Center:

Animal Kingdom’s Baby Care Center is located on the way to Africa – on the left-hand side just past Pizzafari restaurant and before the bridge. The First Aid Center is located there too, as are companion restrooms. Animal Kingdom’s Baby Care Center is very spacious. It’s probably the biggest and certainly the best-equipped in terms of items for purchase… but no toddler toilets!

There’s a nursing room, a large changing room, and a feeding room with a microwave and highchairs. There’s also a decent selection of baby care items available to buy (diapers biggest size is 4). In fact, even the vending machines in the park’s restrooms sell a reasonably priced “diaper emergency kit” for sale.

Although Animal Kingdom is less hectic, a visit to the Baby Care Centre allows you all a bit of cool and quiet and a break from the heat and the people.

FastPass+ Is Your Friend:

For a single theme park per day, you can make up to three FastPass+ selections in advance either online or using the My Disney Experience app. You may change or cancel your selections any time. The Lobby Concierge at your Walt Disney World Resort hotel  can help. And there are helpful Cast Members at all of the FastPass+ kiosks in the parks.

Best bets for FastPass+ in Animal Kingdom are Avatar Flight of Passage, Everest Express, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Dinosaur! For the rides at Animal Kingdom that are not baby-friendly, Disney will do the child swap. Both parents can still ride, they will just ride solo.

Note that kiosks allow FastPass+ selections only for the park where the kiosk is located. However, you can view and cancel any of your FastPass+ selections, regardless of location.

Once you redeem your initial set of FastPass+ selections (or the last arrival window has passed), you can make another FastPass+ selection for the same day at an in-park kiosk or on your mobile device, up to park closing. After you redeem the additional FastPass+ pick, you can return to a kiosk to make more selections (one at a time), subject to availability.

If your ticket includes Park Hopper, after you use your initial FastPass+ selections at the first park, you can make additional FastPass+ selections (one at a time) at a kiosk or using the mobile app at the second park you visit that day, up until park closing.

More Tips for Animal Kingdom with Babies & Toddlers:

Tip #1:

Since Animal Kingdom is large and spread out, it is certainly possible to do a full (slower-paced) day here. Plan your must-dos and must-sees in advance, don’t forget to book your FastPass+ rides in advance!

Tip #2:

Because Animal Kingdom is further out, leaving for a nap in the middle of the day is probably not the best use of your time. Plan for a stroller nap in one of the park’s lovely walking areas, or make it a shorter day and spend the morning or late afternoon back at the hotel by the pool.

Since mornings are cooler, the animals are more active early in the day rather than later. If you’re staying on Disney property and there’s often Extra Magic Hours available in the morning for Animal Kingdom. Take advantage!

Tip #3:

The full-time character meet and greets are in DinoLand U.S.A. You can quickly check the My Disney Experience app to see who is where. Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade does the circle around Discovery Island every afternoon. It’s great fun to watch.

Tip #4:

Take a picture of your kids in the morning of your visit. Make it clear to them (if they are old enough to understand) exactly what to do should you become separated. Establish a meeting spot with older kids. For little ones, tell them to tell a Cast Member who works at one of the shops or rides. The Cast Member will first contact Lost Children. They will register any information that they can, including the child’s name, age, location, and a parent’s name. They will then try to retrace the child’s steps and see if a meeting spot was established.

Lost children will be taken to the Baby Care Center. Attach a tag or sticker your child’s clothing with your name and cel phone number on it, or these wristbands from Mabel’s Labels are a great solution as well.

Find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say about Disney’s Animal Kingdom at TripAdvisor

See Also:

• Guide to Walt Disney World Theme Parks with Babies and Toddlers
• Here’s a link to pretty much everything Disney on Have Baby Will Travel
• Best Walt Disney World Rides for Babies & Toddlers
• How to Enjoy Doing Disney with Toddlers
• Disney Tips & Tricks for Visiting with Three Kids
• What is the Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World?

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