With building gear digging in Dinoland and a number of points of interest closed, many Walt Disney World trip planners are questioning whether or not they need to skip Animal Kingdom on their journeys between now and someday in 2027 when Tropical Americas opens. This put up covers what’s taking place, when initiatives might be accomplished, and the way they’ll affect your expertise on upcoming visits.
Relating to radical Walt Disney World overhauls, there are two current ‘templates’ based mostly upon current initiatives: EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Each of those park reimaginings considerably impacted company, albeit in markedly alternative ways. Animal Kingdom’s overhaul will likewise little doubt weigh on the park expertise for the subsequent couple of years. The query thus turns into, do you have to skip Animal Kingdom?
Most followers will possible be conversant in the Large EPCOT Filth Pit, which concerned a number of years of so-called progress partitions to switch a fountain, flex constructing, and dated design components with some planters and timber, flex constructing, and barely much less dated design components. The fee in visitor burden, time or {dollars} was not “value it” for the tip outcome–which is generally a lateral change with barely improved placemaking. However we’re not right here to relitigate the half-baked EPCOT overhaul.
Then there was the Disney’s Hollywood Studios enlargement. Throughout that, a number of points of interest closed to ensure that building to happen, together with flagship and opening day experiences that outlined the park, together with different less-popular choices. There have been fewer points of interest to expertise, however the building at DHS didn’t considerably affect the environment or visitor expertise.
Most building occurred inside buildings or out of the best way, with partitions up at dead-ends however not in fundamental thoroughfares or locations creating visible blight. You would see the development as you walked round Disney’s Hollywood Studios, however for essentially the most half, it was not really detrimental to the visitor expertise. Even the attraction capability that was misplaced was kind of offset by fewer company voluntarily visiting the park throughout building.
The tip outcome was effectively value it at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as we obtained Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and a few improved placemaking. We did lose a few OG points of interest that old-timers (like me!) liked, and I nonetheless lament the shortage of the Osborne Household Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Christmas. However on steadiness, I acknowledge that the overhaul was objectively a serious internet optimistic for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
For the file, we by no means suggested company keep away from DHS throughout the building. We introduced it to readers’ consideration in a “do with this info what you’ll” method, however nonetheless really helpful the park. In contrast, we beforehand had a full article devoted as to if you must skip EPCOT. The reply was at all times “it relies upon,” however earlier iterations advised that possibly sure was the right reply for some company.
This brings us to the Animal Kingdom building undertaking, which is like Disney’s Hollywood Studios in visitor affect however has (clearly) resulted in an identical ‘do you have to skip?’ article. And since I don’t have a behavior of writing posts for zero motive in anyway, you would possibly surmise that (spoiler alert) the reply is not going to be “positively not–everybody ought to do DAK.”
This text ending in something however a full-throated, unequivocal endorsement of Disney’s Animal Kingdom goes to anger some Walt Disney World followers. Now that old style EPCOT Middle has been gone for a few a long time, these purists (my folks!) have been changed by DAK diehards.
The important thing distinction between the Animal Kingdom and EPCOT fanatics is straightforward: cynicism. Or reasonably, a scarcity thereof. The latter are important of just about each change, whereas the Animal Kingdom advocates could possibly be dubbed DAK defenders. And understandably so, because the park has been the topic of scorn, unfair ridicule and criticism. In a phrase, Animal Kingdom is misunderstood.
If this describes you, that’s effective–implausible, even! However you must also perceive that the audience of this put up isn’t individuals who already love Animal Kingdom. If it’s your favourite park at Walt Disney World, you shouldn’t skip Animal Kingdom. In case you suppose it’s an exemplar of themed design, you shouldn’t skip Animal Kingdom. Not at present and never when building is as its crescendo in 2026. However you already knew that.
For everybody else, Animal Kingdom already was extremely skippable even earlier than the development started.
Based on Themed Leisure Affiliation knowledge (the gold commonplace for measuring annual attendance), Animal Kingdom is the worst performing park at Walt Disney World. Over the past yr for which knowledge is accessible, it was the one park at Walt Disney World not within the prime 10 for worldwide theme park attendance.
Animal Kingdom ranked #16, with 8.8 million annual guests. It’s the one Walt Disney World park that didn’t hit the ten million mark, and it had lower than half the annual guests of Magic Kingdom, the #1 theme park on the earth. So even pre-construction, Animal Kingdom was the most-skipped park at Walt Disney World, with half of company who opted to go to the flagship fort park opting to skip DAK.
Our expectation is that this hole will proceed to develop. Animal Kingdom is the park most faraway from its final growth cycle, and it has misplaced greater than it has gained since March 2020. Will probably be harm by its personal lack of choices and building, and is the park far and away probably to lose attendance to Epic Universe at Common. The following few years might be robust for DAK, which very effectively may find yourself within the 7 million vary earlier than it begins rebounding with Tropical Americas in 2027-2028.
That is exactly why we’ve been advocating for additions at Animal Kingdom for the final a number of years and a larger sense of urgency from Walt Disney World management to make DAK a compelling vacation spot. The writing has been on the wall since March 2021 when Epic Universe resumed building. At that time, Disney ought to have began working to create new nighttime leisure and develop points of interest that might open by this yr, not 2027. That they didn’t is borderline dereliction of obligation.
Level being, Walt Disney World company are already voting with their wallets and ft and skipping Animal Kingdom. In case you merely need the consensus reply and never my opinion, it’s sure, Animal Kingdom is skippable–and more and more so. However you’ve learn this far, so hopefully you’re after commentary, and never simply statistics.
I’ve had conflicted emotions about Animal Kingdom for the reason that park opened. My household went opening yr, and it was our least favourite park at Walt Disney World. When Sarah and I returned throughout school, Animal Kingdom had improved, however it was nonetheless the park we visited least usually within the aughts.
Sooner or later, Animal Kingdom began to “click on” for us. As we visited Walt Disney World extra usually, we had time to decelerate and take the parks at a extra leisurely tempo. We grew to become extra fascinated by Imagineering, design and particulars, which is the place Animal Kingdom really shines. That led to the put up, “I Was Incorrect About Disney’s Animal Kingdom” again in 2013 (since up to date to account for Pandora – World of Avatar).
A robust argument could be made that Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the very best theme park in Florida. Whenever you emphasize the theme in theme park, we’d rank it #1 at Walt Disney World. Animal Kingdom is an exemplar of themed design, and arguably Disney’s most “pure” park relating to coherent storytelling. That is true even after the Avatar addition, which was weaved into the park’s overarching concepts masterfully.
The issue, because it’s ever been, is a scarcity of rides. Walt Disney World launched into an notorious Nahtazu advertising and marketing initiative following the debut of Animal Kingdom. For these unfamiliar with that, it was pronounced “not a zoo” and I’m certain you possibly can surmise from that what it entailed.
Company had been skipping Animal Kingdom as a result of they seen it as not too dissimilar from their native zoos–why pay Disney’s costs and spend restricted trip time to expertise one thing they may at residence? The factor is, the advert marketing campaign was tacit admission of the problem. Company had been proper, there have been too few rides and never sufficient daylight between Animal Kingdom and a very nice zoo.
This isn’t to say company had been utterly proper. Once more, Animal Kingdom is miles above the common zoo, or perhaps a standout one just like the San Diego Safari Park. However, the experience rely was method too low and the park leaned too closely on animal reveals and walk-through trails. These had been (and are) nice enhancements, however they had been (and are) referred to as on to hold an excessive amount of of the load. We’ve warned company to area these experiences out to keep away from “animal fatigue,” and this is without doubt one of the the reason why there’s an early afternoon exodus from Animal Kingdom.
Animal Kingdom’s lack of rides drawback has by no means been absolutely addressed. Points of interest have been added over time, with Expedition Everest and Pandora – World of Avatar being enormous belongings, among the many finest rides in all of Walt Disney World.
Even after these additions, Animal Kingdom has by far the lightest experience roster of any park at Walt Disney World. And that has solely gotten worse in 2025, with the closure of two conventional theme park fashion points of interest. The park is now down to six rides that put up wait occasions. Develop that to incorporate main reveals and the attraction rely is 9 or 10.
This massively understates the totality of the visitor expertise at Animal Kingdom, because it doesn’t rely a number of main animal reveals (like Maharajah Jungle Trek or Gorilla Falls) that might be among the many highlights of a go to. It additionally doesn’t take into accounts characters, atmospheric leisure, or quite a few different issues that Animal Kingdom does so, so effectively.
We will spend a full day at Animal Kingdom and have an immensely satisfying and well-rounded expertise on par with any of the parks at Walt Disney World. You’ll be able to too, as long as you go in with the best expectations, know the place to search for the park’s hidden gems, and tempo your self in order to keep away from “animal fatigue.”
Personally, I don’t suppose the the attraction closures to this point in 2025–a spinner and a 3D present–transfer the needle on that. When it goes extinct in early 2026, DINOSAUR would be the a lot larger blow. However by the point DINOSAUR closes, Zootopia: Higher Zoogether will open. That’s positively not a 1:1 alternative, however the brand new 3D present will assist. And hopefully there’s extra leisure on faucet for 2026 to assist ease the rising pains.
Relating to building affect by way of visible blight or navigational points, there actually isn’t a lot of 1. Dino-Rama is the world that’s walled off, and the cheesy roadside carnival contributed simply as a lot visible blight when it was open, if no more. The partitions are much less of an eyesore, in case you ask me.
Even so, we might proceed recommending Animal Kingdom to anybody with 4 or extra days at Walt Disney World that enjoys wildlife and needs an immersive theme park expertise that entails exploration and savoring the little issues, and never simply bouncing from experience to experience.
The truth that most company deal with Animal Kingdom like a half-day park and attendance will additional lower by means of 2027 could possibly be seen as an asset to savvy company, particularly these with Park Hopper tickets. Go very first thing within the morning or in late afternoon, and also you’ll have the ability to get pleasure from low to average crowd ranges ~300 days of the yr. No want for Lightning Lanes!
You can too simply spend a full day at DAK. In reality, the argument could possibly be made that Animal Kingdom is so much like World Showcase–gentle on rides however heavy on surroundings and environment–and company not often complain about World Showcase. Most everybody views that space of EPCOT as an asset, and enjoys making their method around the globe. Animal Kingdom is similar to that, however grittier and fewer romanticized…plus animals!
Mockingly sufficient, there are literally a number of promoting factors of visiting Animal Kingdom quickly…all of that are animals!
The simple all-star of Animal Kingdom proper now could be Bakso, the park’s lovable Sumatran tiger cub. Watch in awe because the cub and his mom, Sohni, playfully pounce and prowl collectively of their lush habitat stuffed with cascading waterfalls, timber, hills and logs. Maharajah Jungle Trek supplies ample alternatives for the massive cats to conduct naturally–speaking, resting, hiding, and exploring. Above all else, the duo likes to play, and their conduct is heartwarming and acquainted to any father or mother.
Extra just lately, Kilimanjaro Safaris welcomed a towering addition to its household as Mara, the park’s beloved Masai giraffe, gave start to a ravishing child boy named Tucker! Mara, who joined the savanna in 2015, has proudly expanded her household thrice now! It looks as if simply yesterday Walt Disney World was celebrating the start of her first calf, Jabari, in 2019. (In fact, that is the primary giraffe calf start at Walt Disney World since 2021.) As with Bakso the tiger cub, Tucker can also be lovable.
Rounding out the trio is a trio: Butternut, Biscuit, and Potato (sure, Potato) are the most recent Asian small-clawed otter infants to debut at Animal Kingdom! These otters and their mother and father, Kevin and Mae, are actually showing within the Otter Grotto habitat on the Discovery Island Trails. Personally, I can not wait to see Potato the Otter. (Significantly, don’t miss Otter Grotto–it’s one other of the implausible animal trails that’s usually neglected!)
To not disparage lovable animals, however none of that is actually that notable. It’s heartwarming, however not a marketable draw for vacationers. Animals are born usually at Animal Kingdom.
Relating to different additions that’ll draw company, Animal Kingdom is the one park with nothing deliberate in Summer time 2025. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is getting the Villains and Little Mermaid stage reveals. Magic Kingdom is getting Disney Starlight Evening Parade. EPCOT is getting Take a look at Monitor 3.0, GEO-82 Lounge Inside Spaceship Earth, and Goofy’s Takeover of CommuniCore Corridor.
The park that wants essentially the most is getting the least. It’s nonetheless completely baffling that Animal Kingdom isn’t getting a drone present, because the park badly wants to provide company a motive to remain late. The entire motive why I waited till after Walt Disney World introduced its summer time slate is as a result of I hoped DAK drone present was the ace up its sleeve–{that a} blockbuster nighttime spectacular would put this complete dialog to relaxation.
Whereas we very a lot would love for everybody to understand Animal Kingdom as a lot as we do, we’re additionally realists. There’s a motive why the the park has decrease attendance, a day exodus, and provides company “animal fatigue.” It’s additionally true that you could routinely end each experience in Animal Kingdom earlier than 11 am! There’s a divergence between how hardcore followers and informal company every understand Animal Kingdom, and that is value discussing, reasonably than simply pretending the overwhelming majority of informal guests are “doing it incorrect.”
Then there’s the elephant within the room: Epic Universe. After having had the possibility to expertise this brand-new theme park, I’m now of the idea that ride-oriented company with restricted trip time eager to “make room” for Common Orlando’s new theme park would possibly need to reduce Animal Kingdom from the plans. (See We’re Reside Inside Epic Universe for Paid Previews: Photographs & Video for extra–plus heaps extra protection to come back.)
On opening day, Epic Universe could have 11 rides and two main reveals, plus atmospheric leisure, play areas, and extra. For these preserving rating at residence, that is extra rides than Animal Kingdom. When you increase that to all points of interest and compelling choices (minus animal reveals), the rosters are arguably comparable. I’m nonetheless satisfied that the common visitor will choose the attraction slate at Epic Universe to that of Animal Kingdom.
Mainly, the kind of one that felt the necessity to learn this put up (and never hate learn, however for planning functions) will in all probability be higher suited by Epic Universe. Each parks have excessive factors and are extremely compelling in their very own methods, however there are extra main rides which might be must-dos at Epic Universe. And whereas I acknowledge recency bias could possibly be coloring my opinion, I’d actually reasonably spend time at Epic Universe within the subsequent couple of years over Animal Kingdom. It has a number of heavy-hitters with countless re-rideability.
Mockingly sufficient, that is the outcome-determinative issue. Not something about Animal Kingdom itself. From our perspective, the development partitions aren’t significantly impactful, and the points of interest which have closed additionally will not be the straw that breaks the camel’s again. The difference-maker isn’t something taking place at Animal Kingdom. In a vacuum, the park is kind of as worthwhile of a draw at present because it was throughout any of the previous few years.
It’s really an externality that gave rise to this put up and likewise makes the reply “sure” for some company. That externality is Epic Universe, a brand new theme park that competes for the restricted trip {dollars} and time of vacationers. And whereas one of these comparability has lengthy been doable with Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey–which in all probability a minimum of partially explains why DAK has decrease attendance than the opposite Walt Disney World parks–it’s far more pronounced now with Epic Universe.
Once more, it didn’t should be this manner. Walt Disney World may have launched a brand new nighttime spectacular that includes drones, added leisure, enjoyable experience overlays or seasonal occasions–something to assist buoy Animal Kingdom and make it extra aggressive for the subsequent couple of years. That wouldn’t have made the reply to this put up an across-the-board “no,” however it could’ve made “no” a extra widespread reply. Staying on-site and visiting all 4 of the Walt Disney World theme parks is the cheaper and simpler choice–the trail of least resistance. Puncturing the Disney Bubble is extra of a problem that will increase prices and logistics–however it’s an choice that’s worthy of consideration for a lot of company in 2025 by means of 2027 for the sake of seeing Epic Universe.
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Your Ideas
Will you be visiting Animal Kingdom within the subsequent couple of years? In case you’re skipping DAK, are you doing so to keep away from building and closed points of interest, and ready till new rides and Tropical Americas opens? Or are you taking your restricted trip time and reallocating the day from DAK to Epic Universe? Some other suggestions on upcoming modifications and the way they’ll affect the expertise? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
