Top Rides at Animal Kingdom 9

Animal Kingdom was another park that we use to treat more like a half day park years ago, but we started to gain a bigger appreciation for it and with the addition of Pandora, it has become a favorite of mine. There are not a ton of rides because there really does not need to be, the ones they do have are some of my favorites though.

Avatar Flights of Passage

This ride typically has wait times between 2-3 hours and there is a good reason for that, it’s the second best ride in all of Disney World in my opinion (Rise of the Resistance being #1). The ride is like Soarin on steroids and really makes you feel like you are flying, between the motion, wind and scents, it is really immersive. The que area is equally as beautiful with the floating mountains, waterfalls and flowers on the outside and the tunnels in the caves transitioning into a base before you enter the uhhhh preshow. Flights of Passage is worth all the hype it gets and is a ride we do multiple times when we are in the park.

Primeval Whirl

Primeval Whirl was a ride that I avoided at all costs up until a few short years ago. I am not good with rides that spin and this one looked like an absolute nightmare, but for the good of the podcast I made sure to experience everything Disney World had to offer and to my surprise I actually enjoyed it. The spinning sensation does not feel as bad as it looks, but the ride does toss you from side to side though, so please don’t assume that it’s a kiddy ride. You may want to give this one a try, I am glad I did.

Kali River Rapids

Kali River meets one of my favorite criterias, it is a water ride and you get wet. Other than that, this is a pretty ordinary river/tube ride that does not have an overly exciting que and the ride theming is not over the top, but on a hot day, this is a must do. My one main complaint about this ride is the length, it feels a little shorter than it should, that does not take away from the fun factor though.

Dinosaur

Dinosaur has a very under appreciated que area and a semi amusing pre show, once inside the ride, hold on because you are in for a rough ride. I really enjoy the dark ride aspect and the animatronics on Dinosaur, but the thing I love the most is how the ride vehicle simulates a rough ride, to be prepared for a lot of bouncing, twisting, turning and sudden jolts. I also am a big fan of the ride photo near the end, not just because it creates a memory, but also because my wife can never figure out what direction to look at for the picture.

Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

I put Expedition Everest last because I almost did not include it on the list. This is a ride that I really do enjoy, but it has a section that goes backwards at a high speed and leave me loopy long after the ride is over. This is probably the most thrilling and fastest of all the Disney roller coasters even though it does not go upside down or corkscrew like Rock n Roller Coaster. This ride depends on high drops, speed, a section of darkness and that dreaded backwards area to create the thrill. The ride and the que area are decorated pretty meticulously as well, making this a ride that I just could not leave off my list.

Final Thoughts

Animal Kingdom really does have a great mix of kiddy and thrill rides making it perfect for everyone, plus the shows and atmosphere of this park make it feel much different from anything else at Disney World. I did leave off a couple big contenders in Navi River Journey and Kilimanjaro Safaris, I enjoy both of them, but I do not go on them every time I visit the parks. As always please make sure to follow us in the Crazy for Disney page and listen in to the Behind the Ears Podcast every wednesday night at 8PM est. We would also love to hear your thoughts below, we will pick random comments every day and send those fans a sticker,