Disney World Day 4 | Animal Kingdom

Written By Sami Laughlin

Check out my Animal Kingdom vlog HERE!

Jambo, friends!

Jambo means “hello” in Swahili, and this is a phrase we heard a lot on our fourth day in Disney World as we explored Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

I will be the first to admit that I thought Animal Kingdom would be a half-day park for us. I was even worried that we would be bored and want to leave the park early because I thought it was going to be a glorified zoo. I will also be the first to admit I WAS WRONG!

My apprehension about Animal Kingdom was based on the fact that we weren’t interested in the majority of the “must-do” rides that people rave about. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see Animal Kingdom, but I originally felt it would be a waste of a park ticket when we would probably enjoy Magic Kingdom, Epcot, or even a Hollywood Studios do-over day more.

While I still don’t think Animal Kingdom is my favorite park ever, our time there definitely changed my perspective on this park and gave me an appreciation for it!

Before I tell you about our first-timer experience in Animal Kingdom, make sure to check out my other content from our first three days in Disney World:

The Photo Pass line was crazy long, so we took our own pictures this time.

Arriving at Animal Kingdom:

We took the Disney Bus transportation from Caribbean Beach Resort to Animal Kingdom. Initially we would have just taken the Aruba bus stop, but I wanted to stop by the lobby gift shop before we left so we ended up taking the bus from the Old Port Royale stop outside of the lobby.

This turned out to be a happy accident, because our bus filled up before it made it to the Aruba bus stop. This is a fear I hear for a lot of people staying at Caribbean Beach Resort due to the internal bus loop. This was the only day that we saw this happen, but this was also the only day that we took Disney transportation at park open. As usual with Disney transportation I would recommend to plan for extra time and expect delays just in case.

Side Note: I also got a bagel breakfast sandwich from Centertown Market before we left the resort and it was 10 out of 10! And the breakfast potatoes were the perfect blend of saltiness and crispiness!

iPhone wallpaper itinerary made on Canva

The Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom Lightning Lanes:

We didn’t really want to do a lot of attractions in Animal Kingdom that were included in the Lightning Lane Multipass system. However, since this park does close earlier than the rest (6:00 pm) and the things we wanted to do are prone to longer wait times, we decided to go ahead and book LLMP. LLMP for May 1st in Animal Kingdom was only $18 per person, which made it the cheapest of the LLMP days that we booked.

We started the day with these rides booked:

  • Kilimanjaro Safaris, 8:20-9:20

  • Festival of the Lion King, 10:30-10:50

  • Na’vi River Journey, 12:35-1:35

At some point in the day, plans changed a little bit and we had to move back our Lion King LL, which interfered with Na’vi River. There were no more spots available for Na’vi for the rest of the day, but Lion King was definitely more important to us so we made that sacrifice. We ended up booking using our LLMP to book Feathered Friends in Flight instead, which definitely wasn’t necessary but we had it to use, so why not.

LLMP was definitely worth it for Kilimanjaro Safaris (which was the primary reason we booked LLMP). We were able to get a really early LL time, which meant that the animals were active and we got it checked off of our list right away. And we also saw the wait times sky rocket for the rest of the day, so we were really happy with our decision.

I’ve heard that it is worth it to book a LL for Festival of the Lion King also, but I really can’t confirm this either way. We sat outside of the show building eating ice cream and opening mystery pins for about 30 minutes before our show time. We didn’t see a crowd, and when we went in there were still seats available. So for the day we went I would say it wasn’t a necessity, but I’m sure on busier days (and in the future when Tropical America’s opens) it would be a good idea to book this LL if it is a must-do for you.

Views from Kilimanjaro Safaris

Flamingos on Kilimanjaro Safaris

Kilimanjaro Safaris:

This was such a fun experience! When you board the safari vehicle you immediately feel like you are transported to another world. Even though they do claim that it will be a “bumpy ride” it isn’t anything crazy. You will drive through some tree covered pathways, dirt and gravel roads, water puddles, and across a bridge or two. It is so peaceful to see the animals enjoying a walk, eating a snack, or taking a morning nap. We were lucky enough to get an early lightning lane, which means the animals were very active and we got to see so many of them!

It isn’t a thrill-inducing roller coaster ride, but it is still an exciting attraction. It’s definitely something I would do again on my next visit to Animal Kingdom.

The Baby Elephant & Baby Giraffe:

There were several new babies in the kingdom when we visited in May! On the safari, 1-year old baby elephant Corra graced us with her appearance! She was hanging out with her mom in the distance, so I couldn’t get any great photos, but did get to see her. Baby giraffe Tucker was born just a few weeks before we visited Disney World and while he can be seen on the safari, he wasn’t out during our ride.

Stopping for Breakfast:

I was up and ready to go first on our AK morning, so I ate breakfast at Centertown Market before we left the resort. I had the bagel breakfast sandwich with breakfast potatoes and it was 10 out of 10!

However, after Kilimanjaro Safaris everyone else was ready for breakfast so we made our first stop of the day. They grabbed a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit from Tamu Tamu refreshments and I got coffee from Creature Comforts.

Traveling to Rafiki’s Planet Watch:

After a coffee and breakfast stop, we were ready to embark on our next adventure: Rafiki’s Planet Watch! Rafiki’s is a secluded area of the park that is dedicated to educating visitors on animals and conservation efforts.

To get to Rafiki’s you have to take the Wildlife Express Train. According to Disney the 1.2 mile journey to Rafiki’s takes 7-minutes, but it honestly didn’t feel that long to me. The train ride is so smooth and peaceful, and you get to see “behind the scenes” of Animal Kingdom on your way.

Wilderness Explorer Activity:

Animal Kingdom has several Wilderness Explorer activity stands around the park. At these stands you can earn 25 different Wilderness Explorer “badges” by completing the activity and hearing some animal and nature facts from cast members. You can pick up your Wilderness Explorer booklet at any of the stands, and you can pick up a sticker badge at each stop after you complete the activity.

There is a Wilderness Explorer activity at Rafiki’s Planet Watch. For this activity, you are given a list of animals and insects and you have to search the surrounding area to find things like rabbits, bees, and even tarantula’s (gross!)! Don’t worry, everything is fake! Once we checked everything off of our list, we checked in with the cast member and got our first Wilderness Explorer badge!

Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to stop by any of the other Wilderness Explorer stands, but that is definitely something to look forward to on our next trip to Animal Kingdom.

The Animation Experience:

This is the activity that I was most excited about at Rafiki’s Planet Watch! I’ve been an artist my whole life and I almost minored in art in college, so creative experiences like this always catch my eye. 

At this experience, one of Disney’s professional animators will guide you through step-by-step instructions on how to draw one of Disney’s famous animated characters. You are given a piece of paper with the base of the character, a clipboard, and a tiny pencil. As long as you keep up with the instructor you will have a masterpiece on your hands by the end of the experience! During our experience we got to draw Bambi!

Conservation Station:

The Animation Experience is located inside of the Conversation Station. All around the room you will find different observation windows where you can see and learn about different species of animals, reptiles, amphibians, and more. You can even observe the animal treatment room, where you can see animals being cared for. 

The Affection Section:

Outside of the Conservation Station you can find a small petting zoo called The Affection Section! This area is fenced off, but you can enter through the gate if you would like to pet the animals. We saw goats, sheep, and a boar! Some of them loved getting all of the pets, while others were happy to just sit in the shade by themselves. 

Once you are done petting the animals, you can wash your hands at the sink located next to the gate before you continue with your magical day!

Chicken Ceasar Salad from Harambe Market

Lunch at Harambe Market:

The train ride back from Rafiki’s was just long enough for us to mobile order our lunch from Harambe Market! When we got off the train we walked over and picked up our food without a wait!

I ordered the chicken ceasar salad, which was light and refreshing on a hot Disney day —yet still totally delicious and filling! My mother in law got the ceasar salad without protein, and Brian got the chicken rice bowl kids meal, which was still a decent sized meal that fills you up without making you feel miserably full for the rest of your park day. 

Photos with the Tree of Life:

As always, there are tons of ways that you can take incredible photos with the Animal Kingdom park icon —The Tree of Life!

Most of the time, the best park icon photo is in the front of the park. However, in Animal Kingdom I think the best Photo Pass spot for the Tree of Life is actually in the back of the park. In my opinion, our photos here are so much better that what we got at the front of the park later in the day. And this is probably on of the only places at any of the parks that you can get a photo with the icon without other park visitors in the background —no photoshop needed!

Even though Photo Pass photographer’s are usually easy to spot in their bright green shirts, this one may be a little harder to find. This spot is tucked away on the path that connects Africa and Asia. Pay close attention to a little pathway that cuts away from the main path and you will find it. 

Theming and Architecture:

I have a serious appreciation for the theming and architecture of the Disney parks. Animal Kingdom was no exception to this obsession! Every section of the park felt like backpacking through a different country, surrounded by ancient buildings and markets. I just felt like this topic deserved a section in the blog series somewhere.

The Festival of the Lion King show at Animal Kingdom

The Festival of the Lion King:

I heard so many great things about The Festival of the Lion King during my research for our trip, so I knew it was a must-do for us. We even spoke to a cast member on the way to Rafiki’s who told us this was “the best show on all of Disney property!” Once we saw the show, we totally agreed!

We loved the shows and live entertainment in Disney, but this show definitely made the top of our list! It felt like a miniature version of The Lion King on Broadway. Visitors are divided into four different sections: the lions, the elephants, the giraffes, and the warthogs. We sat in the elephant section, which meant we got to make elephant noises throughout the show.

This show will keep your attention locked on the performers from start to finish. From their vibrant colors and costuming, to arial performances, singing, and even fire dancing. And of course, you get to sing some of your favorite Lion King songs along the way!

Animal Kingdom - The Tree of Life & coffee from Creature Comforts

Exploring The Tree of Life:

I am a huge supporter of an afternoon coffee pick-me-up, especially when you’re on a Disney vacation where your day starts at 5am, haha! At this point in the day I was starting to his the afternoon slump, so I picked up another coffee from Creature Comforts, and we started walking to our next location (Feathered Friends in Flight).

We decided to explore the pathways around the Tree of Life (even though some of them were closed due to the It’s Tough to Be a Bug closure/re-theming), and in doing so I think I found my new favorite Animal Kingdom passtime.

We took our time walking and exploring the tree from every angle. There are over 300 animals carved into The Tree of Life, and you could probably stand there all day and still not find them all. It was fun to search and point out the animals as a family! Pro tip, don’t forget to check out the base of the tree too! We even found carvings at ground level.

Doug and Russel from UP! in statue form

Character’s from Up:

I really wanted to meet Doug and Russel while we were in Animal Kingdom, but unfortunately their meet and greet closed before we got to it. I also really hoped we would see Kevin… while the cast member said Kevin couldn’t stop for photos, we were still able to wave as they went by and I caught it on camera for the vlog!

We also found these statues of Doug and Russel that put a smile on my face!

Feathered Friends in Flight:

Our last show of the day was Feathered Friends in Flight. This show features trained birds that know how to do tricks like catch, fly, and even talk on command. The hosts of the show also work in a little crowd humor and dad jokes, which adds to the fun. I won’t spoil the show, but the ending with the Macaw’s was my favorite part!

This isn’t a must-do show in my opinion, but it was definitely worth seeing at least once. This show would also be exciting for younger kids because the birds flying over the audience can be really exciting!

Photos from the Maharajah Jungle Trek

Photos from the Maharajah Jungle Trek

Maharajah Jungle Trek:

The Maharajah Jungle Trek is described as taking a self-guided tour through southeast Asia. Once again, the design of the area is unmatched and makes you feel like you are really immersed in ancient ruins. The Disney website has a whole list of creatures that you might see on this walk, but we only got to see bats, tigers, and birds.

This area kicked my photographer brain into hyperdrive. I could just imagine the cutest photo session here. Maybe one day I’ll bring my gear to Disney for some professional shots. 🤗

Seeing Baby Bakso:

A third set of paws also joined the Animal Kingdom family recently… Bakso, a baby Sumatran tiger, was born last September and entered the Maharajah Jungle Trek in January of this year. He has drawn a crowd ever since his debut, and I was so excited to see him! He was playing with his family in the distance, so I couldn’t get any good photos, but I did get a little clip for the vlog! He doesn’t look much like a baby anymore, but was still adorable!

Views of the Himilaya’s:

There is no way I would ride Expedition Everest, but the ride and the mountains were fantastic to see, haha! There are incredible views of the mountain all over the park, but there is also a few great viewing spots where you can watch the roller coaster climb and descend.

Seeing the Rest of the Park:

Our day in Animal Kingdom flew by! We used the afternoon to explore Asia, the remaining parts of Dinoland U.S.A, and Discovery Island. We didn’t have time to do a lot, but we were able to at least see those areas and walk through a few gift shops.

Things we Missed:

There were a few “iconic” Animal Kingdom things we didn’t get to see or experience. On the plus side, these are things we can prioritize on our next visit:

  • Pandora - The World of Avatar (& Na’vi River Journey)

  • Gorilla Fall Exploration Trail

  • Meeting Mickey & Minnie at Adventurer’s Outpost

  • Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond

  • Seasoned Fries from Mr. Kamal’s

  • Churro Flight from Nomad Lounge

  • The rest of the Animal Exhibits & Wilderness Explorer Stations

Saying Goodbye to Animal Kingdom:

The line for photos with The Tree of Life at the front of the park was significantly shorter at the end of the day, and you know I’m not one to pass up a Photo Pass, so we stopped for a few more photos in Animal Kingdom.

We left right at park close, which gave us an unexpectedly magical exit experience. As we made our way out, the cast members formed a cheerful tunnel along the exit path—sending guests off with songs, big smiles, and friendly waves. For a moment, it almost felt like we were the parade performers, waving to the crowd. It was such a simple touch, but it made us feel special and celebrated—and turned what’s usually a sad goodbye into something joyful.

Our park day might have been over, but we kept the fun going! For dinner, we decided to resort hop for an extra special treat.

Traveling to Port Orleans French Quarter:

The easiest way to resort hop is from one of the parks or Disney Springs. When we left Animal Kingdom we went to the Port Orleans French Quarter bus stop. There are two Port Orleans resorts (Riverside & French Quarter), and the bus stops are right next to each other. We waited for quite awhile for a French Quarter bus, but it never showed. When a second Riverside bus pulled up, we decided to take that bus and then walk to French Quarter. This was an unexpected bonus because we got to see two new resorts!

We explored the Riverside gift shop, and then started the walk over to French Quarter. There is also boat transportation between the two resorts, but we just decided to walk. The sidewalk next to the river is smooth and shaded, so it was pretty relaxing. It took us less than 10 minutes to walk between the two resorts. As we got closer to French Quarter we saw people riding horse drawn carriages too!

Sassagoula Float Works Citrus-Basil Salmon & Gumbo

Dinner at Sassagoula Float Works:

The quick-service restaurants for Riverside and French Quarter serve the same menu, but the theming is slightly different. Riverside is more colonial America, and French Quarter is more classic New Orleans architecture.

The French Quarter restaurant is called Sassagoula Float Works. It is a cafeteria style restaurant, with different stations you can walk up to and order. I find these types of quick-service restaurants to be helpful on family vacations because everyone can choose whatever their in the mood for.

For this dinner, I chose the citrus-basil salmon with mashed potatoes and assorted veggies. This meal was so good that I think I commented on it a dozen times during dinner, haha! This felt fresh and healthy and like something I would eat at home —a nice change to the typical theme park food. Brian ordered the Gumbo, which he also gave a great review, and his mom ordered a classic cheeseburger and fries.

Since we knew this was our plan after Animal Kingdom, we carried our resort mugs with us this day and used them here.

Mickey Beignets from Scat Cat’s Club Cafe

Mickey Beignets:

Now the reason we really came to Port Orleans… the Mickey Beignets!

If you’ve done any research about Disney World, you’ve probably heard about these legendary mickey-shaped beignets. You can only find them at Port Orleans French Quarter in the Scat Cat Club Cafe or Lounge. The Lounge offers typical lounge atmosphere and music, but if you just want to get the beignets you can go to the walkup counter at the cafe.

They come in an order of 3 for $7.99 or 6 for $12.99 and come with one sauce. You can also add on an additional sauce for $0.99. Brian opted for a different dessert from Sassagoula (criminal!) so I only ordered 3 and one of each sauce.

I’m happy to report that the Mickey Mouse Beignets are absolutely worth the hype. They were perfectly warm and fluffy and covered in powdered sugar! The sauces were just ok, and tasted like the syrups you can buy from the grocery store to drizzle over ice cream. But the beignets didn’t need sauce at all, they were delicious as is! This resort stop may be out of the way, but the wre totally worth the journey.

Pro tip: Order them “for here” if you’re trying to get good photos for social media. Otherwise you will end up like me, taking photos inside of a paper bag, haha!

Exploring Port Orleans:

After we were full of dinner and beignets, we explored the resort a bit. The lobby views were so pretty, and gave you the feeling of strolling through historic court yards in New Orleans. Behind the lobby, there is a line of dancing alligators that will put a smile on your face as you walk to the main pool. I don’t have any photos of the pool area, but the decor was bright and exciting and would be fun for children (or adults who feel like children).

Of course we also visited the gift shop before we left. I felt this gift shop with well stocked with things we didn’t see at the parks or other resorts. They also had a section of hand painted mardi gras masks for sale, which my husband loved. It was a totally unique touch to this New Orleans inspired resort.

Would I Stay Here In The Future:

This resort was high on my list of options for this vacation. I was excited to visit for the beignets, but also to see the resort in person for reference for future trips. Overall, I think it is a lovely resort with beautiful architecture and felt quiet and relaxing, and borderline romantic. I think I would definitely consider staying here in the future, especially around mardi gras for their cast member-decorated mardi gras golf cart parade!

Getting Back to Our Resort:

To get back to our resort using Disney transportation, the easiest way would have been to take a bus from Port Orleans French Quarter to Disney Springs and the from Disney Springs to Caribbean Beach. While we weren’t really in a rush, that would have been a lot of waiting time and we were pretty drained at this point in the day. We decided to order a Lyft to save time, which cost $5.90 (before tip) and picked us up at the POFQ lobby and dropped us off at our resort section at CBR.

Check out my Animal Kingdom vlog HERE!

Conclussion:

This was such an exciting day exploring Animal Kingdom and Port Orleans French Quarter. This day really exceeded my expectations for the trip, and ended up being one of my favorites. We accomplished so much on this “short” park day, and if you want to see it all for yourself don’t forget to check out my Animal Kingdom Vlog on YouTube!

Thanks so much for reading and following along on our first time experience in Disney World! Make sure to come back next week for our first experience in EPCOT!

With Love,

Sami

Sami Laughlin https://slaughlinco.com
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