The Pixie Dust Pals Plan...Animal Kingdom
I’m going to be honest: for a long time, we counted the Animal Kingdom out. It was the park we’d tell you to skip if you had to miss one, and we’d usually only spend a morning there each trip. Upon further exploration, and with the additions of nighttime attractions and Pandora, we know now that the Animal Kingdom is a must! There’s still plenty we need to explore, but here are favorites in fun and food!
FOOD AND DRINK
Flame Tree Barbeque – Arguably one of the best quick service restaurants on property, Flame Tree serves the smoky and saucy. Don’t miss the pulled pork!
Nomad Lounge – The biggest crime that resulted from our writing off the Animal Kingdom is that we didn’t discover the Nomad Lounge until last year. I have described this traveler’s haven as nirvana and. I. stand. by. it. Don’t miss the gluten free churros or our full review here.
Satu’li Canteen – Eat like the Na’vi at this Pandora mess hall. Allison loved the fresh and healthful flavors when she visited. Find our review here.
Pizzafari – This is one of the only places left on property to get what we think of as the quintessential Disney personal pizza.
FUN
Expedition Everest – “There’s something I didn’t tell you about this one.” – Allison to me the first time I climbed Everest. This is one of our favorite thrill rides, and as Allison’s comment might suggest, it comes with a twist!
Kilimanjaro Safari – Jambo! You’ll find incredible experiences and information about Disney’s conservation efforts, and the Kilimanjaro Safari allows you to explore the animals of the savanna. You’ll see lions, elephants, zebras and more. Don’t be surprised if a rhino walks in front of your vehicle. If you catch the safari at night, you will get to see a bit of Disney magic and catch a savanna sunset!
Dinosaur – THIS IS A HIDDEN GEM. We decided to ride it during Christmas one year because it was the only thing that didn’t have a massive wait, and we’ve never missed it since. You’ll travel back in time on a mission to find a dinosaur…just make sure you’ve got the right dino before traveling back to present day.
Avatar Flight of Passage – The crown jewel of Pandora – the World of Avatar, this ride is worth every ounce of the hype. People regularly waited 3+ hours after it opened, and it’s honestly worth it. You board a banshee and fly over Pandora’s amazing beauty. I left my first experience saying, “Nobody does it like Disney.”
Festival of the Lion King – This show brings your favorite felines to life with a Broadway-style show, amped up with amazing acrobatics and crowd participation.
Finding Nemo – The Musical – It’s Nemo’s world reimagined with music! Disney uses incredibly puppetry to take you under the sea and help Nemo find his way home.
