Best Non-Ride Things to Do at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
There is so much to do at Animal Kingdom besides rides! Discover animal trails, shows, characters, live music, incredible food, Pandora, and more.
Estimated reading time: 29 minutes
You could spend an entire day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom without riding a single ride.
And honestly?
That’s not even fair. 😂
Because for the purposes of this article, I’m not counting Kilimanjaro Safaris.
Yes, technically Disney calls it an attraction. And yes, it’s an animal experience. Of course, it’s completely different from riding a roller coaster.
But you climb into a vehicle and it drives you around.
It’s a ride.
So we’re playing this one straight.
No Expedition Everest. No Flight of Passage. No Na’vi River Journey. No Kali River Rapids. And no sneaking Kilimanjaro Safaris onto the list because there happen to be giraffes involved.
And you know what?
There’s still an absurd amount to do.
You can see gorillas and tigers. Watch some of the best shows at Walt Disney World. Meet characters. Earn Wilderness Explorer badges. Listen to live music. Explore incredibly detailed lands. Photograph animals and the Tree of Life. Wander underneath Pandora’s floating mountains.
And eat.
Oh my goodness, can you eat.
Animal Kingdom is probably the easiest park at Walt Disney World to enjoy even if you don’t care about rides at all.
Here are the best things to do instead.
1. Explore Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
Let’s start with the obvious one.
Animals.
Animal Kingdom is a gigantic zoological park wrapped inside a Disney theme park, and you absolutely do not need Kilimanjaro Safaris to see animals here.
One of the best places to start is Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Africa.
This is a self-guided walking trail, so you can take as much—or as little—time as you want.
And there is a lot to see.
The gorillas are obviously the stars of the show, but you’ll also find hippos, zebras, meerkats, birds and other animals along the trail.
I think people sometimes make the mistake of treating Gorilla Falls like an extension of Kilimanjaro Safaris.
It’s not.
The Safari gives you this incredible moving experience through huge habitats.
Gorilla Falls lets you stop.
Watch.
Wait.
See what the animals are doing.
If the gorillas are particularly active, you can stay there for 20 minutes. Nobody is driving your safari vehicle away from them because it’s time to see the next animal.
And that’s one of the things I love about Animal Kingdom’s trails.
You get to experience the animals on their schedule.
2. Look for Tigers on Maharajah Jungle Trek
Then head over to Asia for Maharajah Jungle Trek.
And if you like tigers?
Tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers. 😂
This is one of my favorite animal experiences in Animal Kingdom.
The tiger habitats are absolutely gorgeous, and there are multiple places along the trail where you can look for them.
I’ve had some spectacularly close tiger encounters here.
Obviously, these are real animals, so I cannot promise that a tiger is going to stroll directly in front of you and pose beautifully for your camera.
But when they do?
Holy cow.
The trail itself is also beautiful.
You’re walking through elaborate ruins, gardens, murals and animal habitats, so it doesn’t feel like you’re simply moving from enclosure to enclosure at a zoo.
There are bats, birds and other animals throughout the experience as well.
And while you’re exploring this part of Asia, keep an eye out for the gibbons and siamangs in the nearby habitats. They’re another one of those Animal Kingdom experiences that people can walk right past because they’re rushing toward the rides.
Slow down.
You’re in a park filled with animals.
Look at the animals.
3. Explore the Animal Trails Around Discovery Island and The Oasis
The third major animal experience is actually spread across the front and center of the park.
And I think this is probably the one guests overlook the most.
There are animals throughout The Oasis and Discovery Island, including around the Tree of Life.
You’ll find birds, otters, lemurs, tortoises and other animals tucked into habitats that are remarkably easy to miss if you’re treating this part of Animal Kingdom as nothing more than the route between the entrance and your first Lightning Lane.
That’s a shame.
Discovery Island in particular is probably the most visited and least explored part of Animal Kingdom.
Everybody walks through it.
Far fewer people actually look at it.
Take one of the trails around the Tree of Life. Stop at the habitats. Look for animals. Look up at the Tree itself.
You may discover that there’s considerably more happening here than you realized.
4. Watch Festival of the Lion King
If we’re moving from animals to shows, I’m starting with the obvious winner.
Festival of the Lion King is fantastic.
Actually, I think it’s one of the best shows at Walt Disney World.
You’ve got singers, dancers, acrobats, familiar Lion King characters and music that pretty much everybody knows.
The whole production is energetic and colorful, and because the theater surrounds the performance space, it feels like the show is happening all around you.
There’s audience participation.
There are enormous character floats.
There are performers flying through the air.
It’s just fun.
If you’re visiting Animal Kingdom and you’re not particularly interested in rides, I would put Festival of the Lion King extremely high on your priority list.
Frankly, I’d put it pretty high on the list even if you do care about rides.
It’s that good.
5. See Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! is another show I wouldn’t skip.
And this one has a completely different feel from Festival of the Lion King.
It’s a musical stage production using performers and elaborate puppetry to tell a Finding Nemo story.
It’s colorful and sweet and incredibly well done.
I probably give Festival of the Lion King the edge if you only have time for one.
But it’s not a giant edge.
Finding Nemo is excellent.
And if you’re specifically building an Animal Kingdom day that isn’t centered around rides, I don’t see any reason you couldn’t do both.
That’s the beauty of this park.
You don’t have to fill eight hours with ride queues.
6. Watch Feathered Friends in Flight!
Then there’s Feathered Friends in Flight! in Asia.
I think this show suffers from one problem:
Animal Kingdom’s other shows are so freaking good. 😂
Because Feathered Friends is also a really good show.
It’s just quieter.
You’ll see animal-care experts working with birds including macaws, eagles and other species, sometimes with birds flying surprisingly close to the audience.
It’s interesting, relaxing, and fun.
And the Anandapur Theater itself fits beautifully into the elaborate theming of Asia.
Would I choose this over Festival of the Lion King if I only had time for one show?
No.
But on a day where I’m deliberately exploring all the things Animal Kingdom offers besides rides?
Absolutely.
7. Check Out Zootopia: Better Zoogether!
And now Animal Kingdom has another show inside the Tree of Life.
Zootopia: Better Zoogether! brings Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and other Zootopia characters into a colorful show built around Zoogether Day.
It’s cute.
There are effects. There’s humor. There are familiar characters.
And because you’re already on Discovery Island exploring the Tree of Life and its animal trails, this is an easy non-ride experience to add to your day.
It also reinforces something that’s easy to forget about Animal Kingdom.
This park doesn’t have a huge ride count.
But once you start adding together the animal trails, live shows, characters and entertainment?
The attraction count suddenly looks very different.
8. Stop and Listen to the Live Entertainment
This is where we start getting into what I think people miss when they race through Animal Kingdom.
The atmosphere is part of the entertainment.
I’ve stopped to listen to musicians in Harambe.
And I’ve watched the Viva Gaia Street Band on Discovery Island.
I’ve encountered sitar music in Asia.
And these aren’t necessarily things I’m scheduling my entire day around.
That’s the point.
You’re walking through Harambe on your way somewhere else and suddenly there’s music.
People stop.
Kids dance.
A crowd forms.
For ten minutes, the thing you were supposedly on your way to doesn’t matter quite as much.
Animal Kingdom is particularly good at this kind of entertainment because it feels like it belongs to the place you’re exploring rather than something Disney randomly dropped onto a stage.
So if you hear music?
Stop.
See what’s happening.
You might find one of your favorite little moments of the day.
9. Look for DiVine
And speaking of things you can very easily walk right past…
DiVine.
She is one of the strangest and coolest bits of atmosphere at Animal Kingdom.
DiVine is a live performer covered in foliage who blends into the surrounding vegetation while moving on stilts.
And I mean blends in.
You can walk remarkably close to her before realizing:
Wait.
Was that plant just moving? 😂
She’s not a traditional Disney character.
Or a scheduled ride.
She’s not some enormous headliner that you’re going to plan your entire touring strategy around.
This is just one of those wonderfully weird Animal Kingdom details that makes the park feel different from everywhere else at Walt Disney World.
If she’s appearing while you’re there, stop and watch for a few minutes.
10. Watch for Character Flotillas and Other Surprise Entertainment
Animal Kingdom has also used character flotillas and other less-formal entertainment around Discovery River.
And I love this kind of thing because you don’t necessarily have to do anything.
You’re walking along the river and suddenly there’s a boat going past with Disney characters waving at everyone.
Again, I wouldn’t build a touring plan around catching one unless Disney is specifically publishing a schedule during your visit.
Entertainment offerings change.
But that’s exactly why I think it’s worth paying attention to what’s happening around you at Animal Kingdom.
Some of the best non-ride experiences aren’t things you planned at all.
11. Meet Disney Characters
And if you do want to deliberately meet characters, Animal Kingdom has plenty of opportunities.
Mickey and Minnie meet together at Adventurers Outpost in their adventure outfits, which is such an appropriate character experience for this park.
You can also find Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, and Animal Kingdom has been home to appearances from characters including Moana, Pocahontas and Kevin.
Character locations and schedules change, so this is absolutely something I’d check in the My Disney Experience app on the day you visit rather than relying on a six-month-old blog post.
But don’t assume Animal Kingdom isn’t a character park.
It absolutely can be.
And some of these characters aren’t nearly as easy to find elsewhere at Walt Disney World.
12. Become a Wilderness Explorer
Finally, don’t overlook Wilderness Explorers.
This is especially fantastic for kids, but I actually think it’s a clever way for anyone to experience Animal Kingdom because it encourages you to engage with the park rather than simply move through it.
You’ll find Wilderness Explorer locations throughout Animal Kingdom where you can complete activities, learn about animals and conservation, and earn badges.
And the genius of it is that the activity sends you into the park.
You’re exploring.
Observing.
Learning things.
You’re paying attention to environments you might otherwise walk straight past.
Which, when you think about it, is pretty much the entire point of Animal Kingdom.
And we’re still not done.
Because we’ve talked about animals, shows, live entertainment and characters.
We haven’t even gotten to exploring the lands themselves.
And we definitely haven’t gotten to the food.
Ohhhhh, the food. 😂
13. Explore Harambe Instead of Just Walking Through It
One of my favorite things to do at Animal Kingdom is also one of the simplest.
Walk around Harambe.
Not walk through Harambe because you’re trying to get somewhere else.
Actually look at it.
Harambe is supposed to feel like a real East African town, and there are details everywhere. Faded advertisements. Signs. Posters. Weathered buildings. Little storefronts. Laundry. Utility wires. Layers upon layers of things that make it look like people actually live here.
This is one of those places where Disney Imagineering went far beyond what was necessary to create a theme park land.
They could have built an African-looking pathway to Kilimanjaro Safaris and called it a day.
They did not.
And if all you ever do is race through Harambe toward the Safari entrance, you miss so much of what makes this park special.
14. Wander Through Anandapur in Asia
Asia is different.
Where Harambe feels weathered and lived-in, Anandapur feels sumptuous.
That’s the word.
Sumptuous.
It’s lush and ornate and romantic and incredibly detailed.
There are elaborate carvings, murals, prayer flags, shrines and tropical plants practically swallowing old buildings.
The entire place makes you feel like you’re somewhere in Nepal or Tibet getting ready to head into the Himalayas.
Even the bathrooms are themed.
Because apparently Disney was like:
BUT WHAT IF THE BATHROOM ALSO HAD A BACKSTORY? 😂
This is also one of my favorite areas of Animal Kingdom for photography.
There are beautiful views across the water toward Expedition Everest, and the entire land changes as the light changes.
If you’re here around golden hour, slow down.
You don’t need to ride Everest to appreciate Everest.
The mountain itself is part of the landscape.
15. Sit Down and Enjoy the View of Expedition Everest
Actually, here’s one of my favorite extremely low-effort things to do in Asia.
Get an ice cream from the Anandapur Ice Cream Truck.
Then sit down in the former Rivers of Light amphitheater seating across the walkway.
That’s it.
That’s the activity. 😂
You’ve got somewhere to sit, something cold to eat and a beautiful view across the water toward Expedition Everest.
This is especially useful if you’re traveling with somebody who wants to ride Everest and somebody else who very much does not want to ride Everest.
But even if nobody is riding anything, it’s a lovely place to decompress.
Animal Kingdom does not need to be experienced at a sprint.
16. Study the Tree of Life Carvings
The Tree of Life is not just the giant Animal Kingdom icon you photograph on the way into the park.
Look at it.
Really look at it.
There are more than 300 animals carved into the Tree of Life, and once you start trying to identify them, you realize how incredibly detailed the whole thing is.
Different viewing angles reveal different animals.
And some of the best views aren’t necessarily the classic straight-on photograph from the front of the park.
Walk the paths around and underneath the Tree.
Look up.
Look behind you.
See what animals you can find.
This is exactly what I mean when I say Discovery Island is the part of Animal Kingdom where the attraction is paying attention.
17. Explore the Valley of Mo’ara in Pandora
And then there’s Pandora.
You could make a pretty convincing argument that Pandora itself is an attraction.
Forget Flight of Passage for a minute.
Forget Na’vi River Journey.
Walk underneath those floating mountains and tell me you aren’t wondering:
How in the WORLD did they do that?
Because I still do. 😂
There are waterfalls spilling down the mountains, alien plants, woven structures, waterways and little interactive elements throughout the Valley of Mo’ara.
It’s one of the most unique environments Disney has ever built.
And it’s incredibly photographable.
I love Pandora during the day.
I love it around golden hour when the light hits the mountains.
And if Animal Kingdom stays open late enough for you to experience it after dark?
Go back.
18. See Pandora After Dark
This deserves its own entry because nighttime Pandora is not just daytime Pandora with less sunlight.
The land transforms.
The pathways begin glowing.
Plants become bioluminescent.
There are illuminated details in the ground and throughout the landscape that are easy to completely miss during the day.
And you don’t have to ride anything.
Just walk around.
Unfortunately, Animal Kingdom often closes early enough now that experiencing truly dark Pandora isn’t always as easy as it once was.
But if park hours cooperate during your trip, absolutely take advantage of it.
This is one of the coolest non-ride experiences at Walt Disney World.
19. Take Photos — Lots of Photos
If you like photography, Animal Kingdom may be the best park at Walt Disney World for simply wandering around with a camera.
You’ve got animals.
The Tree of Life.
Harambe.
Expedition Everest reflecting across the water.
The ruins and gardens of Anandapur.
Tigers.
Gorillas.
Flamingos.
Floating mountains.
Pandora at golden hour.
Pandora after dark.
There are beautiful compositions everywhere.
And because so much of Animal Kingdom is environmental, you don’t necessarily need to be standing in front of Cinderella Castle waiting for the exact same photograph everybody else is taking.
Turn down a trail.
Look across the water.
Look behind you.
Some of my favorite Animal Kingdom photographs have come from simply noticing what was around me.
20. Have an Amazing Meal
Okay.
Now we need to talk about the food.
Because if you don’t care about rides, Animal Kingdom has another extremely compelling way to occupy your time.
Eat. 😂
Animal Kingdom is one of the best food parks at Walt Disney World.
Possibly the best, depending on what you like.
And we’re not just talking about grabbing a burger because you’re hungry and need calories before your next Lightning Lane.
You could make food one of the primary activities of your day.
Tiffins
If you want a more upscale meal, Tiffins is Animal Kingdom’s signature restaurant.
I’ve eaten here and thought it was very good.
The restaurant itself is beautiful, with rooms inspired by the travels and research that went into creating Animal Kingdom.
This is the kind of restaurant where the meal can actually be part of the experience rather than merely a break between attractions.
Nomad Lounge
But honestly?
I might like Nomad Lounge even more.
It’s the atmosphere.
I love sitting out on the veranda overlooking the water.
It’s relaxed. It’s beautiful. And the food is excellent.
The bread service is fantastic.
The churros are fantastic.
It’s one of those places where I could very happily sit for a while and not feel the slightest bit guilty that I’m “wasting park time.”
I’m at Animal Kingdom.
This is park time.
Yak & Yeti
Over in Asia, Yak & Yeti Restaurant is another one of my favorites.
I’ve yet to have a bad meal there.
The salmon is good. The scallops are good. The coconut shrimp is one of my favorite things.
And then there are the ahi tuna nachos, which are one of the restaurant’s most famous dishes.
My friend doesn’t particularly like raw-ish/sushi-type fish, so we’ve substituted chicken before.
Still fantastic.
If you’re deliberately planning a leisurely Animal Kingdom day without rides, sitting down for an actual meal at Yak & Yeti fits beautifully.
Tusker House
And if you want characters with your meal, Tusker House is the obvious choice.
You can meet Mickey and friends in their safari/adventure outfits while you eat.
I’ve done both breakfast and lunch here, and the most recent breakfast I had was phenomenal.
It’s one of the better character breakfast buffets I’ve had at Disney World.
So yes.
You can spend your Animal Kingdom day meeting Mickey Mouse while eating breakfast.
Still haven’t ridden anything.
21. Don’t Sleep on Animal Kingdom Quick Service
You don’t need a table-service reservation to eat extremely well here, either.
Flame Tree Barbecue is one of my favorite quick-service restaurants at Walt Disney World.
I almost always get the barbecue chicken.
And the seating area is part of the appeal. There are covered outdoor tables tucked down toward the water, and some of them have fantastic views across toward Expedition Everest.
Then there’s Satu’li Canteen in Pandora.
I think Flame Tree and Satu’li are neck-and-neck for best quick service at Disney World.
The bowls are excellent.
The cheeseburger pods are amazing.
And Satu’li has the additional benefit of being indoors and air-conditioned.
You can absolutely eat extremely well at Animal Kingdom without ever making a dining reservation.
22. Make Your Own Animal Kingdom Snack Crawl
And now we’ve reached the point where things can get ridiculous.
Because Animal Kingdom has so many good snacks.
You could legitimately make your own food crawl through this park.
In Africa, I am obsessed with the Pineapple Crisp Sundae at Tamu Tamu Refreshments.
Oh. My. Gosh.
WHY IS THIS SO GOOD?
Seriously. One of my favorite things at Walt Disney World.
Kusafiri has the ridiculously rich seven-layer magic bar.
Over around Discovery Island, you can get the pulled pork mac and cheese at Eight Spoon Café or an arepa from The Smiling Crocodile.
There are fun treats at Terra Treats, too.
In Asia, Mr. Kamal’s fries are really good.
Then wander into Pandora for pineapple lumpia at Pongu Pongu.
Or grab those cheeseburger pods at Satu’li and pretend they’re a snack because apparently we’re making our own rules now. 😂
And I have to mention the blueberry cheesecake mousse at Satu’li because I love that thing.
Then there’s Zuri’s Sweets Shop, which is always worth checking for seasonal treats.
At Christmas, they have had a Minnie Mouse gingerbread cookie that I dream about.
Literally.
I’m not kidding. 😂
The point is that you could spend an alarming amount of time eating your way around Animal Kingdom.
And I fully support this plan.
23. Do an Animal Kingdom Enchanting Extra
If you want to take the animal side of Animal Kingdom even further—and you’re willing to pay extra—there are some fantastic special experiences here.
I’ve personally done both Wild Africa Trek and Caring for Giants.
Wild Africa Trek is pretty freaking awesome.
It’s a much more involved experience that takes you deeper into the animal habitats and gives you an entirely different perspective on the park.
Caring for Giants focuses on elephants and gets you much closer to the animal-care side of their world.
Disney also offers other animal experiences, including Up Close with Rhinos and Savor the Savanna.
These cost extra and require considerably more planning than simply walking through Maharajah Jungle Trek, so I wouldn’t call them necessary.
But if you’re visiting Animal Kingdom specifically because you love animals?
They can be far more appealing than buying access to another ride.
24. Browse the Shops
Shopping isn’t the primary reason I’d tell someone to visit Animal Kingdom.
But if you’re deliberately slowing down, there are some fun shops to explore.
Discovery Island has several of the park’s larger shopping locations.
The shop at Expedition Everest is particularly fun if you’re amused by Yeti and Bigfoot merchandise.
And Pandora has Windtraders, which is much more interesting if you’re actually into Avatar and want something specific from the land.
I wouldn’t allocate an hour to “Animal Kingdom shopping.”
But I also wouldn’t race through every shop because you’re trying to get to your next ride.
Remember?
There is no next ride. 😂
Can You Really Spend an Entire Day at Animal Kingdom Without Riding Anything?
Yes.
Absolutely.
And I think that’s what makes Animal Kingdom so different from the other Walt Disney World parks.
Imagine this day.
You start by wandering through The Oasis and looking for animals.
Explore Discovery Island and the Tree of Life.
Watch Zootopia: Better Zoogether!
Head into Africa and walk Gorilla Falls.
Watch Festival of the Lion King.
Stop and listen to the musicians in Harambe.
Have lunch at Tusker House or Flame Tree.
Walk through Asia and Maharajah Jungle Trek.
Watch Feathered Friends in Flight!
Grab some fries or ice cream and sit by the water looking at Everest.
Head into Pandora and explore the Valley of Mo’ara.
Have dinner at Satu’li.
Then, if park hours cooperate, watch Pandora begin to glow.
And somewhere in there you can add Finding Nemo, characters, Wilderness Explorers, DiVine, snacks, photography or one of the animal experiences.
You haven’t ridden anything.
Not even Kilimanjaro Safaris.
That’s kind of crazy.
Final Thoughts on the Best Non-Ride Things to Do at Animal Kingdom
I think Animal Kingdom gets misunderstood when people reduce it to a handful of rides.
Flight of Passage is incredible. It’s my favorite ride at Walt Disney World.
Expedition Everest is fantastic.
Kilimanjaro Safaris is one of the defining attractions in the park.
But those things aren’t Animal Kingdom.
They’re part of Animal Kingdom.
The animals are Animal Kingdom.
The shows are Animal Kingdom.
The music in Harambe is Animal Kingdom.
The Tree of Life carvings are Animal Kingdom.
The tiger that unexpectedly walks right past your viewing window is Animal Kingdom.
The floating mountains are Animal Kingdom.
Sitting beside the water eating something delicious while Expedition Everest rises in the distance is Animal Kingdom.
This is a park that rewards you for slowing down and paying attention.
So if you’re visiting Animal Kingdom and you don’t like rides—or you simply want to discover what else there is to do?
You’re not going to have trouble filling your day.
You might actually have trouble fitting it all in.
More Animal Kingdom Guides to Help Plan Your Day
If you’re starting to realize there is a lot more to Animal Kingdom than the rides, these guides can help you dig deeper into the animals, entertainment, food, and incredibly detailed lands throughout the park:
- Animal Kingdom With Kids 5 and Under — Discover the best animals, shows, characters, gentle attractions, food, and experiences for toddlers and preschoolers.
- Animal Kingdom Shows and Entertainment Guide — Find the best shows and live entertainment throughout the park, including Festival of the Lion King, Finding Nemo, Feathered Friends in Flight!, and more.
- Discovery Island and The Oasis Guide — Explore the Tree of Life, animal trails, characters, entertainment, food, and all the details people tend to walk right past.
- Africa at Animal Kingdom Guide — Go beyond Kilimanjaro Safaris to explore Gorilla Falls, Festival of the Lion King, Harambe Village, live entertainment, fantastic food, and animal experiences.
- Asia at Animal Kingdom Guide — Explore Maharajah Jungle Trek, Feathered Friends in Flight!, Anandapur, animal habitats, food, and some of the most beautiful theming in the park.
- Pandora – The World of Avatar Guide — You don’t have to ride Flight of Passage to appreciate Pandora. Explore the Valley of Mo’ara, floating mountains, food, photo spots, and the bioluminescent landscape after dark.
- Best Snacks at Animal Kingdom — If the food-crawl section made you hungry, start here for my favorite snacks and treats throughout the park.
- Best Quick-Service Restaurants at Animal Kingdom — Animal Kingdom has some of the best quick-service food at Disney World, including Flame Tree Barbecue, Satu’li Canteen, and plenty of other options.
