If your idea of the perfect Disney day involves cocktails, thrill rides, air-conditioned lounges, and time to just vibe with a tiger for a while… welcome. You’re among friends.
Animal Kingdom is often dismissed as a “half-day park” or a zoo in disguise, but when you know what you’re doing, it’s one of the most immersive, adult-friendly parks at Disney World. There’s no other place where you can rope drop a banshee flight simulator, sip a bourbon tea while watching street performers, get soaked on a jungle river, and still have time for a second cocktail before dinner. It’s basically the EPCOT of the jungle, but with better trees.
This itinerary gives you a full-day plan designed specifically for adults. It’s strategic, laid-back, and optimized for a good time. Let’s go.
Note: Animal Kingdom usually closes before sunset, especially in spring, summer, and fall. So while this itinerary includes tips for evening vibes and low-light exploration, don’t expect full nighttime ambiance unless you’re visiting in the winter months or on a rare late-close day.
Why Animal Kingdom is Great for Adults
At first glance, Animal Kingdom might not seem like the go-to park for adults: no fireworks, no IP-heavy rides (unless you count blue aliens), and a lot of animals. But that’s exactly what makes it such a great adult day.
This park is immersive, atmospheric, and, dare I say, relaxing.
You’ve got bold cocktails, beautiful trails, live music, unique food, and just enough thrill rides to keep it interesting. You’re not sprinting from Lightning Lane reservation to Lightning Lane reservation here. You’re actually… enjoying the day? Whaaaa?!
There are also fewer characters, what feels like fewer strollers, and more spaces where you can slow down and just be. Whether you want to ride coasters or sip sangria in the shade, Animal Kingdom is the chillest park for grown-ups, and one that deserves your full-day attention.
Heading to WDW on a solo trip? Animal Kingdom is also great for solo Disney travelers. The trails, the bars, and the general lack of chaos make this park one of the most peaceful to explore on your own.
TL;DR – Best Way to Do Animal Kingdom as an Adult
- Morning: Ride the Big Stuff (Then Chill Out)
- 7:00 AM – Arrive for Early Entry
- 7:30 AM – Rope drop Flight of Passage
- 8:00 AM – Ride Na’vi River Journey (if low wait) + grab breakfast
- 8:30 AM – Kilimanjaro Safaris
- 9:15 AM – Gorilla Falls Trail + morning drink from Dawa Bar or Tamu Tamu
- Late Morning: Thrill Rides and Trails
- 10:15 AM – Ride Expedition Everest (single rider if needed)
- 10:45 AM – Maharajah Jungle Trek
↳ Optional: Kali River Rapids if you’re up for getting soaked - 11:00 AM – Join Nomad Lounge walk-up list in the app
- Midday: Lounge Mode Activated
- 11:30 AM – Relax at Nomad Lounge with drinks + small plates
- 12:00 PM – Optional: Ride Na’vi River Journey or wander Discovery Island
- Afternoon: Shows, Trails, and a Second Wind
- 1:30 PM (or as scheduled) – Festival of the Lion King
- 2:15 PM – Walk the Tree of Life Trails
- 3:00 PM – Cool off:
↳ Animation Experience or
↳ Feathered Friends in Flight or
↳ Finding Nemo musical or
↳ Just grab a snack + drink break
- Late Afternoon: Re-Energize and Ride Again
- 4:00 PM – Cocktail break at Thirsty River Bar
- 4:30 PM – Ride Expedition Everest again (single rider = clutch)
- 5:00 PM – Ride DINOSAUR (while it still exists)
- Evening: Wind Down, Don’t Power Through
- 6:00 PM – Final loop through Pandora or grab a last drink
- After sunset (seasonal) – Tree of Life Awakenings (only runs when the park is open past sundown)
Our plan below assumes you will not be purchasing any Lightning Lanes. BUT, if it is in your budget, a Single Pass for Flight of Passage is worth it if for no other reason than to clear out more time for cocktails at Nomad Lounge.
Our itinerary also assumes a 7:30 AM Early Entry (and 8:00 AM official park opening). You’ll need to adjust the times accordingly if visiting during a time with different operating hours.
We also don’t try to include every single ride here. But, we do cover all the major attractions, including the walking paths and the best bars.
Morning: Ride the Big Stuff (Then Chill Out)
The first hour or so is typically the most stressful. Rope Drop is always that way, to be honest. But, if you can get some of these more popular attractions done early, it will make the rest of the day go much, much smoother.
7:00 AM – Arrive for Early Entry
I know, it’s early. But trust me because Animal Kingdom is one of the few parks where showing up at 7:00 actually feels… peaceful?
The overall feeling at this hour is all misty pathways, soft background music, and that fleeting “I’m winning at Disney” energy. Plus, if you’re visiting in the summer, this time of day is significantly cooler.
If you don’t have a Lightning Lane for Flight of Passage, your mission is to be as close to the front of the pack of people heading to the line as possible.
7:30 AM – Flight of Passage
You want to do this first. You can read all the strategy posts in the world, but if you show up late and skip this, you’ll either be standing in a 90-minute line or convincing yourself Na’vi River Journey was “basically the same” (it’s not). Rope drop Flight of Passage. Always.
8:00 AM – Na’vi River Journey + Grab Breakfast
After you’re done with Flight of Passage, go ahead and head over to Na’vi River Journey and get that knocked out while the line here is still short. When you’re done, take a few minutes to grab something to eat (if needed) before doing a little exploring.
This is one of my favorite parts of the day. Everyone’s still rushing to their next ride, which means you get to stroll Pandora while it’s relatively empty. The floating mountains look especially surreal in the morning light, and the soft jungle noises make you feel like you’ve wandered into a National Geographic documentary.
8:30 AM – Kilimanjaro Safaris
Morning = active animals. If the line is long already, grab a snack from Kusafiri Bakery (that cinnamon roll is unhinged) and circle back later.
9:15 AM – Gorilla Falls Trail + Morning Drink at Dawa Bar
You’re right by the trail after the safari, and it’s too good to skip. Don’t rush. The underwater hippo view is always a win, but the gorilla family is the real draw, especially the silverback, who often sits like he’s in therapy.
Afterward, grab a Harambe Iced Tea (bourbon + tea) from Dawa Bar. Or, if Dawa isn’t open yet, grab a spiked coffee from Tamu Tamu Refreshments.
Yes, it’s still morning. But that’s ok – you earned it.
Late Morning: Thrill Rides and Trails
Now that the morning rush is done, let’s weave in some thrills and a bit more of the trails before the day gets too hot.
10:15 AM – Ride Expedition Everest
If you’re not into coasters, skip it. If you are: this is one of Disney’s best. The queue is packed with Everest expedition gear and weird Yeti shrines. I always try to ride at least twice; once now, and once closer to sunset.
Single rider line is your friend if standby is building. Just know that your party will be split up (but truly, it is worth it to keep the wait down to a minimum!).
10:45 AM – Maharajah Jungle Trek + Optional Kali River Rapids
Typically I need a bit of a break to calm the old stomach after Everest, and this walk-through trail is stunning. It’s our favorite one at Animal Kingdom, in fact.
You’ll see fruit bats, water buffalo, and (if you’re lucky) tiger cubs doing zoomies through temple ruins. Don’t skip this one. It’s one of those spots where Animal Kingdom feels more like a film set than a theme park.
Alternative: If you are doing good on time, and you don’t mind possibly getting soaked (or you have a poncho with you to help protect you), now is a good time to also get a ride on Kali River Rapids. If the line here is already long, don’t feel too bad about skipping it. It is a fun ride, but we don’t think it is totally necessary (plus it is incredibly short and not worth a wait over 15-20 minutes max).
If you don’t have time to do both, ride Kali River Rapids and save the Maharajah Jungle Trek for later in the day.
Pro Tip: As soon as you are done here (or as close to 11:00 as you can), use the My Disney Experience App to join the Walk-Up list for Nomad Lounge.
Midday: Lounge Mode Activated
You’ve been riding rides and walking paths, now it is time for our favorite spot at Animal Kingdom: Nomad Lounge
11:30 AM – Nomad Lounge (Walk-Up)
This is your reward. Nomad Lounge is the adult Disney dream: cozy chairs, international cocktails, servers who actually want to talk about the menu, and zero characters in sight. Ask for a seat on the porch if the weather is nice. It is shaded, breezy, and prime people-watching. It’s also a great spot if it is raining.
But if you’re hot, ask politely for a seat inside, just know you may have to wait a little bit. When it comes to drinks, we recommend the Tempting Tigress. Or the Sangria. Or both. YOLO, you are on vacation, after all.
As for food, everything here is great, and the small plates make sharing (and trying lots of things) easy.
We typically find that we need at least an hour here to truly relax.
12:00 PM – Optional: Na’vi River Journey or Chill
If you didn’t get a ride on it earlier AND if Na’vi River Journey has a wait under 30 minutes, go for it. Otherwise? Hard pass. It’s a beautiful ride, but not 45-minutes-of-your-life beautiful.
Otherwise, use this time to stroll Discovery Island, check out shops, or just sit in the shade with a drink (Dawa Bar is a great option now). Trust the wander.
Afternoon: Shows, Trails, and a Second Wind
1:30 PM (or as scheduled) – Festival of the Lion King
Indoor, high-energy, and surprisingly emotional. The vocals are Broadway-worthy, and the tumble monkeys are freaking amazing.
Get in line 15 minutes early (if it is a slow time of the year) or 30 minutes early if it is busier.
2:15 PM – Discovery Island Trails
These trails are underrated and almost always empty. You’ll get close-up views of the carvings, see hidden animal enclosures, and feel like you’re almost alone in the park. These are a must-do, especially if this is your first time in the park.
3:00 PM – Animation Experience or Feathered Friends
If this is the middle of the summer, you’re probably ready to cool off. Here are your best options:
- Hop the train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch and do the drawing class.
- Feathered Friends in Flight is a short and surprisingly fun bird show.
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! is entirely in the AC and a fun Broadway-style show.
- Or skip all 3 and grab a snack and drink.
Late Afternoon: Re-Energize and Ride Again
4:00 PM – Cocktail Break at Thirsty River Bar
This little kiosk near Everest serves up some solid boozy slushies and draft beers. It’s a perfect stop to recharge before one last thrill.
4:30 PM – Second Ride on Everest
One more time. And this time, it’s even better. As the sun dips, the track feels wilder and the vibe gets more intense. Single rider line moves quickly, so getting another ride here shouldn’t be too difficult.
5:00 PM – DINOSAUR
Dinoland, U.S.A. is on the way out, but DINOSAUR is still open (for now). Wait times later in the day are typically 20 minutes or less so now is a great time to ride it.
Evening: Wind Down, Don’t Power Through
The rush of the day is over, but there is still a little bit of time left to soak in some of that Animal Kingdom magic.
6:00 PM – Loop Through Pandora or Chill One Last Time
Most days, Animal Kingdom closes before it gets truly dark, so no, you probably won’t get to see Pandora’s full bioluminescent glow unless you’re here in winter or on a rare late night.
But even in the final golden hour, the atmosphere shifts. The crowds thin. The floating mountains look like they’re lit from within. Grab a final drink from Pongu Pongu, wander slowly, and take it all in.
Tree of Life Awakenings (If They’re Happening)
On winter evenings or special late-closing nights, Disney runs short projection shows on the Tree of Life. They’re easy to miss and easy to love, brief, wordless animal stories that feel like a gentle finale to your day.
Don’t count on them unless you’ve confirmed they’re running. But if you catch one? Stop and stay a minute.
As of right now, this is the only nightime entertainment at Animal Kingdom. There aren’t any fireworks here (they aren’t good for the animals), and although they used to have a show that took place on the water near Asia, that hasn’t been around for years now.
Final Thoughts
In our opinion, the goal of a day at Animal Kingdom shouldn’t be to try to cram everything in. Rushing from attraction to attraction guarantees you’ll miss all of the little details that make this park so darn special. Instead, we love intentionally building in time (like our itinerary above) where you stop and smell the roses, so to speak.
You don’t need Lightning Lane to have a great day here. You just need good shoes, a drink in hand, and enough time to let the rhythm of the park take over.