Attractions for Small Children at Animal Kingdom
Taking Babies, Toddlers and Preschoolers to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
May 20, 2009
Amy Moreland has taken her two small children to the Disney parks in Florida more times than she can count, and this Gifted schoolteacher with a Masters in Education shares some priceless recommendations for making the trip magical for both kids and parents in a May 2009 interview with Suite.
First things first: Animal Kingdom closes early, so families should plan to get there early. If park hopping is in the plan, make this park the first stop. Head straight to the back of the park for the safari ride. The likelihood of seeing more wild animals is higher during the cooler morning temperatures, especially from May to December. The park usually closes at 5:00pm, another reason to go early. Warns Moreland, “Even if the park stays open late, the animal attractions will be closed.”
Character Greetings at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom
For the little ones, who often enjoy meeting their favorite Disney characters, there is a lot of opportunity at Animal Kingdom. In a section of the park called Camp Minnie-Mickey, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and sometimes Pluto wait in shady alcoves to meet their little fans (one line for each). The characters will be wearing their safari gear, so purists who want the quintessential “Mickey” shot may want to visit him in the Magic Kingdom.
Several other characters from popular Disney movies are scattered throughout the park. Lilo and Stitch can be seen at the entrance to Camp Minnie-Mickey. Brer Bear has been spotted, as have Baloo and King Louie from “the Jungle Book”, and Terk (the female gorilla from “Tarzan”). At the Conservation Station, a short train ride from the safari area, Pocahontas, Rafiki (from “the Lion King”) and Jimini Cricket can often be seen.
Adds Moreland, “You can see all the Winnie the Pooh characters at the entrance to Dinoland. There is one line for all of them.” Since waits for meeting Disney characters can sometimes take an hour or more, scoring multiple hugs after only one line up is the Disney equivalent of a Las Vegas jackpot.
Photopass is also available at the character greetings. This service involves a professional Disney photographer who takes pictures for the group, then hands out a card that can be used to access those photos online. The shots can be viewed, shared or purchased via the Disney Photopass website.
Rides for Toddlers and Preschoolers at Animal Kingdom
Children 38 inches and taller can ride the Kali River Rapids. This attraction is a large inner tube that seats several guests and travels quickly down a whitewater river. “Everyone gets soaking wet,” says Moreland. “Have the little ones wear a poncho or bring a change of clothes. ”
Dinoland has a Triceratops ride that is similar to the Flying Dumbo ride at Magic Kingdom and very popular with toddlers and preschoolers. Though it looks fun, the roller coaster in Dinoland has a height requirement too steep for most preschoolers.
Moreland also warns to avoid the Dinosaur ride in Dinoland. “It’s too scary. There are no lights. The only light is from the vehicle, and then the light shines on a huge roaring dinosaur. And it’s really jerky. It’s like the Snow White ride (at Magic Kingdom) intensified. I don’t think I’d take my daughter on it again until she’s in the second grade.”
But parents and older kids shouldn’t feel they have to miss out on some of the more intense attractions at Animal Kingdom, such as the thrilling new roller coaster “Expedition Everest”. Groups can take advantage of what’s called a “Switch Rider” pass. The passes are good for three riders and allow those who need to stay behind with smaller children to immediately access the attraction after the rest of their party disembarks. The passes are distributed by the FastPass attendants at the ride entrances, and the attendants may want to see the children involved to avoid switch rider pass abuse.
But rides and character aren’t all Animal Kingdom has to offer. There are additional attractions including shows, animal viewings, and a petting zoo that are all geared for the littlest Disney vacationers.
For more Disney fun, Moreland also shares some general tips on taking small children to Disney World as well as must-sees at the other three major Disney parks.
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