| Icon: | The Tree of Life (145 feet tall) |
| New Show: | Zootopia: Better Zoogether! (Now Open) |
| Construction Alert: | Tropical Americas (Pueblo Esperanza) replacing DinoLand |
| Park Hours: | Typically 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Varies by season) |
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a masterpiece of “natural” theme park design, celebrating wildlife conservation and the spirit of adventure. Opened on Earth Day, April 22, 1998, it is the largest theme park in the world by acreage, covering over 500 acres of lush environments and authentic habitats.
As of February 2026, DinoLand U.S.A. has permanently closed to make way for the 11-acre Tropical Americas land, themed after the fictional village of Pueblo Esperanza. While this area is currently behind construction walls, guests can look forward to the following opening in 2027:
Despite the construction in the southeast corner of the park, Animal Kingdom remains a full-day destination with several world-class immersive lands:
Address: 2901 Osceola Parkway, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Here is your complete guide to Walt Disney World’s Disney’s Animal Kingdom including attractions, restaurants, and shows. Stay tuned as we document the transformation of DinoLand into the Tropical Americas!
Festival of the Lion King is a spectacular and beloved stage show located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The show premiered on April 22, 1998, to coincide with the park’s opening and has since become one of the park’s most popular and enduring attractions. The show takes place in the Harambe Theater, located in the Africa … Read more
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! is a live musical stage show presented inside the Theater in the Wild at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The 25-minute production brings the underwater world of Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo to life through large-scale puppetry, live performers, animated backdrops, music, lighting, and special effects. Although the show is … Read more
Finding Nemo – The Musical was an ambitious live stage production presented inside the Theater in the Wild at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Inspired by Pixar’s 2003 film Finding Nemo, the approximately 40-minute show condensed Marlin’s search for his son into a Broadway-style musical filled with live performers, oversized puppets, animated projections, acrobatics, and elaborate underwater … Read more
Flame Tree Barbecue is one of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s most popular quick-service restaurants, located on Discovery Island near the paths leading toward Asia and DinoLand U.S.A. Opened with the park on April 22, 1998, it has long served as Animal Kingdom’s signature barbecue counter, offering a more distinctive alternative to standard burgers, pizza, and chicken … Read more
Flights of Wonder was a former live bird show attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The show opened on April 22, 1998, and entertained guests for many years until it closed on December 31, 2017, to make way for a new experience. The attraction took place at the Caravan Stage in the Asia section of the … Read more
Fossil Fun Games was a collection of dinosaur-themed midway attractions located inside Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, the intentionally kitschy roadside-carnival section of DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Unlike the park’s traditional rides and shows, these games required an additional fee beyond regular admission. Guests purchased vouchers before testing their skills at colorful booths filled … Read more
Habitat Habit! was a small outdoor discovery trail at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, located in the Rafiki’s Planet Watch area between the Wildlife Express Train station and Conservation Station. It was never a headline attraction in the way that Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, or DINOSAUR were, but it represented one of the clearest expressions of Animal … Read more
Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party was a limited-run interactive street celebration presented at Disney’s Animal Kingdom during 2019. Created as part of the park’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of Disney’s animated classic The Lion King, the offering debuted on January 18 and continued through September 30. Unlike Festival of the Lion King, which presents … Read more
Harambe Fruit Market is a delightful food kiosk located in the Harambe village area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The market is themed to resemble an authentic African marketplace, adding to the immersive experience of being in an African village. The Harambe Fruit Market offers a variety of fresh fruits, snacks, and beverages, making it a … Read more
Harambe Market is a themed dining and shopping area located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It is situated in the fictional African village of Harambe, inspired by real African marketplaces. The market was designed to immerse visitors in an authentic African marketplace experience, complete with vibrant colors, lively music, and detailed theming. It opened to the … Read more