Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park has lands dedicated to Africa and Asia that will make you feel like you’re traveling through real-world locations, and the park also has fictional lands dedicated to the worlds of Avatar and dinosaurs. While many people will race off to ride Avatar Flight of Passage first thing in the morning, real Disney pros know that the first stop should always be Kilimanjaro Safaris, because this is when the animals are the most active. If you’ve never heard a lion roar after your morning coffee, you’re really missing out.
What’s new: This park is getting ready to receive a major upgrade to its DinoLand U.S.A. area. Part of this land is already closed to make way for a new Encanto-themed ride, plus a new carousel. Additionally, the popular Dinosaur ride will close later this year to make way for an Indiana Jones-themed attraction.
Time Out tip: Don’t skip the walking trails around the park, which have great viewing areas for some cute animals like tigers, gorillas and more. I love the Maharaja Jungle Trek, where you can see one of the park’s newest additions, a baby tiger named Bakso.