Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [88]
The Tusker House in Africa is the site of the Animal Kingdom’s only character breakfast, Donald’s Safari Breakfast. Reserve before you leave home by calling 407/WDW–DINE. (After the character breakfast is over each day, the Tusker House serves buffets for lunch and dinner. It remains one of the few places in the Animal Kingdom where you can consistently count on finding fresh vegetables.) “The food at the Tusker House character breakfast was outstanding,” said one mom of three. “We loved the Jungle Juice and the Mickey waffles. My daughter was so happy to finally meet Daisy Duck, and the characters do a little song that’s really cute.”
Pizzafari, near Camp Minnie-Mickey, and Flame Tree Barbecue, near the entrance to DinoLand, are also good lunch choices. All of the restaurants have outdoor patios, where you can take your food, find a pretty view, and really relax. These lush, shady eating areas in the Animal Kingdom help blur the line between fast-food and sit-down dining.
The Dawa Bar, adjacent to the Tusker House patio, offers alcoholic beverages and entertainment in the afternoon.
Tips for Your Last Hour in the Animal Kingdom
Why is there no big closing show at the Animal Kingdom? Most evening shows require fireworks, lasers, and other pyrotechnics, and all that noise and light would scare the animals.
Since there’s no closing show, midday crowds drift out of the Animal Kingdom throughout the afternoon and early evening, and leaving isn’t a problem. Return to the parking lot or bus station whenever it suits your schedule.
List of Maps
2 Castaway Creek | 3 Crush 'n' Gusher | 9 Gangplank Falls | 6 Humunga Kowabunga | 8 Keelhaul Falls | 10 Ketchakiddie Creek | 7 Mayday Falls | 4 Shark Reef | 5 Storm Slides | 1 Surf Pool
Getting to the Water Parks
On-site visitors can take the bus to both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, but expect a long commute. Getting to Typhoon Lagoon may involve sitting through three stops at Downtown Disney, and getting to Blizzard Beach often involves a stop at the Animal Kingdom. In other words, bus travel can be a headache. If you have a car, drive to the water parks.
For off-site visitors a car is definitely the best option. If you don’t have one, take a cab.
Try to arrive about 20 minutes ahead of the stated opening times for the parks, particularly if you’re visiting in summer or during a major holiday. During midday and afternoon hours in peak seasons, the parking lots often fill to capacity.
During peak season, Extra Magic Hours allow on-site guests a little more time in the water parks. “Our extra magic evening at Typhoon Lagoon was the highlight of our entire week at Disney World,” wrote one family from England. “It was a warm starry night and perfect for swimming in the big wave pool.”
Water Parks Touring Tips
The water parks draw a rowdy preteen and teenage crowd, which means young kids and unsteady swimmers may get dunked and splashed more than they like. If your children are very young, stick to the kiddie sections (Ketchakiddee Creek in Typhoon Lagoon and Tike’s Peak at Blizzard Beach), which are off-limits to older kids.
Summer afternoons in Florida often mean thunderstorms, and even a rumble of distant thunder can lead to water-park closings. If you’re visiting in summer and want to make sure you have time to try everything, visit the water parks first thing in the morning.
You can rent towels, but they’re small so it makes more sense to bring your own. There are plenty of lockers, and the keys come on rubber bands that slip over your wrist or ankle, so you can keep them with you while you’re in the water. If you arrive in the morning when a swarm of guests enters at once, getting a locker can be quite a hassle, with the rental lines sometimes 20 minutes long and the area around the lockers packed. Many families skip locker rentals altogether