A Former Cast Member’s Animal Kingdom Survival Guide

Animal Kingdom is the park that looks peaceful in photos and then hits you with heat, distance, and surprise “why are we still walking” energy. We’re joined by our first-ever guest, Allison, a former Disney cast member who worked at Animal Kingdom and in guest relations, and she brings the kind of insider detail you only get from someone who’s handled everything from stroller rage to Flight of Passage heartbreak.

We talk through what makes Animal Kingdom feel “sneaky hard” to navigate, why it’s not a true half-day park, and how simple planning choices can save your day. Then we get into the future of the park, including Tropical Americas and what it means to lose DinoLand, plus why adding Encanto and Indiana Jones could reshape the balance between animals, atmosphere, and classic Disney storytelling. We also cover a headline-making addition: Bluey and Bingo, where to find them, and how the virtual queue works so you don’t burn hours trying to reach Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

From there, we rank attractions from “worst” to best, with real talk on Kali River Rapids soaking potential, Na’vi River Journey’s beautiful-but-pricey wait, Expedition Everest rope drop strategy, and why Kilimanjaro Safaris might be the true center of the whole park. We wrap by zooming out to the underrated magic: Wild Africa Trek, conservation messages, Festival of the Lion King, Pandora at night, and the hidden gems you miss when you sprint ride to ride. If you want a smarter Animal Kingdom plan with realistic expectations, hit subscribe, share this with your Disney trip group, and leave us a review with your most underrated Animal Kingdom pick.

Transcript

Welcome And Guest Introduction

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome back to the Worse Beyond the Magic, the Disney podcast, where we go beyond the magic and help you set realistic expectations for your Disney vacation. Today we're going to take a wild trek through Animal Kingdom.

SPEAKER_02 0:11

Hey everybody. Welcome back. Today we're joined by a very special guest and the very first guest that we've ever had and our very young podcast of four episodes along here. We're joined today by my sister, our very first true Disney Insider. Allison is a former Disney cast member who worked at Animal Kingdom and later in uh guest relations. Uh, she's seen everything from stroller rage to heat exhaustion to flight, flighted passage, emotional breakdowns, and at least one person asking where Hogwarts is. Welcome, Allison. This is the worst beyond the magic. Today we're joined by a very special guest, uh, someone I know uh very well, my younger sister Allison. Um, I'm gonna let Allison talk in just a second and explain her Disney story and all things she knows about Animal Kingdom. But uh again, this is our very first guest on The Worst Beyond the Magic. So, Allison, go ahead, take

Allison’s Disney Career Path

SPEAKER_02 1:03

it away. Tell us a little bit about uh your Disney story.

SPEAKER_00 1:06

Sure. Uh thank you again for having me. My Disney story starts in the early ages of 2010. Uh, I joined the Disney College program, um, was convinced by you know fun signage and all right. I knew I got paid. Um, my Disney College program was one that was really unique, and I'm really lucky for it. Uh, it started in the Bibity Bobity Boutique at Magic Kingdom. Um, there's only about a handful or more of uh they're now not called Fairy Godmothers in training, but when I was there, that's what the name was. Uh started in 2010, then I became a recruiter on campus. So uh did my Disney College program. I loved it so much that I came back to uh my college up in Milwaukee and recruited on campus with a handful of friends um and former and former cast members, uh, but also Disney lovers. We all had different stories to tell. Uh, some of us from like food and beverage, some of us from merchandise, and then myself that had the boutique experience. Then uh decided after college that I didn't want to shovel the snow. So after a year, I moved down back to Florida um and was set into uh the Pirates League part-time, which R I P Pirates League. Uh but Pirates League was one of the best uh positions I had at Disney. I taught preschool on the side as well and loved doing that too. So riding the line between like the magic and also uh, you know, learning our ABCs was a lot of fun. But as a pirate, I was able to uh do transformations for every everyone from three to a hundred. It was the best time. Uh but turns out that didn't pay super well. Uh so I was actually moved up to a coordinator for merchandise. Uh Adventureland Liberty Square was the uh sectioning at the time. It is no longer, but went on to do that. Uh, then applied for guest relations in Animal Kingdom, um, was onboarded, and then within six months, unfortunately, my uh TA, which is a temporary assignment, was uh over and I went back to merchandise, said this isn't for me anymore, no thank you. Uh applied to go back to the boopity bapity boutique this time at Disney Springs, where I was a full-time coordinator. And then uh after a few years, I loved the princesses, but knew I wanted to be back where the magic happened in guest relations. So applied for guest relations again, uh, this time a full-time position and went back to Animal Kingdom. Uh, luckily they took me back, so I was really lucky to do that. Uh, and that's actually where my career ended was in guest relations in Animal Kingdom because of COVID. I was furloughed to a layoff with thousands of other cast members.

SPEAKER_02 4:03

That's unfortunate. Um, it did Disney did lay off quite a few cast members. And I know um uh you actually were invited back to be uh cast member again towards the uh end of the pandemic or when Florida started to open back up, uh, but you had moved on and and since uh uh left Disney from there. But we had a good five years. Uh it was great to visit Auntie Allison while we were down there with our young kids. Um, I got to go to the park for free, and my children got to see their their aunts. So it was uh it was a perfect, it was a win-win situation for all of us. Uh we had a great time while it lasted. And I know Allison, it really shaped uh your career moving forward in the uh theater network and entertainment. Uh having that Disney um experience on your uh resume uh certainly has helped you from where you where you are today.

SPEAKER_01 4:53

Yeah, thanks for joining us. I loved Pirates League, by the way. That was fantastic. My daughter did the um transformation into a mermaid, and it was it was glorious. Yeah, she loved it. Hey, can you tell us one of your uh favorite uh memories as a cast member?

Kindness To Cast Members Matters

SPEAKER_00 5:07

Uh, there are so many. Um I know Das, which is the disability access service, is like a tricky conversation to have a lot of the time. Um, you know, I've seen a lot of abuse with the system, but I've also uh been a part of some really great moments. And there was one that I I had this lady, it was like at the end of my shift. I was so tired. I was up at this little kiosk, uh, just alone and like ready to, you know, fall asleep and close the park and be done. Um and she came up and we're talking and she had an accent to her and I was like, Oh, where are you guys visiting from? And she was like, Ireland. And I said, Oh, I would love to go to Ireland. It's you know, it's on my it's on my to-do list. And she and I just got talking and you know, her son um had some uh needs for the access path. So we kind of set them up throughout the throughout the week. And she and I just had such a good conversation that she gave me a giant hug when she left and actually slipped me her address in Ireland and was like, if you ever come out my way, you please let me know. Here's our address. Uh, I want to like have a cup of tea with you. I want you to know like you don't have to travel alone here and like you have friends uh across the pond. I was like, oh so that was probably one of my favorite memories is like wow, this is like this is so cool. Uh I you know, was nice and myself and got into a conversation with someone from Ireland and like now I have an invitation to go out there. That's that's very cool. Uh that's fantastic.

SPEAKER_01 6:47

Did you ever make it out there?

SPEAKER_00 6:49

No.

SPEAKER_02 6:51

She will, she'll get there. She'll get there. Yeah, she will.

unknown 6:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:54

Well, we don't say this enough, and I want to into I want to make sure we say it is uh treat the cast members as well as you can. And we have a testament here with Allison speaking with us, and thank you again for being here. But just want to make sure, and we don't we should say this in every episode that you got to treat the cast members. They're out there, they're working hard. And we'll talk about one of the worst things about Animal Kingdom is the heat, and it stays hot. Um, so it can be really hot. Um, and those cast members are out there all day working hard. So treat your cast members well. And you know, you never know, you might find a lifelong friend.

SPEAKER_00 7:26

Yeah, a lot of them are away from home for the first time too. Like, you gotta think those those young college kids, uh, they get I'm not gonna say sold uh this dream of working for Disney, but that's kind of what it is, right? Uh and they get sweeped away from home for a lot of them for the first time, a lot of them first full-time jobs. Uh and you realize, like, oh, Disney is a workforce on top of being magical.

SPEAKER_02 7:52

And that's that's truly what creates the magic for people, like like Pete is saying, uh, be nice to your cast member. They they have, and you, Allison, especially, you had a lot of power as a guest relations uh cast member to create that magic for the guest. And um fortunately, you saw abuse with Das, and it is what it is today, unfortunately. But um, you also created um a lot of happy moments and a lot of magic for a lot of people, and that that that goes unseen by a lot of time by by Disney a lot of time. You you have the power to do that, and you make you make somebody's day just by smiling and just be by just be by being yourself, and that's that's truly what makes what makes Disney the best is is the people that work there. So thank you. Thank you for that.

SPEAKER_00 8:34

I would agree. Uh one of my other top top memories is getting up really early and uh canoeing the rivers of America and Magic Kingdom with a bunch of other cast members, and like we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, and it was the best time and the best memory. Uh, and you're so right, it is the cast members that make that place.

SPEAKER_01 8:55

That sounds like a pretty rad experience.

SPEAKER_02 8:57

It was the best.

SPEAKER_01 8:58

It's pretty cool.

Why Animal Kingdom Feels Tough

SPEAKER_02 8:59

Let's move into uh our Animal Kingdom setup. Um, I think would you all of us would agree that and Disney's Animal Kingdom is the most beautiful Disney park out of all of them. It is the hottest Disney park. Um would you say it's the most relaxing out of all of them because of the scenery?

SPEAKER_00 9:18

I feel like it depends where you go, right? Like if you're headed over to non-existent dinoland, uh it's not gonna be the most relaxing. True RIP Dino stuff going on, right?

SPEAKER_01 9:31

Like right. Animal Kingdom is sneaky, um, hard. I would not say it's relaxing because you and it's not set up in a circle. Um, nothing is super easy to kind of uh navigate to. So you're gonna think, okay, this is a half-day park and you're still gonna put in 25,000 steps.

SPEAKER_02 9:50

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 9:50

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:51

This is this is the park where people accidentally walk walk 12 miles before lunch, easy in a day, just by trying to get to all the different lands in the park for sure. Very much so.

SPEAKER_01 10:00

And we'll talk a little bit about it, but the um the treks where you're walking to see the animals and not just the rides, uh, it just it adds those steps in there. So be prepared for that.

Tropical Americas Replaces DinoLand

SPEAKER_01 10:11

All right, let's talk about uh the first segment, the future of animal kingdom. Um we're gonna talk about Tropical America that's opening in 2027, because you know, as Allison just mentioned, Dino Land is no more. Um, you know, we've lost uh the Dinosaur Ride, we've lost uh Primeval Whirl, which I was a fan of. I know a lot of people weren't, um, and the boneyard. So do y'all want to help me discuss some of that in the future of um Animal Kingdom?

SPEAKER_02 10:40

Uh I'm really excited. I never I never liked uh Dino Land. I I don't know if this is a hot take or not. Uh here's here's the backstory to Dynoland, and a lot of people don't know this, but if you paid attention and walked through the land and looked down at your feet, you would have seen um like fossils and or dinosaur footprints on on the ground as you're walking through dinoland or that led to dinoland. The backstory of that is that um a theme park or a carnival was built, and as they were building a carnival, they came upon a lot of dinosaur bones. So they kind of built a carnival over where the dinosaur bones were, but left a lot of the bones out in public to see. That's the whole backstory. Not many people know that or understand that or ever understood that. That was kind of a Disney uh hidden thing. Um, but again, I just never thought it felt like um it it fit at all. It just it just seemed out of place to me. Uh, I really did love prime evil world. I thought that was a great roller coaster. I don't know. I guess some people hurt themselves on that and it got taken away pretty early. I always enjoyed it. Um, my kids love Dinoland. Uh I really uh I didn't love dinosaur. Allison, did you like dinosaur?

SPEAKER_00 11:54

I grew to love dinosaur.

SPEAKER_02 11:56

You grew to love dinosaur? Yeah, and I think I think all of us could probably quote the the scientist in the end of that, right? Especially when he had the little uh T-Rex puppet at the very end of that. Uh anyway, uh I'm really excited to see what they're gonna do with that side of the park. And I think introducing an Encanto into that side, it's only gonna get better. I love the fact I'm a huge Indiana Jones fan. Obviously, we talked all about Star Wars last uh last episode and Han Solo. Of course, uh Harrison Ford is is is the hero in Indiana Jones. It's one of my favorite movies and trilogy series. Um, actually, more than a trilogy. Um, I'm excited to see what they what they do with uh Dinosaur. It's the exact same ride track. And for those of you that are Disneyland fans, uh Pete being one of them, and I know Allison's been as well. Uh, we've all ridden uh uh Indiana Jones out in Disneyland.

SPEAKER_01 12:47

The Disneyland ride for uh Indiana Jones is spectacular. I love it. And I love Indiana Jones. What is interesting to me is Animal Kingdom didn't have a lot of rides that were associated with existing stories. Um and so now this is gonna kind of up it with the Indiana Jones ride and the Encanto attraction. Um it it brings a little bit more, I mean, as you know, it's mostly animal and country related, um, which is great, but this will add a little bit more of that Disney element in there.

SPEAKER_00 13:17

I do. Um obviously, you know, Dynoland was meant to be a family uh getaway, right? Um the whole idea of that carnival that just kind of stayed put. That's why we ran into those carnival games. That's why we had Triceratops Finn. Um but now I think we are looking for something that is family-based. And then Kanto's right there. Uh and I am so excited. I loved that movie. Um, love, you know, the family aspect of it and loved what it kind of stood for. And um, I think it's going to add a lot to that park. Uh especially the right side of the park. Obviously, the left side's good. Um but Indiana Jones, if it's anywhere near Disneyland, I think it's gonna be top tier. It's gonna be amazing. Uh, I have no issue in adding Indiana Jones. I love the movies. Uh, I don't have as much like I was a little later in in the 90s, so I I don't have as much nostalgia uh with it, but they're great movies. The ride in Disneyland is absolutely beautiful and well done. And uh I'm really excited to see it at World.

SPEAKER_02 14:24

Your time at Animal Kingdom, did you feel like Dino Land was outdated from a cast member perspective when you were there?

SPEAKER_00 14:31

Yes and no. Um, you know, I think we tried our best adding a lot of uh I was gonna say some of like the Christmas stuff that was added out there. I was also there for the rollout of like the pajama party season of uh Chip and Dale and joining that like they wanted to be dinosaurs. It was a cute addition, right? Um, but I think I our arms hurt from stretching too far. Uh I wouldn't say outdated because it depended it like it depends who you were or like who you were with. Um there were if you are an Instagram girly, there are so many photo apps with the Christmas lights out there. Um but if you are, you know, a family and you've got teens and like that now lands a skip for you besides the finding Nemo musical.

SPEAKER_01 15:20

Jamie, with all the inclusion of this new stuff, I understand there's some big news coming to Animal Kingdom.

Bluey Arrival And Virtual Queue

SPEAKER_02 15:26

There is some big news, and I know it's uh not your favorite to talk about. Uh just so you know, when I presented the outline for today's podcast to Pete, he's like, We really have to talk about Bluey. I'm like Pete. Yes, we really have to talk about Bluey. Um Bluey is coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom. See, Allison even wants to talk about Bluey beginning May 26th, coming up here in a few short days. Uh, we're recording on Sunday, May 17th. Uh, Bluey and Bingle are coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom as part of Disney's Cool Kids Summer. Uh, they're gonna be located at Rafiki's Planet Watch, I know, which is kind of an odd place in the park, and it's really kind of difficult to get to. So I'm not sure what Disney was thinking when they decided to put Blue and Bingo all the way in that far side of the park, but hey, here we are. That's what they decided to do. So let's talk real quick on how to get and how to experience uh when they introduce something new. You're gonna be able to do it with a uh virtual queue. So it's 7 a.m. There's no need to be in the park from your My Disney Experience app. You can join the virtual queue to meet Bluey and Bingo. If you are already inside Animal Kingdom from your My Disney Experience app, you can join the virtual queue from that at 10 a.m. 10 a.m. that'll drop. Uh guests must take the Wild Express train from at in Africa uh near Harame Market out to Rafiki's uh Planet Watch in order to experience um Bluey and Bingo at that point. I think it's gonna be a great addition. Uh I think I mean they fit, uh clearly they're from Australia and uh and they're they they both fit the land. And I think um I think it's gonna be a great addition to to Hollywood, or excuse me, to Animal Kingdom. I still have Hollywood Studios under mine because it's it's my favorite part.

SPEAKER_01 17:01

I love Rafiki's area, so I think that's a good spot to put them because not a lot of people actually make the trip to get out there, but this will be a huge draw for people to get out there. And I make fun because you know you mentioned it. Well, your daughter's five and she's really into Bluey. My daughter's 18, and we haven't, you know. But that same experience when we went and we saw and were able to meet Phineas and Ferb when she was young. I I feel like it's it's comparable. Um, but I'll take Phineas and Ferb over Bluey still. But I'm excited to see it. And I'm excited for Rafiki's area there.

SPEAKER_02 17:33

If your kids love Bluey, like mine do, and I again I'm 41 years old, I like Bluey. It's it's a lot of fun to watch. There are a lot of great adult jokes in that show just to watch it. If your kids love Bluey, uh, this could be become one of the hardest experiences to get at Walt Disney World. And that's often the case when they introduce something new.

SPEAKER_01 17:50

All right, ladies and gentlemen. The park opened in on Earth Day of April 22nd, 1998.

Worst To Best Ride Debates

SPEAKER_01 17:56

Um, it's great to see that they're still constantly um improving, but we gotta get into it. We gotta get into the worst. The whole reason we're here are the worst and the best rides for Animal Kingdom. And we're gonna start off, and I you know, I mean, there's a short list right now with with some of the rides closed, but I don't know. I I we've got this one on the bottom of our list. I don't necessarily agree with it, but everybody in my family does. They do not like to get wet. And I'm like, let's do this thing. Uh you know, so number six of the worst is the Cali River Rapids. I think it's a great cue. It's a it's a nice ride. You get a little you well, there's random soaking, so like you're either gonna get misted or you're gonna get drenched. And uh I it I love it, I love it. Um and it's usually no, there's no in between. There's someone in my family that just gets so miserable when they come out of there. Um, but that's our number six. Uh I I like it, uh, but it's ranked the worst. How about you, Jamie?

SPEAKER_02 18:57

I think moving on from there, Pete, and I have to agree with you. Listen, I have never been on Calais River Rapids because I don't want to get I've never been on it. I don't want to get soaked.

SPEAKER_01 19:07

I don't want to get soaked in, and then I I'm sorry, I don't I don't want to get so I've seen you and drag your wife onto Tiana's in the cold with and you got soaked on that one.

SPEAKER_02 19:18

We got drenched on Tiana's, we got drenched, and the best part about that is that I told my wife Ani, I was like, don't worry, you don't get wet at all. She was soaked from head to toe and livid with me after that. It was oh my god. And we got a and the and the picture of us at the drop is priceless.

SPEAKER_00 19:36

For me, Cali River Rapids is uh a ride that I really enjoy personally. Um, but a lot of uh how do I put this nicely? A lot of people don't read about Cali River Rapids, and then they walk their drenched butt all the way to guest relations and are mad that they're wet. And I'm like, Did you read? Sorry. Uh so I love it. I think it's so fun. I'm prepared. Uh, but you know, unfortunately, a lot of people are not. So, yes, Cali River Rapids is a ride you will get wet on.

SPEAKER_01 20:12

Cast member insider information. I love it.

SPEAKER_02 20:16

You will get wet. I can I can only imagine what that walk of shame looks like getting off that ride, which I'll never take, by the way, because I don't want to get I don't want to get drenched. Um moving on to number five is uh Navi River Journey. This is like a um this is a beautiful attraction. Disney did a really good job. Um the animal track the animatronic at the very end of the ride is is probably one of the coolest things you've ever seen uh there. It's it's what's curious about this ride is the wait times. Um, if you start your day off in Pandora, which we'll talk about in just a second, uh a lot of people go from Plath Passage right to uh Navi River Journey, which is the way I would recommend doing that. But uh because of that, it gets such a huge weight. Um, if you don't have a lightning lane for this, I wouldn't, unless you have small kids with you and you need to for the the height restrictions because they can't ride anything else, then it's a great run to do. But I don't think I would spend up to an hour waiting in line for this one. Um it's just it's more of a relaxing boat ride, but it is a beautiful atmosphere. It is very pretty. Uh, it's like a meditation sequence for like I don't know, 10 10 to 15 minutes in that ride, but it's it's very, very nice. Uh but it often what's there just doesn't justify the wait.

SPEAKER_01 21:32

Yeah, I completely agree with you, Jamie. I um so this would be number six for me. This would be the last one. It's it's usually a skip for me. Uh I I I enjoyed it the first time I did it. It is a nice the the the perks are it's cool, it's dark, um, it's a chance to check, uh take a little break, you know, it's a it's it's now time. But uh, you know, unless you partake in some, you know, some gummies or some extracurricular activities that re make you enjoy that light show through the thing. It's a skip for me.

SPEAKER_02 22:03

I think we just moved the podcast from PG to PG 13 just now by mentioning that. Of course, what Pete's talking about is gummy bears, ladies and gentlemen. He's talking about gummy bears, just so you all know, just so we're clear on that. Anyway, Allison, what you what are your thoughts? Sugar high.

SPEAKER_00 22:19

That's right. Don't never do the gummy worms. Those will get you. Um it's a lot of sugar. Navi River journey for me. I 100% agree with you. Um it is a great ride. There is uh some really cool water bottle refill stations in the queue line. Um, but that's all I got for you. Uh it's a fun boat ride. Do it late at night, honestly. Um, you said morning, but go late at night. Like the whole point is to see the bioluminescence of uh Pandora at night. Um, obviously, Animal Kingdom has to be open past a certain hour for that to happen, but hopefully you catch it on a day that it's there long. Um, it is absolutely beautiful and like jaw-dropping at night.

SPEAKER_02 23:02

I agree. It is a beautiful place at nighttime.

SPEAKER_01 23:04

Next one on the list, Pete. The next one on the list. Now we're getting into some real ones. I'm even wearing my Expedition Everest shirt right here. But number four on our list is uh a fan favorite, uh roller coaster Expedition Everest. It's uh a great cue. Um you get that single rider, you can get in there a little bit faster. Um, you know, we were talking about this earlier before the podcast that Yeti deserves his own backstory, his own documentary. I would love to know how he got there. What made him so angry? Um, and why are there so many ponytail holders on the top of his mountain?

SPEAKER_02 23:39

I don't know why that's that's exactly why he's angry. I would be angry if people did that in my mountain. That's exactly why I was angry.

SPEAKER_00 23:47

Uh it is just one of the best rides. Uh honestly, this is probably up there for me in like two or one. Um, you mentioned the Q Pete, and a fun fact, there is uh a lot of artifacts that are true to like finding the Yeti in that cue line. Uh, if you're familiar with the show Expedition Unknown, there is in one of the cases some of the things that they found on that TV show in the case in the Q line at Animal Kingdom.

SPEAKER_02 24:14

That's really cool. That's some insider knowledge right there. I love Expedition Unknown, Josh Gates. I think uh I think for me it's it's a must-do for sure. And if you you're thinking about a rope drop strategy, if you don't have uh an Avatar Flat Passage um Lightning Lane or individual lightning lane, which we'll talk about next, I think going direct to Expedition Ever uh Expedition Everest is a is a great second one to go to right away. And if you rope drop that, you can easily get on that ride once, twice, three times, back to back to back if you want, uh, because there's nobody over there. Everyone is running to Avatar Flight of Passage, so it's a great one to rope drop for sure. Uh, next one on the the list at number three from worst to best is Kilimanjaro Safaris. Pete, you want to take it away?

SPEAKER_01 25:00

Yeah, Kilimanjaro's I uh would put number one. Um, and I'll tell you why I everybody's gonna say Pandora's number one, um, or flight of passage is number one, and I'll tell you why that's not my number one when we get to it. But the safari is great. I will go on it every single time I'm there. I'm looking forward to it. I've already got it planned. I will lightning lane it, I will pay for it, I'll wait in line for it. Uh, I think it's the whole point of Animal Kingdom for me. Like you're gonna go, you want to see the animals, you're seeing them in their element. Like the truck has been stopped because of a black rhino standing in front of us. Like, I've had a giraffe that I, you know, it's supposed to reach out and touch them, but I could have if I wanted to. Um, I definitely didn't jump off the truck to go bathroom. Uh, so that was good. Y'all saw that.

SPEAKER_02 25:44

I was hoping you bring that up.

SPEAKER_01 25:45

But uh, I do. Kilimanjaro safaris is is is is great for me. And it's you get a different experience every time. And if you go in the morning, it's really that's the the highlight for me.

SPEAKER_02 25:56

Alison, do you think the best time to ride that is uh right away in the morning?

SPEAKER_00 25:59

Uh it depends, right? Um again, it might it's uh a later attraction in in the evening. Um, I've been on during feeding time, I've been on after, and like either right in the morning or late at night, you'll get two different rides. Uh it's definitely worth doing it twice in one day, I feel. Um I'm right there with Pete. I think it's one of my favorite rides. And then it leads to conversations about like Wild Africa track, conservation. Um, Animal Kingdom is my favorite park, not just because I work there and like have all these memories and all this family that works there still. Um, but it is also like an educational park, which sounds so silly, but I absolutely adore what uh wilderness explorers are doing, Wild Africa track does, the spiel that you get on Kilimanjaro Safari for conservation. It's huge. Um, it's a conversation that we should be really having a lot. Um, and I'm yeah, I really enjoy the message that Animal Kingdom has, uh, but especially Kilimanjaro Safaris.

SPEAKER_02 26:57

I totally agree. It's it's more of an entertainment uh part of the park. And I think Animal Kingdom's safari is as uh is the is the pinnacle of Animal Kingdom itself. I think, like Pete and Allison are saying, every time you take that ride or every time you take that experience, it's more of an experience than this ride. You're seeing something different every every time you go. And I think a memory for me going on that ride is with my young children, we were passing the Africa section, and we were going toward we could see their version of Pride Rock. And when there were some lionesses out there, and there was the king of the jungle himself was out there, and he stood up as our truck was passing and let out a like unbelievable loud roar. And you could feel that in your chest when he did that. Um, that that was that was impressive. And I was like, man, how'd they train him to do that? Uh, but he they're just out there being themselves, and uh, they're used to people driving past him all day long, and they're just living their best lives there at a Disney's animal kingdom. Then they do an excellent job to Allison's point of taking care of them and then teaching you about conservation and how uh some of these animals are endangered. And we'll talk about that a little bit later down the list, but we have to talk about before we get to that, we have to get to our number two, which is on the list is of course is Avatar's flight of passage. I mean, this this ride is it's it's unspeakable, the experience that they that they put you through. Pete, what do you think about the Avatar?

SPEAKER_01 28:23

Well, it might not be number one on my list anymore. It is one of the best rides that Disney premiered, um, especially when they premiered it. It was amazing. Uh, the experience, the immersion, the the queue, everything for me is it's still a very amazing ride. I think the problem that I'm having recently is that I'm either in the wrong spot or I'm getting bad 3D glasses, or the technology is starting to um not be as um cutting edge as it was because every time I'm on my banshee and flying through the the area, like I just can't see as well. And maybe I'm too old. Maybe that's what's happening.

SPEAKER_02 29:00

But I listen, I wasn't gonna threar under the bus, but I think that's my, you know, that might be you're you're creeping up there and your eyesight might not be as good as it used to be. So but I'd be curious to know what everybody else thinks at this point.

SPEAKER_00 29:10

Yeah, it's been a while since I've been on it. Uh but I joined the team right after like the opening cast of Pandora. Um, so I was still right in the height of uh Pandora fever, as I'll call it. Um and it was the ride that was the game changer. That Pandora fever, everybody wanted a fast pass for it. And if they weren't going to get it, it would ruin their day. Like if they could not get in this ride, it was the worst day they've ever had. Um, so that as a young, you know, 20-something, I was like, oh God, I ruined their day. I can't get you on this ride because I can only give out so many uh, you know, fast passes a day. I'm so sorry. Uh but then you get into like the tips and tricks of stuff, right? Uh a lot of people and a lot of the cast members will tell you, like, go right before closing. It's if it's an hour wait, three hours earlier, it'll be a 15-minute wait. Like you'll walk through the queue. Um you know, it's it's all about those little things that people don't realize, like, oh, if I just, you know, wait in line, I'll get on the ride and it'll be fun. Um, for me, as somebody who has a bigger body, Avatar Flight of Passage was really nerve-wracking. Um, but it is a great ride and definitely one that everybody should be able to experience.

SPEAKER_02 30:34

Let's talk about rope drop strategy for just a second. If you don't have an individual lightning lane for this one, uh, you can, like Alison is saying, you can stand in the queue, which is beautiful, by the way. And a lot of it is indoors. So you're gonna you're gonna get a break from the, you're gonna begin a break from the the heat, you're gonna get AC. A lot of that pre-show, uh, the entire pre-show is indoors. Um, but if you don't, uh if you do buy that your individual lightning lane for that, I know Allison used the word fat fast pass, so I that will slip here and there, but it's it's changed so many different times, uh, their terminology. Um but I it's it's a great rope drop. Um, a lot of times if you can get there early uh and you everyone goes to that ride right away, or if you don't want to do that, like Alison is mentioning, and this is a great strategy, reverse rope drop uh and write it later on in your day before the park closes. And I know Allison can mention um when that park closes. It's rather early, right? It usually what's the time normally that the park closes?

SPEAKER_00 31:30

Um it depends. I know like for summer time it's usually around eight. Um, but it's other times, especially now with Dynoland being down, it's gonna be earlier, uh, probably about six.

SPEAKER_02 31:41

No, um the average, the average close time, I think, was like seven or seven thirty at night or close to eight o'clock. Um, but it's a and that goes for any ride across Walt Disney World. Uh, if you want to uh get in that queue line just before close, they're going to allow you to take that ride even after the park closes. As long as you're in the ride before official park close, you're good to go. But this is a great one to rope drop. Um, if you want to buy the individual lightning lane, the first ride I think you should go on. Um, if if so you can you know you're gonna get on Avatar is you go on uh um Killinjaro Safari's first. Uh right about uh nine o'clock in the morning is a great time to do that. Um all right.

The “Animal Kingdom Experience” Wins

SPEAKER_02 32:22

So I know Allison mentioned um just a second ago she's talking about experiences. There are number one on the list. Pete, if you want to take it away.

SPEAKER_01 32:29

Yeah, number one on the our list for uh this is the the animal kingdom experience. And you know, what Allison spoke about, um, talking about conversation conservation, talking about animals, talking about um the things, the good things and the bad things that are going on throughout the world, I think are great. Uh I have done the Wild Africa Trek um, you know, what quick plug for travel mission and being travel agents, like um, I know we talk a lot about experiences and and you know being bougie, but we also you can do the parks and you can do everything at a at a minimal cost. Um, but some of the the more the rare things like Wild Africa Trek is a great worthwhile experience, and we can have that conversation with you. But that trek itself, you get to feed the hippopotamus, you get to see um, you know, animals you don't normally see, you get uh to wear the harness and you go over the rope bridges that you see on the Wild Africa trek. You look up and you can see the rope bridges, and you kind of wonder what that's for, or the safari, and you're wondering what that's for. That's for the wild Africa truck, and you get to kind of feel like that Indiana Jones out exploring the jungle. Um, and it's great in the conservation portion and the conversation of it, and then you know, uh to keep discussing um those important issues um that happen throughout the park. Allison, what is your take?

SPEAKER_00 33:46

Yeah, there's a reason that Animal Kingdom opened on Earth Day, right? Uh, it leads that message to this day in 2026. It's absolutely amazing. Um, uh you said the Animal Kingdom experience and like hand over the crown. Uh it deserves it. It is one of the most immersive parks for uh guests. And like, yes, you can walk into Magic Kingdom and be like, oh my gosh, there's a castle that's amazing, and like I'm in Cinderella's house. There are so many other things in Animal Kingdom that will say, Wow, I didn't know that. Or if you're taking a trek and you'll be like, Oh my gosh, I had no idea that they had an endangered, you know, whatever it is. Um it really does, Animal Kingdom really does take the cake for that experience.

SPEAKER_02 34:33

I wish I had more to add to the conversation, but I have something to admit to you all. As many times as I've been to Walt Disney World, and as many times as I've been to visit Alice and Animal Kingdom, I have never done, I've never gone out of my way to go on any of the experiences or go and go out of my way to see uh the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail or any of the other animals outside of the safari itself. So I guess I'm a bad uh podcast host and I don't have much to talk about it, but uh that's something to look forward to uh in the future where I actually will take my time and uh experience um what well all everything else that uh that Animal Kingdom has to offer. One thing that we are forgetting, and it replaced uh the original opening from 1998 from where the Tree of Life is, at the Bug's Life, is uh Zootopia, Better Zoogether. And I know Pete and I, you and I saw that back in January where we were for travel mission. We went uh to that together. What did you just think of that new experience?

SPEAKER_00 35:34

Yeah, how was it?

SPEAKER_01 35:36

Yeah, I thought it was great. Um, the very similar to um a bug's life as far as you're still sitting in the same seats, but they've reimagined it, re-themed it, and uh I think it was a good upgrade.

SPEAKER_02 35:48

No, I think I think I think they did a fantastic job of reimagining that ride, like you like you said. Um there are if you have small children, uh I mean there are some parts of the show, it's not as scary as what a bug's life was. There's no killer grasshopper or get stung by bees or any of that that's going on. Uh they they did do a good job of of trying to make it more family friendly and less scary for little kids. Uh, but there is some uh some theater smoke. There's some, you know, um, there's still some loud noises, so just be prepared for that. Uh, but they do uh they did a great job of of uh turning it into Zootopia. And of course, who who doesn't love uh Shakira? I mean, they you get to sing and dance along with her while you're while you're uh sitting there and in the tree of life. So I think it I think it's a great addition to the park. Take it away, Allison. Take it away.

SPEAKER_00 36:43

No, um, I have not experienced uh Zootopia at Animal Kingdom yet. Um I absolutely adore those movies. Um probably like top 10 for me. Um this most recent one, Zootopia 2, amazing. Um, so I'm so glad to see them integrated because obviously they are also in the uh parades at Magic Kingdom, but I didn't see them anywhere else. So I'm really excited that they're actually, you know, joining us at Animal Kingdom.

SPEAKER_01 37:12

I want to go back to what you said earlier um about you know, it's a great illustration of how this park in particular, you can make it uh whatever you want. So, you know, we used to have before I got into it, I used to have we used to half day it. Like we're gonna get right in there, we'll get right on Everest, um, we'll do the safari and then get some snacks and take off. Um, but now I think um with the knowing about all the little things and the nature trails and the extra things that you can do, um, we try to take our time with it more. We still get those snacks. I did want to mention, since we're talking about the worst, uh, I'm a little mad at Disney. I don't know if y'all have been there in a little bit, if you're listening. They used to sell corn outside of the safari and they used to grill it right there and put all those really great spices on it. Might have been tahine or something. Um, and they closed down the shop and now they just do it in bulk, and so they they don't taste as good. And so I need Disney to go back to the grill outside and give me my corn.

SPEAKER_00 38:14

It added such aroma in that area too. I get it.

SPEAKER_02 38:18

Was there something in a part of that park that you really enjoyed as a cast member mercy in every day?

SPEAKER_00 38:22

Man, I feel like I so a lot of my time was stationed up by the tree, and I feel like I saw a different animal etched in that tree every time. Uh, like obviously, you know the big ones, right? But there's a tiny peacock on the corner, and there's uh an alligator that leads into a hippo. Like it is just so detailed um from everything from the tree life to uh one of the treks. Like there is a detail in every section of that park. You can't miss it. And if you do, it's probably slapping you in the face and you didn't realize it.

SPEAKER_02 38:55

I really, I really like uh some of the character experiences at this park. I really enjoy meeting Doug and Russell.

SPEAKER_00 39:03

And Kevin walks the parks, and he's so cute. She's so cute.

SPEAKER_02 39:07

Kevin's Kevin's a girl.

SPEAKER_00 39:09

Who knew?

SPEAKER_02 39:12

Um uh I some of the really uh experiences we really like, and this is part of another segment we have. Um, I have done uh I did do uh one animal experience, and that was Feathered Friends in Flight. And that is a fantastic show. Uh, and they do a really great job to Ellison's point of some entertainment and talking about concentration of the different animals in that show. And the one really cool point about it is um a lot of the macaws or the parrots in that are free range. They are not caged, they are not housed by Disney's Animal Kingdom, they are free to roam Orlando as they see fit. But guess what? They continue to come back every single day by themselves because they know they're gonna get fed, um, and be a part of that experience at Disney's Animal Kingdom. So good for them. It's it's really cool that they they just let them be and let them let them roam at as they see fit, and then they continue to come back every single day. It's kind of neat.

Shows, Pandora At Night, Hidden Gems

SPEAKER_02 40:08

Um, another one there at Disney's Animal Kingdom. We can't go without talking about Festival of the Line King. What do you guys think about Festival of the Line King?

SPEAKER_00 40:16

I love Festival, Folk as we call it, Festival of the Line King. Um wow. I am a theater person to my core, and to put that show on as many times as they do is so impressive. All of those uh cast members deserve all of their kudos. They are the backbone of that area. Uh folk for me is so emotional. It's such a great show, but it is also so immersive and so fun. And uh there's not a bad thing I can say about it.

SPEAKER_02 40:50

They really do a great job of getting you into that. Pete, have you seen that one?

SPEAKER_01 40:53

I have. It's it's really great. It's uh Broadway level style. It's just a lot to it. It's really great. Um, and you can't sleep on Nemo's show either. Uh both of them are great.

SPEAKER_02 41:02

And Alison, I think you brought up this next one. Uh you mentioned Pandora at nighttime. Um, I I wish that Pandora was open a little bit later. Um, but um it is uh stunningly beautiful at nighttime, and that you're in it's a different experience if you go during the day versus if you experience it at nighttime.

SPEAKER_00 41:21

Very much so. The uh that entire section of the park was built to be seen after dark, um, or even dusk. I mean, just the uh like if you hit one of the flowers that sounds like a drum when you first get into the park, you get sprayed with a little water. And then like again, I keep saying things are so immersive, but Disney does it correct. Um they do it right the first time and they don't let go uh to have such a a legend like Joe Rhodie come to the park and actually like map out where things were so cool, what a fun experience. Um he came and like uh did all of that as an imagineer, but then also turned around a couple years later and came back with a book and uh was there for signing, which um wow, it was uh Pandora Night is just jaw-dropping.

SPEAKER_02 42:19

I think this leads into what what Pete exactly was saying just a moment ago, is that you know, we talk a lot about rides, we talk a lot about um going from park to park, especially if you have a park park hopper. And Pete, like Pete said, um, and I I'll let him talk about this, um, is a lot of times people think that Animal Kingdom is a half day park. Um, but um he was mentioning, and I'll let him take it away, that there are so many different experiences, and of course Allison's here to to talk about them. There are so many hidden gems to this park. Um, it you have to slow down, right, Pete?

SPEAKER_01 42:51

Yeah, a hundred percent. And and with anything, you you get out what you put in. So if you want to go and hang out by the pool and have drinks at your hotel, I mean, that's great. And if you want to get in there and just ride flight of passage and take off, or if you want to have an entire day with 30,000 steps um and seeing the animals and really understanding all the little hidden gems, getting the viral ice cream and the uh the not so great corn, and then you know, checking out the the lion that makes your chest uh shake. Like it just like it's it really could be like um for me, like I love this. It's still my favorite as well. And I I think um with the addition of Bluey and stuff, it'll be interesting to see um how much busier it gets.

SPEAKER_02 43:38

Alison, what do you think is the most underrated non ride experience at Disney's Animal Kingdom?

SPEAKER_00 43:43

Um, I know so obviously Bluey's coming to Rafiki's Planet Watch, right? Um in that area, people don't realize that there's a full vet that you can watch actual procedures on wild animals. Um they're if stopping guest relationships. And ask when a procedure is being done. They have the schedule. So I love to send like little wilderness explorers that way. There's a giant like a giant window that you get to watch and kind of be a part of that. Not only that, but in that same section is if you're into art, uh, there's a full like drawing section. So you sit with a Disney artist. Um, it's a selected character, Mickey Mini, you know, Fab Five or someone in the park. I don't know, uh, it's a day of decision. Uh, and you walk away, like actually drawing one of the characters. Um, so it's a that's a free takeaway for you. It's not anything you have to pay for. Um, and it is inside, first of all, so there's air conditioning. Uh, and second, it is just a a unique experience to Animal Kingdom. So those two things top for me uh when it comes to non-rides.

SPEAKER_02 45:00

No, I think that's a great, I think that's a great, that's something great to to add for sure. And I think that is the theme of this episode. There's so much other things other than just uh uh avatar or other than just Expedition uh Everest. Um if you're a thrill seeker like I am and want to do just rides, there's that for you. And like like Pete's mentioned, like we said over and over again, get out there, explore uh the wilderness must be explored, right? Like Russell says. Um, there's so many other things out there uh to see and do and touch and feel and experience in this park. And I think Alison's done a fantastic job of walking us through all those things. There are so many little interesting nuggets that she just mentioned a second ago. It's making me smile uh to listen to her talk about it because I I didn't know a lot of a lot of these things as somebody who uh only pays attention to most of the rides. Um, all right, Alison, this is our our last uh two to three minutes here. Uh tropical Americas will improve animal kingdom. What do you think?

SPEAKER_00 46:00

Yeah, I think so, for sure. Um, can I touch on one thing? You mentioned you mentioned earlier feathered flights, uh feathered friends at flight. Um Pete, I love what you said about just like slow down, take it in, take in the park. Um, every morning, those macaws that you were talking about, they have a full opening show that people just miss because they're in a hurry to get somewhere. Um, literally in front of the tree. Uh, I believe it's about 9 a.m. park open time frame. Um there's a cast member that's there that works with those birds and will call out to them. And then they like rush themselves through the park and you kind of see them tornado uh throughout. And that's like that is so unique to Animal Kingdom. You'll not get that in any other park. Um, so I wholeheartedly agree with you, Pete. Slow down, take it in. That like make that your morning. Grab a coffee from Starbucks and like just be part of it, right? Um, we're we're living in their world, it's a wild world out there. So uh that's my two cents about like slowing down and taking things in.

SPEAKER_02 47:10

I I couldn't have said it better myself. I think that's that's the the greatest advice you can give for this park itself and and Disney in general.

SPEAKER_01 47:17

All right, with the updated rides at Animal Kingdom, do we need more? Is this uh with the Encanto and the Indiana Jones ride? Um, is there enough? Our short list of the worst rides um was definitely smaller than Hollywood Studios. Do we think uh have we right-sized the the rides at Animal Kingdom?

SPEAKER_00 47:36

I think we're in the pocket, guys. I really do. Um, I think leaning in towards that family-friendly aspect of uh like wilderness explorers and uh Up and Zootopia, like I I really do think Animal Kingdom's off to the races and becoming one of the better parks.

SPEAKER_02 47:54

I'm excited to see uh what to Allison's point, I'm excited to see what they transform it into. Um as I mentioned earlier, I wasn't super you know into dino land. Um obviously I had the children right for the age to experience that, and it was cool to put them in and the dino boneyard and just let them go nuts and have a great time in that place. And I'm sad to see that part go. But the rest, I'm I'm I'm super excited to see how Tropical America is improves uh ammo kingdom in the long run. And of course, of course, I'm excited for Indiana Jones. Yeah, so next one, uh flight of passage. Flight of passage is is it still worth rope dropping? Or do you need that individual lightning lane?

SPEAKER_01 48:31

I'm not sure if you're gonna be able to do that. But if you've never done it, I think it's important. I'll go back to what Allison said earlier, and we've kind of said throughout um don't sleep on going late at night or an hour before park closes. I I've gone on Everest three or four times just before the park was gonna close, had a beer, and still had time to go over and enjoy uh the safari. So that time of night and you can get the the light show, I I think it's it's worth doing that um as opposed to rope dropping.

SPEAKER_00 49:02

Yeah, I'm right there with you, Pete. Um for me it's a it's a non-rope drop situation. Um I'm gonna take in the park for what it is and enjoy the experiences around me. Honestly, I might uh rope drop some of the trails, see if I can get out there with some of the animals.

SPEAKER_02 49:17

No, I I think I think that's great. I think I think that's something that I'm lacking that I've lacked uh every time I've enjoyed or cared to experience this park, I've I've never taken the time to do that. And I I hate admitting that.

SPEAKER_00 49:29

Um, but that's that's we're gonna make this your favorite park by the end of this podcast. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 49:35

I hope, I hope uh for our loyal uh 30 listeners, by the way. Uh just so you know, um, we're up a couple from uh last episode. So thank you for listening. Uh, and thank you for coming back every episode. I I hope we make it worth your time. Um, I think this brings an end to our our episode.

Final Takeaways And Sign Off

SPEAKER_02 49:52

Um, thank you for listening to the worst beyond the magic. Huge thank you uh to my sister, a former cast member for all the little nuggets of insights. Pete, this is gonna be a hard one to edit uh because there's so many, and we're definitely gonna go along for sure on this one because there's so many little intricacies that Allison mentioned throughout this entire uh episode. Um, thank you for bringing us and giving us a real cast member insight. So thank you for being with us. Thank you, Allison.

SPEAKER_00 50:18

Thank you guys. I'll leave you with a quote from Walt himself that it says, progress is impossible without change. Um, and I think that's what we're doing at Animal Kingdom. So I'm really, really genuinely excited to see where it goes.

SPEAKER_02 50:32

And remember, realistic expectations make magical vacations. This has been the worst beyond the magic.