The Disney Attractions We Appreciate More as Adults: Animal Kingdom

If you’ve been following along, you know that we’ve already taken a trip around the Magic Kingdom to discover the Disney attractions we appreciate a little more now that we’re adults. While we may not be able to resist a good thrill ride or the newest attraction, we’ve also discovered that sometimes the attractions we might have rushed past as kids are the ones we find ourselves enjoying the most today.

So, what’s our next stop on our journey through Disney Attractions We Appreciate More as Adults? Animal Kingdom!

Animal Kingdom is a park that seems to become even more enjoyable the older we get. As kids, we might have been looking for the biggest ride, the fastest coaster, or our favorite characters. But as adults, we can slow down and appreciate the incredible storytelling, the attention to detail, the animals, the music, the atmosphere, and those little moments that make you stop and say, “Wow, Disney really thought of everything”!

Let's be honest, sometimes being an adult at Disney means appreciating an attraction for a completely different reason. Maybe it’s the chance to sit down in the air conditioning, take a break from the crowds, enjoy a beautiful view, or simply experience something without feeling like we have to race off to the next big thing.

So grab your safari hat, hop aboard an expedition, and get ready to explore with us as we head into Animal Kingdom and take a look at some of the attractions we’ve come to appreciate just a little bit more as adults! Growing up doesn't mean outgrowing Disney. It means discovering even more to love!

Kilimanjaro Safaris

If there is one attraction at Animal Kingdom that immediately comes to mind when I think about something we appreciate more as adults, it has to be Kilimanjaro Safaris. As a child, you might look at a safari and think, “So we’re going to sit on a truck and look at animals”?  Where’s the roller coaster? Where's the excitement?  But as an adult, we’ve come to realize that the magic of Kilimanjaro Safaris is that you never really know what is going to happen next! Believe me, we’ve had some pretty memorable surprises!

One of our favorite safari experiences happened when a giraffe decided that the road belonged to him. We were making our way through the safari when a giraffe casually walked along side our truck to the front, and then stopped. Apparently, he had absolutely nowhere else to be!

And so, we waited. And waited. And waited some more.

I would say we were probably sitting there for 20 minutes while our very large roadblock continued doing exactly what giraffes do, completely oblivious to the fact that a truck full of people were waiting patiently behind him. We were completely in awe. It was incredibly special sitting there and watching this beautiful animal simply be an animal. He wasn't performing. He wasn't on a schedule. He wasn't there for our entertainment. He was just going about his day in his own habitat, and for those 20 minutes, we were lucky enough to be there watching it happen. That's exactly the kind of experience I think I appreciate so much more as an adult.

One thing that many people may not realize is that the safari Cast Members can't simply honk the truck's horn to get an animal to move, nor can they just steer off the designated trail to go around it. When an animal decides to take its time, the truck waits. Honestly, I'm glad it does. It’s a reminder that this isn’t just a ride, it’s an experience centered around real live animals. That’s also what makes Kilimanjaro Safaris so much fun every time we visit. It is never exactly the same experience twice. The animals aren't performers following a script, so you never know which animals will be active, which ones you'll spot in the distance, or which ones might decide to come right up to your truck. We've had giraffes come incredibly close, and we've even had a zebra wander right up beside us. Those moments are absolutely amazing!

Then there is the safari guide. Along the way, you can learn so many interesting and sometimes surprising facts about the animals you're seeing. Things you may have never known about giraffes, zebras, elephants, lions, hippos and so many other species suddenly become part of the experience. I love that you're not simply looking at the animals, you are learning about them and gaining a better understanding of the incredible creatures you're seeing.

Of course, the photo opportunities are pretty spectacular too! I love capturing the animals in their habitat. A giraffe stretching its neck toward the trees, a zebra wandering across the savanna or an elephant peacefully going about its day. You never quite know when the perfect photo opportunity is going to appear, so keep that camera ready!

But perhaps what I love most about Kilimanjaro Safaris now is that it gives us permission to slow down. On the safari, you can sit back, enjoy the scenery, listen to your guide and simply see what happens. Sometimes that means you get an amazing view of an animal. Sometimes it means you wait 20 minutes for a giraffe who has decided to stop traffic. Sometimes, those unexpected moments end up being the best!

That's what makes Kilimanjaro Safaris one of those attractions that I think we appreciate so much more as adults. We aren't just looking for the next big thrill. We're taking the time to appreciate the experience, the animals, and the incredible world Disney has created around us. If a giraffe happens to decide that our safari truck needs to wait for him?  Well, we're perfectly happy to wait.

Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail

Our next stop is one that I think could easily be overlooked if you're focused on checking the biggest attractions off your Animal Kingdom list. But for us, Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail is one of those experiences that we have come to appreciate so much more as adults.

As a child, walking along a nature trail might not sound particularly exciting. You might be wondering where the next ride is, how much longer you have to walk, or when you're going to get to the "good stuff". But as an adult, I think you begin to appreciate something completely different. The chance to slow down!

Gorilla Falls is a beautifully themed walking trail where you can encounter gorillas, hippos, zebras, meerkats, exotic birds and other wildlife. But it isn't simply a path with a few animal habitats along the way. The entire trail tells a story.

From the moment you begin walking, the environment is immersive. The pathway, buildings, vegetation and research areas all help create the feeling that you've stepped into an African wildlife research environment. You aren't simply walking from one animal to another, you feel like you're exploring a place with a purpose. Along the way, you'll find Cast Members who are incredibly knowledgeable about the wildlife. They are there to share interesting facts, point out things you might otherwise miss and, perhaps best of all, answer questions!

My son was always incredibly curious and inquisitive when he was younger, and Gorilla Falls was a perfect place for that curiosity to shine. He would stop and ask the Cast Members question after question, and what I remember most is how enthusiastic they were to answer him. They didn't seem bothered by his endless questions at all. They were delighted to engage with him, share what they knew and encourage his curiosity. That's something I really love about this trail. You can take your time! There is no need to rush through Gorilla Falls. It is a slower paced, peaceful and often shaded part of the park where you can stop whenever something catches your attention. You can watch the animals, listen to the Cast Members, take pictures, or simply enjoy the surroundings.

One of our favorite places to linger is the underwater hippo viewing area. We've spent so much time there just standing and watching the hippos. It’s absolutely fascinating to see these enormous animals moving through the water and getting a glimpse into a part of their world that we wouldn't normally get to see. I think this is something I appreciate much more as an adult. As a kid, I might have looked at the hippos for a minute and been ready to move on to whatever came next. Now, I can stand there for quite a while and simply watch them swim by the window again and again. There's no rush. No schedule. No need to be anywhere else for a few minutes. Just watching the hippos be hippos.

While the gorillas may be the namesake of the trail, they certainly aren't the only animals you'll encounter. From hippos and zebras to meerkats and birds, there is always something else to discover. That's another reason we enjoy returning, the experience can feel different depending on which animals are active and what catches your eye that day.

I also love that the trail provides another opportunity to learn. The Cast Members are so knowledgeable, and you can walk away having discovered something you didn't know before. Whether it's an interesting fact about an animal, learning about their behaviours or hearing about conservation efforts, there is always something new to take in.

Well, and on a hot Florida day, the shaded areas make this a particularly welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the park. It gives you a chance to breathe, cool down and enjoy being surrounded by nature for a little while. Sometimes we get so caught up in our Disney plans and the next place we need to be. Gorilla Falls gives us a chance to stop doing that. Just walk.  Just look.  Just listen. And maybe stand at the hippo viewing area for a little longer than you planned.

For us, that is what makes Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail such a wonderful adult experience. It isn't about thrills or speed. It's about curiosity, learning, nature and appreciating the incredible animals right in front of you.

Sometimes, growing up means realizing that you don't always need to hurry to the next attraction. Sometimes, the attraction is simply taking the time to stop and watch.

Na’vi River Journey

Our final stop in Animal Kingdom is Na’vi River Journey, and this is another attraction that I think we appreciate so much more as adults. As a kid, you might get off the boat thinking, “Okay, we were in a boat”. But as an adult, you can sit back, take a breath and really appreciate just how beautiful and incredibly detailed this attraction is. From the moment your boat enters the bioluminescent rainforest of Pandora, you are surrounded by color, light, music and movement. It is peaceful, beautiful and, quite honestly, a little bit awe-inspiring.

And the details… oh, the details!

Look closely and you'll see glowing plants throughout the rainforest, created with special paints and effects that come alive in the darkness. Overhead, glowing vines and leaves hang down from the canopies, sometimes seemingly just above your boat as you quietly travel beneath them.

Then there are the jellyfish like creatures floating through the air, strange and colorful creatures spinning and moving near the water, and hidden animals tucked into the vegetation that you might completely miss if you're not paying attention.

You'll also notice things moving through the background, creatures swimming, flying or wandering through the trees, along with projections and other effects that add even more layers to the environment.

There is so much happening around you that you could ride Na'vi River Journey several times and still notice something you didn't see before. I think that's part of what makes it such a wonderful attraction for adults. You're simply floating through this incredible world and allowing yourself the time to look around and take it all in.

Then you reach my favorite part of the entire attraction... The Shaman.

The enormous Na'vi Shaman animatronic at the end of the journey is absolutely incredible. She sings while making remarkably realistic movements with her arms and body, creating the illusion that you're actually witnessing a living Na'vi performing in front of you. The scale and realism of this figure are something that really need to be seen in person to appreciate. It is one of those Disney creations that have you thinking, “How did they even build this”?

Jason and I actually experienced Na'vi River Journey once when the Shaman was out for her regular maintenance, and it really drove home just how important that final scene is to the attraction. In her place was a large monitor projecting an image of the Shaman. Honestly, if we had never experienced the attraction with the animatronic, we probably would have thought it was fine. But we knew what we were missing. It’s just a completely different experience seeing that enormous figure moving, singing and interacting with the environment right in front of you. A screen simply can't recreate that feeling.

A Cast Member told us that the Shaman requires fairly frequent servicing because of the complexity of the animatronic, so seeing her temporarily replaced isn't unusual. And while we completely understand that even the most impressive Disney technology needs a little maintenance now and then, we definitely appreciated her even more the next time we returned and found her back where she belonged!

That experience actually made us realize just how much we had come to appreciate the attraction's incredible attention to detail. Because that's really what Na'vi River Journey is all about. The details. Maybe that's why this attraction works so well for us as adults. Sometimes at Disney, we don't need to be thrilled. Sometimes we just want to sit in a boat, enjoy the cool air, listen to the music and let Disney completely surround us with its storytelling and imagination.

Na'vi River Journey gives us that opportunity. It's peaceful. It's beautiful. It's immersive. Every time we ride, I find myself looking around and discovering something new.

That's the real magic of appreciating Disney as an adult, we finally give ourselves permission to slow down long enough to notice all the little things.

We’re Not Finished Yet!

Although our Animal Kingdom adventure has come to an end, our Disney Attractions we Appreciate More as Adults series is far from over!

Where are we headed next?  Hollywood Studios!

So stay tuned, Disney Nerds! We’ll be heading into a galaxy far, far away, stepping into the movies, and discovering which Hollywood Studios attractions we've come to appreciate even more as adults. Our Disney adventure continues!

Just Keep Dreaming and Disney’ing!

Terri Lee