Is Animal Kingdom Sensory-Friendly?
Are you thinking about heading to Animal Kingdom at Disney World but some of your family members have sensory sensitivities? Let’s jump in and find out if Animal Kingdom is sensory-friendly.
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What does “sensory-friendly” even mean?
Before we get into the details, you might be wondering what sensory-friendly means.
It is defined as a way to be more inclusive of those with different sensory needs. Usually this involves creating an atmosphere that is welcoming and supportive of those who are neurodivergent. A sensory-friendly event or location will be designed in a way to account for various sensitivities. And it will allow for making modifications to support those with sensory challenges.
An example of this is when a movie theatre might have a sensory-friendly movie screening. This would involve turning up the lights a little so it’s not so dark and turning down the volume of the movie so it’s not so loud. Making all these sensory inputs a little less jarring or intense at the movies is what makes it more sensory-friendly.
Animal Kingdom Overview
Animal Kingdom is the newest theme park among the four Walt Disney World parks. It first opened on April 22, 1998. And since then, it has been a mecca for animal lovers, conservationists, fans of legendary Imagineer Joe Rohde, and foodies.
This park is known for the massive “Tree of Life” at the center of the park. This 145 foot tall tree was made to look like a baobab tree, one that you’ll see on the Kilimanjaro Safari attraction. And it features over 300 carvings of both existing and extinct animals. It is a total delight for those who love taking in lots of intricate details. But how does Animal Kingdom do in terms of being sensory-friendly?
First, I want to acknowledge that some of this is very subjective. Every person can have varying sensory triggers. What is overstimulating to someone might be perfectly fine for another. And people will have different ways of finding relief from sensory overload. So this isn’t going to be a straightforward answer.
And if you want to know more about whether Disney World as a whole is sensory-friendly, that is written about in detail here.
RELATED: Is Disney World sensory-friendly?
Sensory Friendly Aspects of Animal Kingdom
NO FIREWORKS
Fireworks can be very overstimulating for sensory sensitive people. Visually, there’s a lot going on. The sounds can be scary and overwhelming. The fireworks shows at Disney World tend to attract crowds, which is another form of sensory overload. And then add the smells and the “boom” feeling you can feel in your chest. It. can. be. a. lot.
Luckily, Animal Kingdom is the ONE park at Disney World where you won’t find any fireworks at all. This is because it would be upsetting to all the creatures who call Animal Kingdom their home. Instead, there is a nightly light projection show on the Tree of Life, which is much more sensory-friendly.
OUTDOOR ATTRACTIONS & EXPERIENCES
For those who get overwhelmed in enclosed dark attractions, Animal Kingdom is a GREAT park. The majority of the rides, attractions, and experiences are all outdoors. There are outdoor shows, like the Feathered Friends in Flight. Kilimanjaro Safari, which is one of the most popular attractions here, is also outdoors.
There are tons of trails to see animals, and an open-air train ride up to Rafiki’s Planet Watch where there is an outdoor petting area. The Boneyard, in the Dinoland USA, is fun outdoor play area for kids to let out some energy! There is even a giant “fossil digging” area that is completely shaded, and it is such an awesome sensory activity for kids of all ages!
QUIETER AREAS
It’s not difficult to find quiet nooks at Animal Kingdom, though they are mostly outdoors. There are plenty around the Discovery Island trails, Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, and the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Taking the Wildlife Express train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch is a great way to escape any crowds in the main part of the park. We also love the walkway between Pandora and Africa, which is a peaceful trek that is rarely crowded. Because the whole park is themed to be like a tropical jungle, there are lots of little spots you can find throughout.
SUBTLE CHANGES IN THEMING IN VARIOUS LANDS
The theming is more seamless throughout the different lands, and takes on a more subtle approach. You won’t experience a sudden change in colors and music when moving through various areas of the park, which is not really the case at Hollywood Studios. The lack of jarring transitions between lands makes it feel like a more calming sensory experience overall.
Sensory Challenges to Consider at Animal Kingdom
THE HUMIDITY
One of the challenges to consider at Animal Kingdom is how humid it can feel. It is themed like a tropical jungle, so despite the abundance of greenery, it still feels pretty humid. A common remark from Disney goers is how there isn’t much of a breeze to be felt here. The weather and climate can definitely impact a sensory sensitive person’s nervous system, especially if they are quick to become overheated.
LACK OF INDOOR AIR-CONDITIONED AREAS
So, while having a lot of outdoor attractions and areas is GREAT for those who dislike dark enclosed spaces, it does make it a little more difficult if you are sensitive to the heat and humidity. Generally speaking, there aren’t a ton of indoor areas to cool off or to escape those sudden downpours that are much too common in Orlando.
The majority of the quick service dining at Animal Kingdom have outdoor (sometimes covered) seating. There are a few indoor gift shops, but they’re mostly located near the Tree of Life, except for the one in Pandora when you come off of Avatar: Flight of Passage.
Your options are clearly limited if you’re hoping for indoor places to relax and hang out, especially compared to other Disney World theme parks. This is the park where it would be helpful to have a dining reservation for a table service meal to get into some air conditioning, or join the walk-up waitlist to Nomad Lounge (our fave!).
MOST RIDES HAVE A HEIGHT MINIMUM
Animal Kingdom as a whole isn’t a ride-heavy park. And that’s perfectly fine. But it’s important to know that there are only two rides WITHOUT a height requirement. They are: Na’vi River Journey and Kilimanajro Safari. The other rides at this park do have a minimum height requirement, and therefore could be considered more thrilling from a sensory point of view. However, the shows, live performers, a kids’ play area, character meet and greets, and animal trails still provide ample choices for kids of all ages and sensory needs to fill up their Animal Kingdom day.
So, is Animal Kingdom Sensory-Friendly?
Overall, Animal Kingdom is pretty sensory-friendly. It is a lot more low-key than the other theme parks, and I think part of that is because it isn’t a ride-heavy park AND they don’t have a huge nighttime spectacular with fireworks.
The intricate theming in all the lands is really something to enjoy and take in. And this is probably the park where you feel the least rushed.
The biggest challenges here are: the humidity levels AND finding indoor areas for when it’s raining or too hot. But as long you have a game plan for those things, it is certainly doable to have an enjoyable day at Animal Kingdom with highly sensitive kids.
If you’ve been to Animal Kingdom before, how sensory-friendly did you find it? What’s working and what could be improved? I’d love to hear about your experience!
Find Community
If you need extra support and community from other parents of highly sensitive kids going to Disney World, I encourage you to join my Facebook group—“Planning Disney for Highly Sensitive Kids (and Adults too!)! You can ask all your questions and get feedback from a wonderful group of Disney-loving parents who are also looking to mitigate meltdowns and maximize the magic during their Disney World vacation.
DISNEY RIDE PLANNER TOOL
Don’t forget to download your FREE copy of my must-have Disney ride planner tool!
With my Disney Ride Planner tool, it will be such a breeze to keep track of which rides you want to avoid and which you want to try with your highly sensitive kids. It will make sketching out your park days SO much easier!
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