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Animal Kingdom Review: Enchanting Extras + Storybook Dining

Danielle

October 6, 2025

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Exploring Animal Kingdom with Animal Lovers

On the 6th day of our Disney World trip (5th day in the Disney Parks), we stepped into the captivating world of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. My son and I, being avid animal lovers, were especially excited for our Up Close with the Rhinos and Caring for Giants tours, which promised an enchanting animal experiences.

Kilimanjaro Safaris and Gorilla Falls

We began our day by heading straight to Kilimanjaro Safaris—a must-do ride that immerses you in the African Savanna. It was such a pleasure to relax, sit back, and observe the animals in their spacious, naturalistic habitats. Disney has done an incredible job designing the Savanna so that the habitats blend seamlessly, with no visible fences, giving each animal area a natural look.

Knowing we had our rhino tour scheduled at 11 am, I purchased Genie+ (now replaced with the lightning lane multi pass)  for Animal Kingdom to ensure we could experience Kilimanjaro Safaris with a shorter wait time. With our Lightning Lane access, we had a minimal wait and were able to enjoy the Safari with plenty of time before our tour. For anyone planning their visit, I’d recommend doing the Safari early in the day; animals are generally more active, and the cooler morning temperatures make for ideal viewing conditions.

Since our Rhino tour would also begin in the Africa section of the park, we didn’t venture far. After the Safari, we had an hour to explore, so we chose the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. This scenic trail offered up-close views of a variety of animals like gorillas, hippos, and zebras.

The gorillas, especially, were a huge hit—the young ones were playfully running around, much to everyone’s delight! A knowledgeable cast member was stationed nearby, sharing fascinating insights about the gorilla family.

By the time we finished the trail and strolled around Africa a bit, it was time to check in for our “Up Close with the Rhinos” experience.

Up Close with Rhinos Tour

Up Close with Rhinos tour was an unforgettable experience! We had the incredible opportunity to pet a white rhino named Ranger. Learning about rhino care and finding out that rhinos not only respond to training but also enjoy being petted was fascinating. Who would have thought that such majestic animals could be so affectionate? Being so close to a rhino and getting to touch one was an experience we’ll cherish forever.

The Disney cast members leading the tour were visibly passionate about their work; their love and dedication to the animals were inspiring. My son, an animal enthusiast, was absolutely captivated. Throughout this trip, he kept discovering different animal-related careers he’d love to pursue one day!

During the tour, we got a peek into the backstage areas of Animal Kingdom, including the back of the building for the Lion King show, the Kilimanjaro Safari trucks, and even the spaces where they grow food for the animals. It was amazing to learn that all the food for the animals is grown right on-site!

Out of all the enchanting extras we’ve done at Disney World and Disneyland, “Up Close with Rhinos” stands out as my favorite. For any Animal Kingdom fan, I highly recommend this tour—it was one of the highlights of our entire trip. One caveat: photos weren’t allowed on this tour, so be ready to take it all in with your own eyes! For a full review check out our Up Close with Rhino’s Review. If you love animal experiences, also consider the Starlight Safari at Animal Kingdom Lodge for another unique wildlife encounter during your Disney trip.

Yak and Yeti Local Foods Cafe 

After meeting Ranger, we had a little time before our next enchanting extra, Caring for Giants, scheduled for 2 pm. We decided to cool off on Kali River Rapids and then grabbed a quick lunch at Yak & Yeti Local Foods Café (a quick service restaurant). The food hit the spot, and we felt recharged for our elephant experience at Caring for Giants.

While exploring Discovery Island, we also checked out It’s Tough to Be a Bug, which was a fun break. Since my kids aren’t big on thrill rides, our day at Animal Kingdom focused more on animal encounters and gentler attractions.

They chose to skip the most popular attractions: Avatar Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest, which meant we were able to avoid some of the park’s longest lines and truly take our time enjoying the park’s natural beauty and wildlife.

Caring for Giants Tour and Afternoon Activities

While there’s no petting of elephants on the Caring for Giants tour, you do get to access a special viewing area (another backstage experience) where you can see the elephants up close for longer thanyou would on Kilimanjaro Safaris.

It was wonderful to be able to sit and watch the elephants in a relaxed setting, observing them as they went about their day while our guide shared fascinating details about their behaviors and about Animal Kingdom’s conservation efforts.

Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, offering a wealth of information about elephants and the care they receive. One of the highlights was seeing the baby elephant up close, moving alongside her mom, aunt, and grandma—a heartwarming sight!

It’s worth noting that elephant sightings aren’t guaranteed on this tour; if the elephants are in a different part of the habitat, you may not see them. When we first arrived at the viewing area, there were no elephants in sight. But after about five minutes, they appeared, walking by and remaining in view for the rest of our time on the tour. Read about our whole experience in our Caring for Giants Review.

After the tour, we treated ourselves to some refreshing Dole Whip—a perfect way to cool down! By this point, we were feeling the heat and fatigue, so we decided to head back to the hotel. There was so much at Animal Kingdom that we didn’t get to see, like The Festival of the Lion King show and several rides.

Florida heat can be challenging during long park days. Make sure you’re prepared with our Disney essentials guide and Disney packing guide including cooling gear and hydration tips.

Next time, if we plan any enchanting extras on our Animal Kingdom day, I’d definitely schedule two days here. Without the extras, we probably would have had enough time to see much more of the park in a single full day. Since we had a late night the evening before at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we did not rope drop or have early entry, but I would like to utilize early theme park entry for our next trip to Animal Kingdom.

Despite missing attractions like The Festival of the Lion King and Na’vi River Journey, the enchanting extras were absolutely worth it. They created some wonderful memories and gave us a unique perspective on the park. Some people say Animal Kingdom is a half-day park, but I’d say it’s a full-day experience. And since it closes earlier than other parks, it also offers the option to park-hop to other Disney theme parks later in the day.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom truly lives up to its reputation as a place where magic and nature collide, and it’s a day I’ll never forget. For us animal lovers, this park will always be special, and it’s certainly not our last visit. Next time, having already experienced the enchanting extras we were eager to try, I hope to explore more of the sights and rides in a single day. My top pick for our next visit would be to finally dine at Tusker House!

Dinner at Storybook Dining at Artist Point

After some relaxation at the hotel, we made our way to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge for our table service meal reservation at Storybook Dining at Artist Point. We arrived about 20 minutes early, which gave us a chance to explore the beautiful grounds of the Lodge. Note that advance dining reservations are needed for Story Book Dining.

Once seated, we were quickly charmed by the whimsical ambiance set to be an enchanted forest and the characters of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Dopey, Grumpy, and Snow White visited each table, taking time for photos and autographs. The character interactions with the kids were great! My son, who isn’t always excited about Disney characters meet-and-greets, was delighted by Dopey and Grumpy, while my daughter was over the moon to meet Snow White.

The dinner reservation includes a character dinner and offers a prix fixe menu with great options such as a royal prime rib roast, beef stroganoff, pork shank, as well as vegan options.  The wild mushroom bisque appetizer was a standout dish. Desert was delicious and included cookies with cream panna cotta, a poison apple, and a gooseberry pie dessert.  

The attention to detail in the décor and presentation was amazing; every serving dish and appetizer display was crafted to evoke a woodland setting, enhancing the fairytale experience. Incredible attention to detail, sticking to the enchanted forest theme at Storybook Dining at Artist Point.

At the end of the meal, we received a token for a photo op with the Evil Queen. This was a fantastic finale, and we got some incredible photos of my daughter and the Evil Queen—a memory we’ll treasure!  The seven dwarfs character meal was so much fun! This character dining experience was among my favorite dining experiences.

For a detailed review of this magical dining experience, read our complete Storybook Dining at Artist Point review with full menu details and character interaction insights. 

For more unforgettable Disney experiences, check out our full list of Itineraries & Enchanting Extras to plan a magical Disney day. Compare this unique experience with our other character dining reviews like 1900 Park Fare and Ohana character breakfast to plan your perfect Disney dining lineup.

Turn Everyday Spending into Free Disney Experiences

Money-Saving Tip: Enchanting extras like character dining and special tours can be expensive for families, but there are ways to make them more affordable—or even free! Use TopCashback to buy Disney gift cards and earn 5%+ cashback on your purchase. Even better, TopCashback offers gift cards for major chains you already shop at—pet supplies, movies, clothing, auto supplies, restaurants, and more.

Advanced Strategy: If the retailer also offers cashback on purchases through TopCashback’s portal, you can stack your earnings! Purchase a gift card through TopCashback, then use that gift card to shop through their portal—earning cashback on both the gift card purchase AND your shopping. Just read the fine print, as some vendors don’t allow both.

By using these TopCashback strategies for your regular spending, you can accumulate cashback and cash out for Disney gift cards, making Disney experiences like Up Close with Rhinos, Caring for Giants, and Storybook Dining completely free!

Fireworks and Evening Fun at Magic Kingdom

From Wilderness Lodge, we made our way over to Magic Kingdom to catch the fireworks again. This was our return to Magic Kingdom Fireworks, the fireworks were just as magical the second time around.

We arrived with enough time to revisit Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor—a favorite from our first day at Magic Kingdom. This time, both kids were in the spotlight and appeared on the big screen, which absolutely made their night! They were thrilled to be picked by the Monsters and couldn’t stop smiling.

After Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, we headed to the castle and found a perfect spot to watch thefireworks for the second time, and once again, they didn’t disappoint. Unlike our first night, we decided not to rush out of the park right after the show. Instead, we strolled over to Main Street Bakery for a late-night snack, avoiding the crowds.

On our first night, we tried to leave right after the fireworks, only to find ourselves stuck in a long line for the Monorail back to the parking lot. This time, we grabbed treats and found a cozy spot on the curb along Main Street to relax, enjoy our snacks, and do some people-watching.

When we eventually made our way to the exit, we were happy to see a much shorter line for the Monorail—such a smoother end to the evening!

I’m so glad we had park hopper tickets for this Walt Disney World Vacation. If you’re staying at a deluxe Disney property with extended evening hours, park hoppers are an excellent choice to keep the magic going!

We found that with a late afternoon break and cooler evening weather, we were ready to explore again after the fireworks. Since we stayed off-site at Marriott’s Palm Villas, we drove to and from the parks each day, making park hopping easy and convenient. Learn more about Marriott vacation club properties near Disney for spacious family accommodations.

Having the flexibility of a car meant we could skip the buses, saving time and energy at the end of our park days. With the park hopper tickets and our car, we took full advantage of hopping around to see different nighttime shows across the parks.