We’re headed to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to see what’s new around the park this week.
Last week we spotted new 50th Anniversary golden statues, some fun lunch items at a reopened cafe, and lots of new merchandise. This week there’s just a couple of updates, so let’s check them out!
We’ll start with updates to construction around the park.
Animal Kingdom Construction Update
We’ve seen lightning lanes go up at rides and attractions around Disney World, and we spotted a new one in Animal Kingdom recently.
Kilimanjaro Safaris now officially has a Lightning Lane sign. The Lightning Lanes will be put to use once Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection get started in Disney World, which is supposed to be sometime this fall.
We also took a look at the construction for Animal Kingdom’s new KiteTails show, which is debuting on October 1st.
The barges are in the Discovery River Lagoon near Mount Everest. They have little structures on them, which have been added to frequently over the last few weeks. We’re excited to see them put to use once the show starts!
Click Here to Learn More About Animal Kingdom’s New Show
Animal Kingdom Merchandise Update
There weren’t any new items in the Animal Kingdom when we went, but we did see that the African Wild Dog plushes that are usually at Ziwani Traders weren’t there anymore. In their place, we saw plushes of some much tamer animals.
They’re llamas! You can find them at Ziwani Traders in Animal Kingdom. Nearby, you can also find plushes of Minnie in her Safari outfit.
Animal Kingdom Crowds Update
Around the park, crowd levels weren’t too high. It seems like there’s a dip in crowds before the big rush that’ll come for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary.
At the popular Flight of Passage ride in Pandora, the wait time was just 35 minutes when we stopped by.
Kali River Rapids had a 10-minute wait…
…and Dinosaur was also at 10 minutes.
That’s all for our short Animal Kingdom update this week. Keep following DFB, and we’ll let you know when we find new things in the Disney World parks.
Click Here to Find Out What’s New in Disneyland
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
What’s your favorite land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments!
TRENDING NOW
Disney and Starbucks have once again joined forces to launch new mugs to their Discovery...
Check out this brand-new Bluey collection at H&M!
A favorite Disney World perk is returning to Disney's Animal Kingdom soon and we're bringing...
A NEW entertainment offering is coming to Disney Springs soon!
If you break this rule, you could be temporarily BANNED from Disneyland.
How to join Indy on stage!
Disney revealed the name and story details of the new pirates-themed lounge coming to Adventureland...
A new Disney Loungefly collection inspired by Sleeping Beauty just debuted online, and you're NOT gonna...
Disney adults -- you have to see these items on sale on Amazon!
Looking for a great spot to eat in Magic Kingdom? These are the three restaurants...
A recent project was just completed on Interstate 4 in Orlando that could make getting...
Fans of the Disney Dining Plan will want to sit down for this EPCOT news...
We tried TWO new items at Everything POP at Disney's Pop Century Resort, and while...
If you've been eying a new Loungefly bag, this sale is perfect for you!
Watch out, these Minnie ears may disappear faster than the speed of light!
Mother's Day is quickly approaching! Need a last-minute gift? We've got you covered!
Make sure you follow these rules if you ever visit Disneyland's Club 33!
These perks make staying at a Disney Hotel extra worth it.
Some of the popular styles of up to 1/2 OFF!
New Aldi stores are coming to the Central Florida area this year!