Is it Scary? A Look at Animal Kingdom’s Attractions

Here I will analyze Animal Kingdom’s attractions to provide guests with an idea of what to expect during the experiences. This guide will give you a list of “warning labels” to help you determine whether Animal Kingdom attractions may be too intense for members of your travel party as you make your plans.

Keep in mind that everyone’s definition of “scary” is different. Some people love roller coasters and others can barely look at one without feeling anxious. Some children are ready for thrill rides as soon as they reach the height limit, and others need a little time before they can handle the intensity.

I have tried to include everything that I can possibly think of that may set off fear or anxiety for as large a variety of park guests as possible.

SPOILER ALERT! If you do not want to read the information that gives away details about attractions, read no further. If you are like me and have members of your travel party who may have sensitivities to consider as you make your plans, you have come to the right place!

Pandora

Avatar Flight of Passage

Flight of Passage is an extremely popular attraction, and I can see why as it is one of my favorites. It is a 4D simulator where guests take a ride on a Banshee.

My little boy met the 44″ height requirement for it by the time he turned 4. He wanted to try it and loved every second of it. When we ride together, he periodically checks on me to make sure I am not scared.

However, not every child who meets the requirement will enjoy this ride, and many adults worry that it will be too intense for them as well.

• Dim Lights-the lighting is dim starting with the preshow.
• Seating Arrangements: The ride vehicles, called link chairs, resemble motorcycles, and they are lined one next to the other with space between them. Each guest must sit on his own vehicle. This means that children cannot be in the same seat as the adults accompanying them. They are on their own. It is possible to reach your child if you see he/she is getting nervous. However, some children will not like having to be alone in the apparatus.
• Unique Ride Restraints: you are secured in the seat with restraints that press against your back and legs. The process of getting secured can upset children who are sensitive to pressure or to being squeezed.
• Movement: While the attraction is a simulator, the theater and the ride vehicle both move. It does not rely solely upon visuals. You will experience the feeling of dropping, diving, dodging, and flying. This ride gives me the “stomach drop” feeling more than any other ride in the park except possibly Tower of Terror.
• Heights: The ride theaters are anywhere from 3 to 5 stories in the air. I have ridden in several, and they all feel high up to me. Those who are afraid of heights may prefer to skip this one. If Soarin’ is too high up for you, this one might be, too.
• 3D Effects: This ride has several “gotcha” moments. It seems as if you will crash into a few members of a herd of creatures. A large fish jumps at you. At one point a wave feels like it will crash on top of you. A predatory flying lizard (forgive me, I do not know what it is called) comes at you. It can be startling.
• Water Splashes: You will get misted with a few drops of water.

This attraction also tends to make some people a little emotional. Overall, it is a fun ride, but it can feel very real to children and to anyone who is fearful of movements they aren’t in control of.

Na’vi River Journey

This attraction is a dark boat ride similar to Small World. It moves slowly through serene scenes from Pandora. The imagineers say that this ride is meant to be peaceful.

It is dimly lit, and there are lots of creatures that may be hard to identify. There is also a large animatronic Pandora resident at the end, but it is not very intimidating.

I cannot think of anything else that might be scary, but if I have left anything out, please comment. Your thoughts may help a fellow Disney traveler. I have not witnessed any children becoming upset on this ride. My little girl loved it when she was a baby.

Africa

Kilimanjaro Safaris

The safari is another of my favorite attractions because I love seeing the animals, and it is different every time I ride. It is a 20-minute ride in an open-air vehicle that takes you through Animal Kingdom’s Harambe Wildlife Reserve.

You will see a variety of up to 34 animals that might include lions, crocodiles, rhinos, okapi, hippos, elephants, warthogs, wild dogs, giraffes, and zebras. It is unlikely you will spot all 34 because the animals move about and some may be hidden away.

It is not meant to be scary, but if you have a fear of any particular animal living in the reserve, there is a chance you might see it, so plan accordingly. Rest assured that while there are no visible barriers, Disney has cleverly crafted ones in place for safety.

The ride is about 18 minutes long, so if you are traveling with little ones, you may want to stop by a restroom first. There are a few times where the safari vehicle goes over some bumps, but it is not intense. Overall, it is a fun one for the whole family.

Wildlife Express Train

This train runs to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. Its hours of operation differ from the park hours, and it is typically closed by 4:30 PM.

You can get a behind the scenes look at some of the animals on the ride. It is not scary, but it can be loud. Rafiki’s Planet Watch is an island where you will find Affection Section, which is a petting zoo, as well as the animal conservation center, and a trail to explore.

You will need to re-board the train to return to the other parts of Animal Kingdom.

Asia

Kali River Rapids

Kali River Rapids takes you on a river journey through rough rapids. Ride vehicles are round, and passengers are seated facing one another. It s similar to theme park river rapid rides, but it is Disney-fied with lovely scenery.

• You will get wet: People get anywhere from splashed to completely drenched on this ride. If you want to stay dry, stay off. There is no “best spot to sit to stay dry” like there is with Splash Mountain because the drenching can happen to any seat at random. If you have a member of your travel party who becomes fussy over wet clothing, this is not the ride for him/her. If he/she insists on doing it, bring along a change of clothes.
• Rough Waters: This is no lazy river. The waters are rough, and you will experience bumps, twists, and turns.
• Small Drop: There is a small drop at the end, similar to what you would find on Pirates of the Caribbean or Frozen Ever After.

If you want to ride and don’t want to spend the rest of the day drying off, you might consider bringing a change of clothing and making this your final ride before heading back to your hotel.

Lockers for items you want to stay dry are available on a first-come, first-served basis. They are located across from the entrance to Kali River Rapids

Expedition Everest-Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

Expedition Everest is Animal Kingdom’s roller coaster. To me, it is Walt Disney World’s 2nd most intense coaster (but we will see how I feel about that once TRON Lightcycle Power Run and Guardians of the Galaxy open).

It is also a lot of fun. My little boy once convinced my husband to take him on it 5 times in a row. He convinced me to do the same, but I only made it to three times before I had to call it a day.

• Motion: The ride is fast and pretty turbulent. It is not smooth like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. You will feel the jostle.
• Darkness: Some parts of the ride are dim to pitch dark
• Heights: This coaster is high up, and it feels high up. It has an awesome view at one point where you can see Epcot in the distance. Or, if you are afraid of heights, it has a terrifying view at one point where you can see Epcot in the distance.
• Drops: There are small and large drops on this one. The large drop is around 80 ft long and, to me, is the scariest Walt Disney World Drop roller coaster drop.
• Backwards Movement: The ride goes backward for a while. This is my personal favorite part, but if it freaks you out, this might be one to avoid.
• Scary Visuals: There is a point where the track appears to be broken.
• A Yeti: There is a large, animatronic yeti in a dark cave.
• Loud Noise: This ride is loud. There are some loud sound effects as well.

I get super nervous about roller coasters, myself. On paper, this seems like one I would really dislike. I am typically not into large drops or intimidating heights where you can tell how high up you are. However, I love this ride. That said if you have members of your travel party who take one look at it and say, “no way,” they should sit this one out.

DinoLand U.S.A.

DINOSAUR

This is a tricky one. There are people who don’t like coasters but are fine on this. But, for a lot of people, it is very scary. In fact, this is one ride that Disney actually labels as “scary.”

I waited until my little boy was 5 to tell him about this one because I wasn’t sure which camp he’d fall into. As I mentioned, he loves Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest. But the same kid who wanted to do Everest five times in a row got off this ride and said, “That was scary. Let’s not do it again.”

• Pending Doom in the Story Line: The premise of the ride is that you are going back in time to rescue an Iguanodon before the meteor that wipes out life on earth strikes. Some young, imaginative riders will stress about the meteor the whole time, and the ride’s audio system gives periodic reminders that it is coming. Some with bleeding hearts may even want to know, “but what about the rest of the dinosaurs?” and be sad about the idea that they will be wiped out. The idea of large-scale destruction can be tough for young minds.
• Firey Meteor Visuals: Fiery meteors appear to be crashing around you during the ride.
• Darkness: It is a dark ride, and some parts are pitch black. Riders who are afraid of the dark might want to skip this one.
• Small Drops: The ride has small drops
• Movement: There are twists and turns, speed bursts, and a good bit of turbulence. You will probably feel a jostled.
• Loud sounds: This ride is loud and has sudden loud sounds. Bring along sound protection if someone riding it is sensitive.
• Non-stop action: The ride has no breaks or moments to breathe. There is not really a space of time to check in with your little ones and reassure them.
• Storm: There are strikes of lightning.
• Dinosaurs: The dinosaurs can be scary, and they can give you some in-your-face “gotcha moments.” At one point you see a predatory dinosaur, identified as a hadrosaur, swallowing another dinosaur. You see a Carnotaurus, which is a large predator, ad it comes after you later in the ride. You find a long-necked dinosaur identified as “sauropod” that sneezes on you. A pterodactyl flies at the ride vehicle. You see another predatory dinosaur growling. The Carnotaurus from earlier returns and lunges at the ride vehicle. After the mission is aborted, the Carnotaurus appears to attack somewhat above the vehicle, and the vehicle slides beneath it.

Although the height limit for this ride is only 40″, consider what you know about your child before you introduce him/her to it. If you are on the fence, consider not starting your day with this one as it could cause your child to decide not to try anything else.

Triceratops Spin

This attraction is a spinner. It is like Dumbo but with cute little green triceratops ride vehicles. It is the only tame ride in DinoLand U.S.A. While it is not meant to be scary, it is a little high up. Those with a fear of heights may not want to ride.

Primeval Whirl

Primeval Whirl only operates seasonally at this time. It is a mini coaster with spinning ride vehicles. It is similar to a “Crazy Mouse” type ride, which you may have ridden at a fair,. Similarly, it feels like a carnival ride to me.

If you have never been on Crazy Mouse and want something else to compare Primeval Whirl to, imagine Barn Stormer. Now, imagine someone has replaced the ride vehicles with the teacups. That’s the sort of thing you are in for here.

This ride has a relatively high height restriction at 48″ so super young riders will have to skip it. It has no scary theming, but it might be too rough and wild for some people in your party.

• Heights: The ride is somewhat high up at it’s highest points, and to me, it feels as if I am higher than I really am (which is the opposite feeling I get on attractions like Space Mountain or 7 Dwarfs Mine Train). If heights trouble you, skip it.
• Movement: It has abrupt stops and jerky motions. And, as I mentioned, it spins at will. There no way to control the spinning. It just happens. You will notice the jerkiness. Some people really do not like how rough it is.
• Drops: The ride has drops. They aren’t large, but they don’t feel small either, and you could potentially be dropping and swinging around at the same time.
• Visual Tricks: From the inside of the ride vehicle, it can look like you are going to go over the edge of the tracks.
• Loud Noise: The ride makes loud “time machine” sounds

I personally get an “I am going to come flying out of this thing” feeling when I ride Primeval Whirl. As with everything else, everyone experiences it differently, and I know people who love it and people who don’t even want to look at it.

Discovery Island

It’s Tough to be a Bug

It’s Tough to be a Bug is based on a “Bug’s Life.” It is a 4D show about bugs and their interactions with the environment. A lot of people like this show; it is fun!

On the surface, it seems like it would be great for small children. However, out of all the shows at Disney, this is the one where I most consistently and frequently hear small children burst into shrieks and see a parent scoot to the exit with them. Some kids do not really understand 3D or do not have the eye development to really see it just yet.

But for some, the idea of something coming at them seems very real and scary. Additionally, many people are inherently afraid of insects and arachnids. Then again, some kids like it. My 5 year old loved it. His younger sister did not. She removed her 3D glasses and hid her face.

• Loud Noise: This show is loud. It has lots of sudden loud noises, particularly air compressor sounds. If you have members of your travel party who are sensitive to noise, this one might be one to skip. Or, at the very least, you might consider bringing sound protection for this show.
• 3D Visuals: There are some “gotcha” moments with effects during this show. For example, an animated Chilean tarantula crawls out on the screen at the start of the show. It seems like he might attack Flick, but he is friendly. It turns out he can shoot poison darts. He demonstrates this by shooting the darts at 3D acorns being catapulted towards the audience. It is accompanied by loud air compressor type sounds. This upsets many children and turns them off from the show. A 3D flyswatter loudly swats at a bug. A spray can sprays the audience. An iguana catches a bug with its tongue, and an air compressor sounds each time he sticks his tongue out.
• Spritzes of Water: A 3D acid-spitting termite sprays the audience with acid resulting in splashes of water squirting on audience members. If this is bothersome, you may need to sit this one out.
• Yucky Smells: A stink bug sprays the audience
• Hopper the Grasshopper: An animatronic Hopper emerges. He is the bad guy of the show, and he is intimidating.
• Video of Giant Bugs: Hopper plays a video featuring giant bugs-it is similar to old, campy horror films.
• Darkness: After Hopper’s video, the lights go completely dark and the audience hears the buzzing of stinging insects in the attack.
• Stings: The audience feels a sting from the back of their seats accompanied by an air compressor sound.
• Spiders: After the stings, large animatronic black widow spiders drop down from the ceiling directly over the audience.

It does end on a happy note. If your travel party can make it through all the scary/startling stuff, you are rewarded with a fun finale that includes cute visuals, which I will not spoil because they are not scary. Hopefully, it helps little ones who were terrified to forgive the early part of the show and have fond memories of it.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Animal Kingdom has lots of thrills, lots of animals, and lots of fun for everyone. Even if members of your travel party elect to skip most of the rides, there are plenty of gorgeous trails where you can view wildlife, renowned shows to take in, a substantial playground to enjoy, and characters to meet.

Want to Read About whether the attractions at other parks might be too much for you or someone in your travel party?

• Click here for Epcot
• Click here for Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom
• Click here for Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom
• Click here for Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom
• Click here for Frontierland, Main Street USA, and Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom
• COMING SOON: Hollywood Studios

What Animal Kingdom attractions scare you? Have you ever been surprised by what did and didn’t scare you or a member of your party? Tell us about it on the Kenny the Pirate Facebook group by clicking here. You can also share this guide with your travel party by clicking the large blue facebook button below.