Scheduling Animal Kingdom Trails

[DisneyAuntie12]

I currently have all the trails at Animal Kingdom park on our schedule, including:


- Gorilla Falls
- Discovery Island
- Maharajeh Jungle Trek
- Oasis Trails


However, when I was asking my cousin how the trails at Animal Kingdom are, she was like "What trails? I didn't know they had any, we did the safari and that was great though." Wasn't sure if that was just a fluke, that she hadn't seen them, or if it means they're nothing to write home about. I have some of the bigger ones down for about 40 minutes on our schedule and am wondering if that's too much?


My family enjoys zoos about as much as the average person - I'd say most members of the party will enjoy "ooh ahh" exhibits like gorillas but aren't going to spend a long time learning about details of biology. I understand this is totally personal opinion, but would you personally do all the trails for a good amount of time, or maybe just one or two or just a 15 minute walkthrough?

 

[MinnieGi]

Your cousin probably walked through the trails and hardly noticed it was its own exhibit. By that I mean when you exit the safari you are taken onto a trail as you exit. You can spend as little or alot of time on it but many just consider it a part of the safari.

Our family enjoys the trails but not sure if we have ever spent 40 minutes on one. They are fun to watch the animals especially if they are roaming about but just like in many zoos sometimes the animals are hard to spot or are napping and the trail becomes a quick trek.

 

[minnie mum]

Maybe your cousin is one of those people only interested in rides, so didn't pay attention to the trail signs. They're clearly marked on the park map. We think the trails are a great way to spend time, if you're interested in the animal exhibits. We can spend as much as an hour on one trail, especially when we take the opportunity to chat with the CMs stationed at some of the exhibits. The gorilla exhibits can be fascinating. And bird watchers will surely like the walk through aviary.

We spend a lot more time on the 2 longer trails ( Gorilla and Maharajah.) We tend to just slowly walk through the trails in the Oasis and Discovery Island.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Gorilla and MJT can be very nice. I particularly enjoy doing them first thing the morning because the crowds are so light. They are very much like trails you might see at a zoo, but they have some very informed Cast Members who will gladly talk to you about the animals. I spent some time last trip talking to someone about bats and to someone else about the tigers. I typically spend about 30 minutes or so on each of those two trails.

As Minnie Mum said, you can stroll slowly through the Oasis Trail on the way into or out of the park. If I am trying to get there ASAP and do Rope Drop, I would save Oasis for later in the day. It is really nice to walk through at night on your way out of the park, and that way it does not cut into your schedule at all.

 

[glassslippergirl]

One day, DH and I decided to do everything at AK that we had never done before, and we ended up going on all the trails. We enjoyed them thoroughly. If I had to choose between a trail or an attraction like EE or the Finding Nemo Musical, attractions would win hands-down. A lot of street entertainers would also take priority over the trails in my family, and I'd say we enjoy zoos about as much as you say you do. In other words, spend the time you can spare, but don't think they are going to be a transformative experience.

 

[DisneyAuntie12]

Awesome info, thanks so much!!

 

[MommyPoppins]

Where are the gorilla falls trails?

Are all the trails around/under the Tree of Life still closed down?

 

[yulilin3]

Where are the gorilla falls trails?

Are all the trails around/under the Tree of Life still closed down?

yes the trails around Tree of Life are closed right now
Gorilla Falls used to be the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, it's in Africa, you can enter it between the Safari entrance and the Rafiki Planet Watch train entrance

 

[MommyPoppins]

Aah. I didn't realize they changed names.

Are the trails around the tree of life ever going to reopen? They were our favorite part of that park.

 

[Mom2Stitch]

I love the trails, especially the gorillas and aviaries. My family are kind of meh on them. They will go with me, but I think they get bored quickly.

Gorilla falls is where you will find gorillas, meerkats, and a great spot to see a hippo fairly close up. Last trip the CM was giving the meerkats some sort of vitamins or vaccine thing-it was like a treat. What was amazing was that she could distinguish one from the other and knew each of their names. To me that demonstrates definite caring and dedication to these animals. They would come up to her as she sat there and take it from her. I could watch the gorillas for hours. And I love being in the aviary watching the birds.

Maharajah to me is beautiful in design and I'd walk the trail there even without any animal exhibits. I think the bats are really fascinating, but DH and DS say they are gross. I've never been there when the tigers were active, they are usually sleeping in the shade and who can blame them.

 

[tink9702]

We really enjoy the Gorilla Falls & Mahrajah Trails. We spend 20-30 minutes each on those two trails. We enjoy animals and watching them. The Gorilla trail really has some amazing viewing spots.

 

[yulilin3]

Aah. I didn't realize they changed names.

Are the trails around the tree of life ever going to reopen? They were our favorite part of that park.

I'm not sure, there is some construction around them, you can see it from the Africa/Asia trail.