Low crowds
Animal Kingdom in August
August at Animal Kingdom means thin crowds, a park that empties out fast after lunch, and shade that actually matters given the heat radiating off Asia and Africa's pathways.
Updated Reviewed by ParkSwiz research
- Crowd level
- Low
- Avg high
- 92°F
- Avg low
- 75°F
- Rain days
- 17 days
Pros
Reasons to visit in August
- Low crowds mean Avatar Flight of Passage and Na'vi River Journey post shorter waits than you'd expect from headliners of this caliber.
- Kilimanjaro Safaris in the early morning light is genuinely better with fewer people crowding the truck rails.
- Discovery Island Trails and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail stay walkable without the shuffle-and-stop crowds of busier months.
- Festival of the Lion King and Feathered Friends in Flight! rarely require an early arrival to snag a decent seat.
- Kali River Rapids doubles as both a ride and legitimate relief from the afternoon heat.
Cons
Things to watch out for
- The park regularly closes as early as 6pm in August, cutting evening touring time short compared to other parks.
- Asia and Africa offer little natural shade at midday, and the heat off the pathways is brutal by early afternoon.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent enough in August to shut down outdoor queues like Kali River Rapids with no warning.
- With shorter operating hours, nighttime spectacle-style entertainment options are limited compared to other parks.
- Waits at Avatar Flight of Passage still climb past 50 minutes even on slow days once the sun is up.
Special events
Events in August
No Animal Kingdom-specific events in August. No resort-wide dates to plan around either. See what is running elsewhere at Walt Disney World.
Must-do rides
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Day plan
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Attractions
Attractions at Animal Kingdom
With crowds running low this month, August is a strong time to work through Animal Kingdom's full lineup, from Kilimanjaro Safaris to Expedition Everest, without the usual bottlenecks.
Lightning LaneSingle PassMulti Pass (no tiers at Animal Kingdom)30 shown
- Festival of the Lion KingAfrica
- Gorilla Falls Exploration TrailAfrica
- Harambe Village Street Band – BurudikaAfrica
- Kilimanjaro SafarisAfricaMust-do
- Kora Tinga TingaAfrica
- Tam Tam Drummers of HarambeAfrica
- Wildlife Express TrainAfrica
- Expedition EverestAsia44 in or taller
- Feathered Friends in Flight!Asia
- Kali River RapidsAsia38 in or taller
- Maharajah Jungle TrekAsia
- Animal Care at Conservation StationConservation Station
- Bluey's Wild WorldConservation Station
- Butterflies – Disney AnimalsConservation Station
- Jumping JunctionConservation Station
- Animal Encounters: Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes FlightDiscovery Island
- Discovery Island TrailsDiscovery Island
- Eco-RhythmicsDiscovery Island
- The Oasis ExhibitsDiscovery Island
- Tree of LifeDiscovery Island
- Viva Gaia Street Band!Discovery Island
- Wilderness ExplorersDiscovery Island
- Zootopia: Better ZoogetherDiscovery Island
- Avatar Flight of PassagePandora – The World of Avatar44 in or tallerMust-do
- Na'vi River JourneyPandora – The World of AvatarMust-do
- Beats and Strings
- DiVine
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!
- Tree of Life Awakenings
- Zoogether Day Gathering Spot
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