Crowd Level
peak
Avg High
73°F
Avg Low
54°F
Rain Days
5 days
Pros
Reasons to visit in December
- ✓Cooler air makes walking Maharajah Jungle Trek and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail far more comfortable than in summer humidity.
- ✓Kilimanjaro Safaris often shows more animal activity in the mild morning temperatures than in the heat of other months.
- ✓Avatar Flight of Passage's Lightning Lane Single Pass gives you a way to buy down the headliner's long standby line even on the busiest days.
- ✓Festival of the Lion King runs its usual full slate of shows, so a jam-packed house feels festive rather than frustrating.
- ✓Discovery Island Trails and the Oasis Exhibits stay pleasant to wander even at midday since December avoids the worst heat.
Cons
Things to watch out for
- ✕Peak crowds mean Avatar Flight of Passage standby routinely stretches well past 90 minutes by mid-morning.
- ✕Kali River Rapids riders will get soaked in genuinely cool air, since December highs don't offer the usual summer warmth to dry off in.
- ✕Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris both build long lines fast once the park fills, leaving little slack for stragglers.
- ✕Shade is thin around Asia's main walkways, so even mild December afternoons feel crowded and slow-moving.
- ✕There's no park-specific December event here, so the only crowd relief comes from arriving very early, not from spread-out programming.
Pro tip
Because this is a peak crowd month, get to the turnstiles before rope drop and head straight for Avatar Flight of Passage; ride it before 9am and the wait can be a third of what it becomes by 11am. From there, ride Expedition Everest before 9:30am, then cross to Kilimanjaro Safaris while the morning air is still cool and animals tend to be more active. Save Kali River Rapids for early afternoon if you don't mind cool water, or skip it altogether since December temperatures make a soaking less appealing.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Animal Kingdom in December
No ticketed events at Animal Kingdom in December.
That is usually good news — regular park hours, no early closures for a hard-ticket party. See what is running elsewhere at Walt Disney World.
Resort-wide dates
Must-Do Rides
View all rides →
Rides at Animal Kingdom
AttractionsWith no park-specific event to thin the crowds, December at Animal Kingdom means every ride below is worth planning around rather than leaving to chance.
Pandora – The World of Avatar
Asia
Africa
Pandora – The World of Avatar
Asia
Asia
Africa
Discovery Island
Discovery Island
Discovery Island
Conservation Station
Discovery Island
Conservation Station
Conservation Station
Discovery Island
Discovery Island
Africa
Africa
Conservation Station
Africa
Asia
Discovery Island
Africa
Discovery Island
Discovery Island
Discovery Island
Discovery Island
Africa
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