Peak crowds
Animal Kingdom in December
December at Animal Kingdom means cool mornings for Kilimanjaro Safaris and packed afternoons everywhere else, since this is peak crowd season with no park-specific festival to spread guests out.
Updated Reviewed by ParkSwiz research
- 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.
Special events
Events in December
No Animal Kingdom-specific events in December. Park hours and crowds follow the resort-wide calendar below. See what is running elsewhere at Walt Disney World.
Resort-wideNew Year's Eve celebrations
Must-do rides
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Day plan
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Attractions
Attractions at Animal Kingdom
With 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.
Lightning LaneSingle PassMulti Pass (no tiers at Animal Kingdom)31 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
- Merry MenagerieDiscovery 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
Ask Swiz
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