Crowd Level
low
Avg High
72°F
Avg Low
52°F
Rain Days
6 days
Pros
Reasons to visit in January
- ✓Kilimanjaro Safaris runs in cool, comfortable air, and animals tend to be more active than during hot-season midday heat.
- ✓Low crowds mean Avatar Flight of Passage waits shrink well below their usual multi-hour peaks, especially at rope drop.
- ✓Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail and Maharajah Jungle Trek are pleasant to linger on without the sun beating down on exposed walkways.
- ✓Festival of the Lion King and Feathered Friends in Flight! rarely fill up, so seeing them same-day is easy.
- ✓Kali River Rapids stays dry-friendly since you can skip it guilt-free if mornings run chilly, no wasted Lightning Lane Multi Pass slot.
Cons
Things to watch out for
- ✕Early mornings and evenings can dip cool enough that Kali River Rapids feels miserable rather than refreshing.
- ✕Marathon Weekend brings a wave of early-rising runners into the park right at rope drop, thickening the line for Avatar Flight of Passage before 9am.
- ✕Pandora's queue areas offer little shelter if a rain shower rolls through on one of the month's wetter days.
- ✕Discovery Island Trails and other outdoor animal habitats can feel duller on overcast January days when animals retreat from view.
- ✕The park still closes relatively early some January nights, cutting short evening plans around Tree of Life illumination.
Pro tip
Arrive by 8am and head straight to Avatar Flight of Passage first, since Marathon Weekend crowds can push its line past an hour by mid-morning even in a low-crowd month. Ride it before 9am, then backtrack to Kilimanjaro Safaris while the morning air keeps animals moving and visible. Save Kali River Rapids for early afternoon, around 1pm, when temperatures have climbed enough that getting wet actually feels good rather than miserable.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Animal Kingdom in January
No ticketed events at Animal Kingdom in January.
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 crowds running low all month, January is a rare chance to walk onto Animal Kingdom's headliner and its animal trails without the usual gridlock.
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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