Low crowds
Animal Kingdom in January
January mornings at Animal Kingdom are genuinely cool, which suits a park with almost no indoor waiting space, and low crowds mean the animals along Kilimanjaro Safaris and the trails are easier to actually enjoy at a walking pace.
Updated Reviewed by ParkSwiz research
- 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 keep Avatar Flight of Passage waits well below their peak-season length, 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.
Cons
Things to watch out for
- Early mornings and evenings can dip cool enough that Kali River Rapids feels miserable rather than refreshing.
- 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.
Special events
Events in January
No Animal Kingdom-specific events in January. Park hours and crowds follow the resort-wide calendar below. See what is running elsewhere at Walt Disney World.
Resort-wideMarathon Weekend (early Jan)
Must-do rides
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Day plan
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Attractions
Attractions at Animal Kingdom
With 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.
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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