Hey there Will and welcome to planDisney!
Tickets from the 80s?! You sound like me that time when I walked up to
Magic Kingdom Park with my tickets from the early 90s. Well since your ticket is pre-2004, they can indeed be used on your trip to The Most Magical Place on Earth.
Email Guest Services about Existing Ticket Inquiries to discuss it further with Cast Members prior to your arrival. Be sure to bring them with you to
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park the day you visit. I distinctly remember my mom having to show a Cast Member at the ticket window those old paper tickets. They were very surprised to see me at my very big age considering I was about 3 years old when they were purchased.
Since Kilimanjaro Safari is a must-do for your party, I would usually recommend purchasing
Disney Genie+ Service via the
My Disney Experience app. That trek through the savannas falls under the
Lightning Lane category and can be selected starting at 7 a.m. the day of your visit if you're staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel or at the time of park opening if you're staying elsewhere. But since you have special circumstances with your tickets, call 407-566-4985 to speak with Cast Members about how this would work with your existing tickets. You could also include that in that original email to Guest Services. My personal advice is, if all else fails, go directly to that ride upon your arrival at the park to join the Standby line. Pro-tip: Try to arrive early as I've noticed the cooler morning time to be when the animals are super active.
Will, good for you for hanging on to those vintage passes. Not a cent of your hard-earned money was lost and you get to experience a whole new adventure!
Happy planning!
Taylor