HI, Lori! Thanks for the question. I like animals and I like food, so let's go with it.
Since you say you're not hitting Animal Kingdom, I'm guessing that you have a three or four day park ticket and you want to double up on the Magic Kingdom since it's your first time visiting Walt Disney World (YOU'RE GUNNA LOVE IT!)
To maximize your time in the parks, I'd recommend hitting the
Animal Kingdom Lodge either the day you fly in or the day you fly out (depending on your schedule.) That way, you don't sacrifice time in the parks for the Animal Kingdom Lodge excursion. The Animal Kingdom Lodge offers up a panoramic view of the animals from Arusha Rock, right outside the lobby. The animals will likely be most active in the morning, so I'm thinking do breakfast at Boma on the day you fly out and see the animals before and/or after enjoying Boma's bountiful spread. This will also keep up a streak of good coffee for you, coming from the land of Kona at the Poly.
What else do you have in mind for your trip? Holler back if you'd like more help!