Hello there, Melanie, and welcome to planDisney!
Your next great adventure with your kiddo is just around the river bend. I have my own Wilderness Explorer who is around your child’s age, and we always have the
best time at
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park together. Let’s get into how you two can make the most of your Disney Parks days, too.
Our favorite time to ride through the African savanna at Kilimanjaro Safaris is at “rope drop,” right when the theme park opens. The queue then will tend to be shorter if you head there right away. The wild animals at this point of the day are usually super active when the sun is low in the sky. Hopefully, you’ll even get to hear one of the lions roar!
If you’d like to skip the standby queue and enter through the faster Lightning Lanes, consider booking a
Lightning Lane Multi Pass in the My Disney Experience App before your theme park visit. With this pass, you’ll select return time windows for up to 3 attractions (and add one at a time once you’ve redeemed one at a ride). If you’re staying at an eligible hotel, you can purchase this pass up to 7 days before your theme park day (and up to the length of 14 days). If you’re staying somewhere else? Hakuna Matata! You can start booking up to 3 days in advance.
I just checked the
Hours and Events Calendar, which is accessible on the official Walt Disney World Resort website, and I have fantastic news for you. The
Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade will happen at 2 p.m. EST on September 16, 2024. As a matter of fact: It’s at that same time each day that week. Woohoo! Your little sidekick will love waving to the Disney Princesses, Mickey Mouse and his pals, and many more.
AN EXTRA GEM: Want to see other cool characters from movies like
Coco and
Encanto? You can see them at the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade, which is a shorter parade in the late morning.
On select nights in September, Mickey Mouse himself hosts the separately ticketed event called
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. On those nights, a fireworks display will only happen for the party Guests. But you’re in luck! On September 16, Tinker Bell and the Cinderella Castle will put on a dazzling presentation of fireworks and magic during Happily Ever After at 8:30 p.m. EST.
Melanie, I hope that this helps you and your little Mouseketeer have a practically perfect day. If you have additional questions,
revisit us here at planDisney. Any of the panelists will be more than happy to share their tips and tricks.
Magic always,
LeAndra