Jambo, Paul! Welcome back to planDisney and Welcome Home! I'm so happy that you've stopped by with such an oh-so-fun Land & Sea planning question. I love chatting Disney with a fellow Disney Vacation Club Member!
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village is one of my very favorite DVC Resorts, and I'm so excited to hear that this will be your magical home away from home on your next wild adventure! As soon as you arrive at the lantern-lit lobby, you are transported to a beautiful African village on the savanna, and with the endless list of awesome animal-centric Resort activities, easy access to the amenities of Jambo House as well, and some of the best
dining options in all of Walt Disney World Resort, you can have an unforgettable vacation without ever even leaving your Resort! Of course, you
will want to leave to enjoy the nearby Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, so let's plan out your best Disney day!
First things first. If you only have one day in the theme parks, I definitely recommend adding on
Disney Genie+, using your My Disney Experience app, around 6:45 a.m. on the morning you plan to go to Animal Kingdom. That way, you'll be ready to make your first Lightning Lane selection for one of your must-do attractions right at 7:00 a.m. Then, once you use your first selection OR two hours after park opening (whichever comes first), make another Lightning Lane selection and continue this process throughout the day to spend less time waiting in line and more time enjoying the magic!
Don't forget to take advantage of
Early Theme Park Entry for Disney Resort Hotel Guests, which allows you to enter Animal Kingdom 30 minutes before park opening. As a fellow rope-dropper, I suggest arriving early (yes, this early bird just suggested arriving early for Early Entry) and heading straight to Pandora - The World of Avatar to hop on Avatar Flight of Passage before the line builds. Since I have always had success picking up a Lightning Lane for Na'vi River Journey, I usually skip this in the morning and head to Kilimanjaro Safaris next to catch the animals early in the day. I find that they are much more active in the morning before the heat of the day sets in, and it makes for a fantastic Safari experience. Then, I suggest letting your Lightning Lane selections and the magic of the day guide you!
No dining reservation? No problem!
Nomad Lounge is my favorite place to grab a cocktail and small plates while the Mickey and Friends Flotillas sail by, and
Satu'li Canteen is one of my favorite places to grab lunch. Don't forget to stop by the Harambe Fruit Market for Grilled Corn on the Cob with African Spices. YUM!
Hopping over to Magic Kingdom Park to catch fireworks to top off the perfect Disney day sounds like the perfect plan, and I always recommend the
Disney Enchantment Treats & Seats because of that keyword: seats. At the end of a long day, I really enjoy having a table and seat to enjoy my wine, treats and fireworks. But honestly, you can't go wrong with any of the 50th Fireworks Dessert Parties! 10/10 - highly recommend!
I hope this helps, Paul, and I hope you have an unforgettable land and sea adventure! Stop by any time with any questions you may have!
See ya real soon,
Mandy