Disney World Florida is full of fantastical imagined lands. There's the fairytale turrets of Magic Kingdom to the Art Deco streets of Hollywood Studios. My personal favourite, though, is Animal Kingdom. The biggest park of the lot, it's a sprawling space filled with immersive experiences, rides, and even an on-site safari. The different spaces are thoughtfully and creatively designed with an eye for detail, whether it's the artistically weathered walls of Africa to the mammoth structures that bring Pandora to life.
There's lots of secret spots and hidden trails to discover. It's a particularly good park for taking photos for that reason. There's always a quiet corner away from the crowds to get that snap. Being a digital creative I'm always thinking about my next snap, and I was in Instagram heaven exploring the park and all it's aesthetic details to capture! As such, I've put together a guide with some of my favourite Animal Kingdom Instagram photo spots. I've included tips on the locations and how to shoot them to avoid crowds and capture the spots at their best!
01. The Tree of Life
Of all the Animal Kingdom Instagram photo spots on this list, this is the most representative. It's the park's icon, much like Cinderella's Castle in Magic Kingdom, or the giant golf ball (okay I know it's not, but also...?) at EPCOT. If you look closely, you'll notice the likenesses of nearly 400 animals carved into the trunk.
It's pretty impressive from all angles. I took the left photo first thing at opening in the main photo spot coming up from Oasis. There are plenty of paths around the tree that offer different compositions and may be quieter when the crowds ramp up. The second snap was taken from across the water between Africa and Asia in morning light.
02. Pandora
If you're looking for awe-inspiring Animal Kingdom Instagram photo spots, you'll want to head to Pandora. The mind-blowing structures replicate the natural formations of the world of Pandora from the Avatar film franchise. It's also pretty dazzling at night. Visit after dark to see the plants (and even the floor!) light up to create a magical experience.
Pandora houses some of the parks biggest rides so can be busy. I'd recommend trying to get snaps either first thing after opening, when people are busy queuing for rides. Otherwise head here last thing before closing when the crowds have dispersed. That said, I got these shots in the middle of the day, and with a bit of patience managed to get them fairly clear! You'll find this walkway right in the middle of the Pandora area. It tends to stay surprisingly quiet as most people take the outside route. The second photo was taken on first entering the area, but honestly I think it was sheer luck that I managed to nab a clear snap!
03. Maharajah's Jungle Trek, Asia
If I had to pick my favourite of the photo spots in Animal Kingdom, this would be it. Tucked away along the Maharajah's Jungle Trek in Asia is this incredibly ornate space with intricate carvings that line the walls, under a canopy of colourful flags. It was fairly busy, especially as people tend to linger here, so takes a bit of patience to get the shot.
Photo Tip: This spot comes to life in the sun which gives the photo more depth!
04. Mandala Gifts Signs, Asia
I generally like to have my shots planned out in advance, however I happened to notice this aesthetic sign moment whilst waiting for my Iced Chai Latte at Joffrey's, and I couldn't resist a snap! It can be found in Asia next to the Mandala Gift store - I snapped this before the store was open, so it was nice and quiet.
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05. Fichwa Fellow Mickey Wall, Africa
Compared to, say, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom doesn't hammer home the "Disney-ness" of it all. However, Disney World is all about those little details and Easter Eggs, which you'll find in abundance around the park. One of my favourite Mickey spots is the "Fichwa Fellow" wall, found in Harambe Market. Fichwa actually means "hidden" in Swahili - so if it's not a hidden Mickey, I don't know what is! Also, can we take a moment to appreciate my accidental camouflage here?
06. Children of The World Wall, Africa
Another Instagram-friendly wall in Africa is the "Children of The World" wall, also found in Harambe Market near Zuri's Sweet Shop. I honestly felt like I was in another world taking these pictures here. If I hadn't told you, would you even know it was a Disney park? I shot here in the middle of the day and still had the wall to myself, although the light was quite harsh - but I think I managed to save it in editing!
Photo Tip: Shooting in harsh light? Make sure you shoot in RAW format, which allows you more room to adjust light and dark areas of the image in editing.
And that's a wrap on Animal Kingdom Instagram Photo Spots - let me know your favourites in the comments, or if I missed any I should check out next time? Also if you like these pics, please do feel free to go give me a cheeky Instagram follow for more of the same (plus added rambling, aren't you lucky!).
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