Feathered Friends in Flight Show at Animal Kingdom: What to Expect with Toddlers and Young Kids
INTRODUCTION
More than 5,000 animals across 300 different species call Animal Kingdom their home. It’s more than just a theme park - Disney’s Animal Kingdom works tirelessly to rescue, rehabilitate, and protect animals from around the world. Guests visiting the park have the opportunity to see these beautiful creatures up close, gain a better understanding of what goes into their day-to-day care, and learn what steps we can take to help keep them happy, healthy, and thriving.
The Feathered Friends in Flight show at Animal Kingdom provides a behind-the-scenes look at a variety of birds that can be found in the park. During the approximately 35-minute show, a team of animal specialists demonstrates to guests how they care for and train the birds. You’ll get a bird’s eye view of some of Animal Kingdom’s most beloved feathered friends.
The show is located inside the Anandapur Theater, right next to the Yak & Yeti Restaurant in Asia. Although the entire theater is outdoors, the seating area is completely covered, and the shade offers a welcome reprieve from the hot Florida sun. The show runs daily with both morning and afternoon performances available, and guests do have the option of purchasing a Lightning Lane Multi Pass as well.
SEATING & STROLLER INFORMATION
Inside the theater, there are two main seating options. Directly in front of the stage, you’ll find several rows of flat, ground-level bench seating. In addition, there are two, raised stadium-style sections located on either side of the main entrance. These sections are set slightly farther back, but offer a great view of the entire stage. Keep in mind that the raised seating areas must be accessed by climbing stairs. Strollers cannot be brought inside the theater and must be parked outside the main entrance before entering.
CHOOSING THE BEST SEATS WITH KIDS
Where you sit can make a big difference - especially with young kids. If you’re unsure whether or not your little one will make it through the entire show, try to sit near an aisle so that it’s easier to step out if needed. You may also want to consider the ground-level seating if your kids are hoping for a closer interaction with the birds. There are a limited number of audience participation moments that typically take place in that section and several of the birds fly directly overhead during the show as well.
For our family, we found that sitting in the raised seating farther back provided our kids with a better overall view of the stage, and we didn’t have to worry about whether or not they could see what was happening during the show.
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH TODDLERS & PRESCHOOLERS
The animal specialists use microphones during the show, but otherwise, there are no loud sound effects or sudden noises that would be startling for young kids. A large portion of the show is dedicated to helping guests learn more about the birds - introducing each one by name, explaining their unique abilities, and demonstrating how they are trained.
My 5-year-old sat through the entire show without a problem. He loves animals and was really excited to see each bird. My 2 ½ year old toddler, on the other hand, lost interest after the first few minutes and had a harder time staying seated. I saw several other toddlers getting restless too, and a few families stepped out before the show was over. While my toddler also loves animals, the show just wasn’t quite enough to hold his attention for the full 35 minutes.
IS LIGHTNING LANE NECESSARY?
Purchasing a Lightning Lane guarantees you a spot at the show, but there is no reserved seating once you get inside. The theater has a fairly large capacity, and even several minutes after the show began, guests were still allowed to enter and fill in available spots. The ground-level benches filled up faster than the raised stadium seating, but If you don’t have a strong seating preference, I believe a Lightning Lane is unnecessary.
FINAL THOUGHTS: IS IT WORTH IT?
I recommend this show for kids ages 4 and up, especially if they love animals and can sit comfortably for 30-35 minutes. It’s a great opportunity to step out of the sun and enjoy a break in the shade. For toddlers, the experience can be more hit-or-miss.The birds flying across the theater are exciting, but the in-between moments may feel a bit long for younger kids.
I wouldn’t purchase a Lightning Lane solely for this attraction, especially since seating is first-come, first-served once inside. We arrived about 10 minutes before showtime and had no trouble finding stroller parking or seats.
If you’re nearby and there’s a short wait before the next performance, it’s absolutely worth stopping in. However, if your kids love animals but may struggle to sit through a 30-35 minute show, I’d recommend prioritizing Kilimanjaro Safaris instead. It’s one of our family’s favorite experiences at Animal Kingdom. You can read my full guide to Kilimanjaro Safaris with kids here.