If you’re going to Disney World soon, you need to make sure you’re caught up on all the latest news.

Between changes in character dining and new merchandise to scheduled closures and more, there’s a lot you need to be prepared for. So, join us now as we take you on a virtual trip through Disney’s Animal Kingdom so you can get up to speed on ALL of the latest happenings in this wild park!

Before we hop into the updates, do you want to get a FREE checklist that covers all of Animal Kingdom park? Of course you do! Click the button below to get your checklist so you don’t miss a thing when you visit the park.

Now, let’s get to those updates!

Animal Kingdom Food Updates

Satu’li Canteen

Over at Satu’li Canteen in Pandora — The World of Avatar there have been some menu changes! In celebration of the debut of the new Avatar movie (Avatar: The Way of Water) 3 NEW items have been added to the menu at this Counter Service spot and they’re seriously stunning.

The new entree here is the Ocean Moon Bowl, which has tuna, blue noodles, watermelon radish, pickled daikon, rainbow carrots, avocado, cucumbers, and red cabbage with a miso and sweet soy drizzle. This was priced at $17.49 (quite expensive) but was absolutely DELICIOUS.

Want to pair your entree with a drink? Pick up the Ilu Splash Margarita for $13.50. It has a mix of kiwi Monin syrup with lime juice, sour mix, Corazon Tequila Blanco, and a floating slice of Kiwi. This was really light and refreshing.

And finally, you can end your meal with the new Metkayina Mousse (named after the tribe Jake Sully and his family seek refuge with in the new film). It’s priced at $6.29 and is a flourless chocolate cake with chocolate mousse, decorated with raspberry gelee, mango coulis, and boba pearls, and finished off with milk and white chocolate garnish.

This was a bit of a mix — some elements were great, while others tasted artificial or incredibly sugary. If you want to give these a try, stop by Satu’li Canteen while they’re available.

See our FULL review of these 3 NEW items here

Animal Kingdom Ride Updates

If you’re heading to Disney’s Animal Kingdom soon, there’s a ride update you need to know about. Kali River Rapids is set to CLOSE for refurbishment starting January 9th, 2023.

This is not all that surprising as some Disney water rides can close for refurbishment during the cooler months (well, cooler by Florida standards!).

Thus far, a reopening date has not been announced but we’ll be on the lookout for updates.

Click here to see our full post about this closure

Animal Kingdom Merchandise Updates

Discovery Trading Company

Now, let’s take a look at the merchandise! At Discovery Trading Company, we found a Bambi mug covered in fun designs of this beloved character. The mug is $19.99.

There’s also a Thumper Mug available for $19.99. If you’re a big Bambi fan you could grab both for your collection.

More of a fan of the Muppets? Disney has you covered there too with a Fozzie Bear Mug. This one is $16.99 — waka! waka!

At Discovery Trading Company, we also found a GIANT Marie the cat plush for $44.99…

…a Buzz Lightyear walkie-talkie toy for $49.99…

…a Coco-themed pet lead for $17.99…

…and a Minnie Mouse 100th Anniversary shirt for $39.99.

If you’re ready to drop some serious cash, you can also pick up the Coach Disney World Ears! These are made of a tanned leather design, have an embossed Disney World logo, and have a leather headband interior.

These will set you back $295 though, so you might need to apologize to your wallet in advance! Pro tip: they’re CHEAPER ($235) if you get them online now.

Get the ears at a DISCOUNT online by clicking here

Windtrders

Ready to hop over to Pandora — The World of Avatar?! If you make your way to the main merchandise store for this land — Windtraders — you’ll find some fun items including Na’vi Stacking Trays for $34.99.

There is also a Na’vi Sketchbook available for $24.99.

If you’ve just seen the new film and simply MUST get your fill of Na’vi merchandise, this is the place to visit — make sure you mark it down for future trips.

Dino Institute

And finally, we spotted an adorable Dinosaur Button Set at Dino Institute. Looks like the T-Rex is reppin’ that low-carb diet, while vegetarians can grab a separate pin in the set to show off their love of leafy greens.

This button set is $8.99.

And that’s it for our updates from Animal Kingdom! In terms of other news, remember that for a limited time, Animal Kingdom’s nighttime show also has a bit of an Avatar theme to it.

Stay tuned for more Disney updates from all around the parks.

Click here to see 5 places to escape in Animal Kingdom when your anxiety is through the roof

What is your favorite thing to do in Animal Kingdom? Tell us in the comments!