One of our favorite Disney World parks in terms of food and atmosphere is Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The park might be underrated, as many favor the nostalgia of Magic Kingdom or the thrill rides of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but trust us when we say that you should NOT sleep on Animal Kingdom.

You can find some amazing eats in this park, there are a few can’t-miss attractions, and it’s quite possibly the most relaxing of Disney World’s four theme parks. If you haven’t been in a while, you might need a quick update about what’s changed at Animal Kingdom, so come along with us to check out everything that’s NEW in this park.

Animal Kingdom Construction Updates

Over in the Pandora section of Animal Kingdom (the land that’s themed after the Avatar movies), we spotted some refurbishment going on. The Cast Members were painting the bioluminescent ground, which glows under black lights once the sun sets.

This land looks really cool after dark, so make sure you stop by to take a look during your next visit!

Over in DinoLand U.S.A., Cast Members were working on the roof of the Restaurantosaurus Lounge.

The main entrance was blocked by the construction, so you’ll have to go in via a side entrance for now.

Also, some of the Discovery Island Trails are still closed off because of refurbishment happening on the Tree of Life.

Disney hasn’t announced when this project will be finished, but we’re hoping those trails reopen soon. They’re a great place to explore and see some animal exhibits as well as get an up-close view of all the animal carvings on the Tree of Life.

Animal Kingdom Merchandise Updates

Discovery Trading Company

At the Discovery Trading Company, we spotted a new Woody (from Toy Story) plush for $29.99…

…a black Nike Mickey jacket for $90…

…and a few new bags. There was a light-up Tinker Bell Loungefly backpack for $98…

…a Disney animals Loungefly backpack for $78…

…and a “Critters Chaos” Dooney & Bourke Tote Bag for $328.

Those Loungefly bags are super popular in Disney World. You’ll likely see them all over the parks during your next vacation!

Dino Institute Shop

We found some new merchandise in the Dino Institute Shop, which is located at the exit of the DINOSAUR ride. There was a new The Lion King phone case for $34.99…

…a Tree of Life phone case for $34.99…

…and a “Wild About Nature” phone case for $34.99.

We also spotted a couple of new Mickey-shaped magnets, including a cheetah-print one…

…and a zebra-print one. Both magnets were $14.99.

Finally, we found a new dinosaur t-shirt that said, “Never apologize about being powerful.”

The new tee costs $29.99.

Windtraders

The gift shop at the end of Avatar: Flight of Passage has some unique Avatar-themed merchandise. We found some new items on our last visit! There was a wood sprites diffuser for $59.99…

…some Avatar shorts for $29.99…

…an Avatar kids’ shirt for $31.99…

…an Avatar kids’ dress for $39.99…

…and Avatar hair ties for $16.99.

Those were all the updates we found on our last trip to Animal Kingdom, but we’re always on the lookout for new food, construction updates, and merchandise!

If you’re visiting Animal Kingdom soon, be sure to download our FREE checklist so that you don’t miss any of the best eats, rides, and attractions. Click the image below, enter your email, and we’ll send the checklist straight to your inbox.

Stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news from the Disney World parks.

Click here to see what’s new at the Disney World hotels!

What’s your favorite thing about Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments.