One Major Disney World Update That’s Coming Back This Fall I’m Very Excited About

One Major Disney World Update That's Coming Back This Fall I'm Very Excited About

As a seasoned Disney enthusiast who has spent countless hours roaming the magical realms of both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, I must say that the news of extended evening hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is music to my ears! Living on the West Coast means I’m accustomed to Disneyland’s midnight magic, but WDW always seems to close its parks a tad too early for my taste.


In the upcoming years, Disney World is set to introduce numerous new attractions, which inevitably leads to some beloved areas within the resort being phased out. However, occasionally, we fans receive delightful surprises in the parks without any cherished aspects being eliminated. Such an instance is happening now with the reappearance of a feature that I wish was more frequent at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Despite this, it’s important to note that the park will extend its hours for selected guests in the weeks ahead. Unfortunately, this extended operating time is not available for everyone.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are planning to extend their operating hours this autumn. Typically, this occurs during this season, mirroring the Halloween and Christmas events at Magic Kingdom. For the upcoming months, Magic Kingdom will close early for many guests on numerous nights due to these special events. Regrettably, only guests lodging at Disney Deluxe Resorts will be granted access to these extended hours.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Will Be Staying Open Later

From someone accustomed to late-night visits at Disneyland, which often stays open till midnight for significant periods of the year, I find Walt Disney World shuts down its attractions much earlier than ideal. Even Magic Kingdom doesn’t extend its hours past 10 PM. The most inconvenient is Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as it frequently closes at 6 PM.

It’s important to note that Animal Kingdom lacks a nighttime show at the moment, but this isn’t the only reason to visit other parks once the sun goes down. While improving the night experience at Animal Kingdom is certainly something we should aim for, there are still plenty of parks offering enjoyable experiences under the stars.

Essentially, it’s crucial to note that the Disney location is an animal-filled park. Proper care for these animals includes ensuring they have adequate sleep, as disrupting their rest can be detrimental. For instance, riding a Kilimanjaro Safari vehicle through their habitat while they are trying to sleep isn’t ideal, much like having a roller coaster running all night near your bed would interfere with your own rest.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but appreciate that Disney’s Animal Kingdom prioritizes the well-being of its animal inhabitants above all else. It’s comforting to know that extending the park hours isn’t just about fun for us visitors, but also about providing a peaceful and undisturbed environment for the animals. Witnessing this magical place under the cover of darkness is truly a unique experience, making Disney’s Animal Kingdom an even more enchanting destination after sundown.

Animal KIngdom’s Avatar Land Looks Incredible At Night

The nighttime setting of Pandora: The World of Avatar is intended to provide an extraordinary experience. Even though the bioluminescent flora that dominate the theme park landscape appear fascinating in broad daylight, they create a genuinely alien ambiance when darkness falls. Unfortunately, given that the park closes at 6 p.m., particularly during summertime, it’s challenging for visitors to appreciate this unique atmosphere on an average park visit.

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: There’s always something new to discover! Some creatures switch up their acts when the sun goes down. While some critters are catching their Z’s, others will put on quite a show, giving us insight into their day-to-day transformations. And let me tell you, every outdoor roller coaster, including the legendary Expedition Everest, is not to be missed after dark!

You might want to take this opportunity to visit Dinoland U.S.A. at night before it changes, as work on the new Tropical Americas area is set to begin next year. Although not everything will shut down immediately, it remains uncertain which attractions may disappear first.

At present, Disney’s Animal Kingdom maintains its usual 6 PM closing schedule until the end of the current year. Historically, the park has extended its regular hours, and there’s a chance this could happen again. I would definitely look forward to experiencing Animal Kingdom after dark, as it should be accessible for everyone to enjoy.

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2024-09-01 23:37