Animal Kingdom closing hours - will they really be closing at 7?

[Anthony Vito]

Animal Kingdom's hours are just not making sense to me. We have a trip planned for 8/26-9/2, so we're trying to plan out which parks/which days. Currently, Disney only has official hours on its site until 8/24, but nevertheless, the August hours currently posted for AK don't make sense:

Right now, most of the hours only have the park open until 7:00 p.m. on most days (TouringPlans has hours posted for the week we're there with the same thing). Will there still be changes to the hours in light of Pandora and Rivers of Light opening?

It seems pretty odd that the park would close almost an hour before sunset when Pandora is supposed to have many cool things that are nighttime-specific (glowing plants, etc.?) and when they're starting a new nighttime spectacular. As of right now, Saturday, August 19, sunset will be at 8:00 p.m., but the park is to close at 7:00 p.m. (9 am - 7 pm with extra magic hours from 8-9 am).

 

[rteetz]

Disney hasn't updated their hours past June yet I believe. Just keep watching.

 

[Elizakapeka]

My dates for June had AK closing at 7 until I noticed today its open till 10p. I would imagine the times will eventually update for your trip.

 

[gap2368]

they will almost for sure be extended past 7 because of avatar opening they just have not done it yet.

 

[DisneyLovingPreacher]

Disney just confirmed the official opening dates of Pandora. They will update the hours soon to come. I would be surprised if they did not even do a lot of late night hours for the opening of Pandora.

 

[Lesverts]

It looks like AK hours have been updated until July 31. MK and DHS hours are only updated until mid April.

 

[dolewhipsareforlovers]

Animal Kingdom's hours are just not making sense to me. We have a trip planned for 8/26-9/2, so we're trying to plan out which parks/which days. Currently, Disney only has official hours on its site until 8/24, but nevertheless, the August hours currently posted for AK don't make sense:

Right now, most of the hours only have the park open until 7:00 p.m. on most days (TouringPlans has hours posted for the week we're there with the same thing). Will there still be changes to the hours in light of Pandora and Rivers of Light opening?

It seems pretty odd that the park would close almost an hour before sunset when Pandora is supposed to have many cool things that are nighttime-specific (glowing plants, etc.?) and when they're starting a new nighttime spectacular. As of right now, Saturday, August 19, sunset will be at 8:00 p.m., but the park is to close at 7:00 p.m. (9 am - 7 pm with extra magic hours from 8-9 am).

We are actually going the exact same dates as you and I was wondering this as well. There is no way the park will close at 7 during the summer since they have so much nighttime stuff becoming available! I will be very disappointed if that happens!

 

[menotyou21]

Animal Kingdom's hours are just not making sense to me. We have a trip planned for 8/26-9/2, so we're trying to plan out which parks/which days. Currently, Disney only has official hours on its site until 8/24, but nevertheless, the August hours currently posted for AK don't make sense:

Right now, most of the hours only have the park open until 7:00 p.m. on most days (TouringPlans has hours posted for the week we're there with the same thing). Will there still be changes to the hours in light of Pandora and Rivers of Light opening?

It seems pretty odd that the park would close almost an hour before sunset when Pandora is supposed to have many cool things that are nighttime-specific (glowing plants, etc.?) and when they're starting a new nighttime spectacular. As of right now, Saturday, August 19, sunset will be at 8:00 p.m., but the park is to close at 7:00 p.m. (9 am - 7 pm with extra magic hours from 8-9 am).

I talked to Disney about this and they basically said they plan to "update" the calendar/hours sometime in the summer. They would not be specific at all. Our dates are 9/2-9/9 and I fully expect AK to be open past the current 7pm posted time.

 

[menotyou21]

Hours have been updated to 9pm closing, but still no activity calendar.

 

[joyvierze]

ugh! would be nice to know what their plans are in the future for hours open. we are planning out our days now for an October trip and will be park hopping so need to know these details people! Is there a new "night show" at AK too? or just the addition of Pandora? I'm assuming the hours will go past 7, even in October.

 

[rteetz]

ugh! would be nice to know what their plans are in the future for hours open. we are planning out our days now for an October trip and will be park hopping so need to know these details people! Is there a new "night show" at AK too? or just the addition of Pandora? I'm assuming the hours will go past 7, even in October.

Yes there is a nighttime show called Rivers of Light. You just need to accept that Disney calendars aren't updated that far out.

 

[nkosiek]

Yes there is a nighttime show called Rivers of Light. You just need to accept that Disney calendars aren't updated that far out, anymore.

FYP. There was a time when they were pretty good from 3 months in. I doubt they are good for my July trip as it stands right now. As recently as 2 years ago they'd have the calendars out 6-9 months in advance and then update with 3 months out, with one or two very small tweaks afterwards. Now, nothing gets updated until 6 weeks out, which is ridiculous when they want you to plan FP at 60 (if on site).

 

[Spridell]

Yeah as of now they have AK closing during the busy holiday season in Nov and Dec at 7pm

I just cant see that happening with how popular Pandora will be.

 

[momcloud]

ugh! would be nice to know what their plans are in the future for hours open. we are planning out our days now for an October trip and will be park hopping so need to know these details people! Is there a new "night show" at AK too? or just the addition of Pandora? I'm assuming the hours will go past 7, even in October.

We're waiting too!

 

[Accident]

I think the trend will continue where the middle of the month before, schedules adjust (and keep adjusting but they get the big adjustment). find the travel agent calendar thread as those will come out earlier and be closer to the real close once they are put online.

I think what's going on is disney has tied fastpass into their crowd forecast so they need to wait closer to the actual month to adjust their park schedules accordingly. disney also is trying to keep operating costs down so they are waiting longer and longer for hours as they don't want to close too early but they also don't want to close too late.

 

[maryj11]

FYP. There was a time when they were pretty good from 3 months in. I doubt they are good for my July trip as it stands right now. As recently as 2 years ago they'd have the calendars out 6-9 months in advance and then update with 3 months out, with one or two very small tweaks afterwards. Now, nothing gets updated until 6 weeks out, which is ridiculous when they want you to plan FP at 60 (if on site).

Yes it is getting harder and harder to decide on dining and FP's. We like to go to the parks at night and stay until closing. We decide what park to go to by which is open latest. It is just a guessing game for now.