**Disney After Hours - Animal Kingdom** FAQ & Discussion Thread

[GADisneyDad14]

Welcome to the Animal Kingdom "Disney After Hours" FAQ & Discussion Thread

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Quick Links:
Post #2 - Event Description
Post #3 - Event Dates & Times
Post #4 - Ticket Price & Discount Information
Post #5 - Open Attractions & Entertainment
Post #6 - Open Shops / Quick-Service Locations
Post #7 - When Can I Get in the Park with a DAH Ticket?
Post #8 - Miscellaneous Event Info & FAQs
Post #9 - Event Handout
Post #10 - DISer Event Review Posts
Post #11 - Misc. Event Links

Other Park Disney After Event Threads:
Magic Kingdom "Disney After Hours" Discussion & FAQ Thread
Magic Kingdom "Villains After Hours" Discussion & FAQ Thread
Hollywood Studios "Disney After Hours" Discussion & FAQ Thread

See anything missing or anything you’d like added to this thread? Just let me know. Thanks!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Post #2 - Event Description

Disney After Hours Website: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/after-hours/
Disney After Hours at Disney's Animal Kingdom Website: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/animal-kingdom/animal-kingdom-after-hours/
Original Disney Parks Blog Announcement (11/15/2018): https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...eys-hollywood-studios-disneys-animal-kingdom/

Event description from Disney's website (accurate as of 2/1/2020):

Nature Glows in the Dark
Discover a world that glows in the night at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.

Disney After Hours gives a limited number of Guests—including you—access to unforgettable experiences on select nights.

Embark on exciting attractions, journey into a bioluminescent rainforest and see the park come alive like never before! You’ll enjoy little wait times at*:

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• Na’vi River Journey
• Pandora Drummers – Swotu Wayä
• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
• DINOSAUR
• Mickey & Minnie Greeting at Adventurers Outpost
• Rivers of Light: We Are One
• Tree of Life Awakenings
• It’s Tough to be a Bug!
• TriceraTop Spin
• And more!

*All attractions and entertainment are subject to change without notice.

Ice Cream, Popcorn & Select Beverages Included!
In the midst of the laughs and thrills, be sure to chill out with ice cream novelties and select beverages—included in the cost of admission—available at carts stationed throughout Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. In addition, you can also purchase menu items at select locations throughout the park.

And remember: only a limited number of tickets are available for each night. Be sure to purchase your tickets today!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Post #3 - Event Dates & Times

Disney has historically released DAH event dates in "groups." Current and past groups of dates can be found in the tables below.

December 2018-April 2019 Dates
Dates Announced: Monday 11/5/2018
Tickets on Sale: Thursday 11/15/2018




May 2019-June 2019 Dates
Dates Announced: Thursday 3/28/2019
Tickets on Sale: Thursday 3/28/2019


Note - Tuesday 5/7/2019 was originally released as a DAH date, but later removed from the calendar. Monday 5/6/2019 was later added 4/12/2019.


July 2019-September 2019 Dates
Dates Announced: Thursday 5/22/2019
Tickets on Sale: Thursday 5/30/2019




October 2019 - March 2020 Dates
Dates Announced: Tuesday 8/20/2019
Tickets on Sale: Tuesday 8/20/2019

Park hours and times for Rivers of Light (ROL) are based on currently available schedules from Disney and are subject to change.

Table last updated 3/7/2020

April - May 2020 Dates
Dates Announced: Friday 11/1/2019
Tickets on Sale: Friday 11/1/2019

Park hours and times for Rivers of Light (ROL) are based on currently available schedules from Disney and are subject to change.

Table last updated 1/18/2020

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Post #4 - Ticket Price & Discount Information



Notes

• Ticket prices above apply to all ages 3+
• Children under 3 do not need a DAH ticket
• AP/DVC discounts are available online in advance but are not available online for same day / day-of-event ticket purchases, but may be available at a ticket window (your mileage may vary)
• Regular theme park admission is NOT needed to attend Disney After Hours
• DAH tickets are like MNSSHP and MVMCP tickets (and regular park tickets for that matter) - once purchased, DAH tickets are nonrefundable

How to Buy Tickets

• By Phone: 407-939-7795
• Online: Click Here
• Visit a Walt Disney World ticket window

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Post #5 - Open Attractions & Entertainment


Discovery Island

• It’s Tough to be a Bug!
• Meet Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse at Adventurer's Outpost
• Tree of Life Awakenings

Pandora - The World of Avatar

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• Na’vi River Journey
• Pandora Drummers – Swotu Wayä (10:30pm & 11:30pm, be sure to confirm times on the event handout at your event)

Asia

• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
• Rivers of Light: We Are One (9:30pm, be sure to confirm times on the event handout at your event)

Dinoland U.S.A.

• Primeval Whirl
• TriceraTop Spin
• DINOSAUR
• DJ Dance Party

** Effective 1/31/2019 Chip and Dale no longer appear at the Dinoland Dance Party but Mickey & Minnie meets at Adventurer's Outpost were added.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Post #6 - Open Shops / Quick-Service Locations

(updated w/ latest information from the event handout 1/2020)

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Included With Admission
During event hours, enjoy select beverages, popcorn, and ice cream novelties from snack carts in Discovery Island, Asia, and DinoLand USA. In Pandora-The World of Avatar, sample coconut, strawberry juice, and Pandora juice bars.


For Purchase
The following locations offer select food and beverage items throughout the event:

• Discovery Island
  • Snack cart near Tiffins Restaurant: All-beef hot dogs and beer.
• Pandora-The World of Avatar
  • Pongu Pongu: Wood-grilled chicken bowl and chili-garlic shrimp bowl
• Asia
  • Thirsty River Bar: Full bar, beer, and speciality cocktails.
• Dinoland U.S.A.
  • Dino Diner: Chili-cheese all-beef hot dogs, corn chip pie, churros, and beer.

MERCHANDISE

Shop throughout the night at Island Mercantile, Garden Gate Gifts, Windtraders, Serka Zong Bazaar, and The Dino Institute Shop

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Post #7 - When Can I Get in the Park with a DAH Ticket?

The 'official' park entry time per Disney is 7:00 pm, regardless of the actual start time of the Disney After Hours event.

If already in the park via other park admission/AP/etc, DAH credentials can be picked up at the Ticket Corner by Discovery Trading.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Post #8 - Miscellaneous Event Info & FAQs

FPs with a DAH Ticket

• FPs are not available during the DAH event, all rides are standby only.
• DAH tickets will allow for FP booking during regular park hours prior to the event, so - if you have no other FPs booked that day - one could book FPs during with a DAH ticket during the regular park hours before the event.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Post #9 - Event Handout

Thanks to @BLdisney for the latest event handout, accurate as of 1/30/2020:

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Post #10 - DISer Event Review Posts

Hard-ticket events such as Disney Afters Hours are expensive and many of us come to the DIS to decide if these types of things are "worth it." In my opinion, there is no better resource than the collective thoughts, opinions, and experiences of DISers who have attended DAH.

Links to in-thread review/experience posts are posted below. Good, bad, or ugly - all event reviews and experiences are helpful.

@Crazed4DisneyinSC - 1/30/2020

@Wolfli - 1/16/2020

@OKWFan88 - 12/18/2019

@yuchench - 11/19/2019
@tiggerrr - 11/19/2019
@Melodious - 11/19/2019

@GingerJamie - 11/5/2019

@Cinderella94 - 10/26/2019
@Keckster - 10/26/2019

@clippers6 - 10/19/2019

@Someone28624 - 9/9/2019
@RoboFlyer - 9/9/2019

@cheshiregoofy22 - 8/19/2019
@kwdw - 8/19/2019
@winnieofpooh - 8/19/2019

@22Tink - 8/12/2019
@SamanthaH - 8/12/2019

@TheFloatingBear - 8/5/2019
@JeninTexas - 8/5/2019

@NashvilleMama - 7/29/2019

@KCSherri - 7/22/2019
@disneycat321 - 7/22/2019

@rteetz - 7/8/2019
@provoaggie - 7/8/2019
@TheOneWithTheTriplets - 7/8/2019

@DisneyFamily123 - 7/2/2019
@Justplainchy - 7/2/2019

@lilpiglet97 - 6/18/2019
@Star Wars mom - 6/18/2019
@ShadeDK - 6/18/2019
@djc9699 - 6/18/2019

@mcurrence - 6/4/2019 & Full Post Here
@skuttle - 6/4/2019
@1dorseer - 6/4/2019

@baler31 - 5/21/2019
@kylieh - 5/21/2019

@yulilin3 - 5/14/2019
@JoJoGirl - 5/14/2019

@DisneyDoesMyHair - 5/6/2019
@NICE8x - 5/6/2019
@JPTexan82 - 5/6/2019

@RolloTomasi - 4/3/2019
@Nole95 - 4/3/2019
@Mrjoshua - 4/3/2019

@michelepa - 3/27/2019
@Grace&Carolinesmom - 3/27/2019

@Justplainchy - 3/20/2019 & Full Report Here
@TISHLOVESDISNEY - 3/20/2019
@soniam - 3/20/2019

@KCSherri - 3/5/2019

@skippytx - 2/26/2019
@ShelliRenee - 2/26/2019

@Ils - 2/19/2019
@jnsma - 2/19/2019
@NiceOneSimba - 2/19/2019
@detroitdad - 2/19/2019

@pharmama - 2/13/2019
@AngiTN - 2/13/2019
@ConnecticutNonna - 2/13/2019
@JustCallMeMommy - 2/13/2019
@NashSmartGuy - 2/13/2019

@TNickell27 - 2/12/2019

@lurkyloo - 2/6/2019
@MjrDucky - 2/5/2016 & 2/6/2016

@eliseisawkward - 2/5/2019
@lvcourtneyy - 2/5/2019

@Haley R - 1/31/2019
@Idoc - 1/31/2019
@DizFan13 - 1/31/2019 & continued here

@Dentam - Live posts from 1/16/2019 start here
@sara_s - 1/16/2019
@Tinkerbellmom43 - 1/16/2019
@Staren - 1/16/2019
@HatboxHaint - 1/16/2019
@Erzengel - 1/16/2019
@Stitchland - 1/16/2019

@kayteekt - 1/8/2019
@Ladyfish77 - 1/8/2019 & Full Notes/Detail Here

@djc9699 - 12/18/2018

@Nathan.tan - 12/12/2018
@CarolynFH - 12/12/2018
@Temp77 - 12/12/2018
@mrsxsparrow - 12/12/2018

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Post #11 - Misc. Event Links

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Studying the schedule further, I must say I'm surprised by the two weeks with back-to-back nightly DAHs in Feb. Disney must be feeling pretty confident in demand for this!

I'm also very curious to see the actual event times. I assume some dates might end up being 9pm-12am nights vs what the current park calendar suggests, but who knows.

 

[Haley R]

Could you see them doing a nighttime safari or does that seem crazy?

 

[kenshinelite]

I'll be down there Dec 14-21 so I could do HS on the 15th or AK on the 18th. I will say it's kinda crappy the AK one is the same day as EP EMH.

 

[indoshakespeare]

As long as it doesn't shorten regular park hour, i don't have a problem with it but between 8:00 - 9:00, regular hour visitors are still inside FoP queue so you may have to wait until 9 to ride it with shorter wait

 

[Hunterr]

Thank the maker! I've been waiting for them to do this for other parks!

However, I've gone onto FOP 5 minutes before park closing, and the line stayed true to the posted wait of 90 minutes.
Sooo.... do we believe that after hours people would ideally wait until at least 9/930 to go on?

I think the concern there is how many tix are sold, and if people actually are gonna spread around to other attractions.

I know for ME, this is strictly a Pandora night (but i'll of course do something else until 9ish).

 

[Hunterr]

Could you see them doing a nighttime safari or does that seem crazy?

No way. It'd be a waste of time/too dark to see anything.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Could you see them doing a nighttime safari or does that seem crazy?

Well, they took a lot of time and effort to install night time lighting a couple of years ago.... although the nighttime experience didn't get a ton of positive feedback (we are one of the few odd ones that actually liked it). I'll be curious to see if they run KS during DAH.

 

[Cirlonde]

As long as it doesn't shorten regular park hour, i don't have a problem with it but between 8:00 - 9:00, regular hour visitors are still inside FoP queue so you may have to wait until 9 to ride it with shorter wait

However, I've gone onto FOP 5 minutes before park closing, and the line stayed true to the posted wait of 90 minutes.
Sooo.... do we believe that after hours people would ideally wait until at least 9/930 to go on?

This was my first thought regarding FoP as well.

We visited Pandora for the first time on May 7 & 8 of 2018. On Tuesday night, we got in line for FoP about five minutes before closing (which was 10pm that night). It was nearly midnight by the time we got off. I think this was mostly because they stopped running half the theaters, but even so...having to wait an hour or two for regular guests to get through FoP before it's only DAH guests riding...just not sure that will hold enough value for me. (That long pre-show also gets a little old when you're riding back-to-back, haha!)

Of course, it also depends on how many other attractions are open besides the two rides in Pandora. But definitely something I will be considering (and watching for reviews of) before making a decision to purchase tickets.

 

[Haley R]

No way. It'd be a waste of time/too dark to see anything.

Not that they would do this, but at akl they let you use night vision goggles to see animals. That would be sweet if they did that for safari rides lol