Animal Kingdom evenings - thoughts on it extending into November 2016

[dkrauss]

I've been planning our November 2016 trip for a couple of months now. Had planned an evening at AK during the trip on November 10th. With all that's gone on regarding the delay with ROL I'm curious what folks think will happen during the fall/winter months this year?

With the Jungle Book show being added as a stop gap (we all know how stop gaps can become permanent) all I've read is the extended times are only through the summer. Any thoughts on that being extended? Our November trip coincides with the return to Standard time so the sun will be down around 6pm................

I'm in the process of developing a PLAN B for our trip given the potential for no evening AK I have some wiggle room but this may put me in a position of over booking ADR's (our ADR days is less than 3 weeks away). Not overly disappointed about ROL as we'll have the new Soar'in and A&E........and F&W and MVMCP. As far as flipping my plan............I always expect changes...........

Just curious what others think?

Doug

 

[Sevey13]

I'm confused what your question is, to be honest. Are you asking if the evenings will be extended to November? If so, no because this isn't a temporary thing with an end date. It won't be 'extended' because it is permanent. Some of the offerings may change, but there will be night stuff from now until whatever (hopefully) far future day Disney decides to shake things up again.

 

[dkrauss]

I'm confused what your question is, to be honest. Are you asking if the evenings will be extended to November? If so, no because this isn't a temporary thing with an end date. It won't be 'extended' because it is permanent. Some of the offerings may change, but there will be night stuff from now until whatever (hopefully) far future day Disney decides to shake things up again.

Sevey13 you answered my question

Doug

 

[cel_disney]

Do we believe that AK will be open EVERY night in the fall? It will it be on select nights - like we are seeing the Star Wars fireworks not being every night in May?

 

[CAS239]

Do we believe that AK will be open EVERY night in the fall? It will it be on select nights - like we are seeing the Star Wars fireworks not being every night in May?

It should be open late every night. There would be no reason for them to only do select nights

And Star Wars fireworks are every night. The reason you're not seeing them every night on the calendar is because the current Star Wars fireworks will be down and the new Star Wars fireworks show will be introduced

 

[Mikie]

It should be open late every night. There would be no reason for them to only do select nights

Yes, I definitely think all the changes are about making AK a night AND day park. I imagine "late" in fall may be different from "late" in summer, but I would think nightly 5pm closures are a thing of the past.

 

[cel_disney]

It should be open late every night. There would be no reason for them to only do select nights

And Star Wars fireworks are every night. The reason you're not seeing them every night on the calendar is because the current Star Wars fireworks will be down and the new Star Wars fireworks show will be introduced

I was referring to May when SW Fireworks are only 4 nights a week...

 

[AngiTN]

Do we believe that AK will be open EVERY night in the fall? It will it be on select nights - like we are seeing the Star Wars fireworks not being every night in May?

Yes. I imagine we'll see hours at AK similar to the hours at HS all year. Maybe even an hour later. I agree with PP, 5PM closures at AK are gone. At least on a regular basis.

 

[mousefan73]

would be nice to know now though... So I cancel clean up my ADR list with Tusker and Boma... our trip is Aug/Sept still got a while but would like to finalize a bit.

 

[AngiTN]

would be nice to know now though... So I cancel clean up my ADR list with Tusker and Boma... our trip is Aug/Sept still got a while but would like to finalize a bit.

I wonder if they are holding off on the later hour extensions till they know if RoL will be ready or if they'll have to stick with the fill in show?

 

[mousefan73]

Planning has become anal/micro.... I actually looked up sunset times for end of August!!!! Assuming it has to be dark.

that is insane.

 

[rteetz]

I wonder if they are holding off on the later hour extensions till they know if RoL will be ready or if they'll have to stick with the fill in show?

Bingo

 

[ONeill Travel]

When are you going in November. The park hours should be open later during the week of Thanksgiving. Last year we went during Thanksgiving and around September all of the closing hours and some of the opening hours (except Epcot) were extended. Totally messed up our plans (guess it was a rookie mistake)

 

[dkrauss]

When are you going in November. The park hours should be open later during the week of Thanksgiving. Last year we went during Thanksgiving and around September all of the closing hours and some of the opening hours (except Epcot) were extended. Totally messed up our plans (guess it was a rookie mistake)

We're visiting November 5th thru November 12th (Jersey Week). We're taking my brother and his family for their first visit. We have a nice plan at this point, not all that detailed, with plenty of open time. However, it has an evening at AK...........not a must to have ROL, we'll make due with everything else (EE at night!!! ). If there isn't an evening AK........we'll need to move some things around. It can surely be done...........only sticking point will be making backup ADR reservations

Thanks everyone for all the points.........I'm with the majority that AK will now be an evening park.............all year long!

Doug

 

[MakiraMarlena]

The later hours are supposed to be a permanent thing.

Nobody knows what will happen with Rivers of Light but right now I don't see them not having it onboard by November.

They've even come up with a substitute Jungle Book show.

 

[PEC]

Has anybody thought where did the idea for the nightly Jungle Book Show come from. Think about it, it takes years to build Avatarland, ROL has been in the work for quite some time. ROL has a firm date, gets delayed and somebody quickly comes up with a Jungle Book show as a stop gap that apparently will be ready within a month? If this show is good they need to promote this person to head all future projects at WDW. They can get things done fast.

 

[AngiTN]

Has anybody thought where did the idea for the nightly Jungle Book Show come from. Think about it, it takes years to build Avatarland, ROL has been in the work for quite some time. ROL has a firm date, gets delayed and somebody quickly comes up with a Jungle Book show as a stop gap that apparently will be ready within a month? If this show is good they need to promote this person to head all future projects at WDW. They can get things done fast.

Good point. I assume it came together fast since RoL already had a theme that was along the same lines as Jungle Book. Just a few tweaks here and there. Some of the characters from Jungle Book are already in the park too

 

[julieFitz]

Is the assumption that the restaurants will offer later dinners once hours are extended? I have early dinner ADRs at 4pm (yuck!) for August but would ideally change them to later if park was open later.

 

[julieFitz]

As of today, late dinner ADRs (8pm at Yak & Yeti) are offered through Aug 20th even though official park hours say only open till 5pm

 

[CAS239]

Expect AK to be open late year round. 8-11pm closing time is rumored to be the norm. With that said, they of course will have the restaurants open as well.

AK is no longer a close at 5pm park. If anyone is looking and seeing closing times of 5, you're looking too far out and times have not been updated yet. It's likely you won't see times changed until a few months out from your trip, but count on the park to be open at night