Animal Kingdom extended hours

[akaler2010]

I am going to Orlando in December and am planning to go to Animal Kingdom. Typically, it's been open from 8AM-9PM during that time. I know the animal attractions are typically closed at dusk, so what will remain open in the dark? We are trying to decide if we want to get park hopper tickets and leave around dinner time to go to either Epcot or Hollywood for the rest of the night since they are probably open until 11PM. I can get discounted park hopper tickets through work, but have to order them before the December hours will likely come out.

Thanks!

 

[figment_jii]

The mechanical-based rides will remain open. Things like Everest, Dinosaur, Tough to Be a Bug, and Dinoland.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

I am going to Orlando in December and am planning to go to Animal Kingdom. Typically, it's been open from 8AM-9PM during that time. I know the animal attractions are typically closed at dusk, so what will remain open in the dark? We are trying to decide if we want to get park hopper tickets and leave around dinner time to go to either Epcot or Hollywood for the rest of the night since they are probably open until 11PM. I can get discounted park hopper tickets through work, but have to order them before the December hours will likely come out.

Thanks!

AK is "typically open until 9PM" in December?!?!?!

Why the heck is that not "typical" in the summer?

We have only had ONE night at AK during our many trips to WDW and that was in 2009.

Is it open after dark in early June(our next trip)?

 

[PatMcDuck]

It is open to 9 pm over the Memorial Day Weekend, and I am going to make sure I get my butt over there to ride Everest in the dark.

Bucket list item!

 

[DebbieB]

AK is "typically open until 9PM" in December?!?!?!

Why the heck is that not "typical" in the summer?

We have only had ONE night at AK during our many trips to WDW and that was in 2009.

Is it open after dark in early June(our next trip)?

That's not correct.

http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/calendar/historical/historicalhours2013.asp

Last December:

Animal Kingdom
December 1-24 -- 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
December 25-31 -- 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Unless they extended hours after the original release and it's not listed there but it would have only been during the Christmas-New Years week.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

All depends on when in Dec you are going.
http://media.disneywebcontent.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_dec.pdf is the link to
the final hours for last Dec. As you can see in the bottom left of each page, they were last updated 12/16/13. The initial listing of park hours is released about 6 months before, and are usually more conservative. They are frequently changed to later evenings, etc, as it gets much closer, and even during the month.
Easywdw.com is a great resource. I learned all the above there.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

I am going to Orlando in December and am planning to go to Animal Kingdom. Typically, it's been open from 8AM-9PM during that time. I know the animal attractions are typically closed at dusk, so what will remain open in the dark? We are trying to decide if we want to get park hopper tickets and leave around dinner time to go to either Epcot or Hollywood for the rest of the night since they are probably open until 11PM. I can get discounted park hopper tickets through work, but have to order them before the December hours will likely come out.

Thanks!

If the AK hours have been 8A-9P when you go, you must go Christmas week or the week between Christmas & New Year's. so peak crowds. Probably worth park hoppers, especially since you can get them at a discount. By the way, do you know about Undercover Tourist? They are great. Many on this board use them for discounted tickets, and never a complaint of problem.
I love park hopping, but some find it very time-consuming, especially with a larger party or many kids and strollers to deal with.
Edit to add: I have never been there Christmas week or the week after, so have no experience whether park hopping is too time-consuming then. It works great for me in summer peak crowds though.

 

[OB1]

We did AK at night in FEB. They stayed open until 7:00, dark around 5:30. Really neat place at night. The atmosphere is totally different, and Everest is fun at night. Make it there at night if possible.

 

[lurkernj]

If the AK hours have been 8A-9P when you go, you must go Christmas week or the week between Christmas & New Year's. so peak crowds. Probably worth park hoppers, especially since you can get them at a discount. By the way, do you know about Undercover Tourist? They are great. Many on this board use them for discounted tickets, and never a complaint of problem.
I love park hopping, but some find it very time-consuming, especially with a larger party or many kids and strollers to deal with.
Edit to add: I have never been there Christmas week or the week after, so have no experience whether park hopping is too time-consuming then. It works great for me in summer peak crowds though.

I've never been Christmas week either, but I would imagine the park hopping issue is whether you can even get into another park once you leave the first, due to capacity issues during that time of year.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

It is open to 9 pm over the Memorial Day Weekend, and I am going to make sure I get my butt over there to ride Everest in the dark.

Bucket list item!

Oh...EE at night is not to be missed! I'll never forget it.

 

[W.E.D.]

We did AK at night in FEB. They stayed open until 7:00, dark around 5:30. Really neat place at night. The atmosphere is totally different, and Everest is fun at night. Make it there at night if possible.

We'll have to aim for this on our next visit. I bet it is a whole new experience.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I so wish I could see AK at night! I suppose that's one good thing about Avatarland, it's supposed to result in later hours at the park.

I've even considered running the Everest Challenge just to be in the park at night.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

I so wish I could see AK at night! I suppose that's one good thing about Avatarland, it's supposed to result in later hours at the park.

I've even considered running the Everest Challenge just to be in the park at night.

I think Animal Kingdom is already the most beautiful park in all of WDW. At night it becomes simply breathtaking.

 

[POOHsie]

We going to WDW Sept 21st - Sept 30th. I was looking at the September TA calendar, which just came out. AK is open until 5pm every day, and no date has evening EMH.

 

[akaler2010]

We are going the week between Christmas and New Years. It's our second time so we are prepared for the insane crowds. Luckily we are a party of two adults so we can be patient enough for it.

 

[tlh]

I like having park hoppers during Christmas and New Years weeks. On actual Christmas and new years parks may reach capacity, but the other days we went at extra magic hour rope drop did everything we wanted and then went back to the hotel for a nap. Then woke up and went to the next park and ate dinner. This will work well with FP+ and using them in the evening.