Animal Kingdom hours extended, sign of something new?

[jdj61479]

I was just getting park hours off Disney's website for our trip at the beginning of October and noticed that AK's hours went from 9am-5pm at the beginning of our trip (10/2), to 9am-8pm by the end (10/10). We've been the last 2 years at this time and AK has always closed at 5pm. With the Jammin' Jungle Parade closed, does this mean there's something else coming to AK in the evening? I've read rumors on here before about some type of night time attraction for AK, but does this mean that something is happening now?

Thanks!

 

[CounselorX]

I hope so! For the sole reason that I love Expedition Everest at night.

 

[jdj61479]

I'd forgotten that back in May, Disney had officially announced "Rivers of Light" was coming to AK. The 8pm close/start time would be similar to what HS studios does for Fantasmic. Here's the link to the announcement: disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/05/rivers-of-light-nighttime-spectacular-coming-to-disneys-animal-kingdom/

 

[Simba's Mom]

I was just getting park hours off Disney's website for our trip at the beginning of October and noticed that AK's hours went from 9am-5pm at the beginning of our trip (10/2), to 9am-8pm by the end (10/10). We've been the last 2 years at this time and AK has always closed at 5pm. With the Jammin' Jungle Parade closed, does this mean there's something else coming to AK in the evening? I've read rumors on here before about some type of night time attraction for AK, but does this mean that something is happening now?

Thanks!

Thanks so much for letting me know! I'll be there Oct 4-11, and Animal Kingdom is my favorite park. I check the hours on easywdw, and they haven't got those hours yet. And I especially love AK after dark, which in October 8:00 will be. The lighting is amazing! That's the one time I love to get on Triceratop Spin, get that dinosaur as high as possible, then sit back and enjoy the scenery. Thanks-now I really can't wait!

 

[rteetz]

I was just getting park hours off Disney's website for our trip at the beginning of October and noticed that AK's hours went from 9am-5pm at the beginning of our trip (10/2), to 9am-8pm by the end (10/10). We've been the last 2 years at this time and AK has always closed at 5pm. With the Jammin' Jungle Parade closed, does this mean there's something else coming to AK in the evening? I've read rumors on here before about some type of night time attraction for AK, but does this mean that something is happening now?

Thanks!

They extend hours based on crowds and what they expect for crowds. As you will see a lot of days in July and August have extended hours until 8. Their is nothing new night time wise coming this year. Come 2016 and 2017 the new night time safaris and the rivers of light show will be starting. This year Disney started a new night time hard ticket event called Harambe Nights that is a special gathering of the retelling of the Lion King kind of like the Candlelight precessional. They run this show late and keep that harambe and Africa areas open until about 10-10:30PM for this event with live street music, dancers, and special food offerings.

 

[rteetz]

I'd forgotten that back in May, Disney had officially announced "Rivers of Light" was coming to AK. The 8pm close/start time would be similar to what HS studios does for Fantasmic. Here's the link to the announcement: disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/05/rivers-of-light-nighttime-spectacular-coming-to-disneys-animal-kingdom/

This isn't coming until 2016

 

[jdj61479]

I'd read about the Harambe Nights event, but that ends in August. There weren't any shows, etc. listed on the daily schedule yet past 5pm, so I didn't know if that meant something was in the works that hadn't been officially announced yet.

I hadn't noticed them extending regular evening operating hours the last couple of years during that time in October-in fact I had checked the hours about a month ago and they were the usual 9-5. What struck me as odd was that during the summer there's plenty of daylight at 8, so a later closing time isn't much of a change. In October it's getting pretty dark by then, and for a park that has the reputation of being a "day park" that seems like a big deal.

I wonder how well lit the park is at night? I would imagine the African section of the park used for Harambe Nights received some lighting upgrades to handle that event, but what about the remainder of the park?

 

[rteetz]

I'd read about the Harambe Nights event, but that ends in August. There weren't any shows, etc. listed on the daily schedule yet past 5pm, so I didn't know if that meant something was in the works that hadn't been officially announced yet. I hadn't noticed them extending regular evening operating hours the last couple of years during that time in October-in fact I had checked the hours about a month ago and they were the usual 9-5. What struck me as odd was that during the summer there's plenty of daylight at 8, so a later closing time isn't much of a change. In October it's getting pretty dark by then, and for a park that has the reputation of being a "day park" that seems like a big deal. I wonder how well lit the park is at night? I would imagine the African section of the park used for Harambe Nights received some lighting upgrades to handle that event, but what about the remainder of the park?

The park is plenty well prepared for night time they have lights all over. Again I'm assuming this is based on larger than expected crowds at that time meaning longer operation hours. I have not heard of any rumbling about something coming during the night at that time.

 

[patsal]

The weekend of 10/10 is Columbus Day weekend, they just expect heavy crowds between the long weekend and Food and Wine.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . I've read rumors on here before about some type of night time attraction for AK, but does this mean that something is happening now? . . .

Employees at the resturants have already been told normal park closing hours will be 8:00pm.

 

[lfishe3]

I was just getting park hours off Disney's website for our trip at the beginning of October and noticed that AK's hours went from 9am-5pm at the beginning of our trip (10/2), to 9am-8pm by the end (10/10). We've been the last 2 years at this time and AK has always closed at 5pm. With the Jammin' Jungle Parade closed, does this mean there's something else coming to AK in the evening? I've read rumors on here before about some type of night time attraction for AK, but does this mean that something is happening now?

Thanks!

With the new expansion, there is going to be a nighttime show for AK. Its going to be called "Rivers of Light". No date is released yet but I imagine it will coincide with the opening of Avatar land in 2016. Here is the post from Disney Parks Blog.
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...spectacular-coming-to-disneys-animal-kingdom/

 

[rteetz]

With the new expansion, there is going to be a nighttime show for AK. Its going to be called "Rivers of Light". No date is released yet but I imagine it will coincide with the opening of Avatar land in 2016. Here is the post from Disney Parks Blog. http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/05/rivers-of-light-nighttime-spectacular-coming-to-disneys-animal-kingdom/

Avatar opens in 2017
Rivers of light is supposed to start in 2016
No word on when the nighttime safaris will start