Rivers of Light/AK question

[_auroraborealis_]

I don't know that the RoL show will occur every night. Some of the hours issues of AK don't go away by having RoL suddenly in place, as some of the operating hours are strongly linked to the needs of the animals. Especially early on, I wouldn't expect the hours to be extended every day, because if the hours extension creates a need to shift animal schedules, that's not something zookeepers can just do on a dime.

 

[yulilin3]

I don't know that the RoL show will occur every night. Some of the hours issues of AK don't go away by having RoL suddenly in place, as some of the operating hours are strongly linked to the needs of the animals. Especially early on, I wouldn't expect the hours to be extended every day, because if the hours extension creates a need to shift animal schedules, that's not something zookeepers can just do on a dime.

To my understanding RoL doesn't involve any live animals and it's far away from the animals night houses.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

To my understanding RoL doesn't involve any live animals and it's far away from the animals night houses.

It doesn't involve animals, but it depends how much of the park they close off leading into the event. While it isn't supposed to include pyro, there is noise and light that may be disruptive.

Years of being related to a zoo employee makes me think this will be handled carefully.

 

[AngiTN]

Good point.

With a new night show at AK.. and (depending on how long it lasts) a Star Wars fireworks show at DHS .. this definitely could pull crowds away from MK and Epcot at night (and even during the day as more people plan to spend an entire day at AK).

My question is ...
Until AvatarLand opens up ... what will people do at AK during the late afternoon and evening (when it normally has closed) until 8-9 (when this River of light show would run).

I mean ..the park still only has a several rides and a few shows, and my guess is the Safari will be closed for the animals at night? (and a lot of people won't want to go on Kali River Rapids as the sun begins to go down. I guess it still may be a half-day park for a while, but maybe just the latter half

They are adding a night safari. I'd guess the only thing that won't be popular is Kali on the months where it's cool at night. Everything else could be open

I don't know that the RoL show will occur every night. Some of the hours issues of AK don't go away by having RoL suddenly in place, as some of the operating hours are strongly linked to the needs of the animals. Especially early on, I wouldn't expect the hours to be extended every day, because if the hours extension creates a need to shift animal schedules, that's not something zookeepers can just do on a dime.

It doesn't involve animals, but it depends how much of the park they close off leading into the event. While it isn't supposed to include pyro, there is noise and light that may be disruptive.

Years of being related to a zoo employee makes me think this will be handled carefully.

I'm sure they are already working whatever adjustments in the schedules are needed. With the safari operating at night it may not involve as many changes as you think. They may start putting animals out in shifts so they get some time off, or something like that

 

[yulilin3]

It doesn't involve animals, but it depends how much of the park they close off leading into the event. While it isn't supposed to include pyro, there is noise and light that may be disruptive.

Years of being related to a zoo employee makes me think this will be handled carefully.

like I said, their night houses are on the other side of the park, this is why they are doing it in the area closer to Dinoland, there won't be any disturbance to the animals.

 

[mshanson3121]

and my guess is the Safari will be closed for the animals at night?

They're opening a new Sunset safari, so my guess is no. The safari will now be open the entire time, since as mentioned earlier, sunset in the summer months doesn't start until after 8.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see evening performances of Nemo and FOTLK offered.

 

[mshanson3121]

They are adding a night safari. I'd guess the only thing that won't be popular is Kali on the months where it's cool at night. Everything else could be open

And honestly, for a good chunk of the year, when the extended hours will be the longest (late spring/summer etc...), it will definitely still be warm enough to ride Kali in the evening.

 

[Mikie]

I don't know that the RoL show will occur every night. Some of the hours issues of AK don't go away by having RoL suddenly in place, as some of the operating hours are strongly linked to the needs of the animals. Especially early on, I wouldn't expect the hours to be extended every day, because if the hours extension creates a need to shift animal schedules, that's not something zookeepers can just do on a dime.

My guess would be not nightly, but rather on a schedule like all the other night shows. BUT I wonder if they will do nightly for any length of time. . . MK sees big swings during party seasons when they close early and don't offer wishes daily, but it's Magic Kingdom and a lower day is still a big draw. In AK, with the newest stuff on certain nights and "just" regular AK stuff and a very early close other days (don't get me wrong, I personally love AK already) I wonder if AK would actually take a dip from already-lower attendance levels on non-River-of-light days.

I'll be interested to see what they do schedule-wise because I'm sure wild attendance swings are undesirable to Disney (evidenced by $2billion crowd-spreading/predicting technology)

 

[lugnut33]

Maybe they'll close the park at 6 and "re-open" it from 6-9 for a Rivers of Life dessert party? With the amount of seating available that could be an option.

 

[AngiTN]

Maybe they'll close the park at 6 and "re-open" it from 6-9 for a Rivers of Life dessert party? With the amount of seating available that could be an option.

I seriously doubt that. They've gone to the trouble to make a night time Safari work. They aren't going to do that and then close

 

[OhThePain]

It's my understanding (from taking the Backstage Safari and the Breakfast Safari) that most, if not all the animals have an option to return to their housing at night, unless they are specifically called for. Each species has a different signal, as well as each individual animal. I believe that if the species call is rung they have an option of returning, but if their individual call is made they are to return (which is done if they want to check up on the animal or it hasn't been back in a few days). Also, they are adding perpetual moonlight to the safari savannahs (like what is at AKL) as well as animals that are nocturnal. All signs point to KS remaining open for the length of the park hours, with minimal affect on the animals, even if RoL is run daily.

 

[tlmadden73]

DAK had PM EMH for years.
There was a performance of FoLK (and sometimes Finding Nemo the Musical.)
The rides were operating.
Some of the restaurants were open.

Any "animal attraction" (like Safari and Rafiki's Planet Watch) closed at dusk.

But, DAK was a beautiful park at night and we always enjoyed the PM EMH there.
(And, back then, PM EMH ran for 3 hours.)

I guess my point was .. there are no new attractions at AK (yet) and it still may be difficulty to find things to do for 12 hours.

If you currently can get everything you want done at AK (shows and rides) between rope drop and 5 PM .. what's left to do after you've done it all?
I am saying it may still be considered a half-day park (for the repeat visitors like those on the forums), just the later half instead of the early half.

Or it may turn into a park where you go back to the resort for that mid-day break and come back.

In short, the touring plans are going to change for AK for sure. I am excited to go there for a longer day and in the evening.

 

[AngiTN]

It's my understanding (from taking the Backstage Safari and the Breakfast Safari) that most, if not all the animals have an option to return to their housing at night, unless they are specifically called for. Each species has a different signal, as well as each individual animal. I believe that if the species call is rung they have an option of returning, but if their individual call is made they are to return (which is done if they want to check up on the animal or it hasn't been back in a few days). Also, they are adding perpetual moonlight to the safari savannahs (like what is at AKL) as well as animals that are nocturnal. All signs point to KS remaining open for the length of the park hours, with minimal affect on the animals, even if RoL is run daily.

This is exactly how it's been explained to us on our trips. This is due to open/start the same time as ROL, or thereabouts. Most will probably want to do the Safari twice now, once in the daylight and once in the dark.

 

[rteetz]

I don't know that the RoL show will occur every night. Some of the hours issues of AK don't go away by having RoL suddenly in place, as some of the operating hours are strongly linked to the needs of the animals. Especially early on, I wouldn't expect the hours to be extended every day, because if the hours extension creates a need to shift animal schedules, that's not something zookeepers can just do on a dime.

As far as I have heard it will be a nightly show. The show does not involve fireworks but does involve water, lights and fire as well as live dancers. Disney has actually already been getting the animals used to music in the area at night playing the sound track when the park is closed to get them ready when it is a nightly occurrence. AK will be a night time park. AK will also be doing nighttime safaris as part of the new offerings.

 

[rteetz]

It doesn't involve animals, but it depends how much of the park they close off leading into the event. While it isn't supposed to include pyro, there is noise and light that may be disruptive.

Years of being related to a zoo employee makes me think this will be handled carefully.

It is being handled carefully. As far as I have heard the only thing that may close for the show is EE because it is right next to the show.

 

[rteetz]

My guess would be not nightly, but rather on a schedule like all the other night shows. BUT I wonder if they will do nightly for any length of time. . . MK sees big swings during party seasons when they close early and don't offer wishes daily, but it's Magic Kingdom and a lower day is still a big draw. In AK, with the newest stuff on certain nights and "just" regular AK stuff and a very early close other days (don't get me wrong, I personally love AK already) I wonder if AK would actually take a dip from already-lower attendance levels on non-River-of-light days.

I'll be interested to see what they do schedule-wise because I'm sure wild attendance swings are undesirable to Disney (evidenced by $2billion crowd-spreading/predicting technology)

Why wouldn't it be nightly? This is a major show like Fantasmic or Illuminations. This also has limited seats some rumors indicate they may even do two shows a night.

 

[rteetz]

Maybe they'll close the park at 6 and "re-open" it from 6-9 for a Rivers of Life dessert party? With the amount of seating available that could be an option.

My guess is somewhat similar to World of Color in DLR. FP will be the big thing for this show.

 

[MickeyEars]

We'e done PM EMH at Animal Kingdom and it really is a beautiful park at night. i couldn't believe just how pretty it was.
My family and I loved it!! Can't wait for Rivers Of Light to begin.

Carla