Animal Kingdom closing at 7pm

[dave&di]

We are staying at WDW in September 2023, we planned on spending 1 night at AKL to spend the whole day in the AK (with a few hours break in between) as we’d seen how nice the park looks at night with Pandora and the projections on the Tree of Life, the park always closed early in the evening when we used to visit over 10 years ago.

I have looked at Septembers hours for this year and the parks close 7pm, 8pm on weekends. On a FB group a member who knows a CM has said from 28th August the park will close at 7pm moving forward.

I am the only one that thinks this is ridiculous, so the bioluminescence feel of Pandora is wasted, surely the projection show won’t happen?

 

[dreday3]

We are staying at WDW in September 2023, we planned on spending 1 night at AKL to spend the whole day in the AK (with a few hours break in between) as we’d seen how nice the park looks at night with Pandora and the projections on the Tree of Life, the park always closed early in the evening when we used to visit over 10 years ago.

I have looked at Septembers hours for this year and the parks close 7pm, 8pm on weekends. On a FB group a member who knows a CM has said from 28th August the park will close at 7pm moving forward.

I am the only one that thinks this is ridiculous, so the bioluminescence feel of Pandora is wasted, surely the projection show won’t happen?

Check last year's park hours to see how late it was open during your dates. Maybe go back to 2019 before everything went wonky.

Our April dates for next year is the same. AK with 7pm closing. Unfortunately I checked comparable dates from this year and it looks as if that's really the case. It is a bummer.

 

[dave&di]

Check last year's park hours to see how late it was open during your dates. Maybe go back to 2019 before everything went wonky.

Our April dates for next year is the same. AK with 7pm closing. Unfortunately I checked comparable dates from this year and it looks as if that's really the case. It is a bummer.

It’s a shame for sure.

 

[larryz]

We are staying at WDW in September 2023, we planned on spending 1 night at AKL to spend the whole day in the AK (with a few hours break in between) as we’d seen how nice the park looks at night with Pandora and the projections on the Tree of Life, the park always closed early in the evening when we used to visit over 10 years ago.

I have looked at Septembers hours for this year and the parks close 7pm, 8pm on weekends. On a FB group a member who knows a CM has said from 28th August the park will close at 7pm moving forward.

I am the only one that thinks this is ridiculous, so the bioluminescence feel of Pandora is wasted, surely the projection show won’t happen?

Move your trip to December and the pathways will be plenty dark enough to see the effect at 6:30 pm.

 

[dave&di]

Move your trip to December and the pathways will be plenty dark enough to see the effect at 6:30 pm.

We can’t move the dates! It’s not vital we see it when it’s dark just would have been nice.

 

[dreday3]

We can’t move the dates! It’s not vital we see it when it’s dark just would have been nice.

Agree. 7pm closing is ridiculous.

 

[networkpro]

We can’t move the dates! It’s not vital we see it when it’s dark just would have been nice.

Sorry it will impact your trip, but as you've posted about your anticipated visit 13 months Disney has posted their anticipated schedule for the same time period which both can change during the intervening time period. I'm sure that Pandora would be absolutely visually captivating at 3am as well, but numerous factors preclude the park from being open at that time. Not to be snarky or insulting, but they do try to accommodate the majority of the parks animals' diurnal activity, most tend to sleep when it gets dark and the noisy activity of the park in operation keeps them up.

 

[dreday3]

Sorry it will impact your trip, but as you've posted about your anticipated visit 13 months Disney has posted their anticipated schedule for the same time period which both can change during the intervening time period. I'm sure that Pandora would be absolutely visually captivating at 3am as well, but numerous factors preclude the park from being open at that time.

Boy OP, not sure why everyone is giving you such condescending answers about planning your trip on a trip planning message board.

Hopefully the hours change for you as your trip nears.

We are used to going in late October and the park closed around 8:30, so that was nice.

 

[dave&di]

Sorry it will impact your trip, but as you've posted about your anticipated visit 13 months Disney has posted their anticipated schedule for the same time period which both can change during the intervening time period. I'm sure that Pandora would be absolutely visually captivating at 3am as well, but numerous factors preclude the park from being open at that time. Not to be snarky or insulting, but they do try to accommodate the majority of the parks animals' diurnal activity, most tend to sleep when it gets dark and the noisy activity of the park in operation keeps them up.

It won’t really impact our trip, it’s one night out of 10. When we used to go over 10 years ago the parks closed early, I guessed this was due to the well-being of the animals, but then they decided to open later and do night times activities and shows, I just would have like to have experienced it after so long since of last visit and probably our only visit for a long time if not ever. I don’t think you’re being insulting

 

[dave&di]

Boy OP, not sure why everyone is giving you such condescending answers about planning your trip on a trip planning message board.

Hopefully the hours change for you as your trip nears.

We are used to going in late October and the park closed around 8:30, so that was nice.

THANK YOU! I’m starting to wish I hadn’t bothered, it‘ll definitely put me off bothering again!
I’m glad you experienced AK in the night time!

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

At least it isn't 5pm like it use to be

 

[jonnyc]

I believe pre-pandemic they did do some after hours events in AK that were separately ticketed - so maybe they return next year?

It is a shame though, I remember doing evening EMH's at AK pre-Pandora and even then the park looked amazing at night.

 

[bhg469]

At least it isn't 5pm like it use to be

I have no doubt it will be 6pm for a few months in the winter. I really don't see it staying at 7

 

[dreday3]

I believe pre-pandemic they did do some after hours events in AK that were separately ticketed - so maybe they return next year?

It is a shame though, I remember doing evening EMH's at AK pre-Pandora and even then the park looked amazing at night.

Oh man! I don't dare even hope they bring back AK after hours. I would be snapping those tickets up in one second!

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Oh man! I don't dare even hope they bring back AK after hours. I would be snapping those tickets up in one second!

I did it in Jan 2020...Sooooo worth it..

 

[mysto]

I believe pre-pandemic they did do some after hours events in AK that were separately ticketed - so maybe they return next year?

This is the way to do it. Let the animals sleep most of the time, and let the humans have their party once a week.

Doesn't help the OP.

 

[jloucks]

I have been corrected on this before, but in my experience AK always closed really early. I was told "the animals are all asleep".

But, yea, with Pandora, that makes less sense.

 

[Lilofan]

I have been corrected on this before, but in my experience AK always closed really early. I was told "the animals are all asleep".

But, yea, with Pandora, that makes less sense.

Strange that when we eat at Boma at AK Lodge at night, the animals are roaming around by the hotel guest rooms.

 

[Andrew25]

Almost like "the animals need to sleep" are an excuse for cutting operation costs.

Unless there's a scientific report that shows noise bothers the animals, Busch Gardens is able to operate the park very late with their Howl O Scream event and there seems to be no problem.

 

[JohnD]

Almost like "the animals need to sleep" are an excuse for cutting operation costs.

Unless there's a scientific report that shows noise bothers the animals, Busch Gardens is able to operate the park very late with their Howl O Scream event and there seems to be no problem.

Let's be honest. Easier for them to close AK at 7pm for cost savings / staffing and/or labor shortages, etc for at least two reasons: Day guests complete the park before closing, animal experiences (Safari, walking trails) would shut down around 7pm anyway even if the park were open later for the other attractions (Everest, FOP, Dinosaur, etc).

The bottom line is cost savings.