Animal Kingdom closing at 7pm

[Ayla]

Your trip is over a year away. Don't despair, things can change a lot in that time.

 

[Po'Rich]

Prior to opening Pandora, AK did close early. Yet, one of the goals when Pandora was built was to make AK into a full-day park. So, along with the bioluminescence that was included in Pandora, AK created Rivers of Light and the Tree of Life Awakens projections shows. There was also an evening safari. I agree with the OP that it is a shame that full-day park initiative at AK has halted. I'd love to see them recommit to the evening offerings at AK (which were among the best at WDW, IMO).

 

[Disney.fan]

That is sad, I love Animal Kingdom at night. I'm not sure what time it gets dark during your trip but I believe that Pandora is typically open for another hour after park close.

 

[Ayla]

That is sad, I love Animal Kingdom at night. I'm not sure what time it gets dark during your trip but I believe that Pandora is typically open for another hour after park close.

Sunset in FL in September for 2022 ranges from 7:46 pm on Sept 1 to 7:12 pm on Sept 30th. So, if park close is 7pm for their trip, it won't be dark enough.

Sunrise and sunset times in Orlando, September 2024

Calculations of sunrise and sunset in Orlando – Florida – USA for September 2024. Generic astronomy calculator to calculate times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset for many cities, with daylight saving time and time zones taken in account.

www.timeanddate.com

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I was there in June and not closed at 7 so this isn't anything new.

 

[DISR]

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?

I am on the same page as you with Pandora at night. It is my favorite part of any of the 4 parks in the evening. It is a shame that Disney executed something that well and then made it so hard to experience. That said, I believe if you get in line for FoP just prior to park closing but before they cut the line off, you can exit the ride and park after the official closing. This may give you a better shot at the night experience, depending on when sunset falls for your dates. I am sure someone on these boards has more specifics on when they cut off the line access. Good luck!

 

[WorldExplorer]

Each land in Animal Kingdom is beautiful at night. People highlight Pandora, but it's really nice all throughout. There's this spot in Asia with hanging colored lights that's just WOW.

It's definitely a shame most don't get to enjoy it.

(Even Dinoland is really nice. I'm a sucker for carnival lighting. It was probably a lot better with Primeval Whirl, of course...)

 

[G00fyDad]

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.

No one is talking about visiting at 3am so that comment was unnecessary. You mention the animals needing to sleep when it is dark yet it gets dark in other times of the year and the park is still open well past that time so......

 

[Mickey5150]

If it's near the end of the month and you go on a Saturday or Sunday you will be able to experience Pandora at night. Also I try to get in line for the safari right before close to get the most nighttime I can get.

 

[Ayla]

If it's near the end of the month and you go on a Saturday or Sunday you will be able to experience Pandora at night. Also I try to get in line for the safari right before close to get the most nighttime I can get.

The Safari usually closes 30 min to an hour before the rest of the park.

 

[dave&di]

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.

I’m aware of the old after hours events, I’d love to do this, hopefully it’ll return

 

[dave&di]

Your trip is over a year away. Don't despair, things can change a lot in that time.

I won’t! What will be, will be! . Yep, things could change by then.

 

[dave&di]

Prior to opening Pandora, AK did close early. Yet, one of the goals when Pandora was built was to make AK into a full-day park. So, along with the bioluminescence that was included in Pandora, AK created Rivers of Light and the Tree of Life Awakens projections shows. There was also an evening safari. I agree with the OP that it is a shame that full-day park initiative at AK has halted. I'd love to see them recommit to the evening offerings at AK (which were among the best at WDW, IMO).

This is exactly my point! You put it better than me! Thank you

 

[dave&di]

That is sad, I love Animal Kingdom at night. I'm not sure what time it gets dark during your trip but I believe that Pandora is typically open for another hour after park close.

I didn’t know Pandora stays open after park close . That’s good enough for me, I’d just like to see it at night! Thanks.

 

[dave&di]

Sunset in FL in September for 2022 ranges from 7:46 pm on Sept 1 to 7:12 pm on Sept 30th. So, if park close is 7pm for their trip, it won't be dark enough.

Sunrise and sunset times in Orlando, September 2024

Calculations of sunrise and sunset in Orlando – Florida – USA for September 2024. Generic astronomy calculator to calculate times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset for many cities, with daylight saving time and time zones taken in account.

www.timeanddate.com

Damn!

 

[dave&di]

I am on the same page as you with Pandora at night. It is my favorite part of any of the 4 parks in the evening. It is a shame that Disney executed something that well and then made it so hard to experience. That said, I believe if you get in line for FoP just prior to park closing but before they cut the line off, you can exit the ride and park after the official closing. This may give you a better shot at the night experience, depending on when sunset falls for your dates. I am sure someone on these boards has more specifics on when they cut off the line access. Good luck!

since I posted this I have thought about joining the queue for FoP just before the park close, it does seem like a good option if I slowly make my way out of the park afterwards I might see the effects better! Thanks

 

[dave&di]

If it's near the end of the month and you go on a Saturday or Sunday you will be able to experience Pandora at night. Also I try to get in line for the safari right before close to get the most nighttime I can get.

Unfortunately our trip isn’t at the end of a month, but I will definitely try getting on a ride just before park closing to get the most out of it. Thanks

 

[bhg469]

Unfortunately our trip isn’t at the end of a month, but I will definitely try getting on a ride just before park closing to get the most out of it. Thanks

I think someone suggested in another thread to get on flight of passage... That way you're already in the pandora area and you will be in the queue after dark for sure.

 

[dave&di]

I think someone suggested in another thread to get on flight of passage... That way you're already in the pandora area and you will be in the queue after dark for sure.

This is the new plan! Thanks.