December Animal Kingdom Hours

[Cowboy Steve]

That sounds great. On a normal trip we would have a bit more time and could take it easy on the first day. This time around my husband and I are traveling alone (no kids for the first time in 4+ years!) We only have three days, so we're going to make the most of it.

Oh how fun! Want to rent your kids for a trip? lol. Neither I nor my sister have any children... and I would so have loved bringing my kids just like my parents brought me. Disney is a little more magical when seen through the eyes of a kid! Enjoy some adult time at the parks and go go go! lol

 

[JohnD]

I'm not expecting 11pm closure. In the fall, it gets darker earlier and you'll be back in standard time. Still hoping for evening hours though probably not as late. I plan on being in AK on 10/30.

 

[No Name]

They're typically late to update their hours. It's not really a mistake, it's just them not updating hours more than a few months out for whatever reason.

They close AK at 5pm frequently.

Not anymore. Animal Kingdom will never close at 5pm again. At least not in the next many years.

You do know about the expanded hours and new nighttime additions, right?

 

[Chef Mickey]

They're typically late to update their hours. It's not really a mistake, it's just them not updating hours more than a few months out for whatever reason.



Not anymore. Animal Kingdom will never close at 5pm again. At least not in the next many years.

You do know about the expanded hours and new nighttime additions, right?

Yes, but you are aware this is Disney and they've already encountered problems with launch dates, delaying a show that show already be open? I'm just saying, don't rule out 5pm because they've closed then before and the new stuff isn't exactly running like a top.

 

[MyMartianRomance]

Not anymore. Animal Kingdom will never close at 5pm again. At least not in the next many years.

You do know about the expanded hours and new nighttime additions, right?

Well till the animals start having problems. There living breathing things, not animatronics. They can't be coded to act a certain way and to never snap or charge at a guest, CM, or Jeep when they get aggravated. Have you ever noticed not too many (if any) zoos are opened passed 6pm? To give all the animals breaks away from screaming children and etc.

 

[Cowboy Steve]

Well till the animals start having problems. There living breathing things, not animatronics. They can't be coded to act a certain way and to never snap or charge at a guest, CM, or Jeep when they get aggravated. Have you ever noticed not too many (if any) zoos are opened passed 6pm? To give all the animals breaks away from screaming children and etc.

I am pretty sure this won't be an issue... as the only animal attraction affected by the later hours is the Kilimanjaro Safaris. Those animals are so conditioned to the vehicles bouncing around and making noise they pretty much ignore them. No different than you or I living near a train track and eventually not noticing the trains anymore. The animals have plenty of places to go and hide if they like (heck we don't see many of them during the DAY) And any animals that are a charge threat are separated from the vehicle routes with barriers you and I might not notice anyway... so the threat of charging animal wouldn't be any greater at night than during the day. All the other 'animal encounter' attractions like Maharajah Jungle Trek, Gorilla Falls, etc. close by 7:30pm. It looks like the overwhelming majority of the attractions/shows available during these new hours do not involve animals. I, for one, am glad they are extending the hours. It was tough getting through the park and seeing everything in an 8 hour day.

 

[No Name]

Yes, but you are aware this is Disney and they've already encountered problems with launch dates, delaying a show that show already be open? I'm just saying, don't rule out 5pm because they've closed then before and the new stuff isn't exactly running like a top.

Well till the animals start having problems. There living breathing things, not animatronics. They can't be coded to act a certain way and to never snap or charge at a guest, CM, or Jeep when they get aggravated. Have you ever noticed not too many (if any) zoos are opened passed 6pm? To give all the animals breaks away from screaming children and etc.

Well I can absolutely guarantee you that DAK will not be closing at 5 pm this December. I am ruling it out.

I'm a big supporter of animal rights and all that, but there are systems put in place to avoid problems. Many of animals aren't out there the whole day, they take turns. I doubt one of them will charge at a guest, because they haven't done that in the last 18 years. Why? Because as the poster above said, most of the more dangerous or charging animals (rhinos, for example) are kept away from the vehicles anyway.

When Avatar (and RoL) opens, if Disney is making a lot of money during night hours, they'll do anything to keep the park operating that way. If an animal on the tour gets aggravated, they'll switch it out, or solve the problem in a multitude of other ways. But they won't stop the nighttime hours, especially in a pretty busy month like December. If anything, they'll open the park later in the day.

 

[wdwfan22]

Summer hours haven't even been finalized yet past July 2nd, what makes you think that Decembers would be?

 

[Jon81uk]

There was a rumour on the Rivers of Light thread that they were aiming to have the show ready for July 4th (this seems unlikely now as there are still casting calls out for Jungle Book). But therefore I am expecting the hours for September onwards to be decided in July, once they have a better idea of whether it will be Jungle Book or Rivers of Light (or nothing!) playing.

Also don't forget the Hollywood studios hours will change due to the new Star Wars fireworks.

 

[ninjaprincesst]

Every year for thanksgiving week they typically extend the hours to 7 or 8 so Iwould expect to see at least 10.

 

[BraveLikeMerida]

Oh how fun! Want to rent your kids for a trip? lol. Neither I nor my sister have any children... and I would so have loved bringing my kids just like my parents brought me. Disney is a little more magical when seen through the eyes of a kid! Enjoy some adult time at the parks and go go go! lol

Yes. Disney through the eyes of a 4-year-old and 1-year-old is amazing. That being said, we are skipping It's A Small World this time. We rode it 100 times in December, and I think we're good until our July 2017 trip. LOL.

 

[Cowboy Steve]

Yes. Disney through the eyes of a 4-year-old and 1-year-old is amazing. That being said, we are skipping It's A Small World this time. We rode it 100 times in December, and I think we're good until our July 2017 trip. LOL.

Yeah I bet! IASW actually stopped for about 15 minutes while were on the ride. We were right at the end and could just see the unload platform. I wanted to scream when we finally started moving again. Had to go ride Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin for an hour just to calm down...

 

[JohnD]

Summer hours haven't even been finalized yet past July 2nd, what makes you think that Decembers would be?

Well, AK anyway is until 11pm through Labor Day (9/5).

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Thanks for posting this thread. I was wondering the same thing. Hopefully hours will be updated when it gets closer to the 60 day mark. I wonder if they will start to offer an evening EMH like they use too ( probably not till Avatar opens up)

 

[JillC LI]

I understand your eagerness to get an answer for this. I will be at the 180 mark soon for our January trip, and I'd like to see RoL if it will be open, but I also want to make an ADR out of the park that night, and I'm not sure how late I should make it.

 

[Cowboy Steve]

I understand your eagerness to get an answer for this. I will be at the 180 mark soon for our January trip, and I'd like to see RoL if it will be open, but I also want to make an ADR out of the park that night, and I'm not sure how late I should make it.

I think the early RoL show would be the same time as the Jungle Book show that is currently playing as it's placeholder. 9:00pm is the early show. So you could probably use that time for estimating. Maybe. Subject to change without notice. lol

 

[JillC LI]

I think the early RoL show would be the same time as the Jungle Book show that is currently playing as it's placeholder. 9:00pm is the early show. So you could probably use that time for estimating. Maybe. Subject to change without notice. lol

That would make sense but I wonder if it will be earlier for an earlier park closing in January. Winter closing time is usually earlier than summer. Thanks.

 

[Disney730]

I've been wandering the same thing. I'll be there the week of November 15th and Animal Kingdom says closing is 5pm. I think I'll push our dinner reservations back just in case.

 

[danyoung56]

They just opened up dining reservations for September till 7:30pm, but the calendar doesn't list a Jungle Book or RoL show.

 

[prfctlyximprct]

I just e-mailed Disney and gave them a little piece of my mind! November hours are still until 5 too I know the cast members will probably crack up at my whining for Rivers of Light and later park hours, but hey, it made me feel much better. Boo to you Animal Kingdom! Gimme at least 7 PM... PUHLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE