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Disney's Animal Kingdom Extra Magic Hours now mornings only
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
WVParkfan
Member
What a shame. The Animal Kingdom is our favorite park, and always the first that we visit. Last August, we went to our first evening EMH at the AK. We must have ridden Kali, EE and Primeval Whirl 10 times each. The park was subtle, yet beautiful at night. And EE is absolutely spectacular in the dark. Hope they decide to bring back evening EMH at the AK in the summer.
redshoesrock
Active Member
It's a little sad, but I can understand the thinking behind it; the animals all go to "bed" fairly early, and with no nighttime hook (MSEP, Illuminations, Fantasmic) it's tough to justify keeping open so late. Perhaps this will spur Disney on to create Rivers of Light or [insert nighttime show or parade here].
Tinkerbell 8
Well-Known Member
When we were there in January we did the evening EMH at AK for the first time and we LOVED it. It was so nice to see the park empty, we were able to slow our pace and actually look at the beautiful details. It was also great that we were able to walk onto EE and the character M&Gs had no lines. I'm glad we got to experience it at least once, hopefully they bring it back.
Jim B
Member
I'm sure they have their reasons but that's disappointing news. Animal Kingdom at night has an entirely different ambiance and is a very relaxing and enjoyable experience. We went to the evening EMH for the first time a few years ago and have made it a point to go back on every visit since.
Buried20KLeague
Well-Known Member
Completely terrible news.
AK has WONDERFUL lighting, and it's virtually never going to be seen.
AK has WONDERFUL lighting, and it's virtually never going to be seen.
Yep we knew about this for a while, but March will be the first month where the EMH in the evening is not happening.
DisneyPrincess5
Well-Known Member
Oh wow this is surprising. AK evening EMH are usually the only evening hours we do if any all because they're not too late. Oh well-hopefully this is just a test run.
jlmct52
Member
I am really sorry to se this change. Seeing Animal Kingdom park at night is a completely diferent experience and I will miss it. 
Unfortunately, after looking at the park schedule (updated through August 27, 2011) on the WaltDisneyWorld website, it appears this is permanent. There are no evening EMH's listed at all.....while there are approximately 2 morning EMH's listed per week.
Unfortunately, after looking at the park schedule (updated through August 27, 2011) on the WaltDisneyWorld website, it appears this is permanent. There are no evening EMH's listed at all.....while there are approximately 2 morning EMH's listed per week.
DisneyRunner
Active Member
I will miss EMH at AK. I liked seeing everything lit up at night. The DINOSAUR area reminded me of a carnival. I think the attendance was lacking. While on the bus to evening EMH at AK, there was some discussion that people would go to MK in the evening instead. The Safari ride is not available during the evening EMH, as to not bother the animals.
erasure fan1
Well-Known Member
This is exactly why they are doing it. You know they see the park empty and say "why the heck are we staying open later?" The vast majority view AK as half day at best anyway (I know, I know, if you walk all the trails blah blah its a full day) This just shows how lacking the park is, and how needed a few more attractions are.
David S.
Member
This is a shame because as others have said, the park is beautiful at night and, like most outdoor coasters, Everest takes on a completely different personality and mystique after dark.
On a positive note, there will still be a few windows every year to experience the park after dark, because when they close at 8 PM during the Christmas holidays and President's week, standard time is still being observed and the sun goes down very early anyway due to the shorter days of winter.
There are some 8 PM closes during the upcoming Spring Break as well that will give a small taste of the park after dark.
For instance, every day in March from March 6 until March 30, the park will be closing at 8 PM. On March 6, sunset at WDW is at 6:29 PM with "Civil Twilight" (the time when it is considered dark enough to be night, although still not 100% completely dark) at 6:52 PM. This will give at least a 1 hour taste of the nighttime experience at AK and the chance to ride Everest at night.
Unfortunately, just one week later, Daylight Savings Time Begins in the US (it used to begin the first Sunday of April a few years ago), so on Sunday, March 13, sunset is at 7:33 PM and twilight at 7:57 PM. So you would only get "dusky" rides on Everest the last half hour, a near-dark ride the last three minutes, and then the park closes.
Still, if one takes their time lingering in the park like I like to do after closing (the Disney parks have a much "softer" way of closing than many parks, which literally run everyone out 1 minute after close), you can still enjoy the atmosphere of AK after dark as you slowly walk to the front gate - such as, (if you ended on Everest) the Asia section at night, the Flame Tree Barbecue Everest overlook, Discovery Island overlooking the Tree of Life, and the Oasis. Usually it takes long enough to do the "sweep" that you can end up walking through the exit gate nearly 1 hour after the park is "officially" closed.
The ability to do this will decrease less and less as summer approaches and it gets dark later and later. For instance, on the next scheduled 8 PM closes after March - the week before Easter, beginning April 17 - sunset is at 7:52 PM, with twilight at 8:17 PM. By May 1, sunset itself won't be until 8 PM, and the extended 8 PM closing time will be over by then anyway.
Next Christmas season, though, we get the 8 PM closing time (and last year they did some 9 PMs!) combined with a nice, early 5:35 PM standard time sunset and twilight at 6 PM, making this a Prime Time to be at AK for those who love getting night rides on Everest, or just being in the park after dark in general.
Yet another reason why late December is my favorite time at WDW!
On a positive note, there will still be a few windows every year to experience the park after dark, because when they close at 8 PM during the Christmas holidays and President's week, standard time is still being observed and the sun goes down very early anyway due to the shorter days of winter.
There are some 8 PM closes during the upcoming Spring Break as well that will give a small taste of the park after dark.
For instance, every day in March from March 6 until March 30, the park will be closing at 8 PM. On March 6, sunset at WDW is at 6:29 PM with "Civil Twilight" (the time when it is considered dark enough to be night, although still not 100% completely dark) at 6:52 PM. This will give at least a 1 hour taste of the nighttime experience at AK and the chance to ride Everest at night.
Unfortunately, just one week later, Daylight Savings Time Begins in the US (it used to begin the first Sunday of April a few years ago), so on Sunday, March 13, sunset is at 7:33 PM and twilight at 7:57 PM. So you would only get "dusky" rides on Everest the last half hour, a near-dark ride the last three minutes, and then the park closes.
Still, if one takes their time lingering in the park like I like to do after closing (the Disney parks have a much "softer" way of closing than many parks, which literally run everyone out 1 minute after close), you can still enjoy the atmosphere of AK after dark as you slowly walk to the front gate - such as, (if you ended on Everest) the Asia section at night, the Flame Tree Barbecue Everest overlook, Discovery Island overlooking the Tree of Life, and the Oasis. Usually it takes long enough to do the "sweep" that you can end up walking through the exit gate nearly 1 hour after the park is "officially" closed.
The ability to do this will decrease less and less as summer approaches and it gets dark later and later. For instance, on the next scheduled 8 PM closes after March - the week before Easter, beginning April 17 - sunset is at 7:52 PM, with twilight at 8:17 PM. By May 1, sunset itself won't be until 8 PM, and the extended 8 PM closing time will be over by then anyway.
Next Christmas season, though, we get the 8 PM closing time (and last year they did some 9 PMs!) combined with a nice, early 5:35 PM standard time sunset and twilight at 6 PM, making this a Prime Time to be at AK for those who love getting night rides on Everest, or just being in the park after dark in general.
Yet another reason why late December is my favorite time at WDW!
