7 Secret Things That Happen in Disney's Animal Kingdom When It Closes

So much goes on in Disney World during the day… but would you believe us if we said that even more happens after the parks close?

That’s especially true for one park in particular, where some of the attractions are up all night. When it comes to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there are plenty of tasks that need to be done after the park closes in order to get everything ready for visitors the next day, but these secret things just might take the cake.

Weddings at the Tree of Life

You’ve probably seen tons of photos of weddings taking place in front of Cinderella Castle or maybe even at the Grand Floridian Wedding Pavilion, but did you know you can also get married in front of the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom?!

That’s right — these weddings take place in the evening hours, long after most people have already gone home for the day. But on certain nights, the Tree of Life is all aglow with scenes from The Lion King along with celebrations that even the animals can get in on.

Park Decorating and Clean-Up

From one day to the next, a lot can change in Animal Kingdom, and that’s especially true when it comes to decorating the park for holidays or other celebrations. If it seems like things pop up overnight, well, that’s because they do.

That way, the magic stays alive and visitors don’t have to watch the mundane tasks get done. This is also the perfect time for Cast Members to do routine maintenance and cleaning so you can have the best experience possible.

Cast Member Ridethroughs and Walkthroughs

Each morning and night, when parkgoers are nowhere to be found, what you will find are Cast Members doing ridethroughs and walkthroughs of your favorite attractions.

Being an attractions Cast Member means having to perform these tasks to make sure rides are functioning properly and in tip-top shape, and that job sometimes comes with some perks!

Rehearsal for Shows

There are multiple live performances that take place in Animal Kingdom like Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! These shows are incredible and full of talent — but even the greatest talents still need to practice!

After guests have gone home for the night, the stages come alive with performers giving their best to make sure you still get the same incredible show time and time again.

Animal Training and Feeding

Animal Kingdom is unlike any of the other Disney World parks in that it’s full of — you guessed it — animals! And while a good chunk of that care takes place during the day, a lot of it actually happens after the park closes.

There are over 2,000 animals living here, and Disney makes sure they’re all fed, nourished, and somewhat trained to be taken care of.

Veterinary Care and Surgery

Speaking of being taken care of, all sorts of veterinary care happens at night. Animal Kingdom features a large veterinary facility that is often home to all sorts of procedures and surgeries. Sometimes those take place during the day, but emergency situations don’t often abide by business hours.

If you get lucky, though, sometimes you can see animals undergoing procedures during the day at Conservation Station!

Animal Enclosure Decoration and Maintenance

Sometimes the animal enclosures and habitats need a little sprucing up — after all, we are talking about wild animals who don’t necessarily know how to clean up after themselves. And, while Disney does often make repairs and upgrades during the day, the biggest ones happen overnight!