A MASSIVE Perk Has Returned to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

One of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s biggest drawbacks is about to be temporarily solved.

Animal Kingdom is arguably the most unique Disney theme park in the world, operating as both a theme park and a zoo/safari park. Because it caters to live animals, the park tends to close fairly early when compared to its other Disney World counterparts. However, this October, that’s about to temporarily change.

While Animal Kingdom usually closes at 6 PM daily, the park will be open a little bit later on October 27th, 2025, thanks to Disney World’s Extended Evening Hours.

Per the Disney World calendar, Animal Kingdom will be open past its typical closing from 6 PM to 8 PM for Extended Evening Hours-eligible guests. EPCOT was initially scheduled in this slot, but Animal Kingdom has seemingly taken its place.

Extended Evening Hours are available only for guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas. Those Resorts and hotels include:

Deluxe Resorts

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort (The extended evening theme park hours benefit applies to Disney Vacation Club Cabins only.)
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Select Additional Hotels

• Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
• Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
• Shades of Green

Guests of these resorts and hotels must have a valid park admission. Guests who do not have an Annual Pass or admission ticket with Park Hopping privileges must have a Disney Park Pass for Animal Kingdom.

Guests with an Annual Pass or a Park Hopper Pass do not need a Disney Park Pass reservation for the Extended Evening Hours Park. However, they do need to check into Animal Kingdom that day.

It’s very rare to see Animal Kingdom pop up on the Extended Evening Hours roster, so take advantage of this perk if you can! So far, November Extended Evening Hour dates are still rolling in, and we’ll let you know how the month — and future months — shape out.

In the meantime, stay tuned right here at AllEars for the latest Disney World updates and tips!

Everything You Need to Know About Extended Evening Hours at Walt Disney World

Do you plan on taking advantage of these rare Extended Evening Hours at Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments!

Post a Comment