All Events, Closures and Refurbishments at Disney’s Animal Kingdom or ESPN Wide World of Sports in Walt Disney World during April of 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022

April 2017

Nov. 30 - CLOSINGAsia : Disney's Animal KingdomFlights of Wonder This show will close to make way for a new show featuring Russell and Dug from "UP!"
2/16 - TBAESPN Wide World of SportsMulti-Use Sports and Entertainment Venue ESPN Wide World of Sports has teamed up with the nation's top cheerleading organization, Varsity Spirit, to create a new state-of-the-art cheerleading and dance team competition venue, which will include a flexible design for one large competition space that can be set up for as many as four competition areas. Additional areas are being tailored for warm up and practice, along with areas for judges and officials. With the capacity to seat more than 8,000 guests, plus performance and warm-up space, the new multi-use sports and entertainment venue will also be able to host six regulation basketball courts, six regulation volleyball courts or concert configurations. There will be concessions throughout the building, and an additional box office and entry to the complex. Construction is ongoing until further notice, with intermittent overnight lane closures, lane shifts, traffic congestion and noise along Osceola Parkway/Victory Way.
Apr. 20 - Apr. 23ESPN Wide World of SportsStar Wars Half Marathon - The Dark Side Weekend Races include the 5K, Kids' Races, 10K, and half marathon, with the Dark Side Challenge for those completing the 10K and half marathon distances. New for 2017: the 10K and half marathon will start on Floridian Way and finish at Epcot. In the Inaugural event those races started at Epcot and finished at ESPN Wide World of Sports. The Kessel Run Challenge medal will be awarded to those who complete both the Star Wars Half Marathon - The Light Side in California and the Star Wars Half Marathon - The Dark Side in Florida.
Apr. 23 - Apr. 29Discovery Island : Disney's Animal KingdomIt's Tough to Be a Bug

April 2018

Jan. 01 - Apr. 22Asia : Disney's Animal KingdomFlights of Wonder / New UP-Themed Show Flights of Wonder is now closed. A a new show featuring Russell and Dug from Disney Pixar's film "UP" will open spring/summer 2018. This new experience will offer guests the chance to see Senior Wilderness Explorer Russell and his furry friend Dug as they discover species of birds from around the world in their newest adventure at the Caravan Theater in Anandapur Village.
Apr. 19 - 22ESPN Wide World of SportsStar Wars Half Marathon - The Dark Side 2018
Apr. 22Disney's Animal KingdomD23 Celebrates 20 Years of Disney's Animal Kingdom
Apr. 22Discovery Island : Disney's Animal KingdomTiffins Talk At Tiffins restaurant, as part of the theme park's 20th anniversary celebration, Dr. Joseph Soltis, Research Scientist for Disney's Animals, Science and Environment, will speak about the "Elephants and Bees" project in which honeybees are helping people and elephants in Kenya. The menu will feature African cuisine.
Apr. 22 - May 5Disney's Animal KingdomParty for the Planet/20th Anniversary Celebration As part of this celebration, the new attraction UP! A Great Bird Adventure will debut, and the park will offer animal encounters, family-friendly activities, specialty desserts and more.
Apr. 25Discovery Island : Disney's Animal KingdomTiffins Talk At Tiffins restaurant as part of the theme park's 20th anniversary celebration, Joe Rohde, Portfolio Creative Executive and a veteran Imagineer, will share tales from his adventures all over Asia, India, Nepal and China. The chefs of Tiffins will follow Joe's journeys with a menu inspired by his travels.
Apr. 27Discovery Island : Disney's Animal KingdomTiffins Talk At Tiffins restaurant as part of the theme park's 20th anniversary celebration, Dr. Jason Fischer, Conservation Program Manager for Disney's Animals, Science and Environment, will speak about Disney's efforts to conserve the purple martin, a remarkable migratory songbird that travels to Walt Disney World Resort from the Brazilian Amazon to raise a family each year. The menu will feature North American cuisine.
Apr. 29Discovery Island : Disney's Animal KingdomTiffins Talk At Tiffins restaurant, Rachel Daneault, Zoological Manager at Disney's Animal Kingdom for the Primate - Carnivore team, will talk about the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE) project that Disney supports in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The menu will feature African cuisine.

April 2020

Mar 2020 - Jun. 13Disney's Animal Kingdom : Walt Disney WorldFinding Nemo: The Musical Disney has announced that Finding Nemo: The Musical has permanently closed as we know it to be reimagined with a new storyline based on the same classic characters. The new show will be named Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! and is set to open sometime in summer 2022.
Apr. 16 - Apr. 19ESPN Wide World of Sports : Walt Disney WorldStar Wars Rival Run Weekend

April 2022

Mar 2020 - Jun. 13Disney's Animal Kingdom : Walt Disney WorldFinding Nemo: The Musical Disney has announced that Finding Nemo: The Musical has permanently closed as we know it to be reimagined with a new storyline based on the same classic characters. The new show will be named Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! and is set to open sometime in summer 2022.
Oct 1, 2021 - Apr 1, 2023Disney's Animal Kingdom : Walt Disney WorldWalt Disney World 50th Anniversary Across all 4 parks
Jan. 4 - Apr. 16Disney's Animal Kingdom : Walt Disney WorldExpedition Everest Expedition Everest — Legend of the Forbidden Mountain will be closed for a lengthy refurbishment beginning January 4th through April 16th, 2022.