Animal Kingdom Park Hours 2026 & 2027 | FAQs & Tips

Before any visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom , you need to know the park hours so you know when to go. The park’s opening and closing times are always changing and so are the show times, so you need to keep updated prior to your trip.

In this article, we’ll cover all the Animal Kingdom park hours in 2026 and 2027 including the currently published park hours, normal operating hours, Early Theme Park Entry, Extended Evening Hours, evening events, and what time the park usually stays open until at night.

Unlike some of the other Disney World theme parks, the schedule at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is usually fairly consistent. Right now, a typical day runs from around 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, though some dates extend to 7:00 pm or 8:00 pm. Seasonal demand, school schedules, and special events can affect how early you can go or how late you can stay.

Animal Kingdom usually closes earlier than the other Disney parks, so if you are planning to stay out late, you may need to park hop to another park or spend some time around your resort hotel. Individual rides, animal trails, shows, character experiences, and restaurants can also have shorter schedules than the park itself.

On the other hand, Animal Kingdom usually opens earlier than the other parks. We’ll help you decide the best time to show up, which rides to prioritize, and the best transportation to get there. This will help you make the most of your day and save you a ton of time in the process.

On the other hand, Animal Kingdom usually opens earlier than the other parks. We’ll help you decide the best time to show up, which rides to prioritize, and the best transportation to get there. This will help you make the most of your day and save you a ton of time in the process.

Before we get started here is a list of articles explaining the park hours at the other Walt Disney World theme parks:

• Magic Kingdom Park Hours Guide
• EPCOT Park Hours Guide
• Hollywood Studios Park Hours Guide

Also, don't forget to sign up for our FREE Weekly E-Mail Newsletter. There we will update you with the latest Animal Kingdom Park Hours, and share the latest vacation planning tips. You can sign up here: Join our E-Mail Newsletter!

Animal Kingdom Park Hours 2026 & 2027

Let’s take a look at the currently published Animal Kingdom park hours. The following schedule is based on the calendar available on October 30, 2026:

• November 2026: Most dates are scheduled from 8:00 am–6:00 pm. November 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, and 21 are scheduled from 8:00 am–7:00 pm; November 1, 7, and 14 are scheduled from 8:00 am–8:00 pm. November 15 is scheduled from 9:00 am–8:00 pm, with Early Theme Park Entry at 8:30 am. Extended Evening Hours are scheduled on November 4, 11, 18, and 25 from 6:00 pm–8:00 pm.
• December 2026: Every date is currently scheduled from 8:00 am–6:00 pm. Extended Evening Hours are scheduled on December 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 6:00 pm–8:00 pm.
• January 1–9, 2027: Each published date is currently scheduled from 8:00 am–6:00 pm, with Early Theme Park Entry at 7:30 am. Hours after January 9 had not yet been published on the calendar we checked.

Unlike some of the other Disney Parks, Animal Kingdom is usually pretty cut and dry. Right now, 8:00 am–6:00 pm is the most common schedule, but Disney sometimes extends the closing time to 7:00 pm or 8:00 pm on busier dates.

Disney publishes and revises park hours on a rolling basis, commonly around 60 days ahead. Initial hours can change as the date gets closer, so check the official Walt Disney World Hours & Events Calendar when you begin planning, again shortly before your trip, and in My Disney Experience on the day of your visit.

What About 2027 Animal Kingdom Hours?

Disney has published Animal Kingdom hours through January 9, 2027, but the complete 2027 daily calendar is not available yet, and we are not going to guess at unpublished dates. We’ll continue adding exact 2027 hours and dates as Disney releases them.

What we do know is that Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Theme Park Hours are both confirmed to continue throughout 2027. The exact Extended Evening Hours park rotation and dates will continue to be released over time, so always check Disney’s live calendar for your visit.

What are the Normal Hours for Animal Kingdom?

In regards to the usual park hours for Animal Kingdom, the current working ranges are:

• Typical current schedule – 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Later-closing dates – 8:00 am to 7:00 pm
• Select busy or seasonal dates – 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Occasional later opening – 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Animal Kingdom’s hours are usually fairly consistent, but the exact schedule is date-specific. During especially busy periods, Disney can also schedule an earlier opening, so never assume that these ranges apply to every day.

If Disney adjusts the schedule, it frequently adds time on expected busier dates, such as an earlier opening or later closing. We have seen this happen around holidays and long weekends, and the changes sometimes appear only as the date gets closer.

What Time Does Animal Kingdom Open?

Disney’s Animal Kingdom usually opens earlier than the other Walt Disney World parks. Right now, the most common regular opening time is 8:00 am, although a 9:00 am opening is possible and earlier openings can appear during especially busy periods.

These hours do NOT include Early Theme Park Entry, which we will discuss in a minute. Early Entry begins 30 minutes before the posted regular opening, so an 8:00 am opening normally means 7:30 am Early Entry, while a 9:00 am opening means 8:30 am Early Entry.

Always remember to check My Disney Experience to get the exact time. Disney also normally begins admitting guests through the entrance before the official Early Entry time, often around 30 minutes beforehand, though the exact procedure can vary. It’s best to arrive well before the published Early Entry or regular opening time.

What Time Does Animal Kingdom Close?

Even though Disney’s Animal Kingdom usually opens earlier than the other parks, it also has the earliest closing times.

• On most current dates it closes at 6:00 pm
• On select later-closing dates it stays open until 7:00 pm
• On some of the busiest or specially scheduled dates it stays open until 8:00 pm

Prior to 2020, we’d periodically see Animal Kingdom stay open until 9:00 pm on some of the busiest dates, but that is not a normal current schedule. We hope later hours eventually become more common because we love the feel of Animal Kingdom in the evenings.

Animal Kingdom now receives Extended Evening Hours on select dates, giving eligible guests an additional two hours after regular closing. However, this is not available to every guest and does not change the posted regular closing time.

Unfortunately, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park doesn’t fluctuate much from the standard few time slots meaning you won’t get longer hours during the busy season as you do at other parks such as the Magic Kingdom.

Peak travel periods are the following:

• Spring Break
• Halloween
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
• New Years
• 3-Day Holiday Weekends (Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day)

During these holidays, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is more likely to receive an earlier opening or a later closing, but there is no single guaranteed holiday schedule. Some busy dates may run from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, while others can still close earlier.

Disney often starts with conservative hours and extends them if crowd forecasts and hotel occupancy justify it. That means the schedule you first see may not be the final version.

And while it can be frustrating at times, the nice thing is that Animal Kingdom is still more predictable than some of the other parks. Just make sure you check your exact date rather than relying only on a seasonal rule of thumb.

Animal Kingdom Closing Info

Guests coming to Animal Kingdom in 2026 and 2027 will most often find a 6:00 pm closing on the currently published schedule. Select dates extend to 7:00 pm or 8:00 pm, so check your exact date to be sure.

Also remember that several attractions and experiences can close earlier than the park. Kilimanjaro Safaris, Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Conservation Station, character experiences, and live shows can all use their own schedules. Don’t save every limited-hours animal experience until the end of the day.

When Does Animal Kingdom Close Early?

A 6:00 pm closing at Animal Kingdom is currently normal rather than a special early closure. The park does not have regular holiday parties that force daytime guests out unusually early like the events at Magic Kingdom, although weather, private events, and operational changes can still affect the schedule.

Animal Kingdom now offers Extended Evening Hours on select dates for eligible guests, but this happens after the regular closing time and does not allow every daytime guest to remain. The park still does not routinely stay open until 11:00 pm or midnight like the other parks sometimes do because its nighttime offerings and overall makeup are very different.

Why is Animal Kingdom Closing at 7:00 pm?

While Animal Kingdom was beginning to be a more popular nighttime park prior to the shutdown in 2020, it’s once again turned into a park that guests of Disney World tend to leave earlier in the day much more so than any other park. Why?

There are two main reasons:

1. Lack of Nighttime Offerings
2. Limited ADRs ( Advanced Dining Reservations )

Animal Kingdom is the only park in Disney without a signature nighttime show anymore, causing guests to often leave far before daylight ends. Rivers of Light was a massive failure with guests and we are still waiting to hear what Disney plans on doing to replace it as a nighttime show, if anything.

Animal Kingdom also tends to have fewer late ADRs available at its dinner restaurants, seemingly discouraging guests from sticking around too long in the evenings. Its table-service restaurants normally stop taking reservations much earlier than the late-night dining times you can sometimes find elsewhere at Walt Disney World.

Tiffins isn’t often popular with families due to its signature experience and unique food offerings, even though it’s definitely at the top of our list of best restaurants in the Animal Kingdom.

This leaves very few options for families in the evenings. Unless something significant changes, it’s not looking like Disney is going to extend Animal Kingdom’s regular hours very late for quite some time. For now, 6:00 pm remains common, with 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm closings appearing on select dates.

Another reason for the earlier closing time is the animals. Certainly, the animals found at the park need some time to be cared for and taken care of by the Animal Kingdom staff and keepers. They can obviously benefit from some off-hours in which they can rest in peace without “entertaining” guests.

While Disney has worked hard to make Animal Kingdom more than a half-day park and morph it into a true full-day park, at least so far, it has pretty much failed. Even the addition of Pandora: The World of Avatar hasn’t been enough to keep most guests here late into the evening.

While we certainly would love to be able to enjoy the ambiance of the parks more often in the evening, especially the beautiful land of Pandora, which comes to life at night, it doesn’t appear that’s going to be a regular occurrence.

The biggest thing that could change this is Pueblo Esperanza. The new Tropical Americas land is expected to open in phases, and once the entire expansion is operating, its new attractions, dining, and entertainment should give guests more reasons to remain in the park. If Pueblo Esperanza is a big hit, we expect Animal Kingdom to receive somewhat longer regular hours in general.

That doesn’t necessarily mean late-night hours will appear immediately, but it could finally help Animal Kingdom become the stronger full-day park Disney has been trying to create. We are hopeful that more rides, nighttime offerings, and dining options will eventually give Disney an incentive to keep the park open later.

Staying Late in the Park

Although Animal Kingdom’s late-night hours are limited in comparison to the other Disney Parks, enjoying the last couple of evening hours at Animal Kingdom is lovely! Guests often leave earlier than at the other parks due to having dinner reservations somewhere else or looking for nighttime entertainment in another Disney Park.

While this can be disappointing, it is great for crowds! You’ll want to check in with the My Disney Experience app frequently to check the closing times for any rides, attractions, or shows. Oftentimes closing times for certain things such as the zoological trails, Kilimanjaro Safari, and potentially some other rides can be a few hours prior to park closing.

For some odd reason, guests choose to wait in long lines during the peak sun hours in the middle of the day in Animal Kingdom making for incredibly miserable afternoons. The best thing you can do is maximize the last 2 hours or so of the day to get on the rides you want!

You’ll find that most of the best Animal Kingdom attractions are open and with lower wait times than normal. We’ve often been able to walk on the Na’vi River Journey and even Flight of Passage in the final hour of the park’s opening!

If you’re not rope dropping first thing in the morning and don’t have a Lightning Lane for Flight of Passage, consider going near the end of the night. Posted wait times near closing can sometimes be conservative, though lower waits are never guaranteed.

Best of all when departing Flight of Passage in the evening you’ll get to explore the stunning bioluminescent beauty of Pandora! We love just walking around and getting beautiful shots of the land, especially after closing time when people have departed. If you are a photographer, it’s a dream come true!

Other than enjoying the rides and lands, you’ll have a few good restaurant options if you’re able to get into Tiffins, Tusker House, or Yak & Yeti. There’s also of course Rainforest Cafe and a few of our favorite quick service options such as Flame Tree Barbecue and Satu’li Canteen .

The shops near the front of the park may remain open after park closing time for guests looking for last-minute gifts. Disney buses also continue operating as guests clear the park, although late service may become less frequent or shared.

Animal Kingdom does not currently have a major lagoon nighttime spectacular like the former Rivers of Light, but it does offer Tree of Life Awakenings on select evenings when the park schedule and darkness allow.

Disney debuted the long-awaited Rivers of Light show on the park’s Discovery River lagoon in early 2017 after significant setbacks and delays. The show featured a few different iterations in the last couple of years, but all the Animal Kingdom Nighttime Shows on Discovery River were canceled after the 2020 shutdown.

Not only is there no regular nighttime spectacular here, but at this time we also don’t have any realistic timeframe for when a new one might arrive. There are always rumors that Disney is working on something to replace Rivers of Light, but nothing concrete has been announced.

Tree of Life Awakenings uses projection mapping, light, color, and music to bring the tree’s animal carvings to life after dark. It is not a fireworks show or a return of Rivers of Light, and it should not be expected every evening.

For the announced November 2026 return, Tree of Life Awakenings is scheduled to begin on November 1. The first published evening windows are:

• November 1 and 7, 2026: 6:10–8:00 pm
• November 2, 5, and 6, 2026: 6:10–7:00 pm

The short projection presentations repeat within these windows; this is not one continuous show lasting until the listed end time. These are the initial announced dates, not the full holiday-season schedule or confirmed 2027 times. More holiday dates are expected as Disney updates its calendar, so check My Disney Experience for your visit date.

Keep these entertainment windows separate from regular park hours and Extended Evening Hours. They do not establish a park-wide schedule change or guarantee the show on other evenings.

It’s a real shame because the beauty of Animal Kingdom deserves to be appreciated after dark, but until the park gets a standout nighttime show, it will continue to be under-appreciated.

Early Theme Park Entry

For those unaware, Early Theme Park Entry is an added perk that allows eligible guests to enjoy the theme parks 30 minutes before the general public. Disney has confirmed that the benefit will continue throughout all of 2027.

Disney has used Early Theme Park Entry to partially fill the void caused by no longer having Extra Magic Hours. The difference is that Early Theme Park Entry is available every day at all four theme parks and lasts for 30 minutes before regular opening.

This is great news for Animal Kingdom visitors because you can use the time for one major attraction and possibly a second if everything goes smoothly. Flight of Passage is the clear priority for most guests. Kilimanjaro Safaris is not currently an Early Entry attraction, but it can be a great destination once regular park hours begin.

Who can use Early Theme Park Entry? Registered guests staying at one of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels or another participating hotel can use the benefit at no separate charge, including on check-in and checkout days. Valid admission is still required, and any ticket-specific reservation rules still apply.

To learn more about Early Entry and other perks on-site guests get, we recommend reading our article on the Benefits of Staying at a Disney World Resort Hotel.

Open Attractions

Not every ride or attraction is open at the start of early entry each day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The rides, according to Disney , that you can expect to have a chance of getting for early entry are:

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
• Na’vi River Journey
• Zootopia: Better Zoogether!

Of course, this list is subject to change, and certain rides may not be operational when you visit. Just make sure you check the My Disney Experience app to see if there are any details about attractions that won’t be opening at the beginning of early entry time.

Out of these attractions, we generally recommend hitting Flight of Passage first and then checking the wait at Na’vi River Journey. Expedition Everest is another good alternative if the Pandora waits are already longer than you want. Completing two attractions is possible when you arrive early and everything runs smoothly, but don’t count on it every morning.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass return windows operate during regular park hours, not during Early Entry. Also, do not assume that the new Pueblo Esperanza attractions will participate when they open; Disney must confirm each attraction’s eligibility.

Extended Evening Hours

Another partial replacement of Extra Magic Hours is Extended Evening Hours. Disney has confirmed that this benefit will continue throughout 2027 for eligible guests.

Animal Kingdom does not receive Extended Evening Hours every week, but it appears on select dates, often when the normal fall party schedule causes the park rotation to change. The benefit normally lasts for two hours after regular closing, and the currently published Animal Kingdom examples run from 6:00 pm–8:00 pm.

The currently published Animal Kingdom dates are:

• November 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2026 — 6:00 pm–8:00 pm
• December 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2026 — 6:00 pm–8:00 pm

The calendar we checked did not show an Animal Kingdom Extended Evening Hours date from January 1 through January 9, 2027. More dates will be added as Disney publishes them. Do not assume that Animal Kingdom will receive the same weekday or frequency throughout the year.

When the benefit is running, Cast Members scan a MagicBand, Disney MagicMobile pass, or Key to the World Card to confirm eligibility. Valid admission is required, and current ticket-specific reservation rules still apply.

Only guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts and other select hotels can participate. The following is a list of hotels that qualify for this perk:

Disney 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
• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort
• 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 Lakeshore Lodge (opening July 1, 2027)
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Other Select Hotels

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

The current Animal Kingdom Extended Evening Hours attraction list includes:

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
• Na’vi River Journey
• Zootopia: Better Zoogether!

Not every attraction, restaurant, or shop remains open during the benefit. Kilimanjaro Safaris and the animal trails should not be assumed to operate, and the participating lineup can change because of refurbishment, weather, or other operational needs.

After Hours Events

Unlike Extended Evening Hours the Disney After Hours Events are paid ticketed events that allow guests to enjoy the parks after closing time. Disney keeps these tickets minimal, so it’s usually walk-on for practically every ride offered and another way to avoid long wait times for your favorite attractions.

Guests coming to these events can typically come to the park a few hours before the park’s closure and they’ll be given a wristband to allow them to stay in the park after the closing time.

Disney After Hours has not yet returned to Animal Kingdom. We did not see any Animal Kingdom After Hours dates on the calendar through January 9, 2027, so we’ll have to see if Disney eventually brings it back.

While we hate to pay extra money typically, we love the After Hours Events! Disney does a great job of keeping these events unique, fun, and exclusive. There’s something nice about having the park essentially to yourself.

The hours, price, and attraction lineup below are historical examples from the last time Animal Kingdom hosted the event. They are not current promises, but they give us an idea of how the event previously worked.

Hours

Prior to the park’s closure in 2020, the hours for Animal Kingdom’s After Hours Events ran from 7:00 pm until 3 hours after the closure of the park.

Price

The ticket prices for the After Hours Events at Animal Kingdom were around $130 per person and they offered discounts for DVC Members or Annual Passholders . Guests coming to this event do NOT need a regular park ticket as well.

Open Attractions

The attractions Animal Kingdom offered during its previous After Hours events were:

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• DINOSAUR
• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
• It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
• Na’vi River Journey

DINOSAUR and It’s Tough to Be a Bug! are now permanently closed. If After Hours eventually returns, we would expect Disney to replace them with current attractions such as the new Pueblo Esperanza experiences and Zootopia: Better Zoogether!, but Disney would need to confirm the final lineup.

It was upsetting that Kilimanjaro Safaris was NOT on the old list of attractions available for guests who paid for After Hours, but Disney can’t keep the animals out that late at night, so we would not expect it to be included if the event returns.

Old Extra Magic Hours

Guests that haven’t come to Walt Disney World since the closures in 2020 probably remember a perk called Extra Magic Hours or EMH, as it’s often called. Just like in the other parks, this has not come back at the Animal Kingdom, instead, it’s been replaced with things such as Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours for Disney World Resort guests.

While we loved the old Extra Magic Hours, it often made parks significantly more crowded. Our family would typically avoid going to the parks on these days because crowd levels were MUCH higher. Still, it was nice to get the additional availability and access to the parks either early in the mornings or late in the evenings if we so choose.

Strangely enough, we kind of prefer the current setup over the old EMH. Since it’s available for all 4 theme parks every day, the crowds are spread out better instead of everyone trying to rope drop the same park whenever it had the extra hours running.

FAQs

Is the Animal Kingdom Free in the Evening?

Just like the other 4 Walt Disney World theme parks, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is not free in the evening and its park tickets cost the same no matter what time you arrive.

Disney World doesn’t give anything away for free. Guests thinking that there is a discount or is even free after a certain period of the day will be sadly mistaken. The cost of price admission does NOT fluctuate based on what time of day you visit, and it likely never will.

What Months Have the Longest Park Hours?

When wondering which months to visit based on better park hour availability, think in terms of school vacations. These weeks and time periods typically have longer hours and better access for guests.

Disney plans park hours based on forecasted projections and hotel occupancy numbers. They know when the parks are going to be busy.

Historically, holidays, spring break, summer demand, and three-day holiday weekends are more likely to receive extended hours. However, no month guarantees longer Animal Kingdom hours, and some busy dates can still use the standard schedule.

A good guide to follow is our Disney World Crowd Calendar. There you can see the busiest times of year, but Disney’s live calendar is still the final word on the actual opening and closing times.

How Often Are Animal Kingdom Hours Updated?

Disney publishes and changes park hours on its Hours & Events Calendar on a rolling basis, commonly around 60 days in advance. This applies to all four Walt Disney World theme parks, including Animal Kingdom.

The first schedule you see is not always the final one. Disney frequently extends or adjusts hours as expected attendance and hotel occupancy become clearer.

Whether or not Animal Kingdom is worth a full day, depends on if you plan on enjoying other things in the park in addition to the rides. If you JUST want to do the rides with minimal interest in the animals, shows, or restaurants, it likely won’t take you a full day to visit.

If you want to enjoy everything Animal Kingdom has to offer, it can absolutely be worth a full day! Animal Kingdom more than any other park in Disney World is not simply a “theme park” and combines the best zoo elements with fantastic Disney Imagineering. Sometimes, we love to just wander off and explore the various areas with no particular plan in mind.

The actual ride offerings are limited and can be finished in just a few hours, assuming the lines aren’t too long. However, if you want to enjoy the animals, trails, shows, characters, restaurants, and hidden gems—and take the park at a slower pace—you can spend nearly the entire operating day here. Just remember that the operating day normally ends earlier than it does at the other parks.

Once Pueblo Esperanza is fully open, this should change even more. With additional attractions, dining, and experiences, Animal Kingdom should become a stronger full-day park even for guests who move at a quicker pace.

If you can visit only part of the day, choose based on your priorities. The evening can have lower waits and terrific ambiance, but several animal experiences, trails, and shows may close earlier.

What is Rope Drop?

If you’re in Disney a lot or you’re talking to guests that visit the parks a lot, you’ll often hear them mention the term “rope drop.” It simply is referring to the idea of arriving at the parks in time for the opening.

There is not usually a physical rope that holds guests back from entering the turnstiles or the attractions, instead just a bunch of cast members that typically block off the areas of the parks until opening time. Disney Parks generally let guests into the main areas of the park prior to the opening times listed.

In Animal Kingdom, prior to the park opening’s opening time, they’ll allow guests into the main areas around the Tree of Life before blocking off the areas to the right and left of the tree. Then at the official opening time, they’ll allow guests to enter or “rope drop” to get to the destination of their choice within the park.

We are big believers in rope-dropping the Disney parks, even Disney’s Animal Kingdom. By doing this, it helps you to beat the crowds, spend less time in lines, and therefore get more rides done in a shorter period of time.

We are currently working on a Guide to Rope Drop at Disney’s Animal Kingdom , so stay tuned for that soon!

What is the Earliest You Can Enter the Animal Kingdom?

The exact entrance procedure can fluctuate from day to day, but Disney normally begins letting guests through the entrance before the official Early Entry time—often around 30 minutes beforehand. For example, if Early Entry begins at 7:30 am, guests are commonly admitted into the park around 7:00 am.

That does not mean the attractions immediately begin operating. Guests are usually held at an internal checkpoint or walked toward the participating attractions until Early Entry officially begins. You’ll see a massive number of guests heading toward Pandora to get in line for Flight of Passage.

Disney Cast Members may begin organizing or walking those guests before the published Early Entry time, but the attraction queue will not necessarily start moving until the official benefit begins. Be prepared to stand and wait for a while.

What Time Should YOU Arrive at the Animal Kingdom?

Getting to the parks unnecessarily early or frustratingly late can be a nuisance for guests that want to maximize their mornings as much as possible. If you want to make the most of your morning time to get to the highest amount of attractions is your aim, here is the strategy I’d adopt.

IF you have Early Entry and are staying at a qualifying resort or hotel:

• Arrive between 45 to 60 minutes prior to the start of the Early Entry time

IF you DON’T have Early Entry:

• Get to the park between 30-45 minutes prior to the official opening time (NOT Early Entry Time)

If you follow either of these strategies you should be more than situated to maximize the time available to you.

If you choose the lesser of the times, you might not be towards the very front of the lines, but you should be fine! Especially if you’re not visiting Animal Kingdom on one of the busiest days of the year.

Sometimes those extra 15 to 30 minutes of sleep are better than the 5 minutes you’ll save in line, particularly when it comes to the minimal number of rides in Animal Kingdom.

Rides to Prioritize Early in the Morning

Not every signature attraction opens during Early Entry, so the rides you prioritize depend on your group’s interests and eligibility.

Keep in mind that Avatar Flight of Passage usually has the longest wait in Animal Kingdom. If your group wants to ride it, prioritize it first thing in the morning or consider riding near park closing.

For Early Entry, this is how I’d prioritize the current lineup:

1. Avatar Flight of Passage
2. Na’vi River Journey
3. Expedition Everest

A strategy I typically recommend is riding Flight of Passage first and then checking Na’vi River Journey because they are right next to each other and require less walking. If the Pandora waits are already long, Expedition Everest is a good alternative.

When regular park hours begin, Kilimanjaro Safaris becomes a high priority because it is not currently an Early Entry attraction. Zootopia: Better Zoogether! also participates in Early Entry, but for most ride-focused guests it is not the first priority.

If you are using Lightning Lane Multi Pass for attractions such as Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, or Na’vi River Journey—or purchasing a Single Pass for Flight of Passage—your strategy can be different.

Attractions That May Open Later or Close Earlier

It is worth mentioning that some attractions and shows use shorter schedules than the park itself. Examples can include:

• Kali River Rapids
• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
• Maharajah Jungle Trek
• Conservation Station
• Wildlife Express Train
• Character experiences
• Live shows

If you’re planning to stay at Animal Kingdom from the beginning of the day until park closure, you may not need Lightning Lane Multi Pass. There just isn’t the same volume of attractions that require reservations as there is at the other parks, especially since Flight of Passage is available through Lightning Lane Single Pass rather than Multi Pass.

The only times we’d recommend getting Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Animal Kingdom ARE:

1. You’ll be park hopping and using it at Animal Kingdom PLUS an additional park OR
2. You’re coming to Animal Kingdom later in the day and you want to maximize the final few hours with Lightning Lane Reservations without having to wait in many lines

In these two instances, we are OK with opting to get Lightning Lane. But otherwise, if you’re coming for rope drop in the morning and you’re staying for most of the day, it just simply isn’t needed.

Our guide to Lightning Lane at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will give you more details, but here we’ve written some of the key points.

Also, our post on Lightning Lane & Lightning Lanes is essential reading before visiting.

Transportation Options

Unlike the other Disney Parks, transportation options to/from Animal Kingdom are limited. There are only a few main options. Let’s consider your options in both the morning and after park closure. The options are:

• Disney Buses – The main way for Disney Resort guests to get to Disney’s Animal Kingdom park is by means of the Disney Buses. Due to Animal Kingdom’s location, these bus rides can be longer for many of the Disney Resorts.
• Ridesharing – A popular way, if you’re in a time crunch to get to or from the Animal Kingdom, is by paying additional money to use a ridesharing service such as Uber or Lyft. They will bring you to the front of the park and conveniently get you or drop you off right near the Animal Kingdom turnstiles.
• Driving – If choosing to drive to Animal Kingdom, they have a large uncovered parking area outside of the park’s entrance. There are 6 different themed parking sections. Driving to and from Animal Kingdom is relatively easy and the parking lots aren’t incredibly far, thankfully! Read our Disney World Parking Guide and Renting a Car in Disney World for more info.

In the Morning

• Disney Buses – Disney buses normally begin operating around 2 hours before the regular park opening time, though the exact first pickup can vary by resort and day. We typically recommend being at your Disney Resort bus stop between 45 minutes and 1 hour prior to Early Theme Park Entry. If you want to be on one of the first buses, consider waiting 1 to 1.5 hours before Early Entry. This is not necessary for every guest, but it gives you additional protection against a full bus or transportation delay.
  
• Ridesharing – The Animal Kingdom parking area normally opens around 60 minutes before Early Theme Park Entry, though the exact time can vary. Keep this in mind because a rideshare driver cannot drop you off until vehicles are being admitted. Your ride may also take longer or cost more when traffic backs up near opening.
  
• Driving – Just like with ridesharing, be prepared for congestion when arriving at Animal Kingdom in the morning. The parking area normally begins admitting vehicles around 60 minutes before Early Entry, but procedures can vary. Arriving at the front gates about 45-60 minutes before Early Entry is a good target if you want to be near the front.

At Park Close

• Disney Buses – While Disney officially states that transportation only happens for an hour or so AFTER closing time, they won’t leave any guests stranded. The good news about Animal Kingdom at park closure is you won’t have to deal with the same quantity of people at the other Disney Parks. Animal Kingdom does not have the same fireworks-driven mass exit as the other parks, so departures are often more spread out. Tree of Life Awakenings can still give guests a reason to stay after dark on scheduled evenings, so check its entertainment window and your transportation options before leaving.
  
• Ridesharing – While ridesharing can be beneficial in the morning especially if you miss the first bus, in the evening it’s less so. It can be costly due to many other guests all doing the same thing and being considered a ‘Peak’ rate. If choosing to do so due to expediency, it is fairly simple and easy. Simply follow the signs to the left when leaving the park and call your driver. You’ll for sure beat the buses back to your hotel or resort.
  
• Driving – If leaving Animal Kingdom via your vehicle at the end of the night, your exit will be relatively simple and pain-free. Just follow the Exit signs and once you leave, your ride should be relatively smooth sailing once you get out of the parking lot area.

Our Predictions for Future Animal Kingdom Park Hours

Animal Kingdom will probably continue to have the earliest regular closing times at Walt Disney World in the immediate future. The lack of a major nighttime spectacular, limited late dining, and the operating needs of the animals all make very late closings unlikely for now.

The biggest factor that could change this is Pueblo Esperanza. Once the entire Tropical Americas land is open, its attractions, dining, and entertainment should give guests more to do and a stronger reason to stay. If the expansion is a big hit, we expect Animal Kingdom to receive somewhat longer regular hours in general and become a more complete full-day park.

That doesn’t mean 10:00 pm or later closings will suddenly become normal. A more realistic first step would be additional 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm closings, with occasional later hours if demand supports them.

Extended Evening Hours already give eligible guests select opportunities to stay later, and that benefit is confirmed throughout 2027. We’d also love to see Disney After Hours return, but we did not see an Animal Kingdom date on the calendar through January 9, 2027.

That wraps up our look at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park hours in 2026 and 2027. We’ll continue updating the exact schedule as Disney releases more dates. We hope you now have a better understanding of when the park opens, closes, and how to prioritize your day!

If you are thinking about going to Walt Disney World in the coming future, here are some other popular articles where you will find all the info and tips you need to plan your trip.

• Disney World Vacation Planning Guide
• Disney World Crowd Calendar
• When are the Best Times to Visit Disney World?

Your Thoughts

I want to know what you think about the park hours for Disney's Animal Kingdom...

• What time do you like to arrive at the Animal Kingdom?
• What changes would you like to see to the park hours?

Let us know in the comments section below!

If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you'd share it with others via social media.  I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂