Walt Disney World’s Extended Evening Hours perk just got a surprising shake-up, and it’s one that longtime fans of Disney’s Animal Kingdom have been waiting years to see. According to the latest calendar update, Animal Kingdom will host Extended Evening Hours on Monday, October 27, 2025, swapping out EPCOT’s usual Monday night spot for a rare nighttime event at the park that typically shuts its gates by early evening.
This is a big deal. For years, Animal Kingdom has been known as the “early closer” among Disney’s four theme parks, often winding down operations around 6:00 p.m. That schedule makes sense for the animals who live there, but it has also left many guests wishing they could experience the park after dark. With this change, Animal Kingdom’s regular hours will stretch from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Deluxe Resort guests will get two additional hours inside the park, from 8:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. as part of the Extended Evening Hours program.
That may sound like a modest shift on paper, but for fans of Animal Kingdom, it unlocks something extraordinary: the ability to see Pandora – The World of Avatar illuminated in its full bioluminescent glory without a special ticketed event.
A Rare Chance to See Pandora Glow
Since its debut in 2017, Pandora has been celebrated as one of the most visually stunning lands Disney has ever created. By day, its floating mountains, alien flora, and intricately detailed walkways already impress. But at night, the land comes alive in an entirely different way.
The ground pulses with glowing pathways, plants shimmer with hidden neon hues, and waterfalls glow beneath the black-light-inspired landscape. The effect is meant to mimic the bioluminescence of Pandora itself, as seen in James Cameron’s Avatar. It’s breathtaking — and yet, most Disney World guests never get to see it.
Why? Because Animal Kingdom typically closes before dusk. With 6:00 p.m. closures in the fall, the land’s nighttime transformation is reserved for a lucky few who happen to visit during rare late-night events. Extended Evening Hours on October 27 changes that, giving Deluxe Resort guests a legitimate chance to wander Pandora after sunset, ride Avatar Flight of Passage with minimal waits, and soak in an experience that feels brand-new even to returning visitors.
More Than Just Pandora
Of course, Pandora isn’t the only draw. Extended Evening Hours typically include a lineup of each park’s headlining attractions, and Animal Kingdom offers plenty worth sticking around for. Fans can expect favorites like:
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Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, where the already-thrilling roller coaster becomes even more intense under the cover of darkness. Racing through the Himalayas at night adds an extra layer of disorientation and excitement.
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DINOSAUR, a dark ride that takes guests back 65 million years. With smaller crowds, it becomes much easier to re-ride without the typical long wait.
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Kilimanjaro Safaris, which occasionally operates after sunset during select events. If it’s included on October 27, it could offer a rare glimpse of nocturnal animal activity.
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It’s Tough to Be a Bug! and other shows, which may or may not be open during Extended Evening Hours but still help round out the evening’s offerings.
What’s most exciting is how different the entire park feels at night. From the lantern-lit walkways of Asia to the glowing rivers of Pandora, Animal Kingdom transforms after dark into something more atmospheric, almost tranquil compared to its daytime bustle.
Extended Evening Hours: The Deluxe Perk
Extended Evening Hours remain one of the most coveted perks for Disney Deluxe Resort, Deluxe Villa Resort, and select hotel guests. The benefit grants two extra hours in a designated park after official closing, giving eligible guests the chance to enjoy headliner attractions with far shorter waits than during normal operating hours.
Unlike Disney After Hours (a separately ticketed event open to all guests), Extended Evening Hours are included with a Deluxe stay and rotate among parks. Up to now, the standard rotation has been EPCOT on Mondays and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Wednesdays, with Magic Kingdom occasionally filling in special dates. Animal Kingdom entered the schedule for the first time this summer, but its appearances have been rare and sporadic.
That’s why the October 27 addition is making headlines — it’s the first time the park has claimed a Monday night slot in the official calendar.
Why This Date Matters: Let’s Find Out
October is already one of the busiest times of year at Walt Disney World. With Halloween festivities, EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival, and peak fall travel crowds, securing extra evening access to a park is an enormous perk.
But for Animal Kingdom, October 27 is particularly well-timed. Sunset in Orlando on that date falls just after 6:45 p.m., meaning that by the time regular hours end at 8:00, the park will be fully immersed in nighttime ambiance. That sets the stage perfectly for guests to stroll through Pandora glowing blue and green, to race Everest under starlight, and to experience the park in a way that simply isn’t possible most of the year.
While Animal Kingdom has always faced challenges as a nighttime park due to animal care and earlier closings, Disney has clearly been testing ways to expand its evening offerings without disrupting its delicate balance. By placing Extended Evening Hours at Animal Kingdom in late October — and on a Monday no less — Disney is signaling that it may be open to experimenting with giving guests more opportunities to enjoy the park after dark.
For fans, the message is clear: October 27 will be a night worth circling on the calendar. Whether you’re eager to soar over Pandora on Flight of Passage without a 90-minute wait, or simply want to stroll through the glowing walkways with a late-night snack, this rare Animal Kingdom Extended Evening Hours event promises to be one of the most memorable nights of the fall season.
New Attractions Coming to Animal Kingdom
Disney is finally moving forward with major changes at Animal Kingdom. DinoLand U.S.A. is being retired in phases, making way for the new Tropical Americas land, officially set to debut in 2027.
The overhaul includes a brand-new Encanto dark ride built from scratch, a new carousel replacing the Boneyard, and a full Indiana Jones retheme of Dinosaur, closing early 2026. Restaurantosaurus will also be transformed into a large hacienda-style quick-service restaurant.
Walls around the area now display Encanto-inspired butterflies and concept art for Pueblo Esperanza, a fictional South American town that will anchor the new land. Disney describes it as lush and vibrant, with a central fountain, arched entryway, and rich theming similar to Africa’s Harambe Village.
The Encanto ride will take guests inside the magical Casita during Antonio’s gift ceremony, where furniture carries riders through rooms transformed into fantastical spaces. While the ride system hasn’t been confirmed, it’s expected to be a traditional dark ride rather than a boat or trackless system.
Meanwhile, Dinosaur’s track will remain, but the attraction will receive an entirely new Indiana Jones storyline and a striking Mayan temple facade. Disney has promised this version will be unique to Animal Kingdom, not a direct copy of Disneyland’s ride.
With Disney investing $8 billion into Walt Disney World over the next decade, Tropical Americas is one of several expansion projects across the resort. Magic Kingdom is adding a Villains land, Hollywood Studios is developing a Monsters, Inc. area, and EPCOT just reopened its refreshed Test Track.
For now, all eyes are on Animal Kingdom — where an underused corner of the park is finally set to transform into one of Disney World’s most ambitious expansions.
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