Are Extended Evening Hours Worth it at Disney’s Animal Kingdom This Summer?

It’s going to be one hot summer at Disney World, and we know that many of you have dreamed of spending long days at the resort pool while taking advantage of extended evening hours at Magic Kingdom. We know because we, too, love those late-night hours in the parks, especially during sweltering weather. If you’re visiting in June of 2025 and qualify for extended evening hours, you’re in luck. Each Wednesday evening, the Magic Kingdom will remain open for deluxe and deluxe villa resorts between 10:00 p.m. and midnight.

Unfortunately, the schedule changes in July. Starting July 2nd, extended evening hours shift from Magic Kingdom to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. While we love, love, love to spend evenings after dark in this gorgeous park–there’s a catch. It won’t be dark yet! Since Disney’s Animal Kingdom closes most days at 6:00 p.m. throughout the summer, that means extended evening hours will be held between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. So far, Disney’s schedule has these hours starting on July 2nd and recurring every Wednesday evening for the entire month of July.

This change is likely due to Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away’s debut at Magic Kingdom later this summer. If I were to guess, when Disney announces the parade’s debut date, they will extend Magic Kingdom’s regular park hours. At least, I hope that’s what we’ll soon find out.

In the meantime, there’s been some chatter about whether or not it’s worth it to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom for extended evening hours. My first answer is that anyone with a park-hopper ticket not already committed to existing plans (like a coveted dining reservation) should 100% hop to Animal Kingdom for these special hours. This park already empties earlier in the day, and you should be able to do everything that’s offered.

Another scenario I would consider is to have a half rest/resort day and a half park day. (No park hopper ticket is needed in this example.) Imagine spending the morning sleeping late, enjoying a leisurely breakfast, and hanging out at the pool. Anytime after lunch, you could head to Animal Kingdom and take in the attractions that aren’t open during extended evening hours. Then, plan to ride the other attractions starting around 6:00 p.m.

There are so many ways you could plan your day, and low crowds are almost a guarantee for extended evening hours at this park. On our last experience, we started at the front of the park and headed to Dinoland U.S.A. We then rode Dinosaur, Expedition Everest (x2), Na’vi River Journey, and then Avatar: Flight of Passage. We did this all at a very slow pace and still had time to spare.

If you have the park hopper option, you could also leave Animal Kingdom after extended evening hours and hop to another park that’s still open. For instance, if you leave Animal Kingdom at 8:00 p.m., you could probably still make it to Epcot for the evening fireworks or to Magic Kingdom for a few rides, depending on what time they close. You’ll just want to be aware of the park’s operating hours and have realistic expectations for what you can accomplish. Epcot is easier for fireworks because you don’t have to camp out so far ahead of time for the perfect spot. Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are both better for rides if they’re open later. (Of course, if for some reason Fantasmic! is scheduled twice, you can always go to the 2nd performance. That’s about the best tip I can ever share.)

Who knows? You might even be able to experience Extended Evening Hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and head over to see the new nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom. To me, that sounds like the best of both worlds. But we probably better not count any chickens until they hatch. It is, however, something you might consider if the parade is available during your summer travel dates. (Update: Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away will debut on July 20, 2025 at Magic Kingdom.)

One last thing…it’s important to note that Kilimanjaro Safaris is not listed as an extended evening hours attraction. (It could be open since it won’t be dark, but there are no guarantees.) So if this attraction is important to your travel party, you’ll want to remember to arrive early enough before the park closes for a ride or two. If you’re planning to go later in the day, see why we love touring Animal Kingdom in the late afternoon. It shares some of my best tips on experiencing the safari.

Ultimately, I don’t think you can go wrong with visiting Animal Kingdom for extended evening hours this summer, especially if you take these tips and form a realistic plan that works for your travel party. Enjoy!

For more on extended evening hours or to check your eligibility, see our guide to Extended Evening Hours at Disney World. It includes a list of hotels and attractions for each park.

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