Animal Kingdom Takes The Night!

As the sun sets, and the heat of the Florida sun leaves the day, a new electricity can be felt in the air.  Over the hum of chattering adults and laughing children you can feel the excitement build as the realization strikes; the Animal Kingdom is just warming up!   That’s right, for the first time ever the Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World now offers extended nighttime hours and a whole new kind of Disney experience.

Recently at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration I had the opportunity to learn about and have a sneak peek at all the new magic being offered, and can promise you this; Animal Kingdom will astound and delight with it’s entirely new nighttime experience.

We begin with the spectacular Tree of Life Awakenings.  The Tree of Life, always the centre piece of The Animal Kingdom, is transformed into a showstopper as it undergoes an awakening.  Watch for the fireflies as they indicate the awakening of the animal spirits carved into the mammoth tree.  Then grab your family, sit back and enjoy as the story of a young doe taking a trip across the country unfolds before you.  It’s a three minute celebration somehow magically painted and projected onto and out of the tree itself, all wrapped together with music and pixie dust.  It’s wondrous.

Next up is the “Rivers of Light” extravaganza.

Fountains, lights and music combined to create a dazzling light show featuring glowing lanterns, magical fireflies, dancing fountains, and animal spirits.  It’s a story told each night at sundown. “Before your eyes, clusters of lantern light shift and shape into animal spirit forms—the Tiger, Turtle, Elephant and Owl.”  It promises to be a water show like no other.

Of course some of our favourite attractions and rides are also open at night.  Itching to be explored, but oh so different in the dark, Expedition Everest.  Have you ever dreamed of taking on a Yeti by the light of the moon?  Now you can!

Expedition Everest is an experience for the senses in the dark. Screaming and laughing into the blackness, catching glimpses of the park below, is kind of liberating!

Kali River Rapids still provides you the chance to get your thrill (and maybe your chill) on while taking a ride through “Asia” at night!  Remember, you will get wet when you tackle this ride, but it’s worth every single splash.

Kilimanjaro Safari’s Nocturnal Encounters is not to be missed.  When the sun goes down, the animals come out.  Special lighting on the savannah allows for a new experience at Kilimanjaro Safari.

Some animals are more active in the evening, as is your imagination.  As your tour jeep steers you through the shadowed terrain between the elephants, hippos and the lions, the savannah feels truly alive.  But wait, what was that shadow?  Don’t let your imagination get the best of you, you’re perfectly safe on this African adventure.  There has also been an addition of hyenas and African wild dogs to add one more layer of mystery and action to the nighttime safari.  Combined together this helps to provide a very different experience than offered during the day time tours.

Harambe Wildlife Parti

The Village of Harambe at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the newest hot spot in the Animal Kingdom.  Get swept away in the lively music and dances performed by a variety of entertainers and local street musicians.  Grab a table and a bite to eat, or do some shopping in the vibrant marketplace that feels like it’s been transported from half a world away.

Animal Kingdom has long been a family favourite and I can’t wait to head back with the entire crew and take advantage of every extra magical minute.