There’s just something magical about Walt Disney World after dark! Until a few years ago, this experience wasn’t possible at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The park would close by 5 or 6 p.m. nightly, but now Walt Disney World’s youngest theme park is officially a late night park. With so many more hours of exploring, it helps to have a few pointers on how to make the most of that extra time in the park.

Take the Safari

Once Disney’s Animal Kingdom started offering nighttime hours, the Kilimanjaro Safaris became a must-do attraction after dark! Animals that are normally asleep during the day, like the lions, will be wide awake once the sun goes down. Every Disney’s Animal Kingdom-goer should experience the Kilimanjaro Safaris both during the day and at night at least once. The experiences are completely different, so you’ll need to check both off your Disney bucket list.

Tree of Life Awakenings

The park icon for Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a thing of beauty, and features so many iconic details. Once the sun goes down, this tree comes to life in a whole new way, with stunning story scenes taking place on the trunk. There are currently three different animal scenes, but starting on Memorial Day, a new segment inspired by Disney’s The Lion King will join the lineup. The Tree of Life Nighttime Awakenings begin after dark, and happen continuously every 10 minutes until Disney’s Animal Kingdom closes for the day.

Rivers of Light

This nighttime spectacular can only be found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Watch as water, sound and light come together to create an unforgettable after-dark experience. Flitting fireflies help to tell the story like living pixie dust. Rivers of Light is where Eastern festival traditions meet innovative technology. With two nightly showings at 7 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., you’ll want to make time to experience the spectacle for yourself.

After Dark Atmosphere

The best way to do Disney’s Animal Kingdom rides and attractions is after dark. Close to park closing, most attractions have little to no wait, and your favorite Disney’s Animal Kingdom attractions are something completely different once the sun goes down. Outdoor attractions like Kali River Rapids and Expedition Everest are more intense and exciting when there is less light to show you what’s coming next. If you’re in Disney’s Animal Kingdom after dark, you’ve got to trek over to Pandora – World of Avatar. This bioluminescent rainforest comes to life after sunset. The mystical plants glow in the dark, and you’ll want to look down. Even the ground you’re standing on becomes magically colorful at night.

Although Disney’s Animal Kingdom hasn’t always been an after dark theme park, it is now and you won’t want to miss the extra magic after sunset. So even if your day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is off to a late start, you’ve still got plenty to do once the sun goes down.

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