Animal Kingdom Locks in Early Closures as Tropical Americas Takes Shape
Disney defends the fixed closing times on grounds of animal welfare despite guests’ calls for more nighttime experiences
Overview
- Animal Kingdom now ends daily operations by 7–8 p.m. after Disney officially declared the reduced hours permanent in mid-2025.
- Ground has broken on a Tropical Americas expansion to replace DinoLand U.S.A., representing the park’s largest addition since Pandora – The World of Avatar.
- Disney’s public stance is that shorter hours safeguard animal welfare by preventing potential stress on habitats.
- Visitors lament missing Pandora’s nighttime bioluminescence and other evening attractions, spurring petitions and social media outcry.
- Other Disney parks have resumed late-night offerings with targeted animal-safety measures, highlighting Animal Kingdom’s unchanged early closures.