Earlier this month, the annual TEA/AECOM report was released, which revealed that in 2018 Disney’s Animal Kingdom was the #2 most visited park in Orlando (second only to the Magic Kingdom) for the second year in a row, attracting a record 13,750,000 guests, which is an increase of 10% year over year. However, this park probably won’t hold on to its #2 spot for long, as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be opening this August at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, likely drawing massive crowds to this park. However, even though there’s going to be a lot going on elsewhere at Walt Disney World this fall, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is going to be pulling out all the stops to ensure that guests continue to visit this park in 2019.
1. Holiday celebrations are officially coming to Pandora – The World of Avatar
Image: Disney
Though Disney has tried to make Pandora – The World of Avatar feel as “alien” and seperated from our world as possible, they have announced that starting this year this land will be getting special holiday enhancements around December. According to Disney, holiday celebrations in Pandora – The World of Avatar will involve the ex-pats living and working on the moon of Pandora bringing a little Christmastime fun to their alien home, with a display at Pongu Pongu of kitschy holiday décor, combining vintage pieces from Earth with items handcrafted from materials indigenous to Pandora.Though this might seem a little weird, Pandora – The World of Avatar is still bringing the crowds to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, so it’s understandable why Disney would want to get guests who might have already visited this land back to see something new in this location at this holiday season.
2. Disney’s Animal Kingdom to host additional Disney After Hours events this fall
Image: Disney
The Disney After Hours series has been a massive hit for Disney in 2019, and perhaps unsurprisingly Disney has opted to extend this series and add more dates in the summer and fall, with a whopping 13 dates now available for booking at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the most of any park at Walt Disney World. Here are the Disney After Hours dates that are now available at this park during the summer and fall:
- July 2, 8, 15, 22, 29
- August 5, 12, 19, 26
- September 3, 9, 16, 23
3. Disney’s Animal Kingdom extends summer operating hours and adds daily “Extra” Extra Magic Hours this fall
Image: Disney
Disney’s Animal Kingdom recently adjusted its summer operating hours, with some days seeing an earlier start and others a later evening. Here is the full list of changes:
- June 2-3, 7-11, 21-25: Park now opens at 8 a.m.
- June 3, 7-10, 12-16, 19-27, 30; July 3-6: Park now closes at 10 p.m.
- June 2: Park now closes at 11 p.m.
4. Rivers of Light gets a character infusion
Image: Disney
