Though much of the attention has been on Disney’s Hollywood Studios in recent weeks with the growing controversy around virtual boarding groups for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and the opening of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, some interesting changes and additions will be coming soon to Disney’s Animal Kingdom that guests visiting this park in the next few weeks may want to know about!
1. A new, limited time guided tour upcharge will be available later this month
In celebration of the anniversary of the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests can check out a brand new limited time tour that will be available this spring. Called A Path Less Traveled Tour, this limited time walking experience will allow guests to check out all the authentic details, clever construction, and imaginative design throughout the park. This experience will be two-hours long and will be available from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM daily from March 29 – May 2, with the exception of April 21. Tickets are $69.00 plus tax per person, and a 15% discount is available for Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members.
2. Primeval Whirl reopens later this month
Image: Disney
After an unexpected (and unexplained) four month refurbishment in 2019 we expected that we had seen the last of Primeval Whirl at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. However, this attraction unexpectedly reopened at Disney’s Animal Kingdom a few times in 2019, and then once more this past President’s Day Weekend. This was especially surprising considering Disney’s official attraction page for this ride was updated last year with a “Temporarily Closed” notice, which is the same status that the long-closed Stitch’s Great Escape had on its attraction page as well, and we’re pretty sure that attraction is not going to be opening back up ever again..
However, it looks like this attraction will once again be open to guests this spring on March 21, 22, 23, 28, and 29. This attraction will not offer FastPass+ during this time, but if you don’t mind waiting in line, you can once again experience this roller coaster!
3. Later closings and additional showings of Rivers of Light added in March
Image: Disney
Much like the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be extending hours in March, with the following days seeing a late 9:00 PM closing:
- March 14
- March 16-18
- March 21-23
- March 28
Due to these late closings on these dates Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be performing two evening showings for Rivers of Light: We Are One with the first of the night at 8:15 PM and the second just past park closing at 9:30 PM.
4. Special Earth Day activities planned for Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Image: Disney
From April 18-22, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will host its annual Earth Day Celebration, which will feature five days full of special entertainment and activities, including the following:
- Wild by Nature Speaker Series: This series will features the park’s animal experts and educators as well as National Geographic photographers and explorers in the Theater in the Wild.
- Tiffin Talks series with Joe Rohde: This upcharge experience will include a four-course meal and discussion on the Imagineer’s research trips. Tickets are now available and cost $199 per person (tax and gratuity not included)
- Film sneak peek: This year’s event will include a look at “Elephant” and “Dolphin Reef,” this year’s Disneynature films coming in april to the Disney+ streaming service.
- New characters: Special Disney characters will be added at the Animation Experience at Conservation Station.
