Walt Disney World Resort has scheduled Extended Evening Hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Monday, May 4, 2026, according to the official park calendar. This change marks a departure from the more frequent rotation of this guest benefit between Magic Kingdom and EPCOT earlier in the year.
Extended Evening Hours are offered on select nights to guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, and certain partner hotels. These eligible guests may remain in a theme park for an additional two hours after the park’s standard closing time on designated dates.
On May 4, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is scheduled to close to general day guests at 6 p.m., with Extended Evening Hours running until 8 p.m. for qualifying resort guests. This represents a shift from the typical pattern in early 2026, where Magic Kingdom and EPCOT hosted the extra hours more consistently.
Extended Hours Event Offerings
Animal Kingdom generally operates with earlier daily closing times than the other parks at Walt Disney World Resort. The park’s emphasis on live animal experiences, limited evening entertainment offerings, and a smaller roster of attractions contribute to its shorter normal operating hours.
The floating mountains of Pandora in Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World at night – YouTube, 4K WDW
During Extended Evening Hours on May 4, a limited set of attractions at Animal Kingdom will remain open to guests who qualify. These include Avatar Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, Na’vi River Journey, and Zootopia: Better Zoogether!. That’s only four attractions, not much compared to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT’s evening events. Still, Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest are two of Animal Kingdom’s most popular attractions, with long wait times.
The event will also have select dining and merchandise options open.
Where to Stay
Extended Evening Hours are available to guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, and select partner hotels. The benefit does not apply to Moderate or Value Resorts. It also does not extend to most non-Disney-owned properties on or near Walt Disney World property.\
The sign for Better Zoogether at Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World – Photo Credit: Follow The Bradleys’ Fun
Below is the current list of eligible hotels.
Disney Deluxe Resorts
Guests staying at the following Disney-owned Deluxe Resorts qualify for Extended Evening Hours on scheduled dates:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts
The following Disney Vacation Club properties are also eligible:
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Other Select Eligible Hotels
In addition to Disney-owned Deluxe properties, the following hotels also qualify:
- Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
- Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
- Shades of Green
Other experiences in the park that depend on daylight or animal visibility — such as Kilimanjaro Safaris and certain outdoor exhibits — are not expected to be part of the extended access period.
Context
Extended Evening Hours are part of a set of guest benefits that also include Early Theme Park Entry, which is available to all Disney Resort hotel guests. While early entry usually opens park gates 30 minutes before regular operating hours, Extended Evening Hours occur after regular park closing and are limited to higher-tier resorts.
Bakso the Baby Tiger climing on his mother at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World – YouTube, MouseSteps / JWL Media
Disney’s published calendar at this time only extends through May 4 for Extended Evening Hours at Animal Kingdom. There is no official announcement detailing whether the park will host additional dates later in May or beyond. As a result, it remains unclear whether this scheduling represents a one-off adjustment or the beginning of a broader pattern for the remainder of the year.
Walt Disney World’s official park hours and special event calendars are updated periodically. Guests planning travel should review official park schedules or the My Disney Experience app for the most current information prior to their visits.
Is your family planning to take advantage of Animal Kingdom’s extended hours? Let us know in the comments below.
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