Mouse Extra

When Expedition Everest opened at the Animal Kingdom, the talk by the experts was that this was the attempt, or even the key, to turning the park into a full day park capable of drawing guests deep into the nighttime hours. So far that has not entirely happened, as the park is not regularly open after the animals go to bed. So what needs to happen in order for the Animal Kingdom to shed the dreaded “half-day park” tag”? Let’s take a look…

Obviously the biggest challenge is that the park is not currently equipped to showcase animals during night hours, a problem when you consider guest coming to the Animal Kingdom will rightly expect to see animals. But it is not far off from being a full day park regardless. Truth be told, Kilimanjaro Safaris is the only e-ticket attraction that is lost. But it’s a big one, especially when you consider all the other current animal exhibits are lost as well.

There are already plenty of attractions there that can be enjoyed at night. Everest and Primeval Whirl are great during dark hours. Dinosaur, Festival of the Lion King, the new Nemo show, and It’s Tough to Be a Bug are not effected by the loss of daylight at all. There’s also plenty of food and drink. The Tusker House offers table service and an outdoor bar for warm evenings, along with the soon to be constructed Yak and Yeti in Asia and the current Rainforest Café. So Animal Kingdom has attractions and dining options, but there’s still more to do.

What Animal Kingdom needs to make the change is to compensate for the lack of animals by making the night time experience unique from the daytime one. For years, there has been a rumor about a nighttime torch light parade. That’s the perfect thing to achieve this. Fireworks are not an option when you have the wellbeing of wild animals to consider, so this idea is just the thing to balance all these variables. Installing some World Showcase style torches near the Tree of Life before and after the parade can also add some interest and ambience to the experience.

Speaking of fire, I would explore the possibility of intensifying the fire effects in Kali River Rapids. Adding just a little bit of light to this ride can really be great. Imagine a water ride where you can’t see where the water’s coming from. That would make the experience completely different at night, and probably better.

For the kids, I would explore one or two programs, either shows or special meet and greets, that only occur at night. How about a cruise on the Discovery River around a wonderfully lit Tree of Life with the Fab Five? You could also construct a small stage for a nighttime stage show, or something along those lines. But these are things that would only occur after the animals have gone in for the night.

While I am not a zoologist, I think there may also be a possibility of adding certain animals to the nighttime hours as well. During the holidays, the Bronx Zoo offers an event called Holiday Lights. It’s a nighttime event during which they have a great session with their Tigers. As nocturnal creatures, this time of the day is not spent sleeping. Instead they are very active and often a joy to watch. Perhaps an event once per night in their current spot on the Maharajah Jungle Trek, with simple lighting and a narrator will do the trick. This is cheaper than building indoor show facilities, but that’s also a possibility.

Single day tickets are the most expensive per person ticket, and the key for financial success at the Animal Kingdom.  Right now, it is not as far from “full day” status as some may think.  (despite the views of the esteemed WDW Today hosts)   But Disney will need to make the night hours a special experience.  Considering the amazing amount of detail and architectural splendor the park has, this can be a reality without any real -ticket investment.