One of our favorite offerings is returning to Disney World. Disney’s Animal Kingdom has some of the best nighttime experiences in the theme parks, but it’s a shame that guests can only experience them during the winter months or during Extended Evening Hours.
Now with the winter season in full force at Animal Kingdom, nighttime entertainment has returned to the park. At Mickey Visit, we report on Disney Parks news, such as changes to the viral “Tally the Elf” character or the new holiday food guides at Disney World.
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Tree of Life Winter Show Returns
Winter at Animal Kingdom is here! This means we can actually experience Animal Kingdom at night. Unfortunately, it is a rarity and one of the biggest mistakes Disney makes about this underrated park. Most of the year, Animal Kingdom closes before the sun sets, which means guests rarely get to see the park at night.
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As part of the holiday season at Animal Kingdom, the Tree of Life Awakenings show takes place starting at 6:15 PM each evening and runs continuously until the park closes. This show on the Tree of Life features a musical score and projections of foxes in a wintry forest, hummingbirds, a doe, and more.
If you want to see the Tree of Life Awakenings, you need to plan on being in Animal Kingdom after dusk. This is much easier to accomplish in the winter season since it gets dark earlier. The Tree of Life is located right next to the main shops in Animal Kingdom on Discovery Island, which stay open an hour past closing, so you can view this show after the park closes. There is no need to arrive early because the Tree of Life is so large that you can see the show easily from wherever you stand in the area.
Another key perk of being in Animal Kingdom at night is being able to enjoy the beauty of Pandora- The World of Avatar at night. This is why I love Animal Kingdom in the winter, because you get to experience the park at night.
Other Animal Kingdom Holiday Experiences
Another great part of the holidays at Animal Kingdom is the Merry Menagerie puppets that greet guests near the Tree of Life on Discovery Island. These life-size, artisan-sculpted animal puppets truly embody the theme of Animal Kingdom!
The puppets typically include reindeer, foxes, polar bears, and even small penguins! The puppeteers are skilled with their immersion of these animals and are such a unique part of the holiday experience in this theme park. The winter puppets make sporadic appearances throughout the day, and since this is in the main pathway into the park, most guests will bump into them easily.
Animal Kingdom is also decorated for the holiday season, including the main tree at the entrance. The Animal Kingdom Christmas tree features ornaments inspired by various wildlife and winter themes, plus African and Asian culture.
Animal Kingdom is not to be overlooked during the holidays, as this unique offering to see the park at night typically only happens during this time of year!
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