Hi Marcy,
Thanks so much for coming back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel with another great question! I'm happy to let you know that with the current
park hours, you'll be able to stay at Disney's Animal Kingdom to enjoy the moving nighttime experience,
Rivers of Light, without needing to leave at closing. If the park officially closes at 8:00 p.m., that simply means that you won't be able to enter any more attraction queues after 8:00 p.m., but if you're in a queue when the park closes, you will be able to experience that attraction for the evening. You'll also find that many retail locations and even some restaurants will still be open for a little while after the park closes. Since Rivers of Light isn't scheduled to begin until 8:30 p.m., there will still be many Guests in the theme park at that time waiting for the show. Once Rivers of Light is over, you can simply head back to your Disney Resort hotel (or wherever your next adventure takes you!) for the evening.
Disney buses will still be running for at least two hours after the theme park officially closes.
I hope you enjoy your visit to Disney's Animal Kingdom! With incredible wildlife, spectacular shows, thrilling rides, and my
favorite part -
Pandora - The World of Avatar (which I definitely recommend experiencing both during the day and at night, when the whole world comes to life through the magic of bioluminescence), I think that you'll have a roaring great time!
Please let us know if you have any other questions as you're planning your visit, Marcy, and have a truly magical vacation!
Missy