Hi Karen!
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, and thank you for your question. Is there anything better than a birthday celebration at “The Most Magical Place on Earth?” Be sure to pick up a free celebration button for your son to wear on his special day so Cast Members and Guests can share their good wishes!
Karen, I’m so glad you brought this question to us, because I want to clarify something. Disney’s Animal Kingdom does not offer fireworks because the pyrotechnics are unsettling to the animals who call the park home. Rivers of Light, the nighttime spectacular there, is a beautiful show, but if your son wants birthday fireworks, you might want to consider visiting a different park. I checked the
park hours for April 23, and Happily Ever After, Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, and Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular are all scheduled for that night. My whole family loves all of these shows and we make it a point to see them all when we’re at Walt Disney World – but if it were my birthday, I’d go with Happily Ever After!
As for times, the nighttime spectaculars often start a few minutes before or after park closing, and they are a lovely way to end a park day. Most parks allow Guests to stay and walk around for about an hour after the official closing time; many folks enjoy shopping or having a quick snack on their way out.
Karen, if you really want to make his birthday “spectacular,” you might want to look at the
Fireworks Dessert Parties offered for each of these fireworks shows. My family usually goes for the budget version: we grab some treats beforehand and enjoy those as we are dazzled by the magic!
Wishing your son a spectacular birthday,
Robyn