Hi Doug,
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel and thank you for asking us another question!
I wish I knew the answer to your question, because I’ve been asking myself something similar when trying to plan my family’s
dining reservations for our next visit to Walt Disney World Resort. Unfortunately, we don’t yet know what time
Rivers of Light will be presented at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park or even when its performances will begin.
Here’s what I’ve done for my family’s upcoming visit: I’ve made dining reservations at 5:00 at a restaurant at
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge on the night when, hopefully, we would be able to see Rivers of Light. My best guess (and, remember, this is ONLY a guess!) is that the earliest time that the show might take place would be 7:00 pm, which should give us enough time to eat and head back to the Park in time for the show. If things change when the schedule comes out, then I’ll re-think my plans accordingly, keeping in mind that last-minute dining reservations are often available the day before.
Another alternative: make lunch your big meal of the day, and plan to eat at a
counter service or fast casual location at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park for dinner.
I hope my answer helps you plan your upcoming vacation. Please don’t hesitate to come back and see us if you have any other questions.
Have a Magical Day,
Lynne