Hey, MJ! When we have visited Disney's Animal Kingdom Park, my family has often made an Advance Dining Reservation as late as possible so we could maximize our time in the park. We have never had an issue being in the park after it closed; in fact, we find it to be the most practically perfect way to end our day there! Once we finish our meal, we always stroll out of the park slowly, soaking up as much of the ambiance as possible and taking amazing pictures along the way. We have never felt rushed during the meal or even during our exit. If you are using Disney transportation to head back to your Resort hotel, you are sure to find one waiting to escort you to your Disney home. Be sure to keep an eye on the
park hours, as they often change, particularly the closer you get to December.
One thing I would like to cover with you, MJ, is the Beaches Advance Dining Reservation you mentioned. I believe this may be
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, which can be found at Disney's Beach Club Resort. I didn't want you to be at Disney's Hollywood Studios or Epcot and not be able to find your dining location! On the evening of your visit, you can either walk or take the
FriendShip boat launch back and forth from either of these parks to the resort. You will find the dining location along the resort side of the feature pool. You should complete your meal there before Epcot closes for the evening, so you could walk back through that park to exit if you desire, or you could head back to Disney's Hollywood Studios for your transportation home.
I hope this information helps you plan your evenings a little better, MJ! Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Brandy B.