Times and tips for Awaken Summer entertainment at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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Last week, Walt Disney World gave us a long list of dates for summer openings and when reservations can be made for all the new attractions. This came on the heels of the first wave of openings at Disney Springs, so I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I had to break out the calendar to plot everything my family and I want to see and do in the coming weeks.

We’ll be joining the crowds this weekend for the many new experiences debuting at Animal Kingdom. We have a loose plan about how to see and do everything, but, of course, it’s all new, so we’ll have to be flexible, too. Still, it’s fun to not have every moment planned out sometimes, isn’t it?

Here are some things to keep in mind, if you’ll be checking out Awaken Summer events at Animal Kingdom, too:

** Beginning Friday, May 27, the theme park — natazu! —- has extended hours from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., and that includes every day this Memorial Day weekend. The longer days take place through Labor Day, Sept. 6.

** During the extended hours, many attractions will be open, including Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids and DINOSAUR. FastPasses for these attractions are scarce for the opening weekend of Awaken Summer events, which already is busy because of the holiday, but don’t give up. Guests’ plans change, so check My Disney Experience frequently. Also, you always have the option of braving the standby queues!

** On Friday, there are three new entertainment offerings — and none of them require (or even offer) a FastPass. Here’s what you can expect with the Tree of Life awakenings, Harambe Wildlife Parti and Discovery Island Carnivale:

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Animal Kingdom’s iconic Tree of Life, which can be seen from different locations around the park, will light up at various times as “flickering fireflies magically appear and awaken the wondrous animals spirits carved into the tree’s towering trunk” in a projection show. There are several different shows throughout each evening: “Witness a graceful young doe embark on a thrilling cross-country journey. Behold love blossoming between 2 hummingbirds. See a spry fox spreading gifts of love among the denizens of a wintry forest.”

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The Harambe Wildlife Parti kicks off at 4:55 p.m. when Afro-Pop musicians the Burudika Band take the stage in Harambe’s Old Square. The band usually performs during the day but will become part of the evening entertainment for Awaken Summer. Additional 30-minute sets are scheduled at 5:55, 7:30, 8:50 and 9:45 p.m. In Harambe Marketplace, guests will find other entertainment: Muziki, a drumming stilt-walker; Karibou Sisters, who perform elegant dance, acapella songs and acoustic party music; Harambe Soccer Meerkats, who engage guests in pick-up games and entertain with their skilled moves; and Harambe Village Acrobats, who climb into man-made pyramids and break away into spinning, tumbling towers.

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Discovery Island Carnivale is “an exuberant dance party to end the day and welcome the night.” It begins each day at 3:45 p.m. with the first performance of the Viva Gaia Street Band. (Additional 30-minute sets are at 4:25 and 5:15 p.m.) This Caribbean street party is “bursting with cheerful music and spectacular costumes that take inspiration from the living creatures of the air, land and sea.”

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** Friday also is the first official day for Tiffins restaurant to open its doors inside Animal Kingdom. Diners at the eatery will enjoy African cuisine with waterfront views — and a hefty price tag. Disney lists the price range at $35 to $59.99 per adult for this signature restaurant. The theme is travel — “including photograph collages, paintings and sculptures inspired by actual notes and field sketches of the Imagineers who created Disney’s Animal Kingdom park.” The adjacent The Nomad Lounge features small plates and a selection of beer, wine and mixed drinks at prices easier to swallow — $15 to $34.99 per adult.

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** Beginning Saturday, May 28, Animal Kingdom introduces “The Jungle Book: Alive With Magic” show along Discovery River at 9 and 10:30 p.m. each night. This show uses the space on the river and outdoor seating designed for the “Rivers of Light” show that has been delayed. According the official description, “Come along as impressions of the film’s iconic characters take you on a journey following Mowgli’s exciting, perilous and sometimes hilarious jungle encounters. Watch as barges teeming with jubilant singers, Indian musicians and colorful performers take to the waters and enhance the tale with music and song–while fellow players join in from nearby river banks. And thrill to the breathtaking sight of light displays and massive water screens projecting imagery from the blockbuster film!”

** At this time, it looks like the only character meet-and-greets that occur during the nighttime hours take place at Character Outpost with Mickey and Minnie.

AllEars.Net team members will be covering the opening Awaken Summer at Animal Kingdom this weekend. Tell us what you’d like to know in the comments, please.


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8 Replies to “Times and tips for Awaken Summer entertainment at Disney’s Animal Kingdom”

  1. will there be a dining package for viewing if you have dinner? and which restaurants?

    KRISTIN: Yes, Tusker House and the new Tiffins, which Deb Wills just reviewed.

  2. Do you know if this is continuing through the whole of September? Would be a great shame to miss it

    KRISTIN: As of now, the park hours go back to closing at 5 p.m. after Labor Day. Cast members I spoke with said they expect the nighttime entertainment to continue on past summer, but that is not certain or official yet.

  3. I am looking forward to hearing about your adventures in the coming weeks! We were just there and missed all the upcoming openings.

    I’m curious about the AK hours. You mentioned that the park will be open until 11 until Labor Day – aren’t they planning to keep it open late after that? What about all the night-time experiences that Disney has been touting?

  4. We are headed to Disney in the fall, any word on whether the new Rivers of Light/Jungle Book show is planned to run year round or just during the busier seasons?

  5. What will seating availability be without FP? Are there other areas you van view it from? Maybe the lakeside tables at Flametree?

    KRISTIN: You can wait in the standby queue or bridge heading to the Nemo show has a small, taped off area for guests. Flame Tree would not be a good view — just back of barges and water screens.

  6. Hi there.

    Do you know if Disney World has any plans to extend the park time for Animal Kingdom after Labor Day? We are heading to Disney in June, and I was assuming the Tree of Life and Rivers of Light show would be a year round attraction.

    Thanks for all of all of the great advice!

    -S

    KRISTIN: When I asked several times at Guest Relations, I was told by different cast members that the nighttime events have not officially been extended past Labor Day — yet — but that they expect them to continue.

  7. So once the Rivers of Light is running does the Jungle Book show go away?
    Thanks

    AllEars: Yes, that is the current plan.