? A Popular Perk Is Returning to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in May ?

Heads up if you’re going to Disney World in early May, as an unexpected change has been made to the resort’s Extended Evening Hours schedule.

In a relative rarity for the theme park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will feature extended hours on May 5th, replacing EPCOT (which is usually scheduled on Mondays).

On May 5th, Animal Kingdom will have the following operating hours:

• Early Entry for Disney Resort Hotel guests: 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
• Regular Operating Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Extended Evening Hours: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Disney lists several attractions as open during Extended Evening Hour including some of the park’s busiest attractions: Avatar Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey, Expedition Everest, DINOSAUR, and It’s Tough to Be a Bug (which also recently announced its permanent closing date).

According to Disney, Extended Evening Hours are available for registered guests staying at the following hotels:

Disney Deluxe Resorts

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort (The extended evening theme park hours benefit applies to Disney Vacation Club Cabins only.)
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Other Select Hotels

• Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
• Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
• Shades of Green® on Walt Disney World Resort

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open for Extended Evening Hours on May 5th. Stay tuned to AllEars for more on changes to Disney World’s operating calendar.

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Which of Disney World’s theme parks is your favorite to spend time at after closing? Let us know in the comments below.