Another Disney World park is preparing for some noticeable August changes, and this time Animal Kingdom guests will need to adjust their plans.
Disney is wrapping up several offerings that have been available throughout the summer. Annual Passholder benefits are disappearing, operating hours are getting shorter, and construction continues moving forward on one of the largest transformations in Animal Kingdom history.
For anyone visiting next month, the calendar matters.
August 1 Brings Several Removals
The first changes arrive immediately.
V.I.PASSHOLDER Summer Days ends July 31, taking several Animal Kingdom-exclusive Passholder offerings with it.
Throughout the promotion, Passholders have been able to purchase special merchandise at Discovery Trading Company. The lineup includes a hoodie, T-shirt, Loungefly crossbody bag, baseball hat, and Corkcicle canteen.
There has also been an exclusive popcorn bucket featuring artwork from illustrator Ashley Taylor available at Chakranadi.
Once the promotion concludes, those limited-time perks will no longer be part of the summer event.
But Passholders are also losing something that could have saved them considerably more money.
Disney Ends 40% Restaurant Offer
The Summer Days promotion included a 40% dining discount at two popular Animal Kingdom restaurants.
Passholders could receive the discount at Tiffins Restaurant during dinner and Tusker House Restaurant during lunch and dinner. Disney offered the deal Mondays through Thursdays from May 1 through July 31.
That promotion ends before August begins.
For families eating together, losing a 40% discount could make a noticeable difference in the final cost of a meal.
And just over a week after those perks disappear, another change hits the entire park.
Disney Shortens the Animal Kingdom Day
Animal Kingdom will initially close at 7 p.m. during August.
Starting August 9, however, Disney moves closing time to 6 p.m. for the rest of the month.
An earlier closing could make mornings much more important, particularly for guests trying to experience several major attractions in one visit.
There is one interesting exception on August 26.
Animal Kingdom will host Extended Evening Hours that night, allowing eligible guests from Disney Deluxe Resorts and other qualifying hotels to remain in the park from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
It provides those guests with two additional hours after the regular park day ends.
A Much Bigger Change Is Taking Shape
Guests may also notice plenty happening behind construction walls.
Disney continues making progress on Tropical Americas and Pueblo Esperanza, which are replacing DinoLand U.S.A.
The project will eventually introduce major attractions inspired by Encanto (2021) and Indiana Jones.
Work on the Encanto (2021) attraction has reached a particularly visible stage. Steel structures have appeared above the show building and will eventually support themed rockwork.
Disney uses this type of theming to conceal large attraction buildings and make guests feel surrounded by the fictional environment.
For now, visitors will see plenty of construction activity.
August therefore represents another month of transition for Animal Kingdom. Passholders are losing limited-time merchandise and dining benefits, regular guests will have less time inside the park beginning August 9, and Disney’s massive Tropical Americas project continues rising in the background.
The Animal Kingdom guests visit today won’t be the same park Disney is building for tomorrow.
