Disney’s Animal Kingdom has always had an identity of its own.
It’s a park that prioritizes nature and conservation, which means it typically closes earlier than the rest of Walt Disney World. But in a surprising move, Disney has announced that Animal Kingdom will stay open until midnight for a single night—something almost unheard of.
Why Is This Happening at Animal Kingdom?
The reason behind this historic change is the Universal Cheerleading Association National High School Championship, which will take place at Disney World in March 2025. To accommodate the event, Animal Kingdom will host a special ticketed evening on March 9, extending its hours from 8 p.m. to midnight.
This is a huge deal because Animal Kingdom’s nighttime hours are usually limited. While Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT frequently offer late-night events, Animal Kingdom sticks to an early closing time due to its animal residents. For many guests, this means missing out on the full nighttime experience of areas like Pandora – The World of Avatar, which was designed with stunning nighttime visuals that often go unseen.
What Disney World Guests Can Expect
Since this event is for cheerleading championship attendees, regular guests won’t be able to take part unless they are involved with the competition. However, it raises an interesting possibility: Could Disney use this as a test run for more frequent nighttime events?
Imagine being able to explore the park under the stars, walk through Pandora’s glowing pathways, or experience the thrill of Expedition Everest in the dark. While there’s no official word on whether this event signals a permanent shift, it proves that Disney is at least willing to experiment.
Animal Kingdom has always been different from the other parks, and that’s part of its charm. But this one-night-only event challenges the idea that it must always close early.
Some fans are already speculating about what this could mean for the future. Could more late-night ticketed events be on the horizon? Will Disney find a way to offer extended evening hours without impacting the animals?
For now, this remains a rare and exciting exception to the rule. But one thing is clear—seeing Animal Kingdom open until midnight is something fans never expected to witness.
