Animal Kingdom Adds Two Hours on Nov. 23

By Samantha B. · Mom of five · Winter Park, FL

Published November 9, 2026 · Updated November 13, 2026

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will stay open until 8 p.m. on Monday, November 23, 2026 — two hours later than its originally published 6 p.m. close — according to reports published Monday, November 9. The extension also brings a longer viewing window for Tree of Life Awakenings, which is reported to run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. that night.

As of Monday, November 9, the change applies to November 23 only. It follows previously announced extended hours at the park for November 22 and November 24, meaning the first three days of Thanksgiving week now all run later than first published.

Animal Kingdom typically closes earlier than Walt Disney World’s other theme parks, so a two-hour add-on is a bigger relative shift there than it would be at Magic Kingdom. Tree of Life Awakenings is a projection show on the tree itself — animation, music and lighting — that repeats throughout its window rather than running as a single scheduled showtime.

Disney recently confirmed the return of Tree of Life Awakenings after a stretch of the year without it. With November’s early sunset, the later close is what actually makes the show catchable on a standard park day.

What we know

Updated 10:56 AM ET, Friday, November 13 with new reporting.

• Data timestamp — Monday, November 9 at 1:41 PM ET
• Dates affected — one, November 23, 2026
• Peppermint-Chocolate Cookie Dough Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich — reported for Santa’s Holiday Grove from November 13, 2026, through January 3, 2027.
• Santa’s Holiday Grove — reported near Theater in the Wild at Animal Kingdom, using the former Rivers of Light seating area.
• Original Cookie Dough Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich — debuted earlier in 2026 at Terra Treats with brownie, vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips, and edible cookie dough.
• Magic Kingdom, December 2 and December 5 — now 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM, with Early Theme Park Entry at 7:30 AM.
• Magic Kingdom, November 30 — still opens at 9:00 AM, now closes at 11:00 PM.
• Animal Kingdom, December 3-5 — now closes at 7:00 PM on December 3-4 and 8:00 PM on December 5.

What’s not confirmed

Disney has not announced extended hours for Animal Kingdom on November 25 or the remaining Thanksgiving week dates. The reports do not state whether individual attractions, Lightning Lane availability, or restaurant hours shift with the later close, and no official Disney statement on the November 23 change has been issued.

Planning around this? See crowds for my dates.

What it means for your trip

If you were holding Animal Kingdom for a half day on November 23, make it a full day — the 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. block is now usable time, and Discovery Island after dark is the reason to stay.

Families with a 6 p.m. or earlier dinner reservation elsewhere on November 23 should consider moving it to another night; you would be walking out exactly when the tree starts. A late dining time inside Animal Kingdom — Tiffins or Yak & Yeti — now works where it previously would have run past close.

Because Awakenings cycles on repeat instead of a single showtime, you do not have to build the evening around it. Ride Expedition Everest or Kilimanjaro Safaris into the last hour, then watch on your way out.

If you want a specific Animal Kingdom table on November 23 and it is full, SupaPark’s dining Drop Watch pings you the moment a cancellation frees one up — you then book it in My Disney Experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Animal Kingdom close on November 23, 2026?

8 p.m., per reports — two hours later than the originally published 6 p.m. closing time.

Is Tree of Life Awakenings running on November 23?

Yes, it is reported to operate from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. that night, with presentations repeating through the window rather than a single showtime.

Has Animal Kingdom been extended for the rest of Thanksgiving week?

November 22 and November 24 already had extended hours announced, but as of November 9 Disney had not announced extensions for November 25 or the remaining days.

Go deeper — the full guides: Animal Kingdom Nov 28–29, 2026: Crowd Levels and Best Hours · Animal Kingdom Nov 21–22: Best Time to Beat the Crowds

SupaPark tracks live wait times and crowd forecasts, and pings you the second a hard-to-get reservation opens or a ride goes walk-on — free to start at supapark.com.

Heading to Animal Kingdom? Check Animal Kingdom wait times right now and how busy Animal Kingdom is today.