Pandora at Night

Question

Animal Kingdom hours seem permanently fixed to close at 6pm for quite some time. Will they ever being back the ability to see Pandora at night and Tree of Life Awakenings for spring/summer?

Answer

Great question — you’re absolutely correct that for a long time, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has had very early closing hours (often around 6 PM), which has made nightly experiences in Pandora – The World of Avatar and the Tree of Life Awakenings projection show difficult or impossible for many guests. But yes — there are some promising updates, and the situation is evolving. Here’s a breakdown of what’s going on and what to expect, particularly for spring/summer:

Current / Recent Status:

Animal Kingdom *does* now sometimes stay open later. As part of the reopening of Extended Evening Hours (for eligible resort guests), there are nights when the park closes at 8:00 PM, rather than the typical 6 PM.
With those extended hours, Pandora glows at night again. According to WDWMagic, “Pandora – The World of Avatar After Dark” returned when evening hours were extended.
Likewise, Tree of Life Awakenings projections — the beautiful light show on the Tree of Life — have returned. But: it’s not shown *every night*.
The show timing is somewhat variable; per the entertainment schedule, it doesn’t have a fixed “big show” time but cycles (every ~10 minutes) once dark.

What This Means for Spring / Summer:

Because in summer the sun sets much later in Florida, even on “extended-hour” days, it’s possible that darkness may come *after* or just around the closing time — which may limit how much of the nighttime effects you’ll actually see. Some guests report that during the summer, with normal (early) closing times, “there’s not much chance” to see the glowing effects.
The Extended Evening Hours benefit (when the park stays open until 8 PM) is not available to everyone — it’s typically limited to certain Disney Resort hotel guests.
There are also special-ticketed or member-only events (like “Moonlight Magic”) where Animal Kingdom is open later, allowing for more after-dark experiences.

Risks / Uncertainties:

Even when the hours are extended, there’s no guarantee that *every* night will feature Tree of Life Awakenings. Some reports note that the show runs “most nights,” not all.
Operating hours are subject to change based on seasonal demand, staffing, and park strategy, so the extended hours in 2025 or 2026 may not always be consistent.
Because some of the evening access is tied to perks (like Extended Evening Hours), if you’re planning a trip *just* to see Pandora at night or Tree of Life projections, you’ll want to double-check your dates and park hours in the My Disney Experience app or a reliable touring calendar.

Bottom Line / Outlook:

Yes — there *is* real hope for seeing Pandora at night and the Tree of Life Awakenings again outside of rare one-off events, especially now that Extended Evening Hours have been reintroduced. But it's still not a guaranteed “evening-park-every-night” situation for all guests. For spring and summer: you may get lucky on the nights with 8 PM closing (if you're eligible), but during the height of summer with later sunsets, the overlap may be tight.

If I were planning a trip now with the goal of seeing the nighttime Pandora glow or the Tree of Life projections, I would:

Check the Animal Kingdom hours for my travel dates in the My Disney Experience app or on Disney’s calendar — specifically look for 8 PM closing nights.
If possible, stay at a hotel that qualifies for Extended Evening Hours, so you can make the most of the after-dark time.
Plan to be in Pandora and near the Tree of Life as darkness approaches so you maximize chances to catch the lighting effects.

In short: they are bringing back night experiences, but not in a way that's fully consistent for every guest or every night — especially not in peak summer when days are long. If your trip is flexible, targeting times when Disney offers extended hours will give you your best shot.

Pandora at Night

More Orlando Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions