Entry Procedure Updated at Disney’s Animal Kingdom: What Guests Need To Know
Walt Disney World Resort guests heading to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park this week may encounter something unusual when entering the park. A large section of the main walkway has been blocked off, creating new traffic patterns at one of the busiest times of the year at The Most Magical Place on Earth.
Crowds Build Ahead of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving week marks the beginning of one of the most crowded travel periods at Walt Disney World Resort. Thousands of guests arrive early for rope drop at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, hoping to experience popular attractions before lines grow longer. Disney Resort hotel guests also receive 30 minutes of Early Theme Park Entry, allowing them to fill ride queues before other guests are permitted to enter the parks.
With so many people funneled toward the Disney Park entrances each morning, even small changes can lead to delays.
Walkway Barricaded at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
According to a recent report from WDWNT, a substantial portion of the entrance walkway at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is now surrounded by barricades. Crews appear to be repairing the damaged concrete in this area, and the work zone occupies a significant amount of space that would typically be used for guest entry.
The concrete in this section is cracked and worn, with damage spreading beyond the section currently under construction. It’s unclear whether the refurbishment area will expand as work continues.
Because this is part of the primary walkway near the park’s turnstiles, the closure is especially noticeable first thing in the morning. Disney cast members typically open all available entry touchpoints at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to move guests into the park as quickly as possible, but the barricades reduce the amount of available space for thousands of guests.
Where the Change Is Located
The blocked-off walkway sits near Guest Relations and the entrance to Rainforest Cafe, an area that normally helps absorb some of the holiday crowd flow. Later in the day, this path often becomes an exit route for guests leaving Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. In the morning, however, it plays a major role in moving rope-drop crowds into the park.
With that space unavailable, Walt Disney World Resort guests should expect slower movement and heavier congestion in the unaffected areas.
What This Means for Your Visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Guests entering the park during the morning rush may be directed to alternative routes and should be prepared for longer wait times than usual. Disney cast members are actively managing traffic, but the reduced walkway space will continue to affect entry flow until the concrete repairs are complete.
Walt Disney World Resort has not announced a timeline for the project, and there is no indication of when the barricades will be removed.
Have you noticed any other changes at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your findings with Disney Dining in the comments!
