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UPDATE: Well, is it opening or not? Disney sends mixed signals about the opening of Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom

*This is an update to the news we brought you this morning about the planned reopening of the Kali River Rapid attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Because of the nature of refurbishments, planned closures, and scheduled maintenance, these times and dates can (and do) change from time to time.

Only this morning, we brought you the news that Disney had switched its planned reopening date of Kali River Rapids from sometime in the middle of December to January 3 of next year.

kali river rapids

Credit: Magicformiles

Well, hold on to your hats because the info has changed once again, and now, at this moment, according to the calendar on Disney World’s website, the attraction–at least for right now–is scheduled to be open beginning December 16, 2021, although times for the attraction vary with the park hours for the day. (Again, that’s barring any further changes!)

Perhaps Anandapur was tossing around ideas about whether to keep its borders closed longer or to reopen them sooner. Tourism may be down, so they’ve decided to open their borders earlier than expected? We aren’t sure. (Darn this pandemic!)

Whatever the reason, the date is different now, but, as mentioned above, the operational hours for the attraction change with the operational hours for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. For example, Kali River Rapids looks to be open on December 18 and December 19, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

But on January 3, 2021, the day we had recently been told would mark the opening of the Kali River Rapids attraction after its scheduled closure, the attraction will open later and close earlier, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

If any further changes to the opening are made and announced, we will update you yet again! Here’s hoping whenever it opens, that you get to enjoy it with your friends and family, whether during the holiday season or into next year!

About Becky Burkett

Becky's from the Lone Star State and has been writing since she was 10 and encountered her first Disney Park when she was 11. It was love at first Main Street Electrical Parade. Joy is blank lined journals, 0.7 mm pens, and all things Walt, Woody and Buzz, PIXAR, Imagineering, Sleeping Beauty (make it blue!), Disney Parks history and EPCOT. At Disney World, you'll find her croonin' with the birdies at the Enchanted Tiki Room or hangin' with Woody and the gang at Toy Story Land. If you can dream, you really can do it!