| Park hours | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Early Theme Park Entry from 7:30 AM for resort guests) |
| Weather | High 79°F, low 74°F, light rain, 100% chance of rain |
| Lightning Lane | Multi Pass $19; Avatar Flight of Passage Single Pass $18 |
| Rope-drop pick | Kali River Rapids: about 6 min at opening vs. 39 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | 10 AM–1 PM (headliners average 37 min) |
Good morning, Animal Kingdom adventurers! Today, Thursday, October 8, 2026, the park opens at 8:00 AM, with Early Theme Park Entry for Disney resort guests starting at 7:30 AM. Be prepared for light rain and cooler temperatures, with a 100% chance of rain throughout the day as the high reaches 79 degrees and the low is 74 degrees.
Rope drop plan
For those looking to get a head start, Kali River Rapids typically sees a wait of 6 minutes at opening, saving you 29 minutes compared to its typical peak of 39 minutes. Kilimanjaro Safaris usually has a 20-minute wait at opening, saving 21 minutes from its typical peak of 43 minutes. Na'vi River Journey typically opens with a 16-minute wait, saving 20 minutes from its typical peak of 45 minutes. Note that all these attractions are also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass, so you may not need to rope drop them.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
Consider a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for $19 to bypass standby lines on select attractions. For individual purchases, Avatar Flight of Passage is available as a Lightning Lane Single Pass for $18.
Shows and timing
Catch early performances like Animal Encounters: Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight at 8:15 AM or DiVine at 8:35 AM. Eco-Rhythmics also has an early show at 8:35 AM. Later in the morning, Festival of the Lion King begins at 10:00 AM, and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond! starts at 11:00 AM.
Plan your day
- If you are a Disney resort guest, take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry starting at 7:30 AM.
- Dress for the weather; light rain is expected all day, with a high of 79 degrees and a low of 74 degrees.
- Expect the busiest period between 10 AM and 1 PM, when headliner waits typically average 37 minutes, with Avatar Flight of Passage, Na'vi River Journey, and Kilimanjaro Safaris usually being the worst.
- Yesterday, Avatar Flight of Passage averaged 25 minutes with a peak of 50 minutes, Na'vi River Journey averaged 21 minutes with a peak of 45 minutes, and Kilimanjaro Safaris averaged 16 minutes with a peak of 50 minutes.
For a personalized ride order, check out our free day planner.
Hours, prices and the forecast are as of 6:31 AM ET on October 8. Disney can change them during the day.