Disney World is going through a lot of change, which means Lightning Lane will be changing with it!

Animal Kingdom

If you’ve been keeping up with all the Disney World news lately, then you’ve noticed how much change Disney World is going through — and it’s not slowing down! In case you missed some of the recent news, we’re going to lay it out for you and tell you why there will be Lightning Lane changes coming soon.

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Disney World’s Lightning Lane passes provide access to the park’s “Lightning Lanes” for rides and shows that are included. The service allows guests to bypass Standby lines for select attractions through an extra purchase made on the My Disney Experience app. There are three types of Lightning Lane passes available to buy for all four parks, including Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Lightning Lane Single Pass, and Lightning Lane Premier Pass.

Rise of the Resistance Lightning Lane

So, how will this change? Well, Lightning Lane won’t change directly, but how you use it will change. Let’s take a look at what’s going on and what we should be aware of when it comes to buying the “skip the line” passes.

Lightning Lane

Kali River Rapids

We’re starting in Disney’s Animal Kingdom (spoiler alert: we’re staying there for all these changes). The park’s popular water thrill ride, Kali River Rapids, will be closing for refurbishment on October 6th, 2025. The ride has no official reopening date, but it is expected to be back up and running at some point in December.

Kali River Rapids

With this closure, the remaining rides will become more popular, leaving fewer Lightning Lane passes available at Animal Kingdom! Just something to pay attention to when making plans for the park, especially during the busy season we’re entering. We recommend staying on top of the Lightning Lanes as soon as you can during your vacation. We don’t usually recommend buying Lightning Lane Multi Pass for Animal Kingdom anyway, so here’s another reason to save money!

Kali River Rapids Lightning Lane sign in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom’s NEW Zootopia Show

Disney has a brand-new show coming to Animal Kingdom called Zootopia: Better Zoogether, which will be replacing the It’s Tough to Be a Bug show in the Tree of Life. This new attraction will open on November 7th, 2025. The show is going to offer all sorts of 4D fun as you step into the world of Zootopia. You can expect to see all types of performances that are sure to make you want to “try everything”.

“Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” ©Disney

While Disney has not confirmed a Lightning Lane for the show, It’s Tough to Be a Bug offered one through Lightning Lane Mutli Pass. It will be good for the park to add another attraction to its Lightning Lane lineup, especially while Kali River Rapids is down and there’s DinoLand construction. We’re anticipating that Lightning Lane for this will be pretty popular at the beginning, so you’ll want to make sure you’re ready to book them as soon as you can.

Zoogether Day ©Disney

DINOSAUR Closing

Ah, the tough pill to swallow for many Disney fans. Disney recently announced that DINOSAUR, along with The Dino Institute Shop, Restaurantosaurus, and Restaurantosaurus Lounge, will all be closing on February 2nd, 2026. That means the last day to experience the prehistoric land will be February 1st, 2026.

Dinosaur

With the popular attraction leaving Animal Kingdom, that will be another ride taken off the list. There are two things you’ll want to focus on when it comes to Lightning Lane with this ride. Firstly, if you have a trip planned for 2026, just be aware that this will NOT be available essentially after January. If you have a trip planned for any point in the remainder of 2025, you may want to prioritize this ride.

Dinosaur queue

This will be the last stint for everyone to ride DINOSAUR, so we’re expecting it to get slightly busier for the rest of the year (especially around Halloween and Christmas). Recently, it’s been fairly easy to book a last-minute Lightning Lane for the ride, and the wait times haven’t been too high, but always keep an eye on the My Disney Experience app for the latest.

Tree of Life in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

A lot is happening at Animal Kingdom! We’re excited to see what’s to come eventually, but it just means experiencing some hiccups for the short term. For more Disney news and updates, be sure to follow us at the Disney Food Blog.

This NEW Animal Kingdom Change Made Our Day 10X Better

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What are your thoughts on the changes coming to Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments!