Disney’s Animal Kingdom closes half its old Rivers of Light seats

Shrub-filled planters now block the half of Animal Kingdom’s Discovery River Amphitheater that faces Theater in the Wild, six days before Santa’s Holiday Grove is due “near Theater in the Wild.”

A big chunk of Animal Kingdom’s lakeside seating is off-limits, and the hedges did it.

Half of the Discovery River Amphitheater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is now closed to guests, BlogMickey reported Saturday, Nov. 7. The closed side is the one facing Theater in the Wild, home of Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! The side facing Expedition Everest is still open.

Instead of construction walls, Disney used rolling planters packed with tall shrubs. They form a living wall around the upper plaza, running from near the Finding Nemo theater entrance along the path toward the Discovery Island bridge.

That puts the benches, fans and umbrella-shaded rows on that side out of reach. BlogMickey saw no work, equipment or decorations behind the planters.

Disney hasn’t said why. BlogMickey’s best guess is Santa’s Holiday Grove, Animal Kingdom’s new Santa spot. Disney’s holiday foodie guide lists the Grove “Near Theater in the Wild,” and the closed half sits right across the walkway. The holiday season starts Nov. 13, six days from now.

Which half of the Discovery River Amphitheater is closed?

The half nearest Theater in the Wild. The Everest side still has its stone bench seating, and BlogMickey noted it now comes with a clear view of the closed half.

That closed side is also where the shade went. WDWNT reported in July that Disney put 12 blue umbrellas in the section outside Theater in the Wild, drilled right through some of the benches. So you can still sit down with a snack. You’ll just have fewer seats, and fewer shady ones.

Disney hasn’t said how long the closure will last.

Is a show affected by the amphitheater closure?

Not a scheduled one. No show has run in the amphitheater since Disney KiteTails ended Sept. 30, 2022, WDWNT has reported. These days guests mostly use the seats to eat and rest.

Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! plays inside Theater in the Wild, across the walkway. BlogMickey didn’t report any change to it.

There is one wandering act. In January, Attractions Magazine spotted a guitar-playing Dino Institute “intern” roaming the seats and singing to families, including songs from The Lion King. It isn’t clear whether he still plays there.

Separately, Disney filed a construction permit for Theater in the Wild on Oct. 27, listing only “General Construction” by MLC Theming, Disney Fanatic reported, citing WDWNT. The permit runs through Oct. 27, 2027. Disney hasn’t announced any change to the Nemo show.

What is Santa’s Holiday Grove at Animal Kingdom?

It’s Santa’s new home in the park. He spent the last two holiday seasons at Restaurantosaurus in DinoLand U.S.A., which closed in February to make way for Tropical Americas, BlogMickey noted.

Disney says guests follow “a magical trail with intermittent snow flurries” to meet Santa and share their wish lists. There’s a holiday soundtrack, too.

The Grove has its own snack menu from Nov. 13 to Jan. 3, per the Disney Parks Blog’s holiday foodie guide. New items include a Peppermint-Chocolate Cookie Dough Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich, a Cookie Butter Milkshake, a Pistachio Cookie and a Santa Hat Croissant.

We covered the Grove’s announcement Oct. 7 in “Santa’s Holiday Grove brings snow flurries to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.” Disney still hasn’t confirmed its exact spot.

What was the Discovery River Amphitheater built for?

Rivers of Light, Animal Kingdom’s nighttime show on the water. It was supposed to open in 2016 but got delayed, so The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic opened the venue that summer instead, Attractions Magazine noted.

Rivers of Light finally debuted Feb. 17, 2017, according to D23. An updated version, Rivers of Light: We Are One, premiered May 24, 2019. The show went dark when the parks closed in March 2020 and never came back.

Disney KiteTails moved in for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary on Oct. 1, 2021. It flew its last show Sept. 30, 2022, WDWNT reported.

Since then, the seats have mostly worked as Animal Kingdom’s biggest picnic area. If BlogMickey’s guess is right, the next headliner wears a red suit.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• BlogMickey (Nov. 7, 2026), the closure, the planters, which half closed and the Santa’s Holiday Grove theory

• Disney Parks Blog (Oct. 26, 2026), the Grove’s “Near Theater in the Wild” listing and menu dates

• BlogMickey (Oct. 6, 2026), Santa’s Holiday Grove details and Santa’s Restaurantosaurus history

• WDW News Today (July 27, 2026), the 12 umbrellas and the post-KiteTails use of the seats

• WDW News Today (April 2023), KiteTails’ start and end dates

• Attractions Magazine (Jan. 2, 2026), the Dino Institute performer and the 2016 Jungle Book show

• Disney Fanatic (Oct. 30, 2026), the Theater in the Wild permit, first reported by WDWNT

• D23 (Nov. 7, 2026), Rivers of Light’s debut and the We Are One premiere (Disney A to Z entry)

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