Disney's Rivers of Light Viewing Tips

The Rivers of Light nighttime experience at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park is spectacular!  As with any nighttime experience at the Walt Disney World Resort, advanced planning and insider information is key to maximizing your experience. 

There are a few options that you can choose from. These include: standby seating, Fast Pass+ seating, Rivers of Light dining package VIP seating, etc.  Here are a few tips to consider for viewing before you head to the show--

Seating Options. During the advanced planning of your Disney vacation you will want to consider how you want to see this new popular nighttime spectacular. For some of the best seating options with least amount of wait time, I recommend reserving a Rivers of Light Dining Package at Tusker House or Tiffins.  The next best option is getting a Fast Pass+ reservation in advance. This will still offer great views with no additional cost, but the wait to get into the theater may be a little longer. If you want to save your Fast Pass for a ride or attraction then you can certainly arrive in advance and wait in the standby line for the show. 

Theater Entrances: Know before you go. There are two main entrances into the theater, one in Asia, near Expedition Everest, and the other in DinoLand U.S.A. The Asia entrance is reserved for FastPass+ and dining package vouchers only. The DinoLand entrance is standby with some dining package seating as well, though it seems to a lesser extent than the Asia side. If you have either a FastPass+ or dining package you are guaranteed a seat up until about 5-10 minutes before show time.  The advantage of both of these options is to not have to get to the theater 45 minutes before showtime just to get a seat of any kind. Both options are a recommended timesaver!

Where are the best seats? As far as seating in the amphitheatre, there isn’t really a bad view because the show moves around quite a bit. Everyone gets a chance to see it all. 

Alternative Viewing Areas to Consider. Keep in mind, the amphitheater isn’t the only place you can see Rivers of Light. There are a few other places to view the show around the lagoon!  The pros to these spots are you will not have to worry about waiting in line for hours and you will still get a good view of the show.

A few alternatives to the theater:

1. The bridge between Expedition Everest and DinoLand
2. The bridge from Discovery Island to DinoLand,
3. Along the walkway between Yaki and Yeti Restaurant and Expedition Everest.

You may hear that you can also get waterside seating at Flame Tree BBQ. But keep in mind that this is only an option when this counter service location is open during show time, which is rare.

I hope you enjoy the Rivers of Light show as much as I did on my recent trip! The Whitney World Travel team would be honored to help assist you with the planning of your next Disney World vacation. 

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About the Author:

Savannah Blackmar, Travel Advisor
A traveler & planner at heart, Savannah loves connecting her passions together by helping clients create amazing memories through travel. Growing up in a military family, Savannah was able to experience first hand how new places and experiences bring loved ones closer together. Now a newlywed, she enjoys seeking out new adventures with her husband and pup. A romantic at heart, Savannah focuses on helping plan amazing destination weddings and honeymoons for Whitney World Travel clients. Savannah is a graduate of Texas State University and a proud alumnus of Alpha Delta Pi. ​