Global InformationRivers of Light information
| Rivers of Light | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Disney's Animal Kingdom | |
| Name | Rivers of Light: We Are One (2019–2020) |
| Area | Asia |
| Status | Removed |
| Soft opening date | February 10, 2017 [1][2][3] |
| Opening date | February 17, 2017 (original) May 24, 2019 (We Are One) |
| Closing date | May 23, 2019 (original) March 15, 2020 (We Are One) |
| Replaced | The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic |
| Replaced by | Disney KiteTails |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Live hydrotechnic show |
| Designer | Walt Disney Creative Entertainment |
| Theme | Natural world |
| Music | Don L. Harper, Mark Mancina, and Dave Metzger |
| Audience capacity | 5,000[4] per show |
 FastPass+ available | |
 Wheelchair accessible | |
Rivers of Light was a nighttime show at Disney's Animal Kingdom in the Walt Disney World Resort. Located in the park's Discovery River lagoon between Discovery Island and Expedition Everest,[5] the show featured water fountains, mist screens, floating lanterns, fire effects, lasers, lights, fog, projection mapping, and until September 2018, live performers.[6] Lakeside seating areas were able to accommodate 5,000 guests.[4]
Rivers of Light was initially developed as a nighttime parade by Steve Davison, but due to the need of infrastructural changes to Discovery Island to necessitate better viewing that would diminish the horticultural character of the area, this version of the project was cancelled in 2008.[7] Following the debut of World of Color, the concept for Rivers of Light was revisited and took on the form of a nighttime lagoon show; it first announced in October 2013 as part of the park's expansion plans, which included Pandora–The World of Avatar and a nocturnal version of Kilimanjaro Safaris.[8][9] Construction began in 2014.[10] Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Creative Entertainment designed the show along with longtime collaborators Michael Curry, Don L. Harper and Mark Mancina.[11]
The show was originally set to premiere on April 22, 2016, Earth Day and the park's 18th anniversary.[12][13] However, on April 5, 2016, it was announced that the show had been delayed and would not be able to meet the April 22 premiere date.[14][15][16][17][18] A portion of the show was previewed to media on April 19, 2016, when it was also announced that The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic, a limited-engagement show based on the 2016 live-action film, would fill the space of the delayed Rivers of Light night-time show.[19][20] The show ran until September 5, 2016.[21] On February 9, 2017, it was announced that Rivers of Light would open on February 17, 2017.[22] The show began previews on February 10, 2017.[1][2][3]
A retooled version of the show featuring animated characters, titled Rivers of Light: We Are One, debuted on Memorial Day Weekend 2019.[23] The show was suspended in March 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and in July 2020, park officials confirmed rumors that the show would be retired.[24]
- ^ a b "Soft Opening for Rivers of Light Happening Tonight!". February 10, 2017. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
- ^ a b "Rivers of Light News". www.wdwmagic.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
- ^ a b "Just In! Rivers of Light at Animal Kingdom, Soft Opening! See the Show Below! #RiversOfLight". The Main Street Mouse. February 10, 2017. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
- ^ a b Munarriz, Rick (March 12, 2016). "Is Disney World Making a 5,000-Seat Mistake?". The Motley Fool. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
- ^ Mauney, Matt (August 16, 2015). "Not just Avatar taking shape behind walls of Animal Kingdom". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 12, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ^ Fickley-Baker, Jennifer (August 16, 2015). "New Details Released on 'Rivers of Light,' Sunset Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on August 17, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ^ Hill, Jim (March 23, 2008). "Monday Mouse Watch : It's lights out for DAK's "Rivers of Light" parade, while Beastly Kingdomme makes a character-based comeback". Archived from the original on February 9, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
- ^ Garcia, Jason; Dewayne Bevil (October 12, 2013). "Disney details "Avatar" land for Animal Kingdom". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
- ^ Slater, Shawn (May 2, 2014). ""Rivers of Light" Nighttime Spectacular Coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom". Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ^ Lowe, Kinsey (August 15, 2015). "Star Wars Land Coming To Disney Parks, 4 Star Wars Attractions Detailed, And More – D23". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ^ "Rivers of Light debuts April 22 at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Attractions Magazine. March 2, 2016. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
- ^ Fickley-Baker, Jennifer. "First Look: 'Rivers of Light' To Debut April 22 at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
- ^ Ferrell, Ian (March 10, 2016). "Source Confirms Rivers of Light Soft Opening & More Details - Ride Vine". Ride Vine. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
- ^ Smith, Thomas. "Update on Nighttime Experiences at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on April 5, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ Bevil, Dewayne. "Disney: 'Rivers of Light,' other Animal Kingdom attractions delayed". OrlandoSentinel.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ "Rivers of Light and nighttime attractions delayed". Attractions Magazine. April 5, 2016. Archived from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ Fernandez, Surya (April 5, 2016). "Opening date delayed for Rivers of Light, nighttime experiences at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Inside the Magic. Archived from the original on April 7, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ Busdeker, Jon (April 5, 2016). "Rivers of Light opening at Disney's Animal Kingdom postponed". WESH. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ Bevil, Dewayne. "Disney previews 'Rivers of Light,' announces 'Jungle Book' show". OrlandoSentinel.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
- ^ Fickley-Baker, Jennifer. "Disney's Animal Kingdom Awakens at Night With New 'Jungle Book' Show, Parties & Attractions Starting Memorial Day Weekend". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
- ^ Pedicini, Sandra (August 16, 2016). "Disney's Animal Kingdom nights get shorter as Rivers of Light faces delays". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
- ^ Fickley-Baker, Jennifer. "'Rivers of Light' Officially Opens February 17 at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ^ Slater, Shawn (April 22, 2019). "Updated 'Rivers of Light: We Are One' Show Debuts This Summer at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ Tuttle, Brittani (July 16, 2020). "Disney World permanently closes of Rivers of Light, Primeval Whirl, Stitch's Great Escape". Attractions Magazine. Archived from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.