diff --git a/test/src/cpp-integration-rest-schema-evolution.cc b/test/src/cpp-integration-rest-schema-evolution.cc
index 830ac714d78..db25b17ab7b 100644
--- a/test/src/cpp-integration-rest-schema-evolution.cc
+++ b/test/src/cpp-integration-rest-schema-evolution.cc
@@ -37,22 +37,24 @@
 #include "tiledb/sm/cpp_api/tiledb_experimental"
 #include "tiledb/sm/rest/rest_client.h"
 
+#include <climits>
 #include <fstream>
 
 using namespace tiledb;
 
-static void create_array(const std::string& array_uri);
-static void write_first_fragment(const std::string& array_uri);
+static void create_array(const Context& ctx, const std::string& array_uri);
+static void write_first_fragment(
+    const Context& ctx, const std::string& array_uri);
 static uint64_t time_travel_destination();
-static void add_attr_b(const std::string& array_uri);
-static void write_second_fragment(const std::string& array_uri);
-static void read_without_time_travel(const std::string& array_uri);
-static void read_with_time_travel(const std::string& array_uri, uint64_t when);
-
-void create_array(const std::string& array_uri) {
-  tiledb::test::VFSTestSetup vfs_test_setup;
-  tiledb::Context ctx{vfs_test_setup.ctx()};
-
+static void add_attr_b(const Context& ctx, const std::string& array_uri);
+static void write_second_fragment(
+    const Context& ctx, const std::string& array_uri);
+static void read_without_time_travel(
+    const Context& ctx, const std::string& array_uri);
+static void read_with_time_travel(
+    const Context& ctx, const std::string& array_uri, uint64_t when);
+
+void create_array(const Context& ctx, const std::string& array_uri) {
   auto obj = tiledb::Object::object(ctx, array_uri);
   if (obj.type() != tiledb::Object::Type::Invalid) {
     tiledb::Object::remove(ctx, array_uri);
@@ -73,12 +75,10 @@ void create_array(const std::string& array_uri) {
   tiledb::Array::create(array_uri, schema);
 }
 
-void write_first_fragment(const std::string& array_uri) {
+void write_first_fragment(const Context& ctx, const std::string& array_uri) {
   std::vector<int32_t> d_data = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4};
   std::vector<int32_t> a_data = {5, 6, 7, 8, 9};
 
-  tiledb::test::VFSTestSetup vfs_test_setup;
-  tiledb::Context ctx{vfs_test_setup.ctx()};
   tiledb::Array array(ctx, array_uri, TILEDB_WRITE);
   tiledb::Query query(ctx, array, TILEDB_WRITE);
   query.set_layout(TILEDB_UNORDERED)
@@ -101,9 +101,7 @@ uint64_t time_travel_destination() {
   return timepoint;
 }
 
-void add_attr_b(const std::string& array_uri) {
-  tiledb::test::VFSTestSetup vfs_test_setup;
-  tiledb::Context ctx{vfs_test_setup.ctx()};
+void add_attr_b(const Context& ctx, const std::string& array_uri) {
   auto attr = tiledb::Attribute::create<int32_t>(ctx, "b");
 
   tiledb::ArraySchemaEvolution ase(ctx);
@@ -111,13 +109,11 @@ void add_attr_b(const std::string& array_uri) {
   ase.array_evolve(array_uri);
 }
 
-void write_second_fragment(const std::string& array_uri) {
+void write_second_fragment(const Context& ctx, const std::string& array_uri) {
   std::vector<int32_t> d_data = {5, 6, 7, 8, 9};
   std::vector<int32_t> a_data = {10, 11, 12, 13, 14};
   std::vector<int32_t> b_data = {15, 16, 17, 18, 19};
 
-  tiledb::test::VFSTestSetup vfs_test_setup;
-  tiledb::Context ctx{vfs_test_setup.ctx()};
   tiledb::Array array(ctx, array_uri, TILEDB_WRITE);
   tiledb::Query query(ctx, array, TILEDB_WRITE);
   query.set_layout(TILEDB_UNORDERED)
@@ -128,13 +124,12 @@ void write_second_fragment(const std::string& array_uri) {
   array.close();
 }
 
-void read_without_time_travel(const std::string& array_uri) {
+void read_without_time_travel(
+    const Context& ctx, const std::string& array_uri) {
   std::vector<int32_t> d_data(10);
   std::vector<int32_t> a_data(10);
   std::vector<int32_t> b_data(10);
 
-  tiledb::test::VFSTestSetup vfs_test_setup;
-  tiledb::Context ctx{vfs_test_setup.ctx()};
   tiledb::Array array(ctx, array_uri, TILEDB_READ);
   tiledb::Query query(ctx, array, TILEDB_READ);
   query.set_data_buffer("d", d_data)
@@ -155,13 +150,12 @@ void read_without_time_travel(const std::string& array_uri) {
   }
 }
 
-void read_with_time_travel(const std::string& array_uri, uint64_t when) {
+void read_with_time_travel(
+    const Context& ctx, const std::string& array_uri, uint64_t when) {
   std::vector<int32_t> d_data(10, INT_MAX);
   std::vector<int32_t> a_data(10, INT_MAX);
   std::vector<int32_t> b_data(10, INT_MAX);
 
-  tiledb::test::VFSTestSetup vfs_test_setup;
-  tiledb::Context ctx{vfs_test_setup.ctx()};
   tiledb::Array array(
       ctx,
       array_uri,
@@ -193,17 +187,18 @@ TEST_CASE(
     "[time-traveling][array-schema][bug][sc35424][rest]") {
   tiledb::test::VFSTestSetup vfs_test_setup;
   auto array_uri{vfs_test_setup.array_uri("test_time_traveling_schema")};
+  auto ctx = vfs_test_setup.ctx();
 
   // Test setup
-  create_array(array_uri);
-  write_first_fragment(array_uri);
+  create_array(ctx, array_uri);
+  write_first_fragment(ctx, array_uri);
   auto timepoint = time_travel_destination();
-  add_attr_b(array_uri);
-  write_second_fragment(array_uri);
+  add_attr_b(ctx, array_uri);
+  write_second_fragment(ctx, array_uri);
 
   // Check reads with and without time travel.
-  read_without_time_travel(array_uri);
-  read_with_time_travel(array_uri, timepoint);
+  read_without_time_travel(ctx, array_uri);
+  read_with_time_travel(ctx, array_uri, timepoint);
 }
 
 TEST_CASE(
diff --git a/test/src/unit-capi-config.cc b/test/src/unit-capi-config.cc
index 91bd1a5d648..d943787a4ce 100644
--- a/test/src/unit-capi-config.cc
+++ b/test/src/unit-capi-config.cc
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ void check_save_to_file() {
   ss << "rest.curl.buffer_size 524288\n";
   ss << "rest.curl.verbose false\n";
   ss << "rest.http_compressor any\n";
-  ss << "rest.load_enumerations_on_array_open true\n";
+  ss << "rest.load_enumerations_on_array_open false\n";
   ss << "rest.load_metadata_on_array_open true\n";
   ss << "rest.load_non_empty_domain_on_array_open true\n";
   ss << "rest.retry_count 25\n";
diff --git a/test/src/unit-request-handlers.cc b/test/src/unit-request-handlers.cc
index 1adad90eb76..5480e86b0f4 100644
--- a/test/src/unit-request-handlers.cc
+++ b/test/src/unit-request-handlers.cc
@@ -126,11 +126,10 @@ struct HandleConsolidationPlanRequestFx : RequestHandlerFx {
 TEST_CASE_METHOD(
     HandleLoadArraySchemaRequestFx,
     "tiledb_handle_load_array_schema_request - no enumerations",
-    "[request_handler][load_array_schema]") {
+    "[request_handler][load_array_schema][default]") {
   auto stype = GENERATE(SerializationType::JSON, SerializationType::CAPNP);
 
   create_array();
-  REQUIRE(cfg_.set("rest.load_enumerations_on_array_open", "false").ok());
   auto schema_response =
       call_handler(serialization::LoadArraySchemaRequest(cfg_), stype);
   auto schema = std::get<0>(schema_response);
@@ -148,10 +147,11 @@ TEST_CASE_METHOD(
 TEST_CASE_METHOD(
     HandleLoadArraySchemaRequestFx,
     "tiledb_handle_load_array_schema_request - load enumerations",
-    "[request_handler][load_array_schema][with-enumerations][default]") {
+    "[request_handler][load_array_schema][with-enumerations]") {
   auto stype = GENERATE(SerializationType::JSON, SerializationType::CAPNP);
 
   create_array();
+  REQUIRE(cfg_.set("rest.load_enumerations_on_array_open", "true").ok());
   auto schema_response =
       call_handler(serialization::LoadArraySchemaRequest(cfg_), stype);
   auto schema = std::get<0>(schema_response);
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ TEST_CASE_METHOD(
     "tiledb_handle_load_array_schema_request - multiple schemas",
     "[request_handler][load_array_schema][schema-evolution]") {
   auto stype = GENERATE(SerializationType::JSON, SerializationType::CAPNP);
+  std::string load_enums = GENERATE("true", "false");
 
   create_array();
 
@@ -181,18 +182,24 @@ TEST_CASE_METHOD(
   all_schemas.push_back(schema_add_attribute("c"));
   all_schemas.push_back(schema_add_attribute("d"));
 
+  REQUIRE(cfg_.set("rest.load_enumerations_on_array_open", load_enums).ok());
   auto schema_response =
       call_handler(serialization::LoadArraySchemaRequest(cfg_), stype);
   auto schema = std::get<0>(schema_response);
-  REQUIRE(schema->has_enumeration("enmr"));
-  REQUIRE(schema->get_loaded_enumeration_names().size() == 1);
-  REQUIRE(schema->get_loaded_enumeration_names()[0] == "enmr");
-  REQUIRE(schema->get_enumeration("enmr") != nullptr);
+  if (load_enums == "true") {
+    REQUIRE(schema->has_enumeration("enmr"));
+    REQUIRE(schema->get_loaded_enumeration_names().size() == 1);
+    REQUIRE(schema->get_loaded_enumeration_names()[0] == "enmr");
+    REQUIRE(schema->get_enumeration("enmr") != nullptr);
+  }
   // The latest schema should be equal to the last applied evolution.
   tiledb::test::schema_equiv(*schema, *all_schemas.back());
 
-  // Validate all array schemas returned from the request.
-  for (int i = 0; const auto& s : std::get<1>(schema_response)) {
+  // Validate schemas returned from the request in the order they were created.
+  auto r_all_schemas = std::get<1>(schema_response);
+  std::map<std::string, shared_ptr<ArraySchema>> resp(
+      r_all_schemas.begin(), r_all_schemas.end());
+  for (int i = 0; const auto& s : resp) {
     tiledb::test::schema_equiv(*s.second, *all_schemas[i++]);
   }
 }
@@ -468,7 +475,8 @@ shared_ptr<ArraySchema> HandleLoadArraySchemaRequestFx::schema_add_attribute(
   tiledb::ArraySchemaEvolution ase(ctx);
   auto attr = tiledb::Attribute::create<int32_t>(ctx, attr_name);
   ase.add_attribute(attr);
-  auto evolved = ase.ptr()->array_schema_evolution_->evolve_schema(schema_);
+  // Evolve and update the original schema member variable.
+  schema_ = ase.ptr()->array_schema_evolution_->evolve_schema(schema_);
   // Apply the schema evolution.
   Array::evolve_array_schema(
       this->ctx_.resources(),
@@ -476,10 +484,8 @@ shared_ptr<ArraySchema> HandleLoadArraySchemaRequestFx::schema_add_attribute(
       ase.ptr()->array_schema_evolution_,
       this->enc_key_);
 
-  // Update the original schema.
-  schema_ = evolved;
-  // Return the schema for validation.
-  return evolved;
+  // Return the new evolved schema for validation.
+  return schema_;
 }
 
 shared_ptr<ArraySchema> HandleLoadArraySchemaRequestFx::create_schema() {
diff --git a/tiledb/api/c_api/config/config_api_external.h b/tiledb/api/c_api/config/config_api_external.h
index be3d274b01e..d04b453588f 100644
--- a/tiledb/api/c_api/config/config_api_external.h
+++ b/tiledb/api/c_api/config/config_api_external.h
@@ -740,6 +740,10 @@ TILEDB_EXPORT void tiledb_config_free(tiledb_config_t** config) TILEDB_NOEXCEPT;
  *    If true, array non empty domain will be loaded and sent to server together
  *    with the open array <br>
  *    **Default**: true
+ * - `rest.load_enumerations_on_array_open` <br>
+ *    If true, enumerations will be loaded and sent to server together with
+ *    the open array.
+ *    **Default**: false
  * - `rest.use_refactored_array_open` <br>
  *    If true, the new, experimental REST routes and APIs for opening an array
  *    will be used <br>
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/array_schema/CMakeLists.txt b/tiledb/sm/array_schema/CMakeLists.txt
index 25ba11fac8e..1fb605bc9db 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/array_schema/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tiledb/sm/array_schema/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ conclude(object_library)
 #
 commence(object_library array_schema_operations)
     this_target_sources(array_schema_operations.cc)
-    this_target_object_libraries(array_schema generic_tile_io tiledb_crypto)
+    this_target_object_libraries(array array_schema generic_tile_io tiledb_crypto)
 conclude(object_library)
 
 add_test_subdirectory()
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/config/config.cc b/tiledb/sm/config/config.cc
index a22be700d26..680587b7ee0 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/config/config.cc
+++ b/tiledb/sm/config/config.cc
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ const std::string Config::REST_RETRY_DELAY_FACTOR = "1.25";
 const std::string Config::REST_CURL_BUFFER_SIZE = "524288";
 const std::string Config::REST_CAPNP_TRAVERSAL_LIMIT = "2147483648";
 const std::string Config::REST_CURL_VERBOSE = "false";
-const std::string Config::REST_LOAD_ENUMERATIONS_ON_ARRAY_OPEN = "true";
+const std::string Config::REST_LOAD_ENUMERATIONS_ON_ARRAY_OPEN = "false";
 const std::string Config::REST_LOAD_METADATA_ON_ARRAY_OPEN = "true";
 const std::string Config::REST_LOAD_NON_EMPTY_DOMAIN_ON_ARRAY_OPEN = "true";
 const std::string Config::REST_USE_REFACTORED_ARRAY_OPEN = "false";
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/cpp_api/config.h b/tiledb/sm/cpp_api/config.h
index 9ffaabc4abe..f20935cee92 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/cpp_api/config.h
+++ b/tiledb/sm/cpp_api/config.h
@@ -910,7 +910,7 @@ class Config {
    * - `rest.load_enumerations_on_array_open` <br>
    *    If true, enumerations will be loaded and sent to server together with
    *    the open array.
-   *    **Default**: true
+   *    **Default**: false
    * - `rest.load_metadata_on_array_open` <br>
    *    If true, array metadata will be loaded and sent to server together with
    *    the open array <br>
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/serialization/array_schema.cc b/tiledb/sm/serialization/array_schema.cc
index 64e9975082e..cdf0eaae7f7 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/serialization/array_schema.cc
+++ b/tiledb/sm/serialization/array_schema.cc
@@ -2154,7 +2154,7 @@ LoadArraySchemaRequest deserialize_load_array_schema_request(
 }
 
 void serialize_load_array_schema_response(
-    const ArraySchema&, SerializationType, Buffer&) {
+    const Array&, SerializationType, Buffer&) {
   throw ArraySchemaSerializationDisabledException();
 }