What time does Disney World open? Most Disney World theme parks open at 8 or 9 AM. Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom often open at 8 AM, while EPCOT and Hollywood Studios usually open at 9 AM. Closing times change more: Animal Kingdom closes first, around 6 to 8 PM, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios usually close at 9 PM, and Magic Kingdom closes anywhere from 6 to 11 PM. If you stay at a Disney resort hotel, you can get in 30 minutes early.
Park hours change by day and by season, so this guide shows the usual hours for each park, what changes them, and how to check the exact times for your trip.
Disney World Park Hours at a Glance
| Park | Usually opens | Usually closes | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Kingdom | 8 or 9 AM | 6 PM to 11 PM | Closes at 6 PM on Halloween and Christmas party nights |
| EPCOT | 9 AM | 9 PM | The most predictable hours of the four parks |
| Hollywood Studios | 9 AM | 9 PM | Sometimes closes at 7 PM on Jollywood Nights party nights |
| Animal Kingdom | 8 AM | 6 PM to 8 PM | Closes the earliest, mostly because of the animals |
| Disney Springs | 10 AM | About 11 PM | Some restaurants and bars stay open later |
Disney posts the exact hours for every day on its official park hours calendar and in the My Disney Experience app.
What Time Does Disney World Open?
Disney World parks open between 8 and 9 AM on most days. Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are the parks most likely to open at 8 AM. EPCOT and Hollywood Studios almost always open at 9 AM. On busy days, like holiday weeks, some parks open earlier.
What Time Is Early Entry at Disney World?
Early Theme Park Entry lets Disney resort hotel guests into any of the four parks 30 minutes before regular opening, every day. So if Magic Kingdom opens at 9 AM, resort guests can get in at 8:30 AM. Guests at some other hotels on Disney property, like the Swan and Dolphin, also get Early Entry. Disney has said this perk continues through 2027.
That extra 30 minutes is one of the best reasons to stay on property. You can usually ride one or two big rides before the park even opens to everyone else. If you’re deciding where to stay, see Is It Worth Staying at a Disney World Resort?
What Time Does Disney World Close?
Disney World parks usually close between 6 and 9 PM, and Magic Kingdom can stay open until 10 or 11 PM. Here is what changes closing time the most:
- Special parties: On Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party nights (August to October) and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party nights (November and December), Magic Kingdom closes to regular guests at 6 PM. On Jollywood Nights, Hollywood Studios can close at 7 PM.
- Busy seasons: Parks often stay open later during holiday weeks, spring break, and summer.
- Special events: runDisney race weekends and private events can change hours for a single park.
Closing time means the gates close to new guests and rides stop letting people in line. If you’re already in line when the park closes, you still get to ride. Shops on Main Street U.S.A. usually stay open a little after closing, too.
What Are Extended Evening Hours at Disney World?
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours keep one park open for about two extra hours after regular closing on select nights. Only guests at Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resorts, plus the Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve, and Shades of Green, can stay. For example, in October 2026, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios had extra hours from 9 to 11 PM on select nights, and Animal Kingdom stayed open from 6 to 8 PM on a few nights. Value and Moderate resort guests don’t get this perk.
Disney World Park Hours by Park
Magic Kingdom Hours
Magic Kingdom usually opens at 8 or 9 AM and has the widest range of closing times, from 6 PM on party nights to 10 or 11 PM on busy days. The Happily Ever After fireworks run near the end of the night, recently around 9:30 PM, but the time moves with the seasons. Check the app the day you go. If you visit on a party night, plan to see the fireworks on a different day.
EPCOT Hours
EPCOT has the steadiest hours at Disney World, usually 9 AM to 9 PM. The Luminous nighttime show over World Showcase Lagoon happens right at closing. EPCOT sometimes opens late, around 10 AM, on runDisney race weekends.
Hollywood Studios Hours
Hollywood Studios usually opens at 9 AM and closes at 9 PM. It sometimes opens at 8:30 AM on busy days. Fantasmic is the big nighttime show here, and you can see which shows are worth your time in my guide to the best shows at Hollywood Studios.
Animal Kingdom Hours
Animal Kingdom opens early, usually at 8 AM, and closes first, usually between 6 and 8 PM. The animals are most active in the morning, so this is the park where showing up early pays off the most. Want ideas for your day? See my guide on what to do in Animal Kingdom.
What Time Should You Get to Disney World?
Plan to be at the park gates about 30 to 45 minutes before opening, or before Early Entry if you’re staying at a Disney resort. Getting there early is called rope drop, and it’s the easiest way to ride popular rides with short waits. Leave extra time for parking, security, and the monorail or ferry at Magic Kingdom. Here’s how parking works at Disney World.
What Time Can You Park Hop at Disney World?
You can park hop at any time of day, as long as you have a Park Hopper ticket. The old rule that made you wait until 2 PM is gone. You just need to enter your first park before you hop to the next one. I explain the details in my post on the Disney 2 PM rule.
When Does Disney Post Park Hours?
Disney usually posts park hours about 60 days ahead. Hours can still change after that, and they’re often not final until about two to three weeks before your trip. Check the hours again the week before you go, and again the morning of each park day.
Disney World Park Hours: Your Questions Answered
What time does Disney World open?
Most Disney World parks open at 8 or 9 AM. Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom often open at 8 AM, and EPCOT and Hollywood Studios usually open at 9 AM. Disney resort hotel guests can enter 30 minutes early.
What time does Disney World close?
Animal Kingdom usually closes between 6 and 8 PM, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios usually close at 9 PM, and Magic Kingdom closes between 6 and 11 PM. Magic Kingdom closes at 6 PM on Halloween and Christmas party nights.
What time is Early Entry at Disney World?
Early Theme Park Entry starts 30 minutes before each park opens. If a park opens at 9 AM, Disney resort hotel guests can get in at 8:30 AM. It is offered at all four parks every day.
What time can you park hop at Disney World?
You can park hop at any time of day with a Park Hopper ticket. You just need to enter your first park before hopping to another one.
What time are the fireworks at Magic Kingdom?
The Happily Ever After fireworks run near the end of the night, recently around 9:30 PM, but the time changes with the seasons. There are usually no regular fireworks for day guests on Halloween and Christmas party nights. Check the My Disney Experience app for your date.
What time should I get to Disney World?
Try to be at the park gates 30 to 45 minutes before opening, or before Early Entry if you stay at a Disney resort. Give yourself extra time for parking, security, and the monorail or ferry at Magic Kingdom.
Final Thoughts on Disney World Park Hours
So, what time does Disney World open? Usually 8 or 9 AM, with Disney resort guests getting in 30 minutes early. Animal Kingdom closes first, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios close around 9 PM, and Magic Kingdom often stays open the latest. Hours change by day, so check Disney’s calendar a week before your trip and again each morning. For help picking your dates, see my guide to the best time to visit Disney World.
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