Planning a trip to Disney World requires almost militant planning. That’s if you want to have any hope of giving your children a magical Disney experience. This extra planning will also go towards making the trip less stressful for you.

Magic Kingdom is the most popular of Disney’s four parks, surpassing Hollywood Studios, EPCOT and Animal Kingdom. This means that it’s the busiest park, but it also means it’s the park that’s open the longest. During busy times, that park may even open an hour earlier than usual.

Knowing the park hours is essential to getting your game plan together. Park hours will inform what time your day starts and how you’ll navigate the park. You don’t want to get there too late to get on any of the rides you want.

This guide will cover the Magic Kingdom’s typical hours and options for gaining early entry.

Table of Contents:

Typical Magic Kingdom Hours

The typical park hours for Magic Kingdom are from 9 am until 10 pm or 11 pm on a normal day. Main Street USA and the front of Cinderella’s Castle are usually open to guests an hour before the official opening. On days they host ticketed events, the typical park hours are 9 am until 6 pm.

It’s important to double-check the park hours on the website during the holiday because the park hours vary. For example, the park stays open later for New Year’s celebrations on December 30th and 31st.

Typical hours for specific rides

All the rides in the park will only be able to open and close when the park does. There is no guarantee, however, that the attractions will open at the earliest time or close at the latest time.

The best way to predict what time the rides will open during your trip is to look at the hours on the previous days. There is no other way to know what time the specific rides will open in advance. You can check this using the My Disney Experience app. You can also use the app to check the closing times of the rides you want.

Extra Hours at Magic Kingdom

Parks hours don’t mean that you have to be out of the park by closing time. This is just the time that guests will no longer be allowed to line up for rides. Those already in the line will be allowed onto the ride, and other guests can remain in the theme park.

Some stores will also close according to the closing time. The stores closer to the front of the park will usually still be open. The nighttime entertainment, Disney Enchantment, may end or start when the park is closing.

Early Theme Park Entry

Guests at Walt Disney World Resort hotels and select hotels will have access to the Early Theme Park Entry. This replaces Extra Magic Hours.

Early Theme Park entry gives guests access to the park half an hour before other guests. This perk is available every day.

At Magic Kingdom, this means access to select rides in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland is included in the Early Theme Park Entry.:

Space Mountain
Peter Pan’s Flight
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
“It’s a Small World”
Astro Orbiter
Mad Tea Party
Mickey’s PhilharMagicBuzz
Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Tomorrowland Speedway
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
The Barnstormer
Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

Early Morning Magic

Early Morning Magic is an early entry ticketed event that grants access to the park at 7.45 am on days when the park is supposed to open at 9 am. This event includes an all-you-can-eat breakfast and access to select rides in Fantasyland. They serve breakfast until 10 am at this event.

You need to already have regular park admission tickets for that day to use Early Morning Magic. This perk is currently unavailable, but keep an eye out for its possible return in 2023.

Extended Evening Hours

Guests at deluxe Disney hotels and a select group of hotels will have access to Extended evening hours. This means that they have the option of enjoying extra hours in the park on select evenings.

This perk is typically available once a week and gives the guests two extra hours after closing time. They don’t open every ride in Magic Kingdom at this time. The open rides include:

Peter Pan’s Flight
Haunted Mansion
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Astro Orbiter
Country Bear Jamboree
“It’s a Small World”
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Mad Tea Party
Space Mountain
Swiss Family Treehouse
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Pirates of the Caribbean
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Tomorrowland Speedway
The Barnstormer
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

Magic Kingdom after-hours events

Magic Kingdom After Hours will be making a comeback in 2023. These are ticketed special events that happen after the typical park hours. Guests for these events can usually enter the park a few hours before the event is scheduled to begin. They’re given wristbands to allow them access to the park for the event. A perk of After Hours events are that there are complimentary drinks, frozen treats, and popcorn. They also host holiday parties like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

As a good rule of thumb, you should avoid visiting the theme park on days that there are After Hours events, Extended Evening Hours, and holiday parties. The park is likely to close earlier than usual on these days.

FAQs

How often are Magic Kingdom Hours updated?

Disney World updates their park hours 75 days in advance. They also update the events’ schedule and inform you of any refurbishments.

When does Magic Kingdom start letting guests in?

Despite park hours, they typically start letting guests in at least half an hour before. This means that you need to be at the park 45 minutes before the stipulated park hours. This will give you the best chance of getting to rides earlier and seeing the rope drop.

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James Brockbank

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A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.

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