Magic Kingdom park hours range in 2023, relying upon crowds, seasonal occasions, and extra. This information covers regular opening & closing occasions, plus Early Entry, Prolonged Evenings, After Hours, rope drop, fireworks, and extra. Moreover, we’ve got suggestions & methods for beating the crowds and avoiding occasions of day when attendance is highest.
Park hours are added to DisneyWorld.com’s 5-day calendar on a rolling foundation, usually 60 days prematurely. Walt Disney World additionally has a month-to-month calendar that isn’t as simple to seek out, and this presently has hours dumped in ‘batches’ a lot additional prematurely. Talking of which, these month-to-month calendars comprise placeholder hours that may be prolonged based mostly on attendance and resort occupancy projections.
For some time, the preliminary launch of park hours was virtually meaningless, as each single park and date would see extensions. That is less-pronounced of a apply now, and the hours which might be launched are very often the ultimate hours. With that stated, Disney nonetheless provides hours–they simply are much less prone to happen throughout the board. Now, it’s extra focused to weekends, holidays, and particular days when the parks are forecast to be busier. We’ve seen precisely this state of affairs play out round Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Yr’s, MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Spring Break, Easter, and so forth.
Most dates, Magic Kingdom is open from 9 am till 11 pm. Nevertheless, there are another working hours which might be attainable:
- 8 am till 10 pm (Principally ‘After Hours’ occasions–see under)
- 9 am till 10 pm (Least busy dates–widespread within the low season)
- 8 am till 4:30 pm (Solid Member Service Celebration occasions–very uncommon)
- 8 am till 6 pm (Get together Season–see under)
Greater than another park, Magic Kingdom has shorter hours than prior to now. Whereas 2023 is already bettering as in comparison with the final two years–when the park extra generally closed at 10 pm–its hours are nonetheless brief as in comparison with historic precedent.
Magic Kingdom used to often function from 8 am till 12 am, with Further Magic Hours even later. This schedule remains to be widespread at Disneyland, however not Magic Kingdom. Right here’s hoping that modifications as staffing shortages relent all through 2023.
As famous above, there are lots of dates when Magic Kingdom closes even earlier. This largest exception is “Get together Season” in Magic Kingdom, which runs from mid-August by late December throughout days when Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Get together (MNSSHP) or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Get together (MVMCP) particular occasions are held within the evenings.
On these dates, Magic Kingdom opens at 8 am and closes to common ticket holders at 6 pm. MNSSHP and MVMCP are separately-ticketed, that means that solely those that bought occasion tickets are in a position to keep in Magic Kingdom after 6 pm. (These events run till midnight.) In different phrases, the park stays open 5 hours later to common company when MNSSHP and MVMCP usually are not held.
Most guests behave accordingly, making the intuitive alternative and visiting Magic Kingdom on non-party days once they can spend 4-5 further hours within the park. In consequence, Magic Kingdom is considerably much less busy throughout the day time hours on dates when events are held within the night, and way more busy on non-party days.
All through Get together Season, Magic Kingdom often has 9/10 or 10/10 crowd ranges on non-party days, with Saturdays being the worst. On get together days, Magic Kingdom usually has 1/10 to 4/10 crowd ranges. That quantities to a mean wait time differential of about 20 to half-hour per experience, which provides up over the course of the day to the purpose you can accomplish extra within the party-shortened days when Magic Kingdom closes at 6 pm.
This identical dynamic doesn’t exist round one other exception, which is dates of 2023 After Hours at Magic Kingdom. That’s largely as a result of these are a lot much less frequent and solely see Magic Kingdom shut one hour earlier–which is absolutely offset by opening an hour earlier.
At the moment, After Hours at Magic Kingdom is simply scheduled for Winter and Spring 2023, however given their reputation and what number of dates are already offered out, we count on many extra dates within the months to return. After Hours at Magic Kingdom is a pleasant spluge, however we far want After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios–particularly for individuals who have already got entry to Prolonged Night Hours at Magic Kingdom.
Talking of which, there are two choices for expanded park hours at Magic Kingdom in the event you’re staying in an on-site resort. These are Early Entry and Prolonged Night Hours, which change Further Magic Hours within the morning and at night time. For those who’re unfamiliar with the ins and outs of the morning possibility, study extra in our Information to Early Entry at Walt Disney World.
Early Entry is commonly underwhelming at Magic Kingdom. That is for a few causes. First, Magic Kingdom is the preferred park at Walt Disney World, and plenty of company (mistakenly) assume Early Entry is most “vital” right here and prioritize it accordingly. Second, Magic Kingdom normally opens at 9 am, and that makes Early Entry extra approachable for households–it’s simpler to be up and out the door in time for that. To that time, Early Entry is way more helpful on these 8 am park opening days, as fewer individuals can or will benefit from the 7:30 am beginning time for Early Entry.
Prolonged Night Hours are usually held at Magic Kingdom on Wednesday–typically Tuesday. This 2-hour providing for choose on-site resort company is vastly advantageous, and you may accomplish nearly each high-profile attraction throughout that point. (See our Information to Prolonged Night Hours at Walt Disney World for extra about eligibility and technique.)
It’s additionally a pleasant approach to get pleasure from Magic Kingdom, providing a serene expertise that’s an effective way to decompress from the sooner chaos throughout peak season. Prolonged Night Hours is similar to After Hours, albeit shorter and with out the “free” refreshments. The upside is that it doesn’t value an additional $100+ per particular person! (See Magic Kingdom Prolonged Night Hours Photograph Report.)
The timing of Magic Kingdom’s nightly fireworks present varies relying upon the time of dusk. Within the winter when the sundown happens earlier, the fireworks may transfer ahead to between 8 pm and 9 pm. This creates a niche of about 2-3 hours between the tip of the fireworks and park closing.
In the summertime, sundown happens later (clearly). Consequently, the fireworks should observe swimsuit and there normally isn’t a lot time between the conclusion of the fireworks and park closing. This results in crushing crowds all leaving Magic Kingdom on the identical time, which is depressing and chaotic. (See Avoiding Magic Kingdom’s Night Exodus for pictures exhibiting how unhealthy this will get.)
Whatever the timing of fireworks v. park closing, you possibly can keep away from this Magic Kingdom mass exodus just by lingering. One of many causes we suggest New Fantasyland in our Magic Kingdom Fireworks Viewing Information is as a result of that space has lighter crowds and makes it simpler for leaping in line for Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare proper after the fireworks.
In contrast to the opposite parks, it’s not widespread for desk service eating places to supply Advance Eating Reservations proper up till park closing at Magic Kingdom. No less than, not when the park closes at 11 pm. Often, Be Our Visitor Restaurant and different standard eating areas settle for ADRs till 9:30 pm, and even the final company out of these eating places are normally leaving shortly after park closing–no later than the ultimate company off Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare.
For those who’re anxious about transportation again to your resort, don’t. Formally, transportation to the theme parks begins roughly 2 hours previous to park opening time and runs till roughly 1 hour after the parks shut. That is the data you’ll discover on Walt Disney World’s web site, and what Solid Members will inform you.
Unofficially, transportation after park closing continues so long as persons are contained in the park. As a lot as Kingdom Keepers IRL would possibly sound, Disney gained’t go away you stranded at a park. Typically it’s nearer to 2 hours after the parks shut when transportation ends. Solid Members are methodical about clearing the parks and radio to bus drivers to ensure they stick round till the entire stragglers are accounted for.
We have now left Walt Disney World theme parks lengthy after park closing many, many occasions and have by no means had a problem. If something, delaying departure so long as attainable is the perfect plan of action. You get to get pleasure from park closing serenity and usually tend to have a bus all to your self!
Most lands of Magic Kingdom are normally cleared fairly rapidly, apart from Essential Road. You may normally take your time buying on the Emporium and elsewhere, and never have any points. Except you actually drag your toes leaving, the monorail and varied watercraft will normally nonetheless be working once you go away Magic Kingdom. If not, buses will get you wherever you’ll want to go.
For those who’re not eligible for Early Entry, common rope drop (official park opening time) remains to be good at Magic Kingdom as a result of Frontierland and Adventureland usually are not open throughout Early Entry. This makes rope drop alone, or Early Entry plus rope drop an excellent strategy. For those who’re solely eligible for rope drop, doing Frontierland and Adventureland first and saving Fantasyland till later within the day is usually a workable strategy.
There are additionally sufficient worthwhile secondary sights in Magic Kingdom you can spherical out the remainder of your day with enjoyable, low wait reveals and extra. Lots of our smartest and sexiest readers get pleasure from filling out the center of their days by watching Nation Bear Jamboree on repeat. Talking of which, stage reveals like that, plus different leisure and character meet & greets typically open late and shut early, so plan accordingly.
Except for the primary couple of hours and the very finish of the night time, crowds are pretty constant all through the day in Magic Kingdom. In contrast to Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, there’s not a day and night lull–Magic Kingdom has probably the most to do and has the very best attendance of all 4 parks.
There’s additionally no actual zig-when-they-zag technique like at EPCOT, the place you are able to do the park “backwards.” Magic Kingdom is less complicated to navigate due to its format and extra compact measurement. Do the preferred sights very first thing within the morning or in direction of the tip of the night time–particularly people who attraction to households with young children. Fill in the course of the day with stage reveals, leisure, and less-popular sights. Fairly intuitive from a planning perspective.
In the case of the intersection of technique & park hours, one other nice possibility at Magic Kingdom is Lightning Lanes. Genie+ works higher at Magic Kingdom than another Walt Disney World park, and it’s actually no contest. In My Day Utilizing Genie+ Lightning Lanes at Magic Kingdom, I cowl how a lot I used to be in a position to get accomplished–just about every part.
Due to a excessive worthwhile attraction rely accessible through Lightning Lanes, Magic Kingdom is the one park the place we extremely suggest shopping for Genie Plus. Not solely does it provide the perfect bang-for-buck, nevertheless it’s the least worrying since each attraction normally has Lightning Lane availability till not less than noon. This isn’t attainable on the different parks, particularly Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT the place experience reservations replenish for the preferred sights fairly rapidly.
To that time, for Magic Kingdom technique & planning perception see the next posts:
Finally, that ought to cowl what you’ll want to learn about park hours at Magic Kingdom. Though the usual working schedule is 9 am till 11 pm, there are a ton of exceptions to that all year long–particularly throughout the ‘Get together Season’ months of August by December.
In contrast to the opposite three parks, there isn’t a lot in the best way of counterintuitive crowd-beating technique at Magic Kingdom. Arriving early and staying late don’t do fairly as a lot right here as elsewhere–if something, Early Entry typically isn’t as helpful as many followers would count on. Nonetheless, sound technique utilized all through the day–or shopping for Genie+ to make use of Lightning Lanes–will nonetheless put you better off and can help you accomplish lots throughout a day at Magic Kingdom!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about accommodations on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part you’ll want to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider regular park hours in 2023 at Magic Kingdom? Want to reach very first thing for Early Entry, later within the morning, afternoon, or night? How do you benefit from attendance dynamics at Magic Kingdom to beat the crowds? Do you agree or disagree with something in our information to park hours at Magic Kingdom? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!