The Complete Guide to Disney World Park Hours

Disney World’s theme park hours can be confusing to navigate. The hours change day-to-day and park-to-park throughout the year. Planning your Disney trip requires knowing the operating hours to maximize your time in the parks.

This complete guide covers everything you need to know about Disney World park hours, including:

• Current Disney World Theme Park Operating Hours
• Peak vs Off-Peak Hours
• Extra Magic Hours
• Factors That Affect Park Hours
• Finding the Operating Hours During Your Trip

Let’s start with a look at the current hours across Disney World.

Current Disney World Theme Park Operating Hours

Disney World’s 4 main theme parks are:

• Magic Kingdom
• Epcot
• Hollywood Studios
• Animal Kingdom

The hours for each park vary day-to-day. Here are the operating hours for upcoming days at the time this was written:

Monday, February 27 Hours:

• Magic Kingdom: 8 AM – 9 PM
• Epcot: 9 AM – 9 PM
• Hollywood Studios: 8 AM – 9 PM
• Animal Kingdom: 8 AM – 7 PM

Tuesday, February 28 Hours:

• Magic Kingdom: 8 AM – 9 PM
• Epcot: 9 AM – 9 PM
• Hollywood Studios: 8 AM – 9 PM
• Animal Kingdom: 8 AM – 8 PM

Wednesday, March 1 Hours:

• Magic Kingdom: 8 AM – 9 PM
• Epcot: 9 AM – 9 PM
• Hollywood Studios: 8 AM – 9 PM
• Animal Kingdom: 8 AM – 8 PM

Thursday, March 2 Hours:

• Magic Kingdom: 8 AM – 9 PM
• Epcot: 9 AM – 9 PM
• Hollywood Studios: 8 AM – 9 PM
• Animal Kingdom: 8 AM – 8 PM

Friday, March 3 Hours:

• Magic Kingdom: 8 AM – 11 PM
• Epcot: 9 AM – 9 PM
• Hollywood Studios: 8 AM – 10 PM
• Animal Kingdom: 8 AM – 8 PM

Saturday, March 4 Hours:

• Magic Kingdom: 8 AM – 11 PM
• Epcot: 9 AM – 9 PM
• Hollywood Studios: 8 AM – 10 PM
• Animal Kingdom: 8 AM – 8 PM

Sunday, March 5 Hours:

• Magic Kingdom: 8 AM – 10 PM
• Epcot: 9 AM – 9 PM
• Hollywood Studios: 8 AM – 9 PM
• Animal Kingdom: 8 AM – 8 PM

As you can see, the hours vary across parks and dates. Next, let’s look at peak versus off-peak hours.

Peak vs Off-Peak Hours

Disney World’s busiest seasons are:

• Summer (June through August)
• Spring Break (March and April)
• Winter Holidays (Christmas through New Year’s)

These are considered peak times when the parks have extended hours. The parks routinely open at 8 or 9 AM and close between 10 PM and midnight.

In the fall after Labor Day through early December, hours are reduced to off-peak times. Parks may open at 9 AM or later and close by 7 or 8 PM.

January through mid-March is a moderate season with hours in between peak and off-peak times.

Here are some example peak hours vs off-peak hours:

Magic Kingdom Hours:

Peak (June): 8 AM – 12 AM

Off-Peak (September): 9 AM – 7 PM

Moderate (February): 8 AM – 9 PM

Animal Kingdom Hours:

Peak (July): 8 AM – 10 PM

Off-Peak (November): 9 AM – 5 PM

Moderate (March): 8 AM – 8 PM

Plan your trip during off-peak times to avoid the biggest crowds. Or consider peak times if you want to maximize park time and don’t mind heavier crowds.

Extra Magic Hours

Disney offers Extra Magic Hours for hotel guests staying at select Disney World resorts. Each day, one of the four parks opens early or stays open late for Disney resort guests only.

Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom typically offer morning Extra Magic Hours. Epcot and Hollywood Studios typically offer evening Extra Magic Hours.

Times can vary but Extra Magic Hours are usually 1-2 hours before or after regular operating times.

Here are some upcoming Extra Magic Hours:

Monday, February 27:

• Morning Extra Magic Hours: Animal Kingdom (7-8 AM)
• Evening Extra Magic Hours: Hollywood Studios (9-11 PM)

Wednesday, March 1:

• Morning Extra Magic Hours: Magic Kingdom (7-8 AM)

Thursday, March 2:

• Evening Extra Magic Hours: Epcot (9-11 PM)

Saturday, March 4:

• Morning Extra Magic Hours: Hollywood Studios (7-8 AM)

Use Extra Magic Hours to your advantage by staying at an eligible Disney resort. Take advantage of lighter crowds during these bonus park hours.

Factors That Affect Park Hours

Disney considers many factors when setting their park hours:

• Time of Year – Hours are longer during peak seasons and reduced during slower off-peak times.

• Day of the Week – Parks are generally open later and longer on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

• Special Events – Hours may be adjusted for special parties, festivals, or nighttime shows like fireworks.

• Weather – Disney may shorten hours or close parks early for severe weather like hurricanes or tropical storms.

• Crowd Levels – Expected high crowd days typically have longer hours to accommodate more guests.

• New Attractions – When new rides open, Disney may extend hours so more guests can experience them.

• Holidays – Major holidays like Christmas and New Year’s will have extended hours.

Disney reviews historical trends, upcoming events, and projected attendance to determine the hours. They want to be open during times of peak attendance.

Finding the Operating Hours During Your Trip

You can find Disney World park hours a few different ways:

• Disney Website – Check disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars for calendars showing each park’s hours day-by-day.

• My Disney Experience App – Download the free app and select your date to view hours.

• Resort Concierge – Ask the front desk or concierge at your Disney resort for day-by-day hours.

• Theme Park Times Guides – Pick up times guides at your resort or the parks showing hours during your trip.

• Theme Park Entrance – Check the posted hours near the entrance of each theme park.

The online Disney calendar offers the most convenient way to check hours before your trip. During your visit, use the app or ask Disney cast members if you need up-to-date hours.

Strategize Your Park Plans with Park Hours

Now that you know the ins and outs of Disney World park hours, use this information to maximize your time on your trip.

The magic is waiting – it’s time to start planning! Use Disney park hours to help decide:

• Which parks to visit on which days

• When to schedule your FastPasses

• Which parks have Extra Magic Hours with your resort

• Where you’ll want to be for nighttime shows like fireworks

• Which days have the latest hours to avoid nighttime park closure

With your park plans set, you’re ready for an amazing trip to Walt Disney World! Enjoy all the magic with a little help from this park hours guide.