Planning a trip to a Disney park? One of the most important things to know is the operating hours for each park. Disney park hours vary by location, day of the week, and season. Knowing the hours ahead of time allows you to maximize your time in the parks.
In this complete guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about Disney park hours. We’ll look at:
- How Disney park hours work
- Opening and closing times by park
- Extra Magic Hours for hotel guests
- Seasonal variations in hours
- Finding park hours calendars online
- Making the most of your time with proper planning
By the end, you’ll be an expert on Disney park hours for Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Let’s dive in!
How Do Disney Park Hours Work?
Disney park hours vary by day of the week and time of year. Parks generally open between 8-9 AM and close between 6-11 PM. Hours are extended during busy holiday periods. Each park also has its own unique operating schedule.
When planning your visit, make sure to check hours for your specific travel dates. You can find up-to-date park hours calendars on the Disneyland and Disney World websites These list the scheduled hours at least six months in advance
It’s important to note that hours are always subject to change Check back periodically leading up to your trip in case Disney makes any adjustments Unforeseen closures are also possible, so stay flexible.
Now let’s look at typical opening and closing times for each Disney park.
Disneyland Park Hours
The Disneyland park in Anaheim generally has these hours:
Monday-Friday: 9 AM to 9 PM
Saturday: 8 AM to 11 PM
Sunday: 8 AM to 10 PM
During peak seasons like summer, hours may extend until midnight or later. Disneyland sometimes opens as early as 7 AM on busy days.
Official hours are posted on the Disneyland park hours calendar. Always confirm before you go.
Disney California Adventure Hours
Disney California Adventure is the second theme park at the Disneyland Resort. Typical hours are:
Monday-Friday: 9 AM to 9 PM
Saturday: 8 AM to 11 PM
Sunday: 8 AM to 10 PM
Like Disneyland, Disney California Adventure may open earlier or stay open later during busy periods. Check the official park hours calendar for your dates.
Magic Kingdom Park Hours
The Magic Kingdom is the most-visited theme park at Walt Disney World. Usual hours are:
Monday-Friday: 9 AM to 9 PM
Saturday: 8 AM to 11 PM
Sunday: 8 AM to 9 PM
Hours can extend as late as 1 AM during peak times. Disney posts the Magic Kingdom park hours online.
Epcot Park Hours
Epcot is a fan favorite for its World Showcase and futuristic attractions. Standard operating hours are:
Monday-Friday: 9 AM to 9 PM
Saturday: 9 AM to 11 PM
Sunday: 9 AM to 9 PM
Epcot typically opens at 9 AM each morning. Closing time may be extended on weekends or busy nights. Always check the Epcot park hours calendar before your visit.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Hours
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is home to Star Wars rides and shows. Its hours generally are:
Monday-Friday: 9 AM to 9 PM
Saturday-Sunday: 8 AM to 10 PM
Opening time sometimes starts earlier at 8 AM. Closing may be extended to 11 PM or midnight during holidays. Confirm the official park hours online.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Hours
Disney’s Animal Kingdom has shorter hours than other Walt Disney World parks. Typical schedule:
Monday-Friday: 9 AM to 7 PM
Saturday-Sunday: 8 AM to 7 PM
Hours are occasionally extended to 8 or 9 PM. Check the park hours calendar before planning your day.
Extra Magic Hours for Hotel Guests
Disney World resort hotel guests can access Extra Magic Hours. This grants early entry or extended park time beyond normal operating hours.
Each day, one park has Extra Magic Hours in the morning while another has them in the evening. This benefit allows you to maximize time in the parks and experience popular attractions with shorter wait times.
Check the Extra Magic Hours schedule for your trip so you can take advantage of this perk. Use it to plan which park you’ll visit on each day.
Seasonal Changes in Park Hours
Disney park hours fluctuate based on seasonal demand. Here are the general trends:
- Spring: Moderate hours and crowds after Spring Break through May.
- Summer: Longest hours and biggest crowds from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
- Fall: Hours decrease after Labor Day but increase again around Columbus Day.
- Holidays: Park hours extended for Thanksgiving week, Christmas break, other holidays.
- Winter: Shorter hours and lower crowds early January through President’s Day weekend.
If possible, visit during Fall or Winter to take advantage of fewer crowds and more manageable hours. However, the parks will be busier and open later around holidays and summers.
Finding Upcoming Park Hours Calendars Online
You can find current and future Disney park hours listed online. Each park has its own hours calendar spanning six months or more.
For Disneyland, use these pages:
For Walt Disney World, use these calendars:
Bookmark these pages or save the links in your trip planning folder. Recheck hours periodically in case of any updates.
Making the Most of Your Time with Park Hours
Now that you know how Disney park hours work, use them to plan your days effectively.
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Prioritize which parks you want to see the most. Plan to visit your top choices on days with longest hours.
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Use Extra Magic Hours to your advantage. Schedule your Epcot or Animal Kingdom days on mornings with early entry to minimize wait times.
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Take a mid-day break when parks close earlier. Return to your hotel to rest, then go back to a park that’s open late.
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Stay until closing if possible. The last two hours have lower crowds as people leave. Ride popular attractions with shorter waits.
Knowing park hours in advance is key to maximizing your time at Disney. Now you have all the tools and resources to plan your best Disney trip! Use this guide to help choose which parks you’ll visit on each day of your upcoming vacation.
Disney World Park Hours
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00am to 10:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am | 9:00am to 10:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am Extended Evening 10:00pm to 12:00am | 9:00am to 10:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am | 9:00am to 11:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am | 8:00am to 11:00pm Early Entry 7:30am to 8:00am | ||
| 9:00am to 10:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am | 9:00am to 10:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am Event 10:00pm to 1:00am | 9:00am to 10:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am | 9:00am to 10:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am Extended Evening 10:00pm to 12:00am | 9:00am to 10:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am | 8:00am to 11:00pm Early Entry 7:30am to 8:00am | 8:00am to 11:00pm Early Entry 7:30am to 8:00am |
| 9:00am to 10:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am | 9:00am to 11:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am | 8:00am to 11:00pm Early Entry 7:30am to 8:00am | 8:00am to 11:00pm Early Entry 7:30am to 8:00am Extended Evening 11:00pm to 1:00am | 8:00am to 11:00pm Early Entry 7:30am to 8:00am | 8:00am to 11:00pm Early Entry 7:30am to 8:00am | 8:00am to 11:00pm Early Entry 7:30am to 8:00am |
| 9:00am to 10:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am | 9:00am to 10:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am | 8:00am to 11:00pm Early Entry 7:30am to 8:00am | 9:00am to 10:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am Extended Evening 10:00pm to 12:00am | 9:00am to 10:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am | 9:00am to 11:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am | 8:00am to 11:00pm Early Entry 7:30am to 8:00am |
| 9:00am to 9:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am | 9:00am to 9:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am Event 10:00pm to 1:00am | 9:00am to 9:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am | 9:00am to 9:00pm Early Entry 8:30am to 9:00am Extended Evening 9:00pm to 11:00pm |
Donald Duck – 10 Hours Disney Classics Cartoons!
FAQ
Is Disney free at 7pm?
You do not need a park reservation or additional ticket to enter the park at or after 7:00 PM. If you plan to arrive earlier than 7:00 PM, valid theme park admission will be required.
What is the Disney 2pm rule?
The after 2pm entry is if you DONT have a reservation to any of the parks that day and are a passholder. Only exception is that reservations are still needed for arrivals at or after 2pm for Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays ONLY.
Why does Magic Kingdom close at 6pm?
→ Generally, when the Magic Kingdom closes at 6pm due to a hard-ticket party that evening, Magic Kingdom attendance during the day is notably less than it would be normally, and reflexively, on the day before and the day after the Magic Kingdom closes very early due to a hard-ticket party that evening, Magic Kingdom …
Can you go to any Disney park after 2 pm?
Theme park reservations are limited and are subject to availability. Annual Passholders may visit the theme parks without a theme park reservation on a “good-to-go” day or after 2:00 PM, (except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom park). Applicable blockout dates apply.