If you’re dreaming of a fall getaway to Magic Kingdom, there’s one thing you absolutely need to do before locking in your dates—check the calendar. Seriously.
The air might be crisp, the pumpkins might be out, and Main Street might look like a fall postcard—but behind all that magic is a schedule that could completely throw off your plans. We’re talking early closures. Lots of them.
This year, Magic Kingdom will shut down early on 39 different nights between mid-August and Halloween. That’s more than a third of the season. And unless you’ve bought a special event ticket, you’re not getting any of those hours back.
So What’s Causing This?
Most of these early closures are tied to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which has become a fan-favorite tradition. The after-hours event brings rare character meet-and-greets, candy trails, spooky overlays, and exclusive entertainment like the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular and the Boo-to-You Parade.
But here’s the catch: if you’re a regular day guest, your park day ends at 6 p.m. on those party nights. No nighttime fireworks. No Disney Starlight parade. And no warning unless you’ve done your homework.
As for the 39th date? That one’s tied to a private corporate event—the Gartner IT Symposium. One night between October 20 and 22 will see the park fully closed to the general public. We don’t even know which day yet.
All 39 Dates You Might Want To Avoid:
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August: 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29
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September: 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30
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October: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31
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+ One Unconfirmed Night: Oct. 20, 21, or 22 (private event)
If you’re planning to catch the nighttime spectaculars or simply want to get the most out of your pricey ticket and Lightning Lane add-ons, those 39 evenings aren’t your best bet. Non-party nights will also be more crowded since everyone will be funneling into those fewer full days.
Moral of the story? Do a little planning before you book your day at the Kingdom. If you’re not going to the party, it’s probably best to avoid party nights altogether. There’s nothing magical about being asked to leave just when the castle starts to glow.
