Guests enjoying a magical evening at EPCOT on May 20 were in for an unexpected change. Just 45 minutes before the anticipated nighttime spectacular Luminous The Symphony of Us, fans were informed that the performance had been canceled. Push notifications through the My Disney Experience app broke the news, though no specific reason was offered. Social media chatter suggests a technical issue with the bridge may have been to blame.
This disruption comes at a time when EPCOT is already preparing for another guest-impacting event. On May 21, the park will close its doors to regular guests at 5:30 p.m.—well ahead of its typical 9 p.m. closure. The early exit is due to a private buyout for the 2025 SAP Sapphire & ASUG Annual Conference Orlando, with the exclusive event running from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
This marks another year that a Walt Disney World theme park has been reserved for the same conference. In 2024, Disney’s Hollywood Studios hosted the event, which featured a concert by Maroon 5. This year, EPCOT attendees will enjoy a performance by the Zac Brown Band.
Meanwhile, parkgoers hoping to enjoy EPCOT’s signature attractions—like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in World Discovery or Frozen Ever After in the Norway pavilion—will want to arrive early or consider visiting another park. With EPCOT closing early, crowds are expected to shift across the Resort.
Magic Kingdom will welcome guests from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., with Extended Evening Hours for Deluxe Resort guests continuing until midnight. Disney’s Hollywood Studios will operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Private events like this one aren’t uncommon at Walt Disney World Resort. Each January, for example, Magic Kingdom closes early to honor cast members and their remarkable contributions. Still, guests with standard park tickets may find themselves caught off guard when special events impact their plans.
While EPCOT undergoes a quieter transformation than other parks, changes are still underway. The Test Track attraction is currently being reimagined with a nod to its World of Motion roots, and the recent opening of World Celebration completes the trio of new neighborhood rebrands following the retirement of Future World.
Elsewhere, transformation is the theme across Walt Disney World. Frontierland at Magic Kingdom is shifting into a new era, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is preparing to introduce the Tropical Americas, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is set to say goodbye to Grand Avenue in favor of Monstropolis. Before that happens, cast members will get a final viewing of Muppet*Vision 3D.
The heartbeat of EPCOT remains its celebration of global culture, with the World Showcase offering pavilions from across the globe and, of course, the ever-popular chance to “drink around the world.” Luminous The Symphony of Us, presented nightly over World Showcase Lagoon, is described on the official Disney World website as a “dazzling pageant.”
“Delight in a dramatic show designed to bring us all together,” the page reads. “Marvel at a dazzling pageant of fireworks, fountains, music and lights set to an original composition. New music, along with evocative selections from the Disney songbook, come together to remind us that we are more alike than we are different.”
As guests navigate early closures and shifting park hours, planning ahead becomes even more important. Those visiting May 21 should be aware that EPCOT won’t be an option after the afternoon, and the other three parks may see increased crowds.
How do you feel about regular guests being sidelined for private events at Disney Parks? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
