Magic Kingdom’s fall schedule is getting complicated. Here’s what you need to know before you go.
Fall has officially landed at Walt Disney World, and if you’re planning a Magic Kingdom day this September or October, you’ll want to pay close attention to the calendar before you book anything.
Magic Kingdom remains the most-visited theme park on the planet, home to Cinderella Castle, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, and Peter Pan’s Flight. It’s the crown jewel of Disney’s Experiences division, and even with major construction underway — including the developing Piston Peak National Park and the neighboring Villains Land — crowds haven’t slowed down.
On the company’s most recent earnings call, CEO Josh D’Amaro confirmed a slight uptick in domestic park attendance. Revenue, meanwhile, jumped considerably, driven largely by higher ticket prices, paid extras like Lightning Lane, and pricier resort stays.
That pricing trend carries straight into Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which kicked off in August and runs through Halloween night. On party nights, Magic Kingdom closes to regular ticket holders at 6 p.m. — no Disney Starlight Parade, no Happily Ever After. Instead, party guests get Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade and the Not-So-Spooky Halloween Spectacular at the castle.
September is especially packed with party dates: 13 of them, covering nearly half the month. Guests without party tickets are being funneled toward EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, or Disney Springs on those nights.
There’s some good news, though. Disney has been quietly adjusting hours to soften the blow. On September 11, a party day, the park opens at 8 a.m. with early entry at 7:30 a.m. The very next day, September 12 — a non-party Saturday — closing time stretches from the usual 10 p.m. all the way to 11 p.m., giving guests nearly 16 hours in the park.
Expect this pattern to continue once Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party begins on November 8. For now, September’s party dates are: 1, 4, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, and 29, with 16 more nights following in October.
How are you adjusting your Magic Kingdom plans around all this? Let us know in the comments.
