For many Disney World visitors, the magic doesn’t stop when the fireworks end—but the food certainly does. More and more guests are speaking out about the noticeable lack of late-night dining and drinking options across Walt Disney World Resort, with nearly everything closing by 11PM, leaving hungry families and tired travelers scrambling for snacks.
A recent Reddit thread has ignited an outpouring of stories and suggestions from Disney fans, who say that for the prices they pay, late-night dining should be a no-brainer.
“The Entire Property Shuts Down at 11PM”
“I could handle the parks closing earlier if there were at least some Disney Springs or resort bars to go to afterward. Instead it feels like the entire property shuts down at 11PM.”
One guest shared their weekend experience at Caribbean Beach Resort, describing the race to beat the clock just to grab dinner after a long day of attractions:
“My wife and I were spending the weekend at Caribbean Beach to commemorate the ending of Muppetvision. We saw the show then wanted some Pizzarizzo not knowing it closed at 5. We shrugged and said that’s fine let’s hit up Magic Kingdom and grab some food after nighttime Tiana. Love nighttime Tiana. We got off about 8:15 and to our surprise Pecos Bill’s was closed. The night became an unintentional race against time to get back to our resort to get food court food. Absolutely the one drawback of staying on property.”
Guests Long for the Late-Night Magic of the Past
“As recently as 2015—the last time I remember doing it—it used to be an occasional, included perk if you were staying in a Disney resort, like you could stay in Magic Kingdom or EPCOT till 1AM on certain nights. It was great to have such short queues and overall just a fun, surreal feeling.”
The sentiment is echoed by many who remember Magic Kingdom’s extended hours from a different era.
“On my college program, we had a good number of 3AM EMH closes at MK. It wasn’t super common but they did happen. I remember a lot of midnight EMH closes as well.”
“Yep! Kiss Goodnight would happen at 3AM… wait for people to get out…. collect my backpack in the locker and taxi on to MCO for my 7AM flight!”
Those days seem long gone now. Today’s “extended hours” are limited and exclusive—often reserved only for Deluxe resort guests or those paying for hard-ticket events.
“Now extended hours are exclusive to Deluxe guests and it’s, what, half an hour early entry? Or of course, you can stay till midnight if you’re paying an additional $150–$200 for the Halloween or Christmas parties.”
No Food, No Fun? A Disney Dilemma
The original Reddit poster kicked off the discussion with a candid observation:
“The last few times I have gone to Disney, I end up finding myself leaving the parks and just wanting to eat something. However by the time we get back to the resort or once the park closes it just seems like there is no place whatsoever to eat food or get something to drink. Everything is closed and we are just left starving.”
“We are spending thousands of dollars for our trip and the least thing is there can be more convenience when it comes to getting food at night. Not even the convenience stores are open to just get small items for the room at this point. It all closes around the same time as people are traveling back from the parks.”
“All I’m saying is that people are hungry and willing to spend the money to eat late at night. So why not accommodate us folks? It’s a Win-Win situation.”
A Technological Solution?
Some guests suggested that Disney could look to modern technology and food delivery services to solve the problem—integrating it directly into the My Disney Experience app.
“I’ve been saying for years that they need some sort of ‘Uber Eats’ service for on-property guests that’s integrated into My Disney Experience. Something like ‘Genie Food Delivery’ that’s open 24/7 where the food is brought straight to your resort room (Uber Eats drivers don’t do this—they meet you in the lobby, which is a pain).”
“They can have an offsite location (not accessible to Guests) that makes/stores the food. If they also sold groceries, it could be a huge revenue generator for Guests who don’t want to use Instacart/Amazon on check-in day.”
Another guest chimed in with a more creative, if slightly tongue-in-cheek, idea:
“Could you imagine a Waffle House at the TTC? I’d watch that livestream! Hell, I might pay to watch that livestream.”
The Business of Closing Early
Of course, there are reasons Disney might be hesitant to extend hours or add overnight offerings. It all comes down to cost and efficiency:
“Disney is very calculated in how they manage hours of operation. If the data shows revenue not hitting a threshold after a certain time, then they’ll shut it down.”
“I get why food options in the parks close by 11PM. Disney doesn’t want people lingering over their food as they’re trying to clear the park, and the extra revenue would often be less than the extra operating costs, especially if it was pushing a lot of CMs into overtime.”
Still, that logic doesn’t satisfy guests who end their night disappointed—or worse, hungry.
Not Just the Parks—Springs and Resorts Too
Many guests note that it’s not only the parks where options are slim. Even Disney Springs restaurants and quick-service stops have started shutting their doors earlier.
“It’s not even just the resorts. The last few visits, I feel like they closed most of the food stands and quick service hours before the park closed. We stay by Disney Springs and would definitely stop in to eat/drink on the way back to the room every night if things were open later.”
“Heck, I tried going to the Morimoto street food place at like 8:30PM the other night and they were already closed.”
Another guest offered a practical idea:
“I think a reasonable solution would be to install refrigerated vending machines for various premade food items, like those you sometimes see in large airports, in/near the lobbies of resorts. Something like an automated version of the grab-and-go coolers at Contempo Café.”
“Cold sandwiches and wraps, salads, fruit cups, uncrustables, yogurt, cheeses, hummus, etc. Or for the resorts that already have a grab and go cooler, keeping them staffed until an hour after last park closing.”
The Disney Difference?
Disney vacations are far from cheap—and for many, they’re once-in-a-lifetime experiences. With guests spending thousands for immersive storytelling and exceptional service, is it really too much to ask for a hot meal after a long day in the parks?
For now, late-night eaters might need to plan ahead—or bring snacks. But if the chorus of complaints grows loud enough, perhaps Disney will see the value in keeping the lights on just a little longer.
Who eats dinner at midnight? Drunks! Normal people have a snack maybe and those should already be in your room. Go to bed and stop trying to make it all about you. Should be about how people with families want it and how it has it has worked for many years. Thank you and goodnight.