EPCOT to Close Early Today, May 21 2025

Posted: Wednesday May 21, 2025 8:00am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

EPCOT will close early today at 5:30 pm on May 21, 2025, to accommodate a private event buyout for the 2025 SAP Sapphire & ASUG Annual Conference Orlando.

EPCOT will close at 5:30 pm in May 2025

The event will take place from 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm and feature a performance by the Zac Brown Band. The early closure for EPCOT means there will be no performance of Luminous for a second consecutive day, with last night's performance cancelled late in the day yesterday.

Other Walt Disney World parks will operate on the following schedule today:

Magic Kingdom: 9 am to 10 pm, with Extended Evening Hours for select resort guests from 10 pm to 12 am
Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 9 am to 9 pm
Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 8 am to 6 pm

View full Walt Disney World park calendars.

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Piebald30 days ago

I met her at the conference yes. Gronk was there too but I missed it. Jessica was the celebrity keynote speaker. Stunning in person.

Comped30 days ago

Wait, you met Jessica Alba at this event, the actress? You didn't lead with that???

larryz30 days ago

That's great news! When will that start?

lewisc31 days ago

Last few months of the year MK closes early for paid parties. Special events, including SAP buyout, allows for reasonable pricing for regular guests. :)

Piebald31 days ago

Yep, the whole convention is $$$. SAP careers pay very well and this event is full of senior folks and executives. I hope next year they do Epic and yeah wasn't a fan of Zac Brown Band as the music choice but he had two packed shows so whatever. I won the m&g for Jessica Alba and I felt bad for the South African guy who won the m&g for ZBB and said "who the hell is that?" 😂

UK Disney31 days ago

I'm staying in the Riveria heard the fireworks start at 11 then finish at 11.16 exactly the luminous time. Disgrace the can close an entire park that early.

Horizons '8331 days ago

Uhh… I’m staying at the same hotel as the SAP folks. I’m at a different conference here. They are all over, every night the restaurants at the hotel and nearby restaurants are closed for their private events. They have tons of $, it’s crazy.

TheMaxReboMay 21, 2025

Sure, guess should have said more likely/more often would be one portal ... But yeah, as the Million Dollar Man says, everyone has a price

TheMaxReboMay 21, 2025

Right, but the plugs and spots for them are physically there so they could use them for sectioning off for private events ... But yeah for regular standard use the open center concept with paying per portal idea not great

danlb_2000May 21, 2025

Considering what SAP charges for licensing, they can afford a buy out.

lewiscMay 21, 2025

Everything is possible, for a price. Years ago one group bought out USF and IoA the same night. Citywalk was mobbed

CompedMay 21, 2025

The turnstile thing is a relic of the original design of the park, operationally speaking, where each land would have been a separate ticket, and depending on who you ask, the park/entrancement area would have been free or lower cost than the rest of the place. It was almost confirmed before everyone realized how bad of an idea it was and stuck with 1 inclusive ticket.

TheMaxReboMay 21, 2025

I think Epic is set up so that there can be corporate buyouts for an individual portal - there are even spots in the floors at the entrances to the portals where they can plug in turn styles So likely won't see Epic entirely close early for a buyout but could see Ministry of Magic portal closed and regular guests limited to the other 3

Andrew25May 21, 2025

I know it's 1 day out of the year, but I really think they need to limit park buyouts to just DAK. Park already closes early, no need to close the other 3 with nighttime shows. Same for Universal, with Epic online tomorrow, keep the buyouts to a minimum at USF.