Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire Returns to Mornings as Cinderella Castle Work Nears Completion

Posted: Monday April 20, 2026 11:10am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire is adding back a morning performance at Magic Kingdom. Beginning May 10, the show will include an 11:10 am showtime.

Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire opening show

The change comes after the show moved to afternoons-only in late January to accommodate work on Cinderella Castle. This latest entertainment update suggests the castle repainting project could be wrapping up sometime in May.

New Schedule Starting May 10

Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire will run five daily performances:

Morning

11:10 am

Afternoon

12:30 pm
1:50 pm
4:00 pm

Evening

5:15 pm

Previous Schedule Changes

Disney shifted the show to an afternoons-only format on January 28. That schedule offered four performances at 1:00 pm, 2:05 pm, 4:00 pm, and 5:15 pm.

Before the castle work began, the show ran five times daily with two morning performances at 10:05 am and 11:05 am.

Disney has been lowering and removing cranes by noon each day to minimize their impact on daytime views.

Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire opening show

Castle Work Nearing Completion

Work on Cinderella Castle is nearing completion. The return of morning entertainment around the castle suggests the project could wrap up sometime in May.

Crews have drained the moat and worked through different sections of the structure over the past several months. Disney hasn't announced an official completion date for the castle project.

Cinderella Castle Forecourt Turrets Get New Paint

Other Entertainment Modifications

Let the Magic Begin welcome show continues to run in a modified format without character appearances. Guests still hear the welcome fanfare and music at park opening.

Happily Ever After remains available with minor adjustments as needed.

With the castle work nearing its end, these shows should return to their full formats soon.

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

ToTBellHop5 days ago

Given the dumpster society finds itself in, I’d expect

JoeCamel5 days ago

If they used some of the high tech bluetooth paint they could crowdsource the color in real time through the app. Let the people decide what they want to look at

Casper Gutman6 days ago

Let’s bring back the castle cake. Yes, I’m serious. Actually, let’s paint the castle with a new color scheme every five years to keep things fresh.

jrhwdw6 days ago

Fair Point.

ToTBellHop6 days ago

Not sure it makes much sense when resort guests don’t see it with daily early entry.

jrhwdw6 days ago

Word on X is This is canceled/not returning.. Mistake in my mind MK!!!!! We'll still have the Audio Opening Thank Goodness.... MK could of course return to the Train Station and the Trolley Dancers.......Rollseyes!!!......

Bocabear7 days ago

The DLP version is beautiful...but it is also essentially Rock N Roller Coaster with an inclined launch....

Goofyernmost7 days ago

I must be color blind (never was before, but hey, it could happen) but it is a stretch to call that color "pink"). I'd like to just remind everyone that it is a fake plastic castle located in a park that is designed to be almost 100% fantasy. Whether or not it is the original gray or purple with pink polka dots, it is there for the purpose of entertainment. It's just not a problem for me. Others mileage my vary, but to me now it just looks drab.

Gringrinngghost8 days ago

Look on the brightside, they are saving money by not having to touch it up in a consistent manner.

Bocabear8 days ago

it was worse than pink...it was like southwestern adobe pink... and looked ridiculous. The gray and blue classic color scheme looks elegant and dignified... perfect...

neo9999558 days ago

I mean, it did just spend many years mostly pink.

Goofyernmost8 days ago

Oh goody, now it's back to being a mind numbing, boring light gray again. Whatever, we do lets not put any personality in that building. Nostalgia wins again.