Walt Disney World parks get a big boost to operating hours for the summer

Apr 09, 2021 in "Operating Hours"

Posted: Friday April 9, 2021 2:31pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has today extended the operating hours at Walt Disney World theme parks for the coming months and into the summer.

Updated calendars today have extended the Walt Disney park hours at all four theme parks for most days in April, May and June 2021:

  • Disney's Hollywood Studios sees most days move to an 8pm close from the original 7pm.

  • Magic Kingdom now has most days opening at 8am and closing at 9pm, an increase of 4 hours.

  • EPCOT is returning to its pre-COVID closing time of 9pm, with some days extending to 10pm. Opening remains at 11am however.

  • Disney's Animal Kingdom now has mostly 8am openings and 7pm closings, an extension of around 3 hours per day.

Provisional operating hours are also now available through June 26 at all four Walt Disney World theme parks.

You can view the most recent updates on our calendar.

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Rob562Apr 08, 2022

Additional expansion of park hours for the last week in April today. Mirroring the same hours we've seen earlier in the month. -Rob

ToTBellHopApr 02, 2022

As sunset moves earlier, yes, but October is usually very crowded. It would not be unusual to see DAH until 12 or 1 am with 11 pm closes on the other nights. I agree that they won’t have 11 pm closes on DAH nights. No way they start DAH that late.

RememberWhenApr 02, 2022

10pm summer close seems typical. The hours usually tighten up in the fall anyway, don’t they?

wdwfan22Apr 02, 2022

They will stick with the 10 then. I’ll be surprised if the 11pm close stay. I also believe that summer after hours could return.

ToTBellHopApr 02, 2022

Considering MK has already announced a 10 pm close starting in mid-May, I’m not sure about that.

wdwfan22Apr 02, 2022

ill be surprised if Magic Kingdom doesn’t go back to 9pm close in May. Spring break and Easter are always busy time periods. May slows down and bit until Memorial Day. Summer close for Magic Kingdom will be 9 or 10 pm.

G00fyDadApr 01, 2022

Yeah but that was last October when it was only open till 9:00 every day wasn't it?

dreday3Apr 01, 2022

Last October MK was only open until 9 on our Boo Bash night. (a Friday)

G00fyDadApr 01, 2022

So assuming they keep the hours until 11:00pm at MK through October does that mean Boo Bash will be from 11:00pm to 2 or 3 in the morning? Or will they have to go back to an early park closing on party dates?

ToTBellHopApr 01, 2022

Similar hours extension through April 17-April 23. MK 9 am to 11 pm daily. Epcot 8:30 am to 9 pm. DHS 8 am to 9 pm. DAK 7:30 am to 8:30 pm. Early entry before those times.

DisneyDeb13Mar 22, 2022

I am going back to the Parks at the end of September. I visited 3 times in 2021. I am hoping to see the extended hours continue. Hate the early closing hours. Loved being there during spring break when Magic Kingdom closed at 3am. Best times with my college aged kids. So scary how the parks have changed and not for the better!

wdwmagicMar 22, 2022

Disney's Hollywood Studios moves to its earliest opening time in years alongside operating hour extensions at all Disney World parks https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/operating-hours/news/22mar2022-disneys-hollywood-studios-moves-to-its-earliest-opening-time-in-years-alongside-operating-hour-extensions-at-all-disney-world-parks.htm

flutasMar 14, 2022

Maybe the CM appreciation ceremony, so they had to mix up the schedule? That was my first thought.