The Magic Kingdom Problem You're Not Expecting Next Month

Summer is wrapping up in Disney World, but we’re heading into an entirely different busy season…Halloween!

Halloween is HERE!

Halloween celebrations usually kick off in mid-August, and this year, they’re starting on August 11th with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. So if you’re traveling to Disney World in the coming months, be prepared for some spooky season celebrations! But you’ll also need to be prepared for a PROBLEM you may not be expecting at Magic Kingdom.

On a typical day, Magic Kingdom opens at 9AM and then closes at either 10PM or 11PM, which means that you get about 13 or 14 hours of park time with your ticket. That’s plenty of time to knock out a LOT of attractions, entertainment, and snacks if you’re hanging out from rope drop to park close.

Cinderella Castle

However, during the holiday party season, the park’s operating hours CHANGE. This means that from August to October for Halloween and from November to December for Christmas, you might get a nasty surprise when you try to plan a day at Magic Kingdom.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

On the days that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is held, Magic Kingdom will close to day guests at 6PM. The parties kick off at 7PM, so this gives Cast Members enough time to get all of the regular day guests out of the park before the celebrations kick off.

Magic Kingdom closes at 6PM for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

How does this work? Well, if you have a ticket to attend the party, you’ll need to pick up a wristband before the event begins. If you enter the front gate at 4PM or later, you’ll get one as you come in. However, if you’ve spent the whole day in Magic Kingdom, you can grab one at designated locations around the park. Then, once 6PM hits, Cast Members start ushering out the visitors who don’t have wristbands so that only those with party tickets remain.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party sign

If you’re planning on coming to Disney World in August (or September-December), the best thing to do is try and schedule your Magic Kingdom visit for a day that doesn’t have a party. If you must visit on a party day, the good news is that Magic Kingdom often opens early at 8AM those days. But even so, that’s only about 10 hours of park time compared to the usual 13 or 14 hours.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

If you’re wondering what the list of dates looks like for 2023, here are all the party dates in August…

©Disney

…September…

©Disney

…and then in October and November. Check these with your travel dates to make sure you’ve got your plans in order.

©Disney

And for those traveling during the holiday season, here are the dates for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2023:

November: 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, 30
December: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

If you’re visiting on a Halloween party day and you can’t change your plans, don’t worry — there’s a silver lining! Because the park closes early on party days, those days tend to be less crowded than the non-party days during that season. Hopefully, that means you’ll be able to get more done with shorter wait times and lower crowds!

Space Mountain

So there’s your warning! This is why we recommend checking park hours before any Disney World trip, because in addition to the holiday parties and special events, we’ve also seen the parks close early on other random occasions. It’s just good to be prepared!

We’ll keep you in the loop with any other planning tips or tricks you need to know for your upcoming vacation. And stay tuned to DFB for all the Halloween fun in Disney World!

Click Here to See Everything Confirmed for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

IT'S SPOOK-TACULAR!

Get ready for the spookiest season of the year at Disney World with our guide -- Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide!

From the thrills of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party to the enchanting resort decorations that'll send shivers down your spine, our guide is packed with tips and tricks to help you squeeze every ounce of ghoulish fun out of your visit. Plus, we've got the inside scoop on all the limited-time-only bone-chilling activities happening across the parks!

Get the Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide to make your frightfully delightful adventure even more magical!