Your Disney World vacation is about to look a lot different than yesterday!
Cinderella Castle
It was confirmed back in the summer of 2025 that the Cinderella Castle would undergo a makeover — going back to its original blue and grey color scheme. Disney followed up on that announcement a few months later, stating that the repainting would begin on January 28th. Crazy enough, the time is officially here, which means THREE big changes have begun at Magic Kingdom!
We know what you’re probably thinking. What happens to the shows that take place on the castle or on the castle’s stage during this time? Don’t worry, they’re still happening (well, almost all of them are), they’re just going to look different for right now. So let’s take a look at what’s happening so you can plan your day accordingly!
Magic Kingdom
“Let the Magic Begin”
The show that begins your day at Magic Kingdom is the “Let the Magic Begin” show. It’s a show that typically opens the park, as you’re greeted by Mickey Mouse and his pals, welcoming you into the Magic Kingdom. The show used to start at 8:55 AM, but is no longer showing times starting today.
Let The Magic Begin
Disney posted on their website, “Cinderella Castle is currently undergoing a magical transformation. Due to project work, Let The Magic Begin will be temporarily modified. While characters will not be making an appearance during this time, you will still hear the welcome fanfare and music to start your day at Magic Kingdom.” So, we’ll still get to hear the beloved fanfare and music to welcome us into the park, but it looks like we won’t get to see the show in all its glory for a while!
Cinderella Castle
Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire
Alright, let’s talk about the popular stage show that takes place on the stage multiple times a day, Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire. This musical extravaganza features Mickey and his pals as they make new friends with various iconic Disney characters. The show features your favorite music and characters from Princess and the Frog, Tangled, and Frozen.
Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire
The show used to take place in the morning, but it has now moved to an afternoon-only schedule — with showtimes at 1 PM, 2:05 PM, 4 PM, and 5:15 PM. This also means that Disney will be reducing daily performances from five shows to four shows! Hey, at least we will still get to see the characters for this one.
©Disney
Happily Ever After
That brings us to our third change, the beloved nighttime spectacular, Happily Ever After! We know everyone would be freaking out if the very popular show featuring amazing fireworks, projection mapping, and music just went away. Don’t worry, Happily Ever After WILL still be happening every night. However, because of the projection mapping feature, there will be minor adjustments to the show as needed during this transformation process.
Happily Ever After
So, work has officially begun, and it isn’t expected to be complete until later in the year. You’ve probably noticed the changes affect the morning more than the afternoon. That’s because work on the castle will only be done during the mornings. It was stated that the cranes around the castle should be lowered by 12 PM (noon) each day at the latest, making it easier for you to take those iconic castle photos.
Cinderella Castle
We can’t wait to see the castle with its old style back. That nostalgia is going to hit us hard! Make sure to pay attention to showtimes and changes, and plan accordingly now that things are going to look different for a little while. Here at DFB, we want to help you with your Disney vacation as best we can, so make sure to stay tuned!
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