What to know before Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom open on Monday, October 12. All times are Eastern Time.
Magic Kingdom
| Park hours | 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Early Theme Park Entry from 8:30 AM for Disney resort hotel guests) |
| Weather | High 85°F, low 69°F, clear sky, 0% chance of rain |
| Crowd forecast | 6 out of 10 (5 is a typical day at this park) |
| Lightning Lane | Multi Pass $37 |
| Rope-drop pick | Tiana's Bayou Adventure: usually about 12 min at opening vs. 49 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 5 PM–8 PM (headliners average 45 min) |
| Closed today | Jingle Cruise: Closed through at least Nov 2, 2026; Walt Disney World Railroad - Fantasyland: Closed through at least Oct 29, 2026; Walt Disney World Railroad - Main Street, U.S.A.: Closed through at least Oct 29, 2026; Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress: Closed through at least Dec 20, 2026 |
For guests with Early Entry, Magic Kingdom opens at 8:30 AM today, with general admission starting at 9:00 AM. The park closes at 10:00 PM. The busiest period is typically from 5 PM to 8 PM, when headliner waits usually average 45 minutes. Yesterday, TRON Lightcycle / Run averaged 79 minutes and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train averaged 52 minutes.
Rope drop plan
To get a head start, consider Tiana's Bayou Adventure, which typically has a 12-minute wait at opening, saving you 30 minutes compared to its typical peak wait. Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin is another good option, usually seeing a 15-minute wait at opening, saving 23 minutes. Both are also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad typically has a 14-minute wait at opening, saving 17 minutes.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
A Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $37. No Lightning Lane Single Pass options are listed.
Shows and timing
- The Dapper Dans: 9:00 AM, 9:50 AM, 10:40 AM, 12:05 PM, 1:10 PM, 2:55 PM, 3:55 PM
- Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire: 10:00 AM, 11:35 AM, 12:45 PM, 2:55 PM, 4:00 PM
- Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade: 11:05 AM
- Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade: 2:00 PM
- Flag Retreat: 5:00 PM
- Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away: 7:45 PM, 10:00 PM
- Happily Ever After: 9:00 PM
Plan your day
- Arrive early: If eligible, take advantage of Early Entry at 8:30 AM, or be ready for the 9:00 AM general opening to experience Tiana's Bayou Adventure or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with typically shorter waits.
- Catch a show: Don't miss the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade at 2:00 PM or the Happily Ever After fireworks at 9:00 PM.
- Avoid the peak: Plan for a break or enjoy less popular attractions between 5 PM and 8 PM, which is typically the busiest time with headliner waits averaging 45 minutes.
- Consider Lightning Lane: A Lightning Lane Multi Pass for $37 could help you save time on Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.
EPCOT
| Park hours | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Early Theme Park Entry from 8:30 AM for Disney resort hotel guests); Extended Evening Hours until 11:00 PM |
| Weather | High 85°F, low 69°F, clear sky, 0% chance of rain |
| Crowd forecast | 6 out of 10 (5 is a typical day at this park) |
| Lightning Lane | Multi Pass $32 |
| Rope-drop pick | The Seas with Nemo & Friends: usually about 5 min at opening vs. 32 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 12 PM–3 PM (headliners average 53 min) |
| Closed today | Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses: Closed through at least Nov 26, 2026; Soarin' Around the World: Closed through at least Dec 20, 2026 |
EPCOT opens at 9:00 AM today, but eligible guests can take advantage of Early Entry starting at 8:30 AM. This is a great opportunity to experience popular attractions before the park officially opens to all guests.
Rope drop plan
For Early Entry guests, we typically recommend heading to The Seas with Nemo & Friends in World Nature. It usually has a 5-minute wait at opening, saving you about 24 minutes compared to its typical peak wait of 32 minutes. This attraction is also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass, so you may not need to rope drop it.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
A Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $32. There are no Lightning Lane Single Pass options available for purchase.
Shows and timing
Catch the JAMMitors with their first performance at 8:30 AM, followed by ¡Celebración Encanto! at 9:45 AM, and Matsuriza at 11:00 AM. Many other shows are scheduled throughout the day.
Plan your day
- Utilize Early Entry at 8:30 AM to experience The Seas with Nemo & Friends with minimal wait.
- Be aware that the park typically sees its highest waits between 12 PM and 3 PM, with an average headliner wait of 53 minutes. Test Track, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and Frozen Ever After are usually the busiest during this period.
- Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses is closed through at least Nov 26, 2026, and Soarin' Around the World is closed through at least Dec 20, 2026.
- Consider enjoying one of the many shows, like the JAMMitors or ¡Celebración Encanto!, during the typical peak hours to avoid long ride lines. Yesterday, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind averaged 102 minutes, and Test Track averaged 90 minutes.
Hollywood Studios
| Park hours | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Early Theme Park Entry from 8:30 AM for Disney resort hotel guests) |
| Weather | High 85°F, low 69°F, clear sky, 0% chance of rain |
| Crowd forecast | 5 out of 10 (5 is a typical day at this park) |
| Lightning Lane | Multi Pass $32 |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 11 AM–2 PM (headliners average 48 min) |
Hollywood Studios opens at 9:00 AM today, with Early Entry for eligible guests beginning at 8:30 AM. Be aware that the park typically experiences its peak crowds between 11 AM and 2 PM, when headliner waits average 48 minutes. The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $32 today.
Rope drop plan
Early Entry begins at 8:30 AM, offering a valuable head start before the park officially opens at 9:00 AM. Prioritize popular attractions like Slinky Dog Dash or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which are usually among the worst waits during peak times. Yesterday, Slinky Dog Dash averaged 86 minutes with a peak of 120 minutes, and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets averaged 69 minutes with a peak of 115 minutes.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $32 today and is not sold out. This pass can help you save time on select attractions.
Shows and timing
Start your day with entertainment options like "For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration" at 9:30 AM or "The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure" at 10:00 AM. Later morning shows include "Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!" at 10:45 AM and "Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage" at 11:00 AM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 8:30 AM or park opening at 9:00 AM to get a head start on popular attractions like Slinky Dog Dash or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
- Plan to enjoy shows or grab a meal between 11 AM and 2 PM, as this is typically when the park experiences its peak crowds and headliner waits average 48 minutes.
- Consider catching an early show such as "For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration" at 9:30 AM or "The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure" at 10:00 AM.
- If you wish to reduce wait times for multiple attractions, the Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $32 today.
Animal Kingdom
| Park hours | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Early Theme Park Entry from 7:30 AM for Disney resort hotel guests) |
| Weather | High 85°F, low 69°F, clear sky, 0% chance of rain |
| Crowd forecast | 6 out of 10 (5 is a typical day at this park) |
| Lightning Lane | Multi Pass $29 |
| Rope-drop pick | Kali River Rapids: usually about 8 min at opening vs. 46 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 10 AM–1 PM (headliners average 46 min) |
Animal Kingdom opens for Early Entry at 7:30 AM today, with general admission beginning at 8:00 AM. Plan to arrive early to take advantage of lower wait times before the typical peak from 10 AM to 1 PM.
Rope drop plan
Eligible guests can enter for Early Entry at 7:30 AM. For general admission guests, Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain typically has a wait of 9 minutes at opening, which could save you 22 minutes compared to its typical peak. Kali River Rapids also offers a low 8-minute wait at opening, potentially saving 34 minutes. Kilimanjaro Safaris will typically see a 31-minute wait at opening, saving 25 minutes. Note that Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain are also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass, so you may not need to rope drop them.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
A Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $29 today. This can be a good option if you want to bypass lines for popular attractions like Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. There are no Lightning Lane Single Pass options available today.
Shows and timing
Catch the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe starting at 8:10 AM or Animal Encounters: Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight at 8:15 AM. The first showing of Festival of the Lion King is at 10:00 AM, and DiVine has a performance at 8:35 AM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 7:30 AM or general park opening at 8:00 AM to experience Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain (9 min wait at opening) or Kali River Rapids (8 min wait at opening) with minimal waits.
- Consider purchasing a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for $29 if you prefer to save time on attractions like Kilimanjaro Safaris or Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, especially if you miss rope drop.
- Plan to enjoy shows like Festival of the Lion King (first show at 10:00 AM) or grab a meal during the typical peak hours of 10 AM to 1 PM, when headliner waits average 46 minutes and rides like Avatar Flight of Passage, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Na'vi River Journey are typically the worst.
- Explore the park's various entertainment options, such as Eco-Rhythmics starting at 8:35 AM or Zoogether Day Gathering Spot, which begins at 9:00 AM, to fill your morning before the park closes at 6:00 PM.
For a personalized ride order, try our free day planner. Planning another day? See the Walt Disney World crowd calendar.
Hours, prices and the forecast are as of 5:01 AM ET on October 12. Disney can change them during the day.