What to know before Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom open on Thursday, October 15. All times are Eastern Time.
Magic Kingdom
| Park hours | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Early Theme Park Entry from 7:30 AM for Disney resort hotel guests) |
| Tonight | Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (separate ticket); day guests leave at 6:00 PM |
| Weather | High 90°F, low 71°F, clear sky, 12% 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 | TRON Lightcycle / Run: usually about 12 min at opening vs. 59 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 4 PM–7 PM (headliners average 41 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 23, 2026 |
Magic Kingdom closes early today at 6:00 PM for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, so plan to make the most of your day. Eligible guests can enjoy Early Entry starting at 7:30 AM, with general park opening at 8:00 AM.
Rope drop plan
For Early Entry guests, arriving by 7:30 AM offers a great head start. We typically see TRON Lightcycle / Run in Tomorrowland with a 12-minute wait at opening, saving 40 minutes off its typical peak. Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin or Jungle Cruise usually have short 6-minute waits at opening, though both are also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $32 and is not sold out. This pass can skip lines. TRON Lightcycle / Run is available via a Lightning Lane Single Pass purchase.
Shows and timing
Catch Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire at 10:00 AM, 11:35 AM, 12:45 PM, 2:55 PM, or 4:00 PM. The Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade steps off at 2:00 PM. The Dapper Dans perform from 9:00 AM. Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular performances begin after regular park hours.
Plan your day
- Start early: Arrive for Early Entry at 7:30 AM to experience TRON Lightcycle / Run, typically saving 40 minutes.
- Mind the clock: Magic Kingdom closes to day guests at 6:00 PM for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Plan attractions before the typical peak wait times starting around 4 PM.
- Enjoy entertainment: See Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire or catch the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade at 2:00 PM.
- Note closures: Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress is closed through at least December 23, 2026. Jingle Cruise is closed through at least November 2, 2026, and sections of the Walt Disney World Railroad are closed through at least October 29, 2026.
EPCOT
| Park hours | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Early Theme Park Entry from 8:30 AM for Disney resort hotel guests) |
| Tonight | a special ticketed event (separate ticket); day guests leave at 9:00 PM |
| Weather | High 90°F, low 71°F, clear sky, 12% chance of rain |
| Crowd forecast | 5 out of 10 (5 is a typical day at this park) |
| Lightning Lane | Multi Pass $28 |
| Rope-drop pick | Soarin' Across America: usually about 9 min at opening vs. 39 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 2 PM–5 PM (headliners average 57 min) |
| Closed today | Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses: Closed through at least Nov 26, 2026 |
EPCOT opens for Early Entry at 8:30 AM today, with regular park hours from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. A special ticketed event will keep the park open until 12:30 AM.
Rope drop plan
For eligible guests, Early Entry begins at 8:30 AM. Soarin' Across America typically has a 9-minute wait at opening, saving you 25 minutes compared to its typical peak of 39 minutes. Test Track usually sees a 57-minute wait at opening, saving 18 minutes from its typical peak of 79 minutes. Both attractions are also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass, so rope dropping might not be essential.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $28. There are no Lightning Lane Single Pass options listed for today.
Shows and timing
Enjoy the JAMMitors with their first performance at 8:30 AM, or catch ¡Celebración Encanto! starting at 9:45 AM. Matsuriza performs from 11:00 AM, and Mariachi Cobre from 11:15 AM. In the evening, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series Presented by Enterprise at EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival has performances at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:00 PM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 8:30 AM to experience a popular attraction like Soarin' Across America, which typically has a 9-minute wait at opening.
- Consider taking a break between 2 PM and 5 PM, as this is typically the busiest stretch with average headliner waits of 57 minutes, and rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Test Track, and Frozen Ever After are worst.
- Plan your evening around the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, with performances starting at 5:30 PM. Remember the park closes for day guests at 9:00 PM before a special ticketed event.
- Note that Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses is closed today through at least November 26, 2026.
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 90°F, low 71°F, clear sky, 12% chance of rain |
| Crowd forecast | 5 out of 10 (5 is a typical day at this park) |
| Lightning Lane | Multi Pass $32 |
| Rope-drop pick | Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets: usually about 35 min at opening vs. 58 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 11 AM–2 PM (headliners average 46 min) |
For Thursday, October 15, 2026, eligible guests can take advantage of Early Entry starting at 8:30 AM at Hollywood Studios. Consider using this time to experience popular attractions before the park officially opens at 9:00 AM, or plan to purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for $32 to save time on select rides.
Rope drop plan
If you are looking to get a jump on a popular attraction, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets on Sunset Boulevard typically has a 35-minute wait at opening. This can save you about 17 minutes compared to its typical peak wait of 58 minutes. This attraction is also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass, so you may not need to rope drop it if you plan to purchase the pass.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $32. This pass can be a good option for bypassing standby lines, especially for rides like Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets.
Shows and timing
Plan your day around the park's many entertainment options. "For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration" begins its first show at 9:30 AM. "The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure" starts at 10:00 AM, and "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After" has its first performance at 10:30 AM. The "Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!" kicks off at 10:45 AM, followed by "Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage" at 11:00 AM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 8:30 AM to get a head start on the day. Consider heading to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets to save 17 minutes compared to its typical peak wait of 58 minutes, or use the Lightning Lane Multi Pass for this attraction.
- Plan to take a break or enjoy shows during the typical peak hours from 11 AM to 2 PM, when headliner attractions usually average 46 minutes for their wait times. Slinky Dog Dash, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance are typically the worst during this period.
- Integrate a show into your morning, such as the 9:30 AM showing of "For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration" or the 10:00 AM "The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure."
- Yesterday, Slinky Dog Dash averaged 73 minutes and peaked at 100 minutes, while The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror averaged 66 minutes and peaked at 115 minutes, indicating these rides can experience long waits.
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 90°F, low 71°F, clear sky, 12% chance of rain |
| Crowd forecast | 5 out of 10 (5 is a typical day at this park) |
| Lightning Lane | Multi Pass $22 |
| Rope-drop pick | Kali River Rapids: usually about 5 min at opening vs. 36 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 10 AM–1 PM (headliners average 36 min) |
Animal Kingdom opens at 8:00 AM today, with Early Entry available at 7:30 AM. With a clear sky and a high of 90F, planning your day around the typical peak times from 10 AM to 1 PM will be key to maximizing your experience.
Rope drop plan
For those arriving at rope drop, Kali River Rapids typically sees a 5-minute wait at opening, saving 27 minutes compared to its typical peak. Na'vi River Journey usually opens with a 15-minute wait, saving 20 minutes, and Kilimanjaro Safaris starts at 21 minutes, saving 19 minutes. All three are also available via the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, so you may not need to rope drop them.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $22. This can be a valuable option for bypassing standby lines on popular attractions, especially during the typical peak hours.
Shows and timing
Catch early performances like the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe starting at 8:10 AM or Animal Encounters: Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight at 8:15 AM. DiVine has an early appearance at 8:35 AM. Festival of the Lion King begins its shows at 10:00 AM, with multiple performances throughout the day.
Plan your day
- Prioritize Kali River Rapids, Na'vi River Journey, or Kilimanjaro Safaris early in the morning, either by arriving for Early Entry at 7:30 AM or at park opening at 8:00 AM, to save significant time on waits.
- Consider purchasing the Lightning Lane Multi Pass for $22 if you wish to bypass standby lines for popular attractions, potentially saving you from rope dropping.
- Plan your major attractions before 10 AM or after 1 PM, as headliner waits typically peak during this window, with Avatar Flight of Passage, Na'vi River Journey, and Kilimanjaro Safaris being among the worst. Yesterday, Avatar Flight of Passage averaged 48 minutes with a peak of 85 minutes.
- Beat the 90F clear sky heat by catching indoor shows like Festival of the Lion King, with its first performance at 10:00 AM, or enjoying early outdoor entertainment like DiVine at 8:35 AM.
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 5:02 AM ET on October 15. Disney can change them during the day.