What to know before Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom open on Tuesday, October 20. 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 79°F, low 60°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 $35; Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Single Pass $15 |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 4 PM–7 PM (headliners average 34 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 28, 2026 |
Magic Kingdom opens at 9:00 AM today, with Early Entry for eligible guests starting at 8:30 AM. Be prepared for typical peak crowds between 4 PM and 7 PM, when headliner waits usually average 34 minutes.
Rope drop plan
Eligible guests can enter Magic Kingdom for Early Entry at 8:30 AM. Consider heading straight to TRON Lightcycle / Run or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, as these rides typically see the longest waits. Yesterday, TRON Lightcycle / Run peaked at 105 minutes and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train peaked at 60 minutes.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
A Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $35 today and is not sold out. A Lightning Lane Single Pass for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is available for $15, which can help you save time on this popular attraction.
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. Conclude your day with Happily Ever After at 9:00 PM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 8:30 AM if eligible, or at 9:00 AM park opening, and prioritize a headliner like TRON Lightcycle / Run or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train to experience it with shorter waits.
- Plan your mid-afternoon around the typical peak hours from 4 PM to 7 PM, when waits for popular attractions are usually highest.
- Note that Jingle Cruise is closed through at least Nov 2, 2026, Walt Disney World Railroad - Fantasyland is closed through at least Oct 29, 2026, Walt Disney World Railroad - Main Street, U.S.A. is closed through at least Oct 29, 2026, and Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress is closed through at least Dec 28, 2026.
- Don't miss the Happily Ever After fireworks at 9:00 PM to cap off your day.
EPCOT
| Park hours | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Early Theme Park Entry from 8:30 AM for Disney resort hotel guests) |
| Weather | High 79°F, low 60°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 $26 |
| Rope-drop pick | Soarin' Across America: usually about 9 min at opening vs. 39 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 3 PM–6 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 general admission starting at 9:00 AM. Typically, the busiest times are between 3 PM and 6 PM, when headliner waits average 57 minutes, with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Test Track, and Frozen Ever After seeing the worst waits.
Rope drop plan
For a smart start, consider Soarin' Across America in World Nature. It typically has a 9-minute wait at opening, saving you 25 minutes compared to its typical peak wait of 39 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 $26. There are no Lightning Lane Single Passes listed for EPCOT today.
Shows and timing
Catch the JAMMitors with performances starting at 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, and 10:30 AM. ¡Celebración Encanto! begins at 9:45 AM, 10:45 AM, and 11:45 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 Soarin' Across America with a typically short 9-minute wait, potentially saving 25 minutes off its typical peak wait.
- Plan to take a break or enjoy shows between 3 PM and 6 PM, as this is typically when headliner waits average 57 minutes, with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Test Track, and Frozen Ever After seeing the worst waits.
- Enjoy live entertainment throughout the day, such as the JAMMitors starting at 8:30 AM or ¡Celebración Encanto! at 9:45 AM. The Eat to the Beat Concert Series offers evening performances at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:00 PM.
- Please note that Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses is closed today through at least November 26, 2026.
Hollywood Studios
| Park hours | 9:00 AM – 5:00 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 5:00 PM |
| Weather | High 79°F, low 60°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 $27; Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Single Pass $24 |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 11 AM–2 PM (headliners average 49 min) |
Hollywood Studios closes early today, October 20, 2026, at 5:00 PM for a special ticketed event, which continues until 11:00 PM. Early Entry for eligible guests begins at 8:30 AM, with the park officially opening at 9:00 AM. Plan your day to make the most of the shorter operating hours.
Rope drop plan
To maximize your time, consider arriving for Early Entry at 8:30 AM. Typically, Slinky Dog Dash, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets are the busiest attractions. Yesterday, Slinky Dog Dash averaged 64 minutes with a peak of 105 minutes, while Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance averaged 44 minutes and peaked at 60 minutes.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
A Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $27. For Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, a Lightning Lane Single Pass can be purchased for $24.
Shows and timing
Several shows are available throughout the day. For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration has its first show at 9:30 AM, and The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure begins at 10:00 AM. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! starts at 10:45 AM, with a later showing at 9:30 PM that is part of the special ticketed event.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 8:30 AM or park opening at 9:00 AM to prioritize a popular attraction like Slinky Dog Dash or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which typically experience long waits.
- Plan to enjoy a show or a meal during the typical peak hours from 11 AM to 2 PM, when average headliner waits are 49 minutes.
- Catch one of the many shows, such as For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration (first show at 9:30 AM) or The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure (first show at 10:00 AM), to break up your ride schedule.
- Be aware that Hollywood Studios closes to day guests at 5:00 PM for a special ticketed event, so ensure you complete your must-do activities before then.
Animal Kingdom
| Park hours | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Early Theme Park Entry from 7:30 AM for Disney resort hotel guests); Extended Evening Hours until 8:00 PM |
| Weather | High 79°F, low 60°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 $17; Avatar Flight of Passage Single Pass $17 |
| Rope-drop pick | Kali River Rapids: usually about 7 min at opening vs. 44 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 10 AM–1 PM (headliners average 40 min) |
For your Tuesday, October 20, 2026 visit to Animal Kingdom, plan to arrive for Early Entry at 7:30 AM to get ahead of the typical peak wait times that usually hit between 10 AM and 1 PM. Headliners like Avatar Flight of Passage and Kilimanjaro Safaris are typically the busiest during this mid-morning stretch.
Rope drop plan
Eligible guests can enter for Early Entry starting at 7:30 AM. For the shortest waits, consider heading to Kali River Rapids in Asia, which typically has a 7-minute wait at opening, saving you 33 minutes compared to its typical peak. Kilimanjaro Safaris in Africa usually sees a 26-minute wait at opening, saving 24 minutes, while Na'vi River Journey in Pandora - The World of Avatar typically has a 17-minute wait, saving 22 minutes. Remember, Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Na'vi River Journey are also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
A Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $17 and is not sold out, offering access to several attractions. For Avatar Flight of Passage, a Lightning Lane Single Pass is available for $17. These options can help you bypass longer lines, especially during the typical peak period from 10 AM to 1 PM.
Shows and timing
Catch the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe starting early at 8:10 AM, or Animal Encounters: Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight at 8:15 AM. DiVine has a performance at 8:35 AM. Festival of the Lion King has its first performance at 10:00 AM, with multiple showings throughout the day.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 7:30 AM to experience attractions like Na'vi River Journey, which typically has a 17-minute wait at opening, saving you 22 minutes.
- Plan to enjoy shows or take a break between 10 AM and 1 PM, as this is typically when the park experiences its peak wait times, with headliners averaging 40 minutes.
- Don't miss Festival of the Lion King, with its first show at 10:00 AM, offering a great mid-morning entertainment option.
- Consider purchasing a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for $17 to save time on rides like Kilimanjaro Safaris, or a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Avatar Flight of Passage for $17, especially if you plan to visit during peak hours.
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 5:00 AM ET on October 20. Disney can change them during the day.