What to know before Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom open on Wednesday, October 21. 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 82°F, low 61°F, clear sky, 39% chance of rain |
| Crowd forecast | 6 out of 10 (5 is a typical day at this park) |
| Lightning Lane | Multi Pass $35; Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Single Pass $15; TRON Lightcycle / Run Single Pass $23 |
| Rope-drop pick | Tiana's Bayou Adventure: usually about 14 min at opening vs. 55 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 5 PM–8 PM (headliners average 46 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 |
Start your Magic Kingdom day early with Early Entry at 8:30 AM. The park officially opens at 9:00 AM. Expect TRON Lightcycle / Run and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train to be the busiest attractions.
Rope drop plan
For those with Early Entry, consider heading to Tiana's Bayou Adventure in Frontierland, which typically has a 14-minute wait at opening, saving 34 minutes from its typical peak wait of 55 minutes. It's also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Other good rope drop options include Jungle Cruise in Adventureland, typically 22 minutes at opening, and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland, typically 20 minutes at opening.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
A Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $35 today. Lightning Lane Single Pass Single Pass options include Seven Dwarfs Mine Train for $15 and TRON Lightcycle / Run for $23.
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. In the evening, Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away is at 7:45 PM and 10:00 PM, followed by Happily Ever After at 9:00 PM.
Plan your day
- Prioritize Early Entry: If you have Early Entry, arrive by 8:30 AM to experience Tiana's Bayou Adventure with a typically shorter wait, saving you 34 minutes compared to its peak.
- Navigate Peak Times: Headliner waits are usually highest between 5 PM and 8 PM, with TRON Lightcycle / Run, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Tiana's Bayou Adventure being the worst. Consider dining or enjoying a show during this period.
- Enjoy Entertainment: Plan your afternoon around the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade at 2:00 PM, and your evening around Happily Ever After at 9:00 PM.
EPCOT
| Park hours | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Early Theme Park Entry from 8:30 AM for Disney resort hotel guests) |
| Weather | High 82°F, low 61°F, clear sky, 39% chance of rain |
| Crowd forecast | 5 out of 10 (5 is a typical day at this park) |
| Lightning Lane | Multi Pass $26; Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Single Pass $21 |
| Rope-drop pick | Soarin' Across America: usually about 8 min at opening vs. 37 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 1 PM–4 PM (headliners average 54 min) |
| Closed today | Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses: Closed through at least Nov 26, 2026 |
EPCOT opens at 9:00 AM today, with Early Entry for eligible guests starting at 8:30 AM. To make the most of your morning, consider heading to Soarin' Across America first, as typical peak waits for headliners can reach 54 minutes between 1 PM and 4 PM.
Rope drop plan
Early Entry begins at 8:30 AM. For those looking to maximize their morning, Soarin' Across America in World Nature is a strong rope drop choice. It usually has an 8-minute wait at opening, potentially saving you 24 minutes compared to its typical peak wait of 37 minutes. This attraction is also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $26. If you're targeting specific popular attractions, a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is available for $21. Yesterday, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind averaged 59 minutes and peaked at 90 minutes, while Test Track averaged 66 minutes and peaked at 95 minutes.
Shows and timing
EPCOT offers a variety of live entertainment throughout the day. Catch the JAMMitors starting as early as 8:30 AM, or ¡Celebración Encanto! at 9:45 AM. Mariachi Cobre and Voices of Liberty both begin at 11:15 AM. In the evening, don't miss the Eat to the Beat Concert Series Presented by Enterprise at EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, with 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 wait.
- Plan your major attractions before 1 PM or after 4 PM to avoid the typical peak period, when headliners like Test Track and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind usually see their longest waits.
- Take advantage of the numerous live shows, such as Mariachi Cobre at 11:15 AM or the Eat to the Beat Concert Series at 5:30 PM, especially during the busier afternoon hours.
- Be aware 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 82°F, low 61°F, clear sky, 39% chance of rain |
| Crowd forecast | 5 out of 10 (5 is a typical day at this park) |
| Lightning Lane | Multi Pass $27 |
| Rope-drop pick | Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets: usually about 34 min at opening vs. 57 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 11 AM–2 PM (headliners average 46 min) |
For your Wednesday, October 21 visit to Hollywood Studios, Early Entry begins at 8:30 AM, with the park opening to all guests at 9:00 AM. The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $27 today, which can be a valuable tool, especially during the typical peak hours of 11 AM to 2 PM.
Rope drop plan
If you're looking to start your day with a thrill, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets in Sunset Boulevard typically has a 34-minute wait at opening, saving you about 17 minutes compared to its typical peak wait of 57 minutes. This ride is also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass, so you may not need to rope drop it.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $27 and is not sold out. There are no Lightning Lane Single Pass options listed for today.
Shows and timing
Hollywood Studios offers a wide array of entertainment today. Catch For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration with its first show at 9:30 AM, or The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure which begins at 10:00 AM and runs frequently throughout the day. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! has its first performance at 10:45 AM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 8:30 AM if eligible, or be ready for rope drop at 9:00 AM. Consider heading to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, or save it for a Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
- Plan to take a break or enjoy a show during the typical peak hours of 11 AM to 2 PM, when headliner waits usually average 46 minutes. Slinky Dog Dash, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets are typically the worst during this time.
- Catch one of the many shows throughout the day; For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration has frequent showings starting at 9:30 AM, and The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure has shows every 35 minutes from 10:00 AM.
- Yesterday, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance averaged 36 minutes with a peak of 90 minutes, and Slinky Dog Dash averaged 34 minutes with a peak of 50 minutes. Use this as a guide, but remember today's waits may differ.
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 82°F, low 61°F, clear sky, 39% chance of rain |
| Crowd forecast | 4 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. 39 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 10 AM–1 PM (headliners average 36 min) |
Animal Kingdom opens for Early Entry at 7:30 AM today, with general admission starting at 8:00 AM. Expect typical peak waits between 10 AM and 1 PM, when headliner attractions usually average 36 minutes.
Rope drop plan
For eligible guests, Early Entry begins at 7:30 AM. If you're arriving at general opening, consider heading to Kali River Rapids in Asia, where the wait at opening is typically 7 minutes, saving you 28 minutes compared to its typical peak of 39 minutes. Kilimanjaro Safaris in Africa usually has a 16-minute wait at opening, saving 25 minutes from its typical peak of 43 minutes. Na'vi River Journey in Pandora - The World of Avatar typically has a 14-minute wait at opening, saving 20 minutes from its typical peak of 43 minutes. Note that 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 for $17 today. A Lightning Lane Single Pass for Avatar Flight of Passage is available for $17.
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. Festival of the Lion King has multiple showings, with the first at 10:00 AM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 7:30 AM to experience popular attractions like Avatar Flight of Passage or Na'vi River Journey before general park opening.
- Plan to take a break or enjoy shows between 10 AM and 1 PM, as this is typically when headliner waits average 36 minutes and are at their worst for Avatar Flight of Passage, Na'vi River Journey, and Kilimanjaro Safaris.
- Catch the Festival of the Lion King, with the first show at 10:00 AM, to enjoy a major production during the typical peak wait period for rides.
- Consider purchasing a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for $17 if you want to save time on rides like Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, or Na'vi River Journey, or a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Avatar Flight of Passage for $17.
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 21. Disney can change them during the day.