What to know before Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom open on Thursday, October 22. All times are Eastern Time.
Magic Kingdom
| Park hours | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Early Theme Park Entry from 8:30 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 80°F, low 61°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 $29 |
| Rope-drop pick | Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin: usually about 14 min at opening vs. 40 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 30, 2026 |
Magic Kingdom closes early today, October 22, 2026, at 6:00 PM for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which runs until 12:00 AM. Eligible guests can enjoy Early Entry starting at 8:30 AM before the park officially opens at 9:00 AM.
Rope drop plan
Consider heading to Tiana's Bayou Adventure in Frontierland or Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland right at rope drop. Tiana's Bayou Adventure typically has a 10-minute wait at opening, saving you 18 minutes compared to its typical peak of 35 minutes. Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin usually has a 14-minute wait at opening, saving 23 minutes from its typical peak of 40 minutes. Both are also available via 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 $29. This could be a good option if you prefer not to rope drop rides like Tiana's Bayou Adventure or Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. There are no Lightning Lane Single Pass options listed for today.
Shows and timing
Catch The Dapper Dans starting at 9:00 AM, or Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire at 10:00 AM. The Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade steps off at 2:00 PM. If you are attending Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular has performances starting at 7:35 PM.
Plan your day
- Start your day with Tiana's Bayou Adventure or Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin during Early Entry or right at 9:00 AM to experience shorter waits.
- Plan to see the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade at 2:00 PM, or one of the many performances of Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire throughout the morning and early afternoon.
- Be aware that the park closes at 6:00 PM for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The typical peak for headliner waits is usually from 4 PM to 7 PM, with TRON Lightcycle / Run, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Space Mountain typically having the longest waits. Note that Jingle Cruise is closed through at least Nov 2, 2026, and Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress is closed through at least Dec 30, 2026.
- If you have tickets for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, don't miss the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, with its first show at 7:35 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 80°F, low 61°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 10 min at opening vs. 40 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 3 PM–6 PM (headliners average 58 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, October 22, 2026, with general admission starting at 9:00 AM. To maximize your morning, consider arriving for Early Entry to experience popular attractions with typically lower waits. The park closes at 9:00 PM.
Rope drop plan
Early Entry for eligible guests begins at 8:30 AM. If you arrive then, you could experience Soarin' Across America in World Nature with a typical wait of 10 minutes, saving 25 minutes compared to its typical peak wait of 40 minutes. Test Track in World Discovery usually has a 55-minute wait at opening, saving 19 minutes from its typical peak of 78 minutes. Both rides 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 $26 today and is not sold out. This could be a good option for popular attractions like Test Track or Soarin' Across America, especially if you prefer not to rope drop.
Shows and timing
Catch the JAMMitors as early as 8:30 AM. Other performances include ¡Celebración Encanto! starting at 9:45 AM, Matsuriza at 11:00 AM, and Mariachi Cobre at 11:15 AM. Later in the day, you can find the Rose & Crown Pub Musician from 1:30 PM and Entertainment at Canada Mill Stage from 2:15 PM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 8:30 AM to experience Soarin' Across America with a typically low 10-minute wait, or consider a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for $26 to save time on popular rides like Test Track.
- Plan to take a break or enjoy shows during the typical peak hours from 3 PM to 6 PM, when headliner waits average 58 minutes. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Test Track, and Frozen Ever After are usually the worst during this time.
- Note that Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses is closed today through at least November 26, 2026.
- Yesterday, Test Track averaged 55 minutes and peaked at 75 minutes, while Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind averaged 54 minutes and peaked at 75 minutes, reinforcing the benefit of early arrival or Lightning Lane.
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 80°F, low 61°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 $29; Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Single Pass $24 |
| 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 Thursday, October 22, 2026 visit to Hollywood Studios, eligible guests can enter early at 8:30 AM before the 9:00 AM official opening. Consider heading to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets first, as it typically saves 17 minutes compared to its peak wait.
Rope drop plan
If you're looking to start your day with a thrill, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets on Sunset Boulevard is a good rope drop option. It typically has a 34-minute wait at opening, saving you about 17 minutes compared to its typical peak wait of 57 minutes. Remember, this attraction is also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass, so you may not need to rope drop it.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $29 and is not sold out. For individual attractions, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance can be purchased as a Lightning Lane Single Pass for $24.
Shows and timing
Hollywood Studios offers a variety of entertainment today. Catch the first showing of For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration at 9:30 AM, The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure at 10:00 AM, or Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! at 10:45 AM. Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After also begins at 10:30 AM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 8:30 AM or at park opening at 9:00 AM and consider heading to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets to potentially save 17 minutes on wait time.
- Plan your mid-day around the typical peak wait times from 11 AM to 2 PM, when headliner attractions usually average 46 minutes. Slinky Dog Dash, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance are typically the worst during this period.
- Utilize Lightning Lane Multi Pass for $29 if you want to bypass lines on multiple attractions, or purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance for $24.
- Yesterday, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror averaged 69 minutes with a peak of 120 minutes, while Slinky Dog Dash averaged 57 minutes with a peak of 80 minutes. Keep these in mind as you plan your approach to popular attractions.
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 80°F, low 61°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 $19; Avatar Flight of Passage Single Pass $18 |
| Rope-drop pick | Kali River Rapids: usually about 5 min at opening vs. 31 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 10 AM–1 PM (headliners average 36 min) |
For your visit to Animal Kingdom on Thursday, October 22, 2026, the park opens at 8:00 AM, with Early Entry for eligible guests starting at 7:30 AM. The park closes at 6:00 PM. Expect the busiest period to be between 10 AM and 1 PM, when headliner attractions typically see an average wait of 36 minutes.
Rope drop plan
If you're looking to save time, Kali River Rapids in Asia typically has a 5-minute wait at opening, saving you 22 minutes compared to its typical peak. Na'vi River Journey in Pandora - The World of Avatar usually sees a 15-minute wait at opening, saving 21 minutes from its typical peak. Kilimanjaro Safaris in Africa typically has a 23-minute wait at opening, saving 18 minutes. All three of these attractions 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 today for $19 and is not sold out. For individual purchases, Avatar Flight of Passage is available as a Lightning Lane Single Pass for $18.
Shows and timing
Start your day with the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe 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 begins its performances at 10:00 AM, with additional showings throughout the day.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 7:30 AM to experience popular attractions like Kilimanjaro Safaris, which typically has a 23-minute wait at opening.
- Consider purchasing a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Avatar Flight of Passage for $18, as it is one of the worst waits during the typical peak period.
- Plan to enjoy a show like Festival of the Lion King, with its first performance at 10:00 AM, to avoid the typical peak wait times from 10 AM to 1 PM.
- Yesterday, Avatar Flight of Passage had a peak wait of 55 minutes, while Na'vi River Journey peaked at 45 minutes, highlighting the benefit of an early start or Lightning Lane access for these attractions.
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 22. Disney can change them during the day.