What to know before Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom open on Friday, October 23. 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 81°F, low 59°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 |
| Rope-drop pick | Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin: usually about 7 min at opening vs. 38 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 11 AM–2 PM (headliners average 35 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 31, 2026 |
Magic Kingdom closes early today 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 7:30 AM before the park officially opens at 8:00 AM.
Rope drop plan
For eligible guests, Early Entry begins at 7:30 AM. If you're looking to save time, consider Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, which typically has a 7-minute wait at opening, saving 28 minutes compared to its typical peak. Jungle Cruise typically sees a 6-minute wait at opening, saving 24 minutes. Tiana's Bayou Adventure typically has a 7-minute wait at opening, saving 21 minutes. All three 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 $35. It is not sold out. Rides like Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Jungle Cruise, and Tiana's Bayou Adventure are available via Multi Pass.
Shows and timing
Catch The Dapper Dans at 9:00 AM, 9:50 AM, 10:40 AM, 12:05 PM, 1:10 PM, 2:55 PM, or 3:55 PM. Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire has performances at 10:00 AM, 11:35 AM, 12:45 PM, 2:55 PM, and 4:00 PM. The Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade steps off at 2:00 PM. For those attending the evening event, Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular shows are at 7:35 PM, 9:05 PM, 10:35 PM, and 11:59 PM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 7:30 AM if eligible, or be ready for the 8:00 AM opening to experience Tiana's Bayou Adventure, which typically has a 7-minute wait at opening, saving 21 minutes.
- Plan to take a break or enjoy shows during the typical peak hours of 11 AM to 2 PM, when headliner waits average 35 minutes. Yesterday, TRON Lightcycle / Run averaged 36 minutes with a peak of 60 minutes, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train averaged 29 minutes with a peak of 45 minutes.
- Note that Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress is closed through at least Dec 31, 2026. Jingle Cruise is closed through at least Nov 2, 2026. Walt Disney World Railroad - Fantasyland and Walt Disney World Railroad - Main Street, U.S.A. are both closed through at least Oct 29, 2026.
- Remember Magic Kingdom closes at 6:00 PM today for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
EPCOT
| Park hours | 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Early Theme Park Entry from 9:30 AM for Disney resort hotel guests) |
| Weather | High 81°F, low 59°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 $28 |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 5 PM–8 PM (headliners average 67 min) |
| Closed today | Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses: Closed through at least Nov 26, 2026 |
For your visit to EPCOT today, eligible guests can enjoy Early Entry starting at 9:30 AM, ahead of the park's official 10:00 AM opening. Be aware that the park typically experiences its busiest period between 5 PM and 8 PM, with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Test Track, and Frozen Ever After usually seeing the longest waits.
Rope drop plan
To get a head start, eligible guests should arrive for Early Entry at 9:30 AM. Consider heading straight to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which averaged 65 minutes yesterday and peaked at 105 minutes, or Test Track, which averaged 52 minutes and peaked at 90 minutes.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $28. There are no individual Lightning Lane Single Pass options listed for today.
Shows and timing
Plan your afternoon around one of the many live performances. Catch the JAMMitors at 10:30 AM, or Mariachi Cobre starting at 11:15 AM. The Rose & Crown Pub Musician begins performances at 1:30 PM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 9:30 AM to experience a popular attraction like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind before the park officially opens at 10:00 AM.
- Consider taking a break or enjoying less popular attractions during the typical peak hours from 5 PM to 8 PM, when average headliner waits can reach 67 minutes.
- Check the times for shows like ¡Celebración Encanto! at 10:45 AM or Matsuriza at 11:00 AM to add entertainment to your day.
- Please note that Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses is closed through at least Nov 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 81°F, low 59°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 | Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets: usually about 44 min at opening vs. 68 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 11 AM–2 PM (headliners average 52 min) |
Early Entry for eligible guests begins at 8:30 AM today, Friday, October 23, 2026, ahead of the general park opening at 9:00 AM. The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $32. Consider heading to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets at rope drop, or utilize the Multi Pass to save time later in the day.
Rope drop plan
For guests with Early Entry, the park opens at 8:30 AM. For general park opening at 9:00 AM, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets on Sunset Boulevard typically has a 44-minute wait, which usually saves 18 minutes compared to its typical peak wait of 68 minutes. This ride is also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $32. This pass may be a good option if you plan to experience Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets without rope dropping it, or if you want to prioritize other popular attractions during peak times. There are no Lightning Lane Single Pass options listed for today.
Shows and timing
Catch an early performance of For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration at 9:30 AM, or Green Army Drum Corps at 10:00 AM. The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure also begins at 10:00 AM. Later in the morning, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! has a show at 10:45 AM, and Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage starts at 11:00 AM.
Plan your day
- Start early: Eligible guests can take advantage of Early Entry at 8:30 AM. For general park opening at 9:00 AM, consider heading to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets to experience it with a typically shorter wait.
- Beat the peak: The park usually experiences its busiest period from 11 AM to 2 PM, with an average headliner wait of 52 minutes. Rides like Slinky Dog Dash, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets are typically at their worst during this time. Yesterday, Slinky Dog Dash peaked at 75 minutes and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets peaked at 85 minutes.
- Enjoy a show: Plan to see 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 to avoid the growing ride queues.
- Consider the Multi Pass: If you want to save time on attractions like Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets without rope dropping, the Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $32.
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 81°F, low 59°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 $22; Avatar Flight of Passage Single Pass $19 |
| Rope-drop pick | Kali River Rapids: usually about 7 min at opening vs. 49 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 11 AM–2 PM (headliners average 44 min) |
Animal Kingdom opens at 8:00 AM today, with Early Entry for eligible guests starting at 7:30 AM. The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $22, and a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Avatar Flight of Passage is $19. The park closes relatively early today at 6:00 PM.
Rope drop plan
For Early Entry guests starting at 7:30 AM, Kilimanjaro Safaris typically has a 30-minute wait at opening, saving 21 minutes compared to its typical peak. Kali River Rapids typically opens with a 7-minute wait, saving 38 minutes, and Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain typically has an 8-minute wait, saving 26 minutes. Kali River Rapids, Expedition Everest, and Kilimanjaro Safaris are also available via 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 and is not sold out. A Lightning Lane Single Pass for Avatar Flight of Passage is available for $19. These can be valuable during the typical peak hours from 11 AM to 2 PM, when headliner waits average 44 minutes.
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 also has a performance at 8:35 AM. Festival of the Lion King begins its performances at 10:00 AM, with shows continuing throughout the day. Feathered Friends in Flight! starts at 10:45 AM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 7:30 AM to experience Kali River Rapids with a typical 7-minute wait, potentially saving 38 minutes compared to its typical peak.
- Consider purchasing the Lightning Lane Multi Pass for $22 to bypass lines for rides like Expedition Everest or Kilimanjaro Safaris, especially if you arrive after park opening.
- Plan to see shows like Festival of the Lion King, with performances starting at 10:00 AM, to avoid the typical peak wait times from 11 AM to 2 PM, when headliner waits average 44 minutes.
- Yesterday, Avatar Flight of Passage averaged 27 minutes and peaked at 50 minutes, making a Lightning Lane Single Pass for $19 a good option if you want to ride during busy periods.
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 23. Disney can change them during the day.