What to know before Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom open on Thursday, October 29. 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 81°F, low 70°F, few clouds, 83% 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 | Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin: usually about 13 min at opening vs. 39 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 4 PM–7 PM (headliners average 39 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 Jan 6, 2027 |
Magic Kingdom closes early today at 6:00 PM for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, so plan your day accordingly. With an 83% chance of rain, be prepared for wet weather throughout the day.
Rope drop plan
Early Entry begins at 8:30 AM, with the park opening to all guests at 9:00 AM. For a head start, consider Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland, where you could save 23 minutes compared to its typical peak wait of 39 minutes. Space Mountain, also in Tomorrowland, typically has a 22-minute wait at opening, saving you 15 minutes off its 43-minute peak. Both 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 $32 today and is not sold out. This could be a good option for rides like Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and Space Mountain, which are also rope drop recommendations.
Shows and timing
Catch daytime entertainment like The Dapper Dans starting at 9:00 AM, Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire at 10:00 AM, or the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade at 2:00 PM before the park closes for day guests. The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular is part of the evening event, with performances at 7:35 PM, 9:05 PM, 10:35 PM, and 11:59 PM.
Plan your day
- Start your day early with Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin or Space Mountain during Early Entry or at park opening to save significant wait time. These rides typically save 23 and 15 minutes, respectively, compared to their peak waits.
- Be prepared for the weather, as there's an 83% chance of rain. Also, remember the park closes for day guests at 6:00 PM for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, cutting short the typical peak crowd period.
- Catch daytime entertainment like Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire at 10:00 AM or the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade at 2:00 PM before the park closes for day guests.
- Note that Jingle Cruise is closed through at least November 2, 2026, and Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress is closed through at least January 6, 2027.
EPCOT
| 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 70°F, few clouds, 83% 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 $22 |
| 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 57 min) |
| Closed today | Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses: Closed through at least Nov 26, 2026 |
With Early Entry beginning at 8:30 AM and an 83% chance of rain today, planning your morning at EPCOT is key to making the most of your visit. The park officially opens to all guests at 9:00 AM, closing at 9:00 PM.
Rope drop plan
Early Entry for eligible guests begins at 8:30 AM. If you're heading to World Nature, Soarin' Across America typically has a 10-minute wait at opening, saving you 25 minutes compared to its typical peak of 40 minutes. In World Discovery, Test Track usually sees a 54-minute wait at opening, saving 18 minutes from its typical peak of 76 minutes. Both rides are also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which might mean you don't need to rope drop them.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $26. For individual attractions, a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is available for $22. Yesterday, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind peaked at 125 minutes, making a Lightning Lane a strong consideration for this popular attraction.
Shows and timing
EPCOT offers a variety of live entertainment throughout the day. Catch the JAMMitors with performances starting at 8:30 AM, or enjoy Matsuriza in the afternoon with shows until 4:45 PM. Be sure to check the full schedule for other acts like ¡Celebración Encanto! and Mariachi Cobre.
Plan your day
- Take advantage of Early Entry at 8:30 AM to experience Soarin' Across America or Test Track with shorter waits, or consider purchasing a Lightning Lane Multi Pass to save time on these and other attractions.
- Be prepared for the 83% chance of rain today, especially during the typical peak crowd hours between 3 PM and 6 PM when headliner waits average 57 minutes.
- Plan your afternoon around one of the many live shows, such as Sergio with performances starting at 11:50 AM and running until 4:40 PM, or the Rose & Crown Pub Musician from 1:30 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 – 9:00 PM (Early Theme Park Entry from 8:30 AM for Disney resort hotel guests) |
| Weather | High 81°F, low 70°F, few clouds, 83% chance of rain |
| Crowd forecast | 5 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 |
| Rope-drop pick | Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets: usually about 31 min at opening vs. 56 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 11 AM–2 PM (headliners average 46 min) |
With an 83% chance of rain today and Early Entry starting at 8:30 AM, planning your morning efficiently at Hollywood Studios will be key. The park officially opens at 9:00 AM and closes at 9:00 PM.
Rope drop plan
For those looking to start their day with a thrill, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets on Sunset Boulevard is a strong rope drop option. Typically, its wait at opening is 31 minutes, saving you about 19 minutes compared to its typical peak wait of 56 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 for $27 today. For individual purchases, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is available via Lightning Lane Single Pass for $24. Yesterday, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance averaged 69 minutes with a peak of 115 minutes, while Slinky Dog Dash averaged 40 minutes with a peak of 55 minutes, indicating that Lightning Lane could be a valuable tool for saving time on these popular attractions.
Shows and timing
Catch a performance of For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration starting at 9:30 AM, or enjoy The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure with its first show at 10:00 AM and many performances throughout the day until 7:55 PM. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! has five shows, beginning at 10:45 AM.
Plan your day
- Arrive early: Take advantage of Early Entry at 8:30 AM to experience a popular attraction before the park officially opens at 9:00 AM.
- Beat the peak: Plan to enjoy shows or grab a meal between 11 AM and 2 PM, as this is typically when headliner wait times, such as for Slinky Dog Dash, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, are at their worst, with an average headliner wait of 46 minutes.
- Prepare for rain: With an 83% chance of rain, consider indoor shows like For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration or The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure during potential downpours.
- Consider Lightning Lane: If maximizing ride time is a priority, consider purchasing a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for $27 or a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance for $24 to bypass longer waits, especially during the busy midday period.
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 70°F, few clouds, 83% 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 35 min) |
Animal Kingdom closes early today at 6:00 PM, and with an 83% chance of rain, planning your day is key. Early Entry for eligible guests begins at 7:30 AM, offering a head start before the park officially opens at 8:00 AM.
Rope drop plan
For Early Entry, consider heading to Na'vi River Journey in Pandora - The World of Avatar, where the wait at opening is typically 15 minutes, saving you 21 minutes compared to its typical peak of 45 minutes. Kilimanjaro Safaris in Africa is another good option, usually starting with a 23-minute wait and peaking at 44 minutes. Kali River Rapids in Asia typically has a 5-minute wait at opening, saving 22 minutes from its typical peak of 31 minutes. Both Na'vi River Journey and Kilimanjaro Safaris 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 $19 today. A Lightning Lane Single Pass for Avatar Flight of Passage is available for $18. Yesterday, Avatar Flight of Passage peaked at 60 minutes, and Na'vi River Journey peaked at 40 minutes. If you plan to ride Avatar Flight of Passage, the Single Pass is a good option to consider.
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 an early performance at 8:35 AM. Festival of the Lion King has its first performance at 10:00 AM, with shows continuing hourly until 4:00 PM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 7:30 AM to experience Na'vi River Journey or Kilimanjaro Safaris with typically shorter waits.
- Consider purchasing a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Avatar Flight of Passage to bypass its longer lines, especially since it was one of the worst offenders yesterday, peaking at 60 minutes.
- Plan indoor shows like Festival of the Lion King, starting at 10:00 AM, or other covered attractions during the typical peak hours of 10 AM to 1 PM, and to avoid the 83% chance of rain.
- Remember the park closes at 6:00 PM, so prioritize your must-do attractions early in the day.
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 29. Disney can change them during the day.