What to know before Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom open on Monday, November 9. 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 Very Merry Christmas Party (separate ticket); day guests leave at 6:00 PM |
| Weather | High 83°F, low 63°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 $35 |
| Rope-drop pick | Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin: usually about 13 min at opening vs. 40 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 3 PM–6 PM (headliners average 41 min) |
| Closed today | Tiana's Bayou Adventure: Closed through at least Dec 17, 2026; Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress: Closed through at least Jan 17, 2027 |
Magic Kingdom closes early today at 6:00 PM for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, so plan your day to maximize morning and early afternoon park time. Eligible guests can enjoy Early Entry starting at 7:30 AM, with the park opening to all guests at 8:00 AM.
Rope drop plan
For guests utilizing Early Entry at 7:30 AM or arriving for the 8:00 AM park opening, consider heading to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland, which typically has a 13-minute wait at opening, saving you 24 minutes compared to its typical peak. Jungle Cruise in Adventureland (18 minutes at opening, saving 19 minutes) and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland (14 minutes at opening, saving 18 minutes) are also good options. All three are also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass, so you may not need to rope drop them.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $35 and is not sold out. This can be a useful tool to save time, especially for rides like Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Jungle Cruise, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which are also rope drop options.
Shows and timing
Catch The Dapper Dans with performances starting at 9:00 AM, 9:50 AM, and 10:40 AM. Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire is scheduled for 10:00 AM, 11:35 AM, 12:45 PM, 2:55 PM, and 4:00 PM. Don't miss the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade at 2:00 PM, and the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade at 11:05 AM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 7:30 AM or rope drop at 8:00 AM to experience rides like Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin or Jungle Cruise with typically shorter waits.
- Be aware that typical peak wait times for headliners like TRON Lightcycle / Run, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Peter Pan's Flight usually occur between 3 PM and 6 PM. Yesterday, Peter Pan's Flight peaked at 70 minutes and TRON Lightcycle / Run peaked at 60 minutes.
- The park closes early at 6:00 PM today for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, so plan your dining and ride experiences accordingly. Also, Tiana's Bayou Adventure is closed through at least Dec 17, 2026, and Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress is closed through at least Jan 17, 2027.
- Incorporate a show like the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade at 2:00 PM or Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire into your afternoon to enjoy entertainment and take a break from attractions.
EPCOT
| Park hours | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Early Theme Park Entry from 8:30 AM for Disney resort hotel guests); Extended Evening Hours until 11:00 PM |
| Weather | High 83°F, low 63°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 12 PM–3 PM (headliners average 61 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 beginning at 8:30 AM. The park typically sees its busiest period between 12 PM and 3 PM, when headliner wait times average 61 minutes.
Rope drop plan
For eligible guests, Early Entry at 8:30 AM is an excellent opportunity to experience popular attractions with potentially lower waits. Historically, Test Track, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and Frozen Ever After are among the worst for wait times during peak hours. Yesterday, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind peaked at 110 minutes, and Test Track peaked at 105 minutes.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
A Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $28 today. There are no individual Lightning Lane Single Pass selections available for purchase.
Shows and timing
Start your day with the JAMMitors, performing as early as 8:30 AM, or catch ¡Celebración Encanto! with its first show at 9:45 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
- If you have Early Entry, consider heading directly to a popular attraction like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind or Test Track right at 8:30 AM.
- Plan to enjoy shows or grab a meal between 12 PM and 3 PM, as this is typically when headliner wait times are at their highest.
- Note that Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses is closed today through at least November 26, 2026.
- Take advantage of the many live performances throughout the day, such as Voices of Liberty starting at 11:15 AM or Command Performance with its first show at 3:00 PM.
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 83°F, low 63°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 $29; Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Single Pass $24 |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 10 AM–1 PM (headliners average 46 min) |
Hollywood Studios opens at 9:00 AM today, November 9, 2026, with Early Entry for eligible guests starting at 8:30 AM. Plan to arrive early, as the park typically sees its highest wait times between 10 AM and 1 PM.
Rope drop plan
With Early Entry beginning at 8:30 AM, eligible guests should aim to arrive before then to maximize time. Headliners like Slinky Dog Dash, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance typically see the longest waits. Yesterday, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance averaged 93 minutes and peaked at 145 minutes, while Slinky Dog Dash averaged 60 minutes.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $29 today. For individual attractions, a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is available for $24.
Shows and timing
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 and Green Army Drum Corps both start their first performances at 10:00 AM.
Plan your day
- Utilize Early Entry starting at 8:30 AM for eligible guests to experience popular attractions like Slinky Dog Dash or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance before the park officially opens at 9:00 AM.
- Plan for higher wait times between 10 AM and 1 PM, as this is typically the peak period with headliner waits averaging 46 minutes.
- Consider purchasing a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for $29 or a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance for $24 to save time on popular attractions.
- Incorporate shows into your morning, with early options like 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.
Animal Kingdom
| Park hours | 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Early Theme Park Entry from 7:30 AM for Disney resort hotel guests) |
| Weather | High 83°F, low 63°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 $25; Avatar Flight of Passage Single Pass $19 |
| Rope-drop pick | Wildlife Express Train: usually about 6 min at opening vs. 30 min at its peak |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 9 AM–12 PM (headliners average 36 min) |
Eligible guests can enjoy Early Entry at Animal Kingdom starting at 7:30 AM today, with the park opening to all guests at 8:00 AM. To make the most of your day, consider tackling popular attractions early, as typical peak waits for headliners are usually highest between 9 AM and 12 PM.
Rope drop plan
For a strong start, consider heading to Wildlife Express Train in Africa, which typically sees a wait of just 6 minutes at opening, potentially saving you 24 minutes compared to its typical peak. Alternatively, Kali River Rapids in Asia usually has a 7-minute wait at opening, also saving about 24 minutes. Note that Kali River Rapids is also available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass, so you might not need to rope drop it.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
A Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $25 today and is not sold out. This can be a good option to save time on multiple attractions. For Avatar Flight of Passage, a Lightning Lane Single Pass is available for $19. This attraction is one of the worst for typical peak waits.
Shows and timing
Don't miss the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe with their first performance at 8:10 AM, or Animal Encounters: Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight starting at 8:15 AM. Plan to catch Festival of the Lion King, with its first show at 10:00 AM, to enjoy a classic performance.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 7:30 AM if eligible, or be ready at 8:00 AM park opening to experience attractions like Wildlife Express Train with minimal waits.
- Consider purchasing a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Avatar Flight of Passage for $19, as it is typically one of the worst for peak waits. Yesterday, Avatar Flight of Passage averaged 41 minutes and peaked at 60 minutes.
- Take a break from the busiest attractions between 9 AM and 12 PM, when typical peak waits for headliners average 36 minutes. This is a good time to catch shows like Festival of the Lion King at 10:00 AM or Feathered Friends in Flight! at 10:45 AM.
- If you plan to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris, aim for early morning or later in the afternoon, as yesterday it averaged 45 minutes and peaked at 90 minutes.
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 November 9. Disney can change them during the day.