What to know before Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom open on Thursday, November 12. 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 Very Merry Christmas Party (separate ticket); day guests leave at 6:00 PM |
| Weather | High 80°F, low 64°F, overcast clouds, 2% chance of rain |
| Crowd forecast | 5 out of 10 (5 is a typical day at this park) |
| Lightning Lane | Multi Pass $35 |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 3 PM–6 PM (headliners average 35 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 20, 2027 |
Today, Magic Kingdom closes early at 6:00 PM for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, which runs until 12:00 AM. Eligible guests can take advantage of Early Entry starting at 8:30 AM to maximize their time in the park.
Rope drop plan
Early Entry begins at 8:30 AM, 30 minutes before the park officially opens at 9:00 AM. This is an excellent opportunity to experience popular attractions like TRON Lightcycle / Run or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, which typically see the worst waits during the day.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
A Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $35 and is not sold out. Given the park's early 6:00 PM closing time, this could be a valuable option to experience more attractions.
Shows and timing
Catch Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire at 10:00 AM or 11:35 AM. The Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade steps off at 2:00 PM. The Dapper Dans perform throughout the morning, with their first show at 9:00 AM, and the Flag Retreat is scheduled for 5:00 PM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 8:30 AM to get a head start on popular rides like TRON Lightcycle / Run, which yesterday had a peak wait of 90 minutes, or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, which peaked at 55 minutes.
- Plan for the typical peak period from 3 PM to 6 PM, when headliner wait times usually average 35 minutes. Consider watching a show or enjoying a meal during this time.
- Note that 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 20, 2027.
- Remember the park closes at 6:00 PM for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, so plan your departure accordingly.
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 64°F, overcast clouds, 2% 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 55 min) |
| Closed today | Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses: Closed through at least Nov 26, 2026 |
Good morning! Early Entry begins at 8:30 AM today at EPCOT, giving eligible guests a head start before the park officially opens at 9:00 AM. Be aware that the park typically sees its highest crowds between 12 PM and 3 PM, with Test Track, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and Frozen Ever After usually experiencing the longest waits.
Rope drop plan
With Early Entry starting at 8:30 AM, consider heading straight to a popular attraction like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind or Test Track. Yesterday, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind averaged 79 minutes and peaked at 125 minutes, while Test Track averaged 74 minutes and peaked at 95 minutes.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
A Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $28 today. There are no Lightning Lane Single Pass options listed.
Shows and timing
Catch the JAMMitors with their first performance at 8:30 AM, or plan to see Mariachi Cobre starting at 11:15 AM. The Rose & Crown Pub Musician has performances throughout the day, including an early 7:00 AM slot and later times like 1:30 PM and 2:15 PM.
Plan your day
- Utilize Early Entry at 8:30 AM to experience a top attraction like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind before the general public enters at 9:00 AM.
- Plan for a break or a meal between 12 PM and 3 PM, as this is typically when the park experiences its peak wait times for rides like Frozen Ever After.
- Enjoy live entertainment such as ¡Celebración Encanto! with shows starting at 9:45 AM, or Matsuriza beginning at 11:00 AM.
- 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 80°F, low 64°F, overcast clouds, 2% chance of rain |
| Crowd forecast | 5 out of 10 (5 is a typical day at this park) |
| Lightning Lane | Multi Pass $29 |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 10 AM–1 PM (headliners average 44 min) |
Today at Hollywood Studios, Early Entry begins at 8:30 AM, with the park officially opening at 9:00 AM. Be prepared for typical peak crowds between 10 AM and 1 PM, when headliner waits usually average 44 minutes, with Slinky Dog Dash, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets often seeing the longest lines.
Rope drop plan
For eligible guests, Early Entry starts at 8:30 AM. This is your best chance to experience popular attractions like Slinky Dog Dash, which saw a peak wait of 145 minutes yesterday, or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which peaked at 75 minutes yesterday.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available today for $29.
Shows and timing
Catch the first performance 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.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 8:30 AM to get a head start on popular attractions like Slinky Dog Dash, which averaged 76 minutes yesterday.
- Plan to experience shows or take a break from 10 AM to 1 PM, as this is typically the park's busiest period, with headliner waits averaging 44 minutes.
- Consider attending an early show 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.
- After the typical peak, explore attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which peaked at 75 minutes yesterday.
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 64°F, overcast clouds, 2% chance of rain |
| Crowd forecast | 5 out of 10 (5 is a typical day at this park) |
| Lightning Lane | Multi Pass $22; Avatar Flight of Passage Single Pass $18 |
| Busiest stretch | Usually 9 AM–12 PM (headliners average 41 min) |
For your day at Animal Kingdom on Thursday, November 12, 2026, consider arriving for Early Entry at 7:30 AM, as the park officially opens at 8:00 AM. The busiest period is typically between 9 AM and 12 PM, when headliner waits average 41 minutes, with Avatar Flight of Passage, Na'vi River Journey, and Kilimanjaro Safaris seeing the worst of it.
Rope drop plan
With Early Entry beginning at 7:30 AM, eligible guests can get a head start. Otherwise, plan to be at the park for the 8:00 AM official opening to tackle popular attractions before the typical peak. Yesterday, Kilimanjaro Safaris averaged 53 minutes with a peak of 80 minutes, and Avatar Flight of Passage averaged 45 minutes with a peak of 65 minutes.
Lightning Lane: worth it today?
A Lightning Lane Multi Pass is available for $22 today. If you're only interested in Avatar Flight of Passage, a Lightning Lane Single Pass can be purchased for $18. Given the typical peak waits and yesterday's numbers, these options could save you significant time.
Shows and timing
Catch the first Festival of the Lion King performance at 10:00 AM. Other early entertainment includes Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe at 8:10 AM and Animal Encounters: Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight at 8:15 AM.
Plan your day
- Arrive for Early Entry at 7:30 AM to prioritize a high-demand attraction like Avatar Flight of Passage or Kilimanjaro Safaris, as these typically experience the longest waits.
- Plan to enjoy shows or less popular areas between 9 AM and 12 PM, which is typically the busiest stretch with headliner waits averaging 41 minutes.
- Don't miss the first showing of Festival of the Lion King at 10:00 AM, or enjoy earlier performances such as Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe at 8:10 AM.
- Consider purchasing a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Avatar Flight of Passage for $18 if you want to save time, or a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for $22 for access to multiple 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 5:00 AM ET on November 12. Disney can change them during the day.