Walt Disney World has added extra hours to the calendar by way of Thanksgiving weekend at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios & Animal Kingdom, and prolonged hours in October 2022. This put up covers the modifications plus zig once they zag technique for Magic Kingdom throughout the Halloween and Christmas seasons.
We’ll begin with the most recent launch of recent working schedules. All 4 theme parks have had hours for an additional week added to DisneyWorld.com’s park hours, and the present calendar now runs by way of November 26, 2022. (Disney has additionally up to date the way in which the calendar shows, eradicating the month view.) Listed here are the hours for the newly-added dates throughout the vacation season in November 2022:
- Magic Kingdom: 9 am to 10 pm*
- Epcot: 9 am to 9 pm
- Hollywood Studios: 9 am to 9 pm
- Animal Kingdom: 9 am to 7 pm
- Storm Lagoon: 10 am to five pm
- Disney Springs: 10 am to 11 pm (11:30 pm on Fridays & Saturdays)
As a reminder, Walt Disney World’s regular observe is to launch boilerplate or placeholder hours earlier than extending these based mostly on attendance and resort occupancy projections. That is taking place even now, throughout the fall low season at Walt Disney World, so it’ll virtually definitely proceed in November and December 2022.
One exception to the park hours above is that Magic Kingdom closes on a number of nights per week at 6 pm to day friends for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Occasion (now by way of October 2022) and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion (November 2022). These separately-ticketed occasions start at 7 pm and runs till midnight, and happen a number of nights per week, with elevated frequency beginning in October.
As lined in numerous posts over the course of the final couple months, Magic Kingdom is least crowded throughout the days when Halloween events are held. Because of the shorter hours, most friends keep away from Magic Kingdom these days. Consequently, we suggest doing Magic Kingdom to begin these days, and Park Hopping elsewhere as soon as MNSSHP or MVMCP begins.
If you happen to haven’t missed all of our posts documenting why or how Magic Kingdom is much less busy on the times of events, begin by studying No, These Dates Received’t Be Busy at Walt Disney World. That particularly addresses the beginning of the celebration season, however applies to all dates of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion by way of December. Observe that put up up with Magic Kingdom Occasion Day Early Entry Report and My Day at Magic Kingdom Utilizing Genie+ on a Occasion Evening.
Along with these newly added hours, Walt Disney World has additionally prolonged park hours all through October 2022.
For probably the most half, these are the identical extensions that’ve been occurring for the final a number of months. This started for spring break, continued a number of instances for the summer time vacationer season, and continued throughout the fall low season. These extensions have occurred like clockwork, and have been comparatively unsurprising.
Provided that hours had been even prolonged for the slowest stretch of the 12 months, it was a foregone conclusion that the identical would occur in October, which might be busier than this month or final month. As mentioned within the newest replace to the October 2022 Crowd Calendar, subsequent month might be a begin distinction to September. We clarify the why of that–and why we’re so assured it’ll be worse–there.
Happily, Walt Disney World is constant to increase park hours in October 2022, which will certainly ease some crowd considerations. As at all times, leveraging Early Entry and nighttime hours or Genie+ and Lightning Lanes will make beating the crowds comparatively simple–even throughout a busier month like October.
Anyway, on with the extensions…
Going ahead, Magic Kingdom will keep open for one additional hour–till 11:00 pm–on the next dates:
- October 3, 2022
- October 5, 2022
- October 8-9, 2022
- October 12, 2022
- October 15, 2022
- October 17, 2022
- October 19, 2022
- October 22, 2022
- October 24, 2022
- October 26, 2022
- October 29, 2022
The explanation for these extensions is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Occasion. As we’ve mentioned numerous instances, MNSSHP disrupts crowd dynamics, pushing attendance a lot greater on the dates it’s not occurring. These extensions are all on non-party nights.
Extra importantly for savvy Walt Disney World trip planners, Magic Kingdom will open an hour earlier–at 8 am–on the next dates:
- October 2, 2022
- October 4, 2022
- October 6-7, 2022
- October 10-11, 2022
- October 13-14, 2022
- October 16, 2022
- October 18, 2022
- October 20-21, 2022
- October 23, 2022
- October 25, 2022
- October 27-28, 2022
That is additionally because of MNSSHP–these are all occasion nights when Magic Kingdom is closing to day friends at 6 pm. Once more, we’d strongly suggest visiting Magic Kingdom throughout the day on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Occasion nights.
So far, each single day of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Occasion at Magic Kingdom has been 1/10 or 2/10 on the gang calendar.
This pattern will proceed in October 2022, albeit most likely not the 1/10 or 2/10 crowd ranges.
Subsequent month, two issues will occur to vary the equation. First, crowd ranges as an entire will improve–they’ll be greater throughout the board, that means on celebration and non-party days. Second, MNSSHP dates develop into extra frequent, making them harder to keep away from. Which means extra friends could have no selection however to do Magic Kingdom on celebration days.
The upside, if you wish to name it that, is that much more individuals will try to do Magic Kingdom on these uncommon non-party days, particularly Saturdays. Because of this the hole in wait instances between celebration and non-party days will truly develop. (If this doesn’t make full sense, the ethical of the story is: DO MAGIC KINGDOM ON A PARTY DAY! Severely, we’re imploring you.)
Ideally, you’ll have Park Hopper tickets and can be capable of bounce to a different park at round 4 pm. Animal Kingdom will at all times be your only option for lower-crowd evenings throughout the fall.
In the course of the first half of October, Disney’s Hollywood Studios might be one other nice possibility. As soon as Fantasmic returns, you’ll need to keep away from DHS within the evenings…except you need to see Fantasmic! (And it is best to!)
We can’t overemphasize the gang disparity between days with and with out the early closure as a result of Halloween celebration. This can be a prime instance of taking the counterintuitive strategy and embracing the shorter hours. Zig once they zag.
The opposite 3 parks have additionally obtained extensions, albeit much less “fascinating” ones from a method perspective. EPCOT extends its 8:30 am opening streak by way of October 29, 2022.
Similar goes for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which can even proceed its 8:30 am openings by way of October 29, 2022. Early Entry will proceed to begin at 8 am and the park will nonetheless shut at 9:00 pm nightly. With rehearsals now underway, it’s a foregone conclusion that Fantasmic will debut someday in mid-to-late October 2022.
Lastly, Animal Kingdom has had some–however not all–of its hours prolonged. The park will open at 8 am and shut at 7 pm on October 12, 18, 19, 24 and 28.
Animal Kingdom’s hours have been prolonged to eight am to eight pm for October 2-3, 6-11, 13-17, 20-23 and 29. On all different dates, Animal Kingdom will maintain its boilerplate hours of 9 am till 7 pm.
This isn’t one thing we’ve seen just lately, and we’re undecided why it’s taking place–it’s potential these extensions will find yourself occurring throughout the board, however for now, we’d plan doing DAK on one of many 8-8 days. Crowds received’t be materially worse, and arriving early or staying late will yield a lot better outcomes.
If historical past (continues) to repeat itself, all of those identical patterns will proceed by way of a minimum of the top of December 2022, and extra doubtless, mid-January 2023. It wouldn’t make a lot sense to increase hours by way of October, however not observe swimsuit for the busy Christmas season. Whether or not there are bigger extensions for the weeks of Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Yr’s Eve stays to be seen.
As at all times, the sooner opening instances at EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom on celebration days make it simpler to beat crowds at these parks. There’s an enormous benefit to early risers, and savvy technique or information of how one can leverage Genie+ and Lightning Lanes could be a gamechanger.
To that finish, take a look at our Genie+ v. Savvy Technique at Walt Disney World, which is the results of intensive ‘testing’ to find out one of the best and worst methods to beat the crowds. You may as well do fairly effectively within the evenings at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios–however that may change in mid-to-late October 2022 when Fantasmic returns.
Finally, it’ll be fascinating to see how unhealthy crowds find yourself being in October, and what occurs for the vacation season that begins in early November 2022. Whereas the park opening instances are tremendous (save for Magic Kingdom on 9 am days), our hope is that Walt Disney World will get again to later closing instances for the Christmas season.
As for subsequent month, we’re happy to lastly have the extensions. Although these are primarily a continuation of the established order for celebration season, they’re good to see. All in all, we’re optimistic about visiting Walt Disney World over the course of the following few months. Although crowds are going to extend–and doubtless by quite a bit–Halloween and Christmas are our favourite instances of the 12 months within the parks and on the resorts!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study inns on our Walt Disney World Inns Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every thing it is advisable know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider Walt Disney World’s working hours for the remainder of this month by way of late November 2022? Suppose this schedule is cheap? Do you assume Magic Kingdom needs to be open earlier and/or later? What has been your expertise with crowds and wait instances? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
