Magic Kingdom is kicking off its 2026 Party Season with a notable perk for early risers: a 7:30 AM Early Entry start time. The earlier access is tied to the park's official opening moving up to 8 AM on select days beginning August 7, 2026 — the date of the first Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party of the year. On MNSSHP event days, Magic Kingdom closes to day guests at 6 PM, and that shorter window appears to be prompting Disney to open the gates an hour earlier than the standard 9 AM.
The 7:30 AM Early Entry window is a meaningful advantage for guests staying at Disney Resort hotels, giving them a head start on some of Walt Disney World's most in-demand attractions before the bulk of day guests arrive. Party Season days — when the park closes at 6 PM rather than 10 or 11 PM — also tend to draw noticeably lighter crowds, since many visitors avoid what looks like a shortened day.
Through August 6, Magic Kingdom is also staying open until 11 PM on most nights, with Extended Evening Hours running from 11 PM to 1 AM for eligible resort guests. Disney's Hollywood Studios has similarly pushed its closing to 10 PM on several dates, which typically brings a second Fantasmic showing at 10:30 PM — well after the park officially closes. Animal Kingdom is also seeing a handful of later 7 PM closings this summer, with one 8 PM closing scheduled for August 8.
The 8 AM opening time doesn't apply to every Party Season date — early August dates are more likely to receive it, while some later August and September dates may revert to 9 AM. The pattern tends to become more consistent again in October through December. Hours extensions are generally published on Fridays in one- to two-week increments, roughly two to three weeks in advance, so travelers with upcoming trips should check back closer to their dates.
Crowd and strategy analysis in this report comes from Disney Tourist Blog.
