Warning to EPCOT Guests
EPCOT Guests will need to adjust their plans due to this operational change. How will this affect your visit?
Park Hours
You are planning a trip to Walt Disney World! You have your resort room booked and transportation planned, and the next big decision is which parks to visit.
Park hours are a great way to plan which park you would like to plan for each day. Walt Disney World posts standard park hours in advance, often extending these park hours.
This is great news when planning your trip to enjoy an earlier entry and a later park closing. Typically, park hours remain somewhat constant, especially at EPCOT, but today, April 19, we see an operational change.
Late Opening
Typically, EPCOT opens at 9:00 am every day while offering early entry at 8:30 am for Walt Disney World Resort guests. It normally closes at 9:00 pm nightly.
On Sunday, April 19, 2026, EPCOT will open an hour later than normal. This will be 9:30 am for Walt Disney World Resort guests and 10:00 am for all other guests.
The reason for the late opening is due to the runDisney Springtime Surprise 10-miler race this morning.
Best Tips
Along with having a later opening, EPCOT may be more crowded with runDisney finishers entering the park to celebrate their accomplishment.
EPCOT opens an hour later today, April 19, 2026.
If you have an option to visit another park today, that may be best due to the late opening and large crowds unexpected.
What do you think of this late opening? Will this change your Walt Disney World plans today? Share your thoughts with us and share this news with your Disney pals.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Donna loved Disney from an early age. As a child, her family would joke that she lived in "Donna Land." As an adult, she enjoys planning and creating magical vacations for her family. She always brings a little faith, trust, and a little bit of Pixie Dust!
