The Magic Kingdom Changes You Need to Know About
These operating changes may affect your upcoming trips to the Magic Kingdom. Check out full details and see our travel tips to make the most out of your trip.
Tips for Visiting Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is a "must-do" for many families visiting Walt Disney World, but this park is priced the highest of all 4 Theme Parks for a single-day ticket.
Along with this, the price for the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass is typically the most expensive for Magic Kingdom as well. Since guests are paying a premium price for a day at the Magic Kingdom, you will want to select the best possible date to enjoy all of the magic.
Last summer, Magic Kingdom debuted the new Disney Starlight nighttime parade. Currently, this parade runs twice each night with Happily Ever After in between parade times.
Worst Days to Visit Magic Kingdom
Heading into this fall, the opportunity to enjoy the Disney Starlight parade decreases. As we mentioned before, Disney Starlight will not offer showtimes on Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party nights.
In previous years, we recommended visiting the Magic Kingdom on party dates to enjoy lower crowds, but if you are hoping to enjoy the Disney Starlight parade, this may not be the best strategy. This may also make the Magic Kingdom even busier on non-party nights.
This year is the earliest start for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, with the first party night being Friday, August 7, 2026. Click HERE to view a complete list of dates.
Festival of Fantasy Change
Starting this Friday, August 7, 2026, Magic Kingdom's Festival of Fantasy Parade will change times. Instead of 3:00 pm, the parade will now run at 2:00 pm daily.
Disney reserves the right to change showtimes without notice. Check the My Disney Experience app for the most up-to-date showtimes.
While this shift to an earlier time is likely due to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the 2:00 pm showtime continues into October.
Will this affect your travel plans this fall? 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!
