Magic Kingdom now opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2, and Saturday, Dec. 5. That's two 15-hour days, plus a half hour of early entry for resort guests.
Disney World just stretched the first week of December at three of its four theme parks.
Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom all show new hours for dates from Monday, Nov. 30, through Saturday, Dec. 5, BlogMickey reported Friday after checking the My Disney Experience app. EPCOT didn't budge.
The biggest change is at Magic Kingdom. On Dec. 2 and Dec. 5, the park now opens at 8 a.m., an hour earlier, and closes at 11 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. By our math, that's 15 hours of park time, or 15 and a half with Early Theme Park Entry at 7:30 a.m.
Disney did the same thing for Thanksgiving week earlier this month. Early December is apparently next in line.
What are the new Disney World park hours for early December?
Here's every change by park and date, per BlogMickey's check of Disney's schedule:
Magic Kingdom, Mon., Nov. 30: Closes at 11 p.m. (was 10 p.m.). Opening stays at 9 a.m.
Magic Kingdom, Wed., Dec. 2, and Sat., Dec. 5: Opens 8 a.m. (was 9 a.m.), early entry 7:30 a.m. (was 8:30 a.m.), closes 11 p.m. (was 10 p.m.).
Magic Kingdom, Thu., Dec. 3, and Fri., Dec. 4: Opens 8 a.m. (was 9 a.m.), early entry 7:30 a.m. Still closes at 6 p.m. for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.
Hollywood Studios, Fri., Dec. 4, and Sat., Dec. 5: Opens 8:30 a.m. (was 9 a.m.), early entry 8 a.m. (was 8:30 a.m.). Closing times didn't change.
Animal Kingdom, Thu., Dec. 3, and Fri., Dec. 4: Closes 7 p.m. (was 6 p.m.).
Animal Kingdom, Sat., Dec. 5: Closes 8 p.m. (was 6 p.m.).
Tuesday, Dec. 1, and all of EPCOT had no changes. EPCOT stays at 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day that week.
Which days are the longest at Disney World in early December?
At Magic Kingdom, it's Wednesday and Saturday, with 15 hours each. Nov. 30 now matches the 11 p.m. closings on Thanksgiving week nights without a Christmas party.
Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 are party nights, so day guests still head out at 6 p.m. The upside is the earlier 8 a.m. opening, which turns those into 10-hour days. Both party nights are sold out, BlogMickey said.
At Animal Kingdom, Saturday, Dec. 5, becomes the longest day of that week at 12 hours, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Resort guests at select hotels also get Extended Evening Hours there on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Hollywood Studios still closes at 7 p.m. on Dec. 5 for Disney Jollywood Nights, which was the first December night to sell out. On Dec. 4, the park still closes at 9 p.m.
What are Disney World's hours for Christmas and New Year's?
Disney Food Blog also went through the calendar from the first day of winter, Dec. 21, through mid-January. Here's what stands out:
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party: Last night is Dec. 22. Magic Kingdom closes at 6 p.m. for day guests.
Disney Jollywood Nights: Party dates include Dec. 21, Dec. 23, Jan. 3 and the season finale on Jan. 5, 2027. Hollywood Studios closes at 7 p.m. for day guests on those nights.
New Year's Eve: Magic Kingdom runs 9 a.m. to midnight on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31. EPCOT is open 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Hollywood Studios 9 a.m. to midnight on Dec. 31.
Late December: Magic Kingdom closes at 10 p.m. on regular nights, then drops to 9 p.m. starting Jan. 4.
Marathon weekend: EPCOT opens at 10 a.m., with early entry at 9:30 a.m., on Jan. 7 and Jan. 9 for the Walt Disney World Marathon events.
When are Extended Evening Hours this winter?
Extended Evening Hours give guests at Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resorts, plus a few other select hotels, two extra hours after a park closes. Here are the winter dates DFB found:
Magic Kingdom: Jan. 6, 13 and 20
EPCOT: Dec. 21 and 28, plus Jan. 4, 11 and 18
Animal Kingdom: Dec. 23 and 30
Disney adjusts hours often, especially around the holidays, and it already added time for Thanksgiving week twice this month. Check the My Disney Experience app or Disney World's park hours calendar before you lock in park days.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
BlogMickey (Nov. 13, 2026), the early December hours changes at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, and party sellouts
Disney Food Blog (Nov. 13, 2026), winter park hours, party dates, New Year's Eve hours, marathon weekend hours and Extended Evening Hours dates
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