Magic Kingdom now runs 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, with Early Entry at 7:30, and Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom get extra time that week too. EPCOT stays the same.
Good news if you’re spending Thanksgiving with Mickey instead of your uncle. Walt Disney World just added hours at three of its four theme parks for Thanksgiving week 2026.
The new times showed up Friday, Nov. 6, and WDWNT, BlogMickey and MickeyBlog all reported the same changes. The headliner is Thanksgiving Day itself, Thursday, Nov. 26. Magic Kingdom now opens at 8 a.m. and stays open until 11 p.m., with Early Entry starting at 7:30 a.m. for resort guests.
That’s an hour earlier and an hour later than before. BlogMickey calls it a 15-hour day, and that’s before you count Early Entry or the long walk back to the parking lot.
Here’s a full holiday walk-through of Magic Kingdom from Attractions Plus:
What are Magic Kingdom’s Thanksgiving week hours?
BlogMickey reports every Magic Kingdom night from Saturday, Nov. 21, through Saturday, Nov. 28, now closes at 11 p.m., except the nights when Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party takes over. Here’s how the week shakes out, based on the Nov. 6 reports:
Sunday, Nov. 22: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Early Entry 8:30 a.m.
Monday, Nov. 23: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Early Entry 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 24: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Early Entry 7:30 a.m. (party night)
Thursday, Nov. 26: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Early Entry 7:30 a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 28: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Early Entry 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 25, and Friday, Nov. 27, are party nights, so Magic Kingdom still closes at 6 p.m. for day guests. Inside the Magic’s earlier schedule shows those days at 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Which Disney World parks have extended hours for Thanksgiving?
Disney’s Hollywood Studios picks up a half hour in the morning on three days. It opens at 8:30 a.m., with Early Entry at 8 a.m., on Saturday, Nov. 21, Monday, Nov. 23, and Tuesday, Nov. 24. It closes at 7 p.m. on Nov. 21 and Nov. 23, since those are Disney Jollywood Nights evenings, and at 9 p.m. on Nov. 24.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom gets longer evenings. It now closes at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, and Sunday, Nov. 22, and at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24. That’s later than its usual 6 p.m. close.
EPCOT didn’t change. It’s still open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. all week, according to the reports. BlogMickey and MickeyBlog also list Extended Evening Hours at EPCOT on Monday, Nov. 23, from 9 to 11 p.m. for guests at Disney resort hotels.
When is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party during Thanksgiving week?
The party runs 25 nights this season. Thanksgiving week party nights are Nov. 24, Nov. 25, Nov. 27 and Nov. 29. The party starts at 7 p.m., and ticket holders can enter as early as 4 p.m.
If you don’t have a party ticket, plan your Magic Kingdom day for Sunday, Monday, Thursday or Saturday. Those are the nights with the 11 p.m. close. BlogMickey reports every November party night has already sold out, so the late nights are your best shot at the castle lights this month.
What else is happening at Disney World over Thanksgiving?
Plenty. The holiday season runs Nov. 13, 2026, through Jan. 6, 2027, according to Laughing Place. Laughing Place also reports EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays opens Friday, Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving.
Over at Hollywood Studios, Disney Jollywood Nights runs on Nov. 21, Nov. 23 and Nov. 28 that week, from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. It’s a separate ticket.
Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest stretches of the year, so the extra hours will help, but they won’t make the lines disappear. Inside the Magic expects heavy demand. Get there for Early Entry, book dining now and keep an eye on the My Disney Experience app, since Disney can still tweak these times before the holiday.
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:
WDWNT (Nov. 6), the new hours and party dates
BlogMickey (Nov. 6), the 11 p.m. closings, 15-hour day and sold-out party nights
MickeyBlog (Nov. 6), the new hours and EPCOT Extended Evening Hours
Inside the Magic (Sept. 18), the earlier schedule and crowd outlook
Laughing Place (June 24), the holiday season and festival dates
Disney Parks Blog, the Jollywood Nights dates
Attractions Plus, the Magic Kingdom walk-through video
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