Credit: DisneyIn the coming weeks, Magic Kingdom theme park will continue making operational changes and this latest update will likely effect Disney World’s younger guests.
The Magic Kingdom is the world’s most visited theme park for a reason. With the iconic Cinderella Castle anchoring multiple themed lands, including Tomorrowland, Frontierland, and Adventureland, there’s plenty for guests to enjoy.
In the coming years, this Walt Disney World Resort park will welcome two more new areas to its already packed offering. Piston Peak National Park, inspired by Pixar’s Cars franchise, will debut inside of Frontierland, while “Beyond Big Thunder” will gain a new location themed to the beloved Disney Villains.
There are no timeframes yet, but with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s current closure, permits being filed, and attractions in the area permanently closing on July 7, momentum is already gearing up for this self-proclaimed “largest expansion in Magic Kingdom” history.
There are other changes hitting the fan-favorite park, too, and ones that don’t require an entire land overhaul. On July 20, the Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away parade will officially debut, enchanting guests with floats inspired by franchises like Frozen, Peter Pan, and Tangled.
Magic Kingdom is already a busy location on an evening, thanks to the beloved Happily Ever After nighttime spectacular, which returned after a short hiatus. The show was originally replaced by the 50th anniversary show, Disney Enchantment, but after growing fan demand, Disney Experiences opted to bring it back to the Most Magical Place on Earth.
Guests should note that Happily Ever After is about to change its showtime moving forward. From July 6, the Cinderella Castle show will now occur at 10 p.m. instead of its current time of 9:20 p.m. This shift to a later operating time will likely effect families with younger children as it pushes park exit until much later in the evening.
As with any Disney World entertainment, the operation of the show is subject to change, namely for weather-related reasons. Interestingly, a viral video surfaced last week of the Magic Kingdom’s Festival of Fantasy parade taking place in a flash torrential downpour.
Every character can be seen soaking wet, and in one circumstance, Bashful had to be escorted out of the parade route by Snow White herself for reasons unknown.
Before the July 20 change for Happily Ever After, another fireworks alteration will occur with the return of Disney’s Celebrate America! – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky on July 3 and July 4. The show will take place at 9:20 p.m. both nights.
How do you feel about this time shift for Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!