Credit: Only the Chosen, FlickrThere’s nothing worse than shelling out top dollar for a day at Magic Kingdom—only to find out the park closes early and you miss out on half the fun.
If you’re planning a Disney World trip this fall, especially with Magic Kingdom in your sights, now’s the time to double-check your calendar.
Fall might be one of the most festive times of year at Disney, but it’s also when Magic Kingdom becomes the most unpredictable park to plan around.
While Halloween lovers will be thrilled to see the return of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, regular daytime guests could be in for a shock if they don’t look closely at the fine print. Let’s just say early closures are coming in fast—and they’re hitting harder than ever before because of some of the changes.
For 2025, Magic Kingdom will shut down early on 39 separate dates between August and October. That’s more than a third of all the evenings in that three-month span—and it could absolutely wreck your plans if you’re not prepared.
So, What’s Going On?
The bulk of the early closures are due to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, a hard-ticketed event filled with exclusive shows, fireworks, trick-or-treating, and rare character meet-and-greets. It’s great if you’ve bought a ticket. Not so great if you’re just visiting the park for the day and didn’t realize you’ll be kicked out by 6 p.m.
But that’s not all. One additional night in October will also be impacted by a private corporate event—the Gartner IT Symposium. Between October 20–22, one of those nights will see Magic Kingdom closed entirely to the public for a private buyout. That brings the grand total to 39 nights that Magic Kingdom won’t operate normally.
Full List of Affected Dates at Magic Kingdom
Here are the official dates of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in 2025:
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August (7 dates): 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29
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September (14 dates): 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30
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October (17 dates): 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31
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Corporate Event (1 date): Either October 20, 21, or 22 (exact date not yet confirmed)
That’s 38 party nights + 1 private event night = 39 early closures.
Why It Matters for Your Disney World Trip
For many families, a day at Magic Kingdom is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Between the cost of admission and the added price of Lightning Lane access (which is typically highest here), you want the full-day experience—not a shortened one.
What makes things more complicated is the Disney Starlight parade, which runs twice nightly—but not on Halloween party nights. So if you’re trying to catch that nighttime magic, you’re going to have to work around the party schedule. That makes non-party nights more crowded and harder to plan.
So whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned Disney veteran, it’s more important than ever to look at a calendar before locking in your park reservations.
What’s So Special About Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is Disney’s big fall bash. Here’s what you get with a party ticket:
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Exclusive access to Magic Kingdom from 7 p.m. to midnight (entry allowed starting at 4 p.m.)
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The Boo-to-You Halloween parade
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Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular on the Castle stage
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A Halloween fireworks show hosted by Jack Skellington
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Candy trails, special character meet-and-greets, Halloween overlays on select rides
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Special merch, rare photo ops, and themed snacks
It’s a spooky good time—but only if you have the right ticket.
Final Thoughts
If you’re going to Magic Kingdom this fall and don’t have a Halloween party ticket, double-check your dates. With 39 evenings of early closures, it’s easier than ever to accidentally book a day where your time in the park gets cut short.
Whether you’re chasing fireworks, hoping for late-night rides, or just trying to stretch your dollar, make sure your visit doesn’t fall on one of these party dates—unless you’re ready to join in the spooky fun.