Credit: Jaimie Michaels, FlickrREMINDER: Walt Disney World Resort has confirmed that guests will be asked to leave Magic Kingdom Park nearly four hours early on Wednesday, May 13. Because of the early closure, regular Disney Park guests will not be able to view the Happily Ever After fireworks show or the Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away nighttime parade.
Why Is Magic Kingdom Park Closing Early On May 13?
Magic Kingdom Park is closing at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, due to a private theme park buyout. The SAP Sapphire & ASUG Conference has rented the entire original Central Florida Disney park for an event, including a live performance by the Dave Matthews Band.
How Does This Impact Disney World Guests?
Daytime guests will be asked to leave Magic Kingdom Park at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13. This means that performances of the Happily Ever After nighttime spectacular and the Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away electrical parade, if they are held, will be exclusive to attendees of the SAP Sapphire & ASUG Conference.
Walt Disney World Resort guests with single-park tickets should avoid the Magic Kingdom on Wednesday if they wish to maximize the value of their theme park admission. Due to the early closure, though, the original Central Florida Disney park will likely be less busy on May 13, so guests with Park Hopper tickets should consider visiting the Magic Kingdom first to get in a few rides before hopping to EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
Magic Kingdom Park will likely be busier on May 12 and May 14, especially during nighttime entertainment offerings like Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away and Happily Ever After. Guests should expect longer wait times for rides, more crowded walkways, and difficulty finding restaurant seating on those days.
Walt Disney World Resort posts theme park hours in advance on its website and the My Disney Experience app. Check the official schedule before planning your vacation itinerary to avoid any unwelcome surprises like this.
What’s the most inconvenient thing you’ve experienced during a visit to Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Inside the Magic would love to hear from you in the comments!
