Three Changes You Need to Be Aware of If You’re Visiting Magic Kingdom Between Christmas and New Years in 2024
It’s the busiest time of year–the week between Christmas and New Year’s at Walt Disney World. If you’re visiting Magic Kingdom during this time, you’ll want to be aware of a few changes to the park’s entertainment schedule and hours of operation. Given the time of year and expected crowds, things will operate a little differently. Let’s take a look at what you should expect.
Changes to Magic Kingdom’s Parade Schedule
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade replaces the Festival of Fantasy Parade between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Historically, this substituted performance begins the day after the last scheduled date of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Before that, the parade is exclusive to guests of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, where it’s offered twice nightly.
The daytime performance is unique for the week of Christmas because it’s offered to all Magic Kingdom guests. You’ll likely want to make plans to see the parade if you’re visiting over the holidays. You can check the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit for exact showtimes. We have a separate article highlighting last year’s version of the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.
Update: Disney has now confirmed the dates for the daytime performance of the Christmas parade over the holidays.
- Dates: December 21st through December 31st
- Times: Twice Daily at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Changes to Magic Kingdom’s Fireworks Schedule
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks will replace Happily Ever After from December 21st through December 29th, 2024. Before that, these special holiday fireworks are exclusive to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party guests. (Happily Ever After returns to Magic Kingdom on January 1, 2025.)
Magic Kingdom’s Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks will take place on December 30th and December 31st to celebrate the upcoming New Year. Magic Kingdom guests will be privy to two fireworks performances each evening. That schedule looks like this:
- December 30, 2024 (6:30 p.m. and 11:50 p.m.)
- December 31, 2024 (6:30 p.m. and 11:50 p.m.)
This two-night performance lets guests see both holiday fireworks spectaculars for the New Year at Magic Kingdom and Epcot. However, Epcot only offers holiday fireworks once on New Year’s Eve. To see both performances, you would need to visit Magic Kingdom on the 30th and Epcot on the 31st. Here is Epcot’s fireworks schedule for New Year’s Eve.
- December 31, 2024: Luminous the Symphony of Us (6:30 p.m.)
- December 31, 2024: Cheers to the New Year: A Sparkling Celebration (11:54 p.m.)
*Parks may reach capacity during the holidays, and some tickets may be subject to park reservations.
Changes to Park Hours
Unfortunately, late closings seem to be a thing of the past. But if you’re visiting the week between Christmas and New Year’s, you’ll have a little extra time on two evenings. Magic Kingdom’s extended park hours are as follows:
- December 30th (Close midnight)
- December 31st (Close midnight)
Epcot will remain open until 1:00 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. However, during the International Festival of the Holidays, the park will remain open until 9:30 p.m. instead of its regular 9:00 p.m. closing. We discuss this shift to a later closing in a separate article.
Lastly, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will remain open until midnight on New Year’s Eve. This might be your best option to avoid the celebratory fireworks crowds in the other parks.
It’s Going to Be Busy!
As I’m sure you already know, this is a busy time of year at Walt Disney World. The weather is typically comfortable, and more guests can visit due to time off work and school schedules. Plus, who doesn’t want to see the parks and resorts in their holiday best?
For more on planning a vacation during Christmas, you might enjoy the Resorts Gal Guide to Christmas at Disney World. Or you might like the following:
The Top 10 Disney World Resorts To Visit During Christmas in 2024
Mickey and Minnie Mouse Will Meet at Adventurer’s Outpost in Their Holiday Best in 2024
Where to Meet Santa at Walt Disney World in 2024 (Every Location)
See Toy Story Characters in Christmas Looks at Walt Disney World
Whether you’re new to the world of Disney or are a seasoned pro in search of a new adventure, their goal is to give you an experience like you’ve never had before. Check with our travel partner, Firefly Travels, to begin planning.
