Walt Disney World has added extra play time at three of its four theme parks for the first week of December. Magic Kingdom has the most changes, with earlier openings and later closings across five dates. Hollywood Studios opens earlier on the first December weekend, Animal Kingdom stays open later, and EPCOT’s schedule didn’t move. Here’s the latest.
Walt Disney World Early December 2026 Park Hours Extended
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- New opening and closing times at Magic Kingdom from November 30th through December 5th.
- Earlier openings at Hollywood Studios and later closings at Animal Kingdom.
- A recap of every change by park and date.
Disney already added hours for Thanksgiving week earlier this month, and the first week of December is next in line. When we looked in the My Disney Experience app this morning, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom all showed new schedules for dates from Monday, November 30th through Saturday, December 5th. Most of the extra time falls from Wednesday through Saturday.
Magic Kingdom Opens at 8:00am on Four December Days
Wednesday, December 2nd and Saturday, December 5th get the biggest changes. Magic Kingdom now opens at 8:00am on both days, with Early Theme Park Entry at 7:30am, an hour earlier than before. The park also closes at 11:00pm instead of 10:00pm. That makes for two 15-hour days, plus a half hour more for guests at Disney Resort hotels and other select hotels.
Monday, November 30th picks up an extra hour at night. The park keeps its 9:00am opening but now closes at 11:00pm, up from 10:00pm. Thanksgiving weeknights without Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party already end at 11:00pm. November 30th now matches them.
Thursday, December 3rd and Friday, December 4th are party nights. Day guests can now enter at 8:00am, or 7:30am with Early Theme Park Entry, instead of 9:00am. The park still closes at 6:00pm ahead of the party, which starts at 7:00pm. Both nights are already sold out, and only December 15th and 17th still had tickets when we checked last.
Tuesday, December 1st is also a party night, and it keeps its 9:00am opening for now. If you have a Magic Kingdom day planned that week, Wednesday and Saturday are now the longest days on the calendar.
Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom Add Time
Hollywood Studios opens half an hour earlier on Friday, December 4th and Saturday, December 5th. The park now opens at 8:30am on both days, with Early Theme Park Entry at 8:00am, where Disney had listed a 9:00am opening. Closing times stay the same. Day guests head out at 7:00pm on December 5th ahead of Disney Jollywood Nights. That party became the first December night to sell out. On December 4th, the park still closes at 9:00pm.
Animal Kingdom stays open later on three straight days. Music to my ears! The park now closes at 7:00pm on Thursday, December 3rd and Friday, December 4th, and at 8:00pm on Saturday, December 5th, after previously listing a 6:00pm close on all three. Its 8:00am opening and 7:30am Early Theme Park Entry didn’t change. The park followed a similar pattern during Thanksgiving week, when its closing times moved as late as 8:00pm on the days before the holiday.
Saturday is now Animal Kingdom’s longest day of the week at 12 hours. Select resort guests can also stay late on Wednesday, December 2nd, with Extended Evening Hours from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
EPCOT keeps its 9:00am to 9:00pm hours every day from November 30th through December 5th. Select Disney Resort hotel guests still get Extended Evening Hours there on Monday, November 30th, from 9:00pm to 11:00pm.
Early December Park Hours Changes at a Glance
Magic Kingdom
- November 30th | Closes 11:00pm (was 10:00pm)
- December 2nd and 5th | Opens 8:00am (was 9:00am), Early Theme Park Entry 7:30am (was 8:30am), closes 11:00pm (was 10:00pm)
- December 3rd and 4th | Opens 8:00am (was 9:00am), Early Theme Park Entry 7:30am (was 8:30am), closes 6:00pm (unchanged)
Hollywood Studios
- December 4th and 5th | Opens 8:30am (was 9:00am), Early Theme Park Entry 8:00am (was 8:30am)
Animal Kingdom
- December 3rd and 4th | Closes 7:00pm (was 6:00pm)
- December 5th | Closes 8:00pm (was 6:00pm)
Tuesday, December 1st and EPCOT had no changes.
Keep Reading
- Compare these dates with every Thanksgiving week hours change at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom if your trip covers both weeks.
- Only two party nights are left, so check the latest Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party prices and availability before they go too.
- See how Disney Jollywood Nights is selling faster than it did in 2025, starting with its December 5th sellout.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!