Disney World Finds a New Way To Make Money, Cuts Park Hours

Remember when Disney World was open until the wee hours of the morning? Those days are mostly gone, and if you’re wondering why, you’re not alone. Over the years, extended park hours have quietly disappeared, and it’s left a lot of fans scratching their heads.

These days, most of the parks close earlier than you’d expect. Magic Kingdom usually shuts down by 10 PM, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom clocks out even earlier at 7 PM (though that makes sense because of the animals). But back in the day, Magic Kingdom was open until 11 PM regularly, and if you stayed at a Disney Resort, you could take advantage of Extra Magic Hours, keeping the fun going until as late as 3 AM. Now? You get 30 minutes of early entry or a few extra evening hours if you’re staying at a deluxe resort.

A big part of the shift comes down to Disney’s new business strategy. Instead of keeping the parks open late for everyone, they’ve leaned into hard-ticket events like After Hours parties, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and Jollywood Nights. Sure, these events are cool and have unique perks, but they’re pricey. Meanwhile, the cost of a regular park ticket has gone up, leaving some visitors feeling shortchanged.

That said, Disney’s parks are still incredible during regular hours. Magic Kingdom delivers classic charm, EPCOT amazes with cutting-edge attractions, and Hollywood Studios puts you right into the action with lands like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Even Animal Kingdom, despite its earlier closing times, wows visitors with stunning animal encounters and the breathtaking world of Pandora.

Will Disney ever bring back those late-night hours? Maybe—if there’s enough demand and it makes financial sense. Until then, the magic might end a little earlier, but with good planning, you can still make every moment count. Whether you’re a rope-drop warrior or someone who savors every second in the parks, Disney continues to create memories, even if they’re wrapped up by 10 PM.