Disney World Is Open on Thanksgiving Day 2026

By Marcus D. · Thrill rides & Lightning Lane · Orlando, FL

Published September 18, 2026 · Updated November 3, 2026

Disney World has released its initial operating schedule for the busy Thanksgiving holiday week, running from November 22 through November 28, 2026. The most critical detail for planners is that Magic Kingdom will close to regular daytime guests at 6:00 p.m. on three different days that week to accommodate Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

The schedule Disney first posted in mid-September set the baseline for the holiday week. Disney often extends hours as major dates get closer, so check the current hours in My Disney Experience before you finalize your plans.

According to reports, Magic Kingdom will close early on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday for the ticketed holiday events. On the other four days, including Thanksgiving Day itself, the park is scheduled to remain open until 10:00 p.m. The other theme parks will also see some early closures, with Disney’s Hollywood Studios shutting down at 7:00 p.m. on two nights for Disney Jollywood Nights.

What we know

• Magic Kingdom — scheduled 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on November 22, 23, 26, and 28.
• Magic Kingdom — closes early at 6:00 p.m. on November 24, 25, and 27 for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
• EPCOT — scheduled 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. all week, with Extended Evening Hours on November 23.
• Hollywood Studios — closes early at 7:00 p.m. on November 23 and 28 for Disney Jollywood Nights.
• Animal Kingdom — scheduled 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. all week, with Extended Evening Hours on November 24.

What’s not confirmed

Disney has not confirmed whether it will extend regular park hours or move Early Theme Park Entry to an earlier time during Thanksgiving week, though it frequently makes those adjustments closer to the holiday dates.

Planning around this? See crowds for my dates.

What it means for your trip

If you are visiting during Thanksgiving week, Magic Kingdom requires the most careful planning. The three party days with 6:00 p.m. closures will generally have significantly lower daytime crowds, making them excellent days to ride attractions if you have a Park Hopper ticket and can spend the evening elsewhere. Conversely, the non-party days (like Thanksgiving Day) will absorb the bulk of the week’s nighttime crowds as guests flock to see the fireworks. With Thanksgiving week only a few weeks away, map out your park days now, for example with the SupaPark day builder, so you don’t end up at Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios on an evening when you don’t have a special event ticket.

Is Disney World Open on Thanksgiving Day?

Yes — Disney World is open on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026, and the currently posted schedule has all four theme parks operating that day.

The biggest planning note is that Magic Kingdom is not one of the 6:00 p.m. Christmas party closure days on Thanksgiving Day. It is currently scheduled to operate from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on November 26, which makes it one of the main evenings that week for regular guests who want nighttime time in the park.

EPCOT is currently scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Animal Kingdom is scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The posted schedule covered here does not list a Thanksgiving Day early closure for Hollywood Studios.

The smart move: do not treat Thanksgiving Day as a “parks are closed” holiday. Treat it as a heavy-demand park day where evening capacity matters. Because Magic Kingdom closes early on several nearby party dates, Thanksgiving Day can absorb extra guests who specifically want a full Magic Kingdom day and nighttime entertainment.

If you are flexible, consider using the early-closing Magic Kingdom party days for daytime rides, then save Thanksgiving Day for a park where your group values the evening experience most. SupaPark can help compare live waits, crowd forecasts, and best-time-to-ride patterns at supapark.com before you commit your day.

Which Disney World Park Should You Pick on Thanksgiving Day 2026?

For most groups, pick based on how you want to spend the evening. On Thursday, November 26, Magic Kingdom is the park with the longest posted hours (9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.), so it will likely draw the most people. Animal Kingdom is the easiest choice for an early start, and EPCOT is in between.

Magic Kingdom: go only if the night matters

Thanksgiving falls between two Christmas party days (Wednesday and Friday), when Magic Kingdom closes to regular guests at 6:00 p.m. That makes Thursday one of the few nights that week when you can stay into the evening without a party ticket. If fireworks and nighttime atmosphere are the reason you’re going, Thursday works. If you mainly care about rides, a party day before 6:00 p.m. is usually the better choice.

Animal Kingdom: the early-bird play

Animal Kingdom opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m. That leaves your evening free for a holiday dinner. Arrive at opening and do the big rides first, before the holiday crowd shows up.

EPCOT: the flexible middle

EPCOT is open 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. It works well if your group wants to spread the day out, eat around World Showcase and stay for the evening without the Magic Kingdom crowds.

Before you lock it in

The 60-day dining window for Thanksgiving week is already open, so the most popular holiday tables may be booked. SupaPark’s Drop Watch can alert you when a cancellation opens up a table. You then book it yourself in My Disney Experience. Hours can still change before the holiday, so check the current schedule shortly before your trip. You can also compare the crowd forecast for each park at supapark.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which days does Magic Kingdom close early Thanksgiving week?

Magic Kingdom will close to daytime guests at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24, Wednesday, November 25, and Friday, November 27 for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

Does Hollywood Studios have early closures that week?

Yes, Hollywood Studios will close at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 23 and Saturday, November 28 for Disney Jollywood Nights.

Will these hours change?

While these are the currently posted hours, Disney frequently extends park hours and shifts Early Theme Park Entry to earlier times as major holiday weeks approach.

Is Disney World open on Thanksgiving?

Yes. Disney World is open on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026, based on the currently posted Thanksgiving week schedule.

Is Magic Kingdom open on Thanksgiving Day?

Yes. Magic Kingdom is currently scheduled to be open from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026.

Is Disney closed on Thanksgiving?

No. Disney World is not closed on Thanksgiving Day; the parks are operating, though holiday-week crowds and nearby party closures make planning more important.

Do I need a park reservation to visit Disney World on Thanksgiving Day?

No. Standard date-based tickets don’t require a theme park reservation. Annual Passholders still need one, except on Disney’s “Good to Go” days.

Can I still get a Thanksgiving dinner reservation at Disney World?

Probably, but your options may be limited. Dining reservations open 60 days ahead at 6:00 AM ET, so many popular holiday tables are likely taken. Watch for cancellations and book any opening in My Disney Experience.

Which park is best on Thanksgiving Day if we want the evening free?

Animal Kingdom. Its posted hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., so you can have a full park morning and still make a holiday dinner.

Go deeper — the full guides: Astro Orbiter Strategy: Best Times to Ride in September · Is Rise of the Resistance Too Intense for Kids? How to Decide (and Prepare)

SupaPark tracks live wait times and crowd forecasts, and pings you the second a hard-to-get reservation opens or a ride goes walk-on — free to start at supapark.com.