Disney World Update: April Theme Park Changes To Know Before You Go

With spring break crowds descending on Disney’s theme parks, Walt Disney World Resort (DIS) has made some updates to its hours of operation to accommodate what it expects to be massive attendance at its theme parks.

Walt Disney World Resort is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary and is planning for a crush of visitors to its theme parks over the first week of April, when it has extended its hours in preparation for the additional guests.

According to the Disney website, Magic Kingdom will now be open until 11 p.m., with extended evening hours taking effect April 6. Select Disney Resort hotel guests can visit the park until 1 a.m. starting April 6.

The resort’s Hollywood Studios has also adjusted its hours and will now open 30 minutes earlier starting April 3 at 8:30 a.m. The park will close at 9 p.m.

Guests do need to keep in mind that Hollywood Studios is closing early on April 6 at 5 p.m. but will open earlier that day at 8 a.m. It will also be open at 8 a.m. on April 7 through 9 and close at 9 p.m. on those same days.

Guests looking to visit Epcot will have from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on April 4 through April 9 to enjoy the park. Extended hours were also added at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which is now open at 7:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. through April 9.

The extended hours from Walt Disney Resort come as all four theme parks are nearing their capacity limits in the upcoming days from park ticket holders and resort guests, its online reservation system indicated.

Attendees of the Walt Disney Resort will no longer need to wear face masks indoors or outdoors in the parks if they are fully vaccinated. Those who are not fully vaccinated are expected to continue wearing face coverings in all indoor locations, Disney said.

Face masks are still required on all Disney buses and monorails, the entertainment company said.

As of Wednesday premarket hours, shares of Disney were trading at $139.45, down 66 cents, or 0.47%.