Orlando and Anaheim, Thursday, Dec 31
New Year's Eve 2026 Every Disney and Universal park, hours to midnight
On New Year's Eve 2026, EPCOT is posted 9 AM to 1 AM and Magic Kingdom 9 AM to 12 AM, and both had midnight fireworks in 2025. Universal and Disneyland have not posted every time yet. In 2025 Universal Studios and Islands ran to 1 AM and Disneyland to 2 AM.
By Michael Burns · Updated
What time do Disney World and Universal close on New Year's Eve 2026?
Every park on one board, with its December 31, 2026 hours where they are posted, last year's hours, what happened at midnight in 2025 and the crowd score for the day.
| Park | Dec 31, 2026 | Dec 31, 2025 | At midnight in 2025 | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walt Disney World | ||||
| Magic Kingdom | 9 AM to 12 AM | 8 AM to 1 AM | Fantasy in the Sky fireworks at 7:30 and 11:50 PM | 9 |
| EPCOT | 9 AM to 1 AM | 9 AM to 1 AM | Luminous at 6:30 PM, then a midnight fireworks toast at 11:54 PM | 10 |
| Hollywood Studios | 9 AM to 12 AM | 9 AM to midnight | A countdown show on the Chinese Theatre at 11:57 PM, with rooftop fireworks | 10 |
| Animal Kingdom | 8 AM to 6 PM | 8 AM to 7 PM | No New Year's Eve show | 10 |
| Universal Orlando | ||||
| Universal Studios Florida | Not posted yet | Open until 1 AM | CineSational at 10 PM, then a midnight countdown | 5 |
| Islands of Adventure | Not posted yet | Open until 1 AM | A midnight countdown in Port of Entry, Seuss Landing and Toon Lagoon | 3 |
| Epic Universe | Not posted yet | 10 AM to midnight | A midnight fountain show | 10 |
| Disneyland Resort, Pacific time | ||||
| Disneyland | Not posted yet | 8 AM to 2 AM | New Year's Eve Fantasy in the Sky at 9 PM and midnight | 10 |
| California Adventure | Not posted yet | 8 AM to 1 AM | No separate fireworks | 10 |
Disney World resort guests get Early Entry 30 minutes before opening at every park. Hours can still be extended. In 2025 Magic Kingdom added an hour at each end and Animal Kingdom an hour at close after they first posted. Every day of the month is on Magic Kingdom hours in December, EPCOT hours in December and Universal Studios hours in December.
What time are the New Year's Eve fireworks at Disney World?
Disney has not posted 2026 New Year's Eve showtimes. In 2025 Magic Kingdom fired Fantasy in the Sky at 7:30 and 11:50 PM, EPCOT toasted midnight with fireworks at 11:54 PM, and Hollywood Studios counted down at 11:57 PM with rooftop fireworks. Here is how the 2025 night ran in Orlando, from 4 PM to 2 AM. Disneyland's times are on the board above, three hours behind.
- CityWalk Free to enter New Year's Eve party opens at 4 PM
- Universal DJs start in Music Plaza and Port of Entry at 6:15 PM
- EPCOT Luminous The Symphony of Us at 6:30 PM
- Magic Kingdom First Fantasy in the Sky at 7:30 PM
- Universal Studios CineSational at 10 PM
- Magic Kingdom Midnight fireworks at 11:50 PM
- EPCOT Midnight fireworks toast at 11:54 PM
- Hollywood Studios Countdown show at 11:57 PM
- All of Orlando Midnight
- Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure Parks close at 1 AM in 2025
- CityWalk CityWalk closes at 2 AM in 2025
Hollywood Studios also ran extra Fantasmic shows that night in 2025. Animal Kingdom had no New Year's Eve show.
How crowded is the week of New Year's at Disney World and Universal?
December 26 to January 3 is the busiest stretch of the year at both resorts. Each square is that park's crowd score from 1 to 10, so the calmest choice on any one day stands out down the column.
| Park | SatDec 26 | SunDec 27 | MonDec 28 | TueDec 29 | WedDec 30 | ThuDec 31 | FriJan 1 | SatJan 2 | SunJan 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Kingdom | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| EPCOT | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Hollywood Studios | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Animal Kingdom | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Universal Studios Florida | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Islands of Adventure | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Epic Universe | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
See every date on the Magic Kingdom crowd calendar, the EPCOT crowd calendar and the Universal Studios crowd calendar.
Does Magic Kingdom close to new guests on New Year's Eve?
It has, more than once. In 2025 the date sold out more than two months ahead instead.
- Closed to new guests at 11:35 AMMagic Kingdom reopened to new arrivals around 5:15 PM.
- Closed to day guests around 1 PMGeneral admission came back around 6 PM.
- New Year's Eve tickets sold out1-day, Park Hopper and Florida resident tickets for Magic Kingdom on December 31 were gone, and most annual passes were blocked out.
If Magic Kingdom is the plan, buy the date early. Most date based tickets no longer need a park reservation, but annual passes still do. See what tickets cost on Disney World ticket prices.
Is there a New Year's Eve party at Disney World or Universal?
The park celebrations come with a regular ticket. Neither resort has announced its 2026 New Year's Eve events yet, so these are last year's.
- Universal CityWalk, 2025Free to enter4 PM to 2 AM, with a DJ and live music on the Waterfront Stage, pyro over Pat O'Brien's and confetti at midnight
- California Grill, Contemporary, 2025$299 to $349Four courses, a band, a champagne toast and the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the top of the Contemporary
- Universal hotels, 2025TicketedParty at the Palace at Helios Grand (21 and up), Party on the Piazza at Portofino Bay and a rooftop party at Aventura
- Disneyland, 2025With admissionNew Year's Eve Fantasy in the Sky took over from the holiday fireworks for the night, at 9 PM and midnight
Questions people ask about New Year's Eve at the parks
What time does Magic Kingdom close on New Year's Eve 2026?
Magic Kingdom's posted hours for December 31, 2026 are 9 AM to 12 AM. In 2025 it ran 8 AM to 1 AM, so longer hours are possible. Disney World resort guests get Early Entry 30 minutes before opening.
Does Disney World have fireworks on New Year's Eve?
Yes, in recent years. In 2025 Magic Kingdom ran Fantasy in the Sky at 7:30 and 11:50 PM, EPCOT ran Luminous at 6:30 PM and a fireworks toast at 11:54 PM, and Hollywood Studios had a countdown show on the Chinese Theatre at 11:57 PM with rooftop fireworks. Disney has not posted the 2026 showtimes.
Does Magic Kingdom reach capacity on New Year's Eve?
It has. Magic Kingdom closed to new guests at 11:35 AM on December 31, 2018 and early in the afternoon on December 31, 2019. In 2025, regular 1-day, Park Hopper and Florida resident tickets for December 31 sold out by October 19, and most annual passes were blocked out.
Do you need a park reservation for New Year's Eve at Disney World?
Most date based tickets no longer need one. Annual passes and a few special tickets still need a park reservation, and on New Year's Eve those are usually the first to run out.
What time does Universal close on New Year's Eve?
Universal has not posted its December 31, 2026 hours yet. In 2025 Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure stayed open until 1 AM, and Epic Universe ran 10 AM to midnight.
Is the CityWalk New Year's Eve party free?
In 2025 it was free to enter. CityWalk ran its New Year's Eve party from 4 PM to 2 AM, with a DJ and live music on the Waterfront Stage, pyro over Pat O'Brien's and confetti at midnight. Universal has not announced 2026 plans.
What time does EPCOT close on New Year's Eve 2026?
EPCOT's posted hours for December 31, 2026 are 9 AM to 1 AM. The World Showcase lagoon is where EPCOT's midnight fireworks happen.
What is the least crowded Disney World park on New Year's Eve?
Magic Kingdom scores the calmest of the four parks on December 31, 2026, at 9 out of 10. Animal Kingdom is posted 8 AM to 6 PM with no midnight show, so the evening crowd moves to the parks with fireworks.