Walt Disney World, near Orlando in Florida, is not a single park but a resort complex: four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom), two water parks (Typhoon Lagoon, closed for refurbishment as of 24 October 2026, and Blizzard Beach) and the Disney Springs district. Hours change every day: check them on the official website before choosing your park.
This page helps you choose your parks and days, understand the official tools (app, Lightning Lane) and avoid common mistakes, with two pieces of data you will not find elsewhere: the NOAA normals for Orlando in °C/°F and mm/inches, and the sunset time month by month (useful for the evening shows). For the city itself, see our guide to visiting Orlando.
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Walt Disney World: key facts
- Hours on 24 October 2026: Magic Kingdom 8 am–11 pm, EPCOT 9 am–9 pm, Hollywood Studios 9 am–9 pm, Animal Kingdom 8 am–8 pm, Blizzard Beach 10 am–5 pm — checked on 24 October 2026 on disneyworld.eu (official website)
- Typhoon Lagoon: listed as "Closed for Refurbishment" when we checked.
- Prices: vary by date and options; check the official ticket page at the time of purchase.
- Skip-the-line option: Lightning Lane passes let you choose arrival windows in advance for some attractions (official website).
- App: My Disney Experience (maps, information, mobile food ordering).
- Dining: nearly 400 options according to Disney.
The parks of Walt Disney World
| Place | Type | Hours recorded on 24 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Magic Kingdom Park | Theme park | 8 am–11 pm |
| EPCOT | Theme park | 9 am–9 pm |
| Disney’s Hollywood Studios | Theme park | 9 am–9 pm |
| Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park | Theme park | 8 am–8 pm |
| Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park | Water park | 10 am–5 pm |
| Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park | Water park | closed for refurbishment |
| Disney Springs | Shopping, dining, entertainment | 10 am–11:30 pm |
| Disney’s BoardWalk | Promenade | 6:30 am–10 pm |
| ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex | Sports complex | 11 am–3 pm |
Magic Kingdom
The castle park, the one most associated with Disney. Disney highlights the nighttime show "Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away" among its must-sees. It is the park that closes latest on the day we checked.
EPCOT
A park devoted to discovery, innovation and the countries of the world. Disney lists the "Test Track presented by General Motors" ride among its must-sees.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The park of movies and film worlds. Disney highlights "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After" there.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
The park of animals and nature; it opens early and closes earlier than the others. Disney highlights "Avatar Flight of Passage" there.
How many days, and in what order?
We do not give an "ideal" number of days, because it depends on your priorities. A simple rule of thumb: allow at least one day for each theme park you really want to see, and add a half-day of rest (water park, Disney Springs) if you stay several days, especially with children and in hot weather.
- If you only have one day: Magic Kingdom, from opening to the evening show.
- If you have teenagers who like thrills: favor Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.
- If you like animals: Animal Kingdom early in the morning, when it is cooler.
- If the sky looks threatening in summer: keep some indoor attractions in reserve.
Tickets: official vs resellers
Tickets are sold on the official Walt Disney World ticket page, where Disney also offers installment payment. Authorized resellers and travel agencies sell tickets or packages: make sure the seller is a recognized distributor, that the dates and parks included match your plans, and that the change conditions are clear.
Avoid tickets resold between individuals. Options (Lightning Lane, multi-park access on the same day, water parks) are best compared at the time of purchase.
The official tools to know
- My Disney Experience: the official app for maps, information and mobile food ordering.
- Lightning Lane passes: advance booking of an arrival window for some attractions.
- Memory Maker: a PhotoPass option with unlimited digital downloads.
Weather: heat, storms and hurricanes
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22.1 °C (72 °F) | 9.7 °C (49 °F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| February | 23.8 °C (75 °F) | 11.3 °C (52 °F) | 52 mm (2.0 in) |
| March | 26.1 °C (79 °F) | 13.2 °C (56 °F) | 77 mm (3.0 in) |
| April | 28.7 °C (84 °F) | 15.9 °C (61 °F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 31.3 °C (88 °F) | 19.1 °C (66 °F) | 102 mm (4.0 in) |
| June | 32.7 °C (91 °F) | 22.0 °C (72 °F) | 204 mm (8.0 in) |
| July | 33.3 °C (92 °F) | 22.9 °C (73 °F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| August | 33.1 °C (92 °F) | 23.2 °C (74 °F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) |
| September | 32.0 °C (90 °F) | 22.4 °C (72 °F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| October | 29.3 °C (85 °F) | 19.0 °C (66 °F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| November | 25.7 °C (78 °F) | 14.6 °C (58 °F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| December | 23.2 °C (74 °F) | 11.6 °C (53 °F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
Our reading: from June to September, Orlando gets 751 mm (29.6 in) of rain, 57% of the annual total (1,307 mm / 51.5 in), with highs around 32–33 °C (90–91 °F). Winter is mild, but nights can drop below 10 °C (50 °F) in January: pack a jacket for the evening shows.
According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, United States safety and security, updated 18 August 2026), the Atlantic hurricane season normally runs from June to November; hurricanes can affect coastal regions and disrupt flights and other transport. Monitor approaching storms on the US National Hurricane Center website and follow instructions from local authorities, including evacuation orders.
Sunset, for the evening shows
Nighttime shows start after dark. Here is the sunset time over Magic Kingdom on the 15th of each month: in summer, night falls late, which pushes the shows back accordingly.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:19 am | 5:51 pm | 10 h 32 min |
| February | 7:04 am | 6:16 pm | 11 h 12 min |
| March | 7:36 am | 7:34 pm | 11 h 59 min |
| April | 7:01 am | 7:51 pm | 12 h 51 min |
| May | 6:35 am | 8:09 pm | 13 h 34 min |
| June | 6:28 am | 8:25 pm | 13 h 57 min |
| July | 6:38 am | 8:25 pm | 13 h 47 min |
| August | 6:55 am | 8:05 pm | 13 h 10 min |
| September | 7:11 am | 7:31 pm | 12 h 20 min |
| October | 7:26 am | 6:56 pm | 11 h 30 min |
| November | 6:48 am | 5:32 pm | 10 h 45 min |
| December | 7:10 am | 5:31 pm | 10 h 21 min |
Planning your trip
- Entry requirements: See entry requirements for the United States.
- Time difference: see our tips against jet lag.
- Insurance: medical costs are high in the United States; see our travel insurance guide.
- Internet: the official app needs a connection; see our travel eSIM guide.
Common mistakes
- Leaving without checking the day’s hours: they change from one day and one park to the next.
- Planning on Typhoon Lagoon without checking whether it has reopened.
- Buying tickets from an unrecognized reseller.
- Underestimating the summer heat and rain (see the NOAA normals above).
- Forgetting health insurance.
What to see nearby
- Orlando and its other parks.
- Miami, in southern Florida.
- Florida and our page on the best time to visit Florida.
- In Europe: Disneyland Paris; at sea: Disney Cruise Line.
Frequently asked questions
How many parks are there at Walt Disney World?
Four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom) and two water parks (Typhoon Lagoon, closed for refurbishment as of 24 October 2026, and Blizzard Beach), plus Disney Springs.
What are Walt Disney World’s opening hours?
They vary every day. On 24 October 2026, Magic Kingdom was open 8 am–11 pm, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios 9 am–9 pm, and Animal Kingdom 8 am–8 pm.
How much does a Disney World ticket cost?
The price depends on dates and options: check the official ticket page when you book. We do not publish prices we cannot verify.
When is the best time to go to Disney World?
According to the NOAA normals for Orlando, June to September accounts for more than half of the annual rainfall, and the Atlantic hurricane season normally runs from June to November according to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 18 August 2026). Spring and late fall are more comfortable.
Disney World or Disneyland Paris?
Disney World is a complex of several parks, best spread over several days; Disneyland Paris, in France, works as a short break.
Our sources
- Walt Disney World Resort, official website (disneyworld.eu): home page and "Destinations" page (hours of the day), consulted on 24 October 2026 (read through a browser, site blocked to robots)
- NOAA, 1991–2020 normals for Orlando International Airport, via Wikipedia ("Orlando, Florida" article), converted to °F and inches
- UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for the USA: Safety and security (GOV.UK, updated 18 August 2026), hurricane season
- Sunrise and sunset: Destination de Voyage calculation, NOAA solar algorithm, America/New_York time zone, coordinates of Magic Kingdom, on the 15th of each month (year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices, hours and safety guidance change: check the official websites before you go.