13 CHANGES and Things to Know If You Are Visiting Disney World in Second Half of 2025

If you are planning on visiting Walt Disney World in the second half of 2025, here are some key closures, dates, and planning details you need to know.

The second half of the year includes major events for seasonal holidays like Halloween and Christmas, plus new offerings like the Disney Starlight parade. All of these different events have major impacts on operating hours, entertainment times, and more.

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1. Prepare for Magic Kingdom Construction Closures

Rivers of America permanently closed on July 7, 2025, to make way for the new Cars-themed area (officially titled Piston Peak National Park) in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park. This closure is also likely to help prepare for Villains Land being built behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Construction walls are up in Frontierland to block views of the Rivers of America in most areas. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is also currently closed through 2025, so this area of the park has multiple construction walls up.

2. More Permanent Closures Coming to Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios is also undergoing construction that will continue into next year. Muppets Courtyard permanently closed to begin construction on a new Monsters, Inc. land.

Animation Courtyard in Hollywood Studios will also be closing as the area transforms into a new Disney Animation themed space. Star Wars: Launch Bay and Disney Jr. Play and Dance! will close permanently on September 25, 2025, to make way for this new experience. Animation Courtyard will be unavailable after that date until 2026, but access to the newly improved “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” will remain.

3. Last Chance to Ride DINOSAUR

Over at Animal Kingdom, construction continues to change Dinoland, U.S.A., into a new Tropical Americas-themed land. The new land will feature both Indiana Jones and Encanto.

This year is the last time guests will have to ride DINOSAUR before it closes permanently to make way for a new Indiana Jones ride, according to Disney, “2025 is your last year to visit DinoLand before it goes extinct.”

4. Magic Kingdom Fireworks Times Have Changed

The showtime for the Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom fireworks show has changed to 10 PM as of July. Prior to this, the fireworks show ran consistently around 9:20 PM.

This is related to our next key change.

5. Starlight Parade Running Nightly

The highly anticipated Disney Starlight Parade runs nightly at 9 PM and 11 PM. Happily Ever After fireworks take place at 10 PM between the showings of the parade.

The parade will not take place on nights that Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party are scheduled.

6. Magic Kingdom Closing Early for Party Nights

On Halloween and holiday party nights at Magic Kingdom, the park closes at 6 PM to guests without party tickets. This is a large impact on park hours at Disney World's most popular theme park, so this is important information to be aware of.

7. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Starts in August

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party takes place at Magic Kingdom on these dates:

• August: 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29
• September: 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30
• October: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31

This ticketed event includes a lineup of exclusive Halloween entertainment and shows, trick or treating, character meet-and-greets, and more!

8. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Starts in November

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party takes place on these dates at Magic Kingdom:

• November: 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, and 30
• December: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, and 21

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is the most popular holiday celebration at Walt Disney World. This is the event you want to attend if you're interested in the popular holiday parade and fireworks that take place at Magic Kingdom during the holiday season.

9. Jollywood Nights Won't Impact Hollywood Studios Hours

Jollywood Nights is the holiday party that takes place at Hollywood Studios on these nights:

• Nov. 8, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29
• Dec. 1, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 22

Walt Disney World is adding new offerings to Jollywood Nights this year. This event just continues to improve, which makes it a great contender when you are deciding whether you want to visit Jollywood Nights or Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party during your holiday visit. Thankfully, the party takes place once Hollywood Studios closes for the day, so this event doesn't impact park hours.

10. EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Runs Through November

The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs August 28 through November 22, 2025. For many guests, the marketplace booths are the most important part of this festival. Snack-sized portions available for purchase at each booth allow you to eat your way through several countries and cultures.

While the food marketplace booths are the main event at this particular festival, the entertainment is also worth seeing, including the “Eat to the Beat” EPCOT concerts series.

11. The Week EPCOT Will Be “Festival-less”

There is a lull in between festivals at EPCOT. EPCOT will be “festival-less” November 23 through November 27, which is the week in between the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival and EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. This is a bummer for guests visiting during Thanksgiving week, so it's good to be aware of. You will still see holiday decorations up in EPCOT, though!

If you want to see what festivals might line up with your trip, you can see our overview of all the EPCOT festivals to see how they line up seasonally.

12. EPCOT's Most Popular Festival Starts After Thanksgiving

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays kicks off after Thanksgiving on November 28 and concludes December 30, 2025. This is arguably one of EPCOT's most popular festivals with the shortest run time.

The EPCOT International Festival of Holidays is about much more than the holiday food marketplace booths (although they're not to be missed!), with plenty of variety of holiday entertainment, including the Candlelight Processional.

13. New Zootopia Show Coming to Animal Kingdom

A new Zootopia show is replacing “It's Tough to Be a Bug” at Discovery Island in Animal Kingdom and is set to open in winter 2025, according to Disney. While we do not know the official opening date, it could open towards the end of the year.

The show will take the audience on an adventure “through the different biomes of the film” and features characters from the movie like Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and more.

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