Five Orlando Theme Parks Close Early, Most Gates Shut by 7 P.M.

Separately ticketed Halloween parties with a private Epic Universe buyout left many paid guests with reduced evening access.

Overview

Five of the seven major Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando parks ended regular operations by 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epic Universe closed at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday with Magic Kingdom’s early exit tied to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Epic Universe taken for a private event.
Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure closed at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday even though Universal Studios did not host Halloween Horror Nights that night.
Guests and social posts have criticized the shortened days because evening atmospheres and nighttime attractions are a major part of the paid experience, and coverage urged visitors to check official operating calendars before travel.
The pattern highlights how separately ticketed events and private buyouts can sharply reduce public park hours and may prompt more complaints, schedule checks and changes to visitor plans as the parks move through Halloween season.