Disney Quietly Cuts EPCOT Closing Time During Holiday Season
The Walt Disney World theme parks have released their operating schedules through Thanksgiving 2026. One notable change is that EPCOT's hours will not be extended during the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, unlike previous years. Instead, the park will maintain its usual closing time of 9 p.m.
This decision comes after Disney quietly revealed earlier showtimes for the Candlelight Processional, which are 15 minutes earlier than last year's and 30 minutes earlier than those in 2023 and earlier. The processional's final performance is now at 8 p.m., rather than 8:30 p.m.
The change has been met with criticism from some, who argue that it would be more guest-friendly to keep EPCOT open until 9:30 p.m. nightly during the holiday season. They point out that the park is usually slammed after Black Friday and that later closing times could help recoup labor and operational costs through increased food and beverage sales.