As summer winds down, Walt Disney World is adjusting when two of its nighttime shows begin. Both Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom and Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will start earlier in the evening over the coming weeks. If you have a trip planned for late summer or early fall, here is what is changing and how to plan around it.
Happily Ever After
Happily Ever After, the fireworks and projection show above Cinderella Castle, currently runs at 10 p.m. each night. Starting August 31, that start time moves up to 9:30 p.m. The 9:30 p.m. showing is scheduled to run through at least September 19, though Disney can adjust the calendar as the season continues.
There is one important exception to keep in mind. Happily Ever After does not perform on nights when Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party takes place. If your visit lands on a party date, plan to catch the show on a non-party night instead.
Fantasmic!
Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Fantasmic! is going through a similar adjustment, and its schedule is a little more layered. Through August 22, the show continues at 9 p.m. every day, with an added 10:30 p.m. performance on Fridays and select Saturdays.
Beginning August 23, the daily start time moves up to 8:30 p.m. On top of that, a 10 p.m. performance is added on Fridays, Sundays, and Tuesdays. Then, starting September 18, those 10 p.m. showings shift again to 9:30 p.m. If you are hoping to see a second, later performance, the Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday schedule is worth noting when you build your park days.
Final Thoughts
Show time changes like these come with the change of seasons, and they are easy to manage once you know what to expect. With Happily Ever After moving to 9:30 p.m. on August 31 and Fantasmic! shifting starting August 23, a quick check of the schedule before your trip will keep your evenings on track. Confirm the times close to your travel dates, and you will be set to enjoy both shows without missing a beat.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
