The Magic Kingdom will be closing at an unusual time next year.Credit: Jaimie Michaels, FlickrRelated: Disney Gives Update on Overhauls of Cinderella Castle, Carousel of ProgressThe holidays are in full swing at Walt Disney World, with all kinds of special treats, fun activities, shows, food, attractions, and other festive fun being offered through the month of December.Guests can join in on the Christmas celebrations with two events: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Both are a fun way to ring in the holiday season, though there are jolly experiences to be had at EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom as well.Magic Kingdom is, without a doubt, the biggest draw of the four, with Disney’s original Florida theme park seeing large crowds over the last few weeks. Crowds will continue to build until Christmas arrives, which then leads to Magic Kingdom’s second-biggest day: New Year’s Eve.However, the park is changing slightly in early 2026.Credit: H. Michael Miley, FlickrRelated: Disney Has an Animal Kingdom Problem That It Can Easily Fix, but Won’tEarlier this year, Walt Disney World Resort confirmed Magic Kingdom will close early in late January for a Cast Member service celebration. The park will open at 9:00 a.m. and close at 4:30 p.m.The Cast Member event serves as a day to honor employees who have made an impact in the company, as well as those who hit anniversary milestones.Early entry to the park will begin at 8:30 a.m. as usual for resort guests.Magic Kingdom previously closed early for an event this October. The park was booked for a private event as part of the Gartner IT Symposium/Expo.It’s fairly common to see Disney World theme parks being bought out for company events. Last October, EPCOT was rented out for the same Gartner IT Symposium Expo. The park closed four hours early to accommodate the event.Magic Kingdom will be a park to watch going into the new year, with several big updates currently in progress.Classic rides like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin are both receiving significant upgrades. The classic Wild West-themed roller coaster will boast a completely new track and several enhanced scenes when all is said and done.It’s a similar “story” for the Toy Story-inspired arcade-style attraction, which will get enhanced blaster mechanics and updated ride vehicles, among other changes.These upgrades are a part of a wider initiative to revitalize rides and attractions around Walt Disney World property.Will you be visiting Walt Disney World in 2026?The post OFFICIAL: Disney Closing All of Magic Kingdom in Early 2026 appeared first on Inside the Magic.