Disney World's New Year's Eve Fireworks Times Are Out, and Magic Kingdom's Early Fantasy in the Sky Moves Up an Hour to 6:30pm

Good news for anyone with little ones who will not make it to midnight. Magic Kingdom's early New Year's Eve fireworks show is moving up a full hour this year, to 6:30pm.

Walt Disney World's New Year's Eve fireworks schedule was reported on Wednesday morning, October 28, by WDWMagic, WDW News Today and Blog Mickey. Three parks have countdown fireworks on Thursday, December 31, and Magic Kingdom once again doubles up with a second night on Wednesday, December 30.

Fantasy in the Sky over Cinderella Castle during last year's New Year's celebration, with 2026 projected on the spire. Photo: WDW News Today

Magic Kingdom: two nights, four shows

Fantasy in the Sky is scheduled at 6:30pm and 11:50pm on both December 30 and December 31, according to all three outlets.

The late show starts 10 minutes before midnight, the same as last year. The change is the early show. Blog Mickey says the 6:30pm time is "an hour ahead of the 7:30pm performance we reported last year," and its 2025 schedule listed 7:30pm and 11:50pm on both nights.

If you would rather skip the busiest night, WDWMagic has a simple tip: "If you want to skip the biggest crowds, the December 30 shows are your best option."

Fantasy in the Sky over Cinderella Castle at a past New Year's celebration. Photo: BlogMickey.com

EPCOT: Luminous early, the big countdown at 11:54pm

EPCOT's countdown is a one-night affair on December 31, with two shows that evening:

• Luminous The Symphony of Us: 6:30pm
• Cheers to the New Year: A Sparkling Celebration: 11:54pm

Blog Mickey says those December 31 times match last year. On the nights around it, Blog Mickey lists Luminous at 9:15pm on December 30 and 9:00pm on January 1.

Luminous The Symphony of Us over World Showcase Lagoon at EPCOT. Photo: WDWMagic

Hollywood Studios: a quick one at 11:57pm

Disney's Hollywood Studios has its New Year Countdown Fireworks at 11:57pm on December 31. WDW News Today describes it as a three-minute show near the Chinese Theater, and Blog Mickey says the time matches last year.

Earlier in the evening, Blog Mickey lists Fantasmic! at 8:00pm and 9:30pm, and Wonderful World of Animation at 9:00pm.

Animal Kingdom sits this one out

Disney's Animal Kingdom has no special fireworks or entertainment on New Year's Eve, per WDW News Today, and Blog Mickey lists it at 8:00am to 6:00pm that day.

The hours behind the fireworks

The park hours for New Year's Eve were posted last week, as we reported on October 21. Blog Mickey's December 31 list matches what we found then:

• Magic Kingdom: 9:00am to 12:00am (also 12:00am on December 30)
• EPCOT: 9:00am to 1:00am
• Hollywood Studios: 9:00am to 12:00am
• Animal Kingdom: 8:00am to 6:00pm

Per Blog Mickey, Early Entry opens half an hour before each park: 7:30am at Animal Kingdom and 8:30am at the other three.

So which is it for you this year: the 6:30pm show and an early bedtime, or holding your spot for the 11:50pm countdown?

Sources

• WDWMagic, "Walt Disney World New Year's Eve Fireworks Schedule Released for 2026" (October 28, 2026)
• WDW News Today, "Scheduled Dates & Times for 2027 New Year's Eve Fireworks at Disney World" (October 28, 2026)
• Blog Mickey, "Disney World Reveals 2027 New Year's Eve Park Hours & Fireworks Schedule" (October 28, 2026)
• Blog Mickey, "Walt Disney World New Year's Eve Fireworks Schedule" (October 28, 2025)
• Parks Magic, October 21, 2026 Christmas week and New Year's Eve park hours coverage

Image credits: WDW News Today (Magic Kingdom New Year's fireworks, 2025); BlogMickey.com (Fantasy in the Sky); WDWMagic (Luminous The Symphony of Us).