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Magic Kingdom Closing Early May 13 for Private Event Featuring Dave Matthews Band Concert
Guests planning a visit to Magic Kingdom on May 13, 2026, may want to adjust their plans because the park will be closing early for a private buyout event. The park will shut its gates to the general public at 5:30 p.m. that day as part of a special evening hosted for attendees of the SAP Sapphire & ASUG Annual Conference.
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The conference, taking place May 11 through May 13 at the Orange County Convention Center, will wrap up with an exclusive after-hours celebration at Magic Kingdom. The private event is scheduled from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., and the highlight of the evening will be a live performance by Dave Matthews Band staged directly in front of Cinderella Castle. While private park buyouts are not unheard of at Walt Disney World, a major concert on the castle stage is certainly a memorable finale for conference guests.
Magic Kingdom will still open to the public earlier that day at 9 a.m., with Early Entry beginning at 8:30 a.m. for guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels. Visitors should just keep the earlier closing time in mind when planning rides, dining reservations, and fireworks expectations.
If Magic Kingdom was on your itinerary that evening, the good news is the other Walt Disney World parks will operate with their normal hours. EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will both be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., while Disney’s Animal Kingdom will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Animal Kingdom will also offer Extended Evening Hours that night for guests staying at select Disney Resort hotels, running from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach water parks will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving guests plenty of alternative options if their Magic Kingdom plans are cut short.
Private park buyouts like this are rare but not unprecedented at Walt Disney World. When they do happen, they often transform the park into an exclusive playground for event attendees complete with entertainment, dining, and unique experiences that regular guests don’t typically see.
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