Why Happily Ever After vanishes from Magic Kingdom for New Year's Eve 2026

Disney World has locked in its New Year's Eve 2026 fireworks plans, and the biggest surprise is at Magic Kingdom. Happily Ever After is off the schedule for Dec. 30 and 31, replaced by a different nighttime show both evenings.

At Magic Kingdom, Fantasy in the Sky will run on both Dec. 30 and Dec. 31 at 6:30 p.m. and 11:50 p.m. That gives the park four performances across two nights instead of Happily Ever After.

The change is being treated as a holiday swap, not a permanent end for Happily Ever After. The regular show is expected to return once the calendar turns to 2027 and the usual nightly schedule resumes.

Fantasy in the Sky is Disney World's standard New Year's fireworks offering. It is a classic fireworks presentation set to Disney music over Cinderella Castle, and it does not use the castle projections that are part of Happily Ever After.

The rest of Disney World's New Year's lineup

EPCOT is also adjusting its nighttime entertainment on Dec. 31. Luminous The Symphony of Us is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., earlier than normal, and the park will then present Cheers to the New Year: A Sparkling Celebration at 11:54 p.m. over World Showcase.

Hollywood Studios is scheduled to host its own New Year Countdown Fireworks at 11:57 p.m. on Dec. 31.

Animal Kingdom is the outlier. No New Year's Eve entertainment has been reported there, and the park does not offer fireworks. Its posted closing time for Dec. 31 is 6 p.m.

Who this affects and the posted hours so far

The Magic Kingdom change affects guests visiting on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31, especially anyone expecting to see Happily Ever After on those dates. Guests planning to ring in the new year at EPCOT or Hollywood Studios also now have specific countdown times to work around.

For Dec. 31, the posted park hours are 9 a.m. to midnight at Magic Kingdom, 9 a.m. to midnight at Hollywood Studios, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Animal Kingdom. On Dec. 30, Magic Kingdom is also posted for 9 a.m. to midnight. EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are listed to close at 9 p.m. that day, while Animal Kingdom is scheduled to offer Extended Evening Hours from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for eligible hotel guests.

Those posted hours could still change. No 2026 capacity rules have been posted yet, but New Year's Eve is typically one of Magic Kingdom's busiest nights, and Disney has restricted entry to parks on especially busy nights before.