Hi there, Chelsea!
Thanks for making planDisney a part of your magical preparations!
I'm delighted to see that you'll be headed to Walt Disney World Resort during my very favorite time of the year, the
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. With colorful gardens, topiaries, and tasty bites, there's so much to enjoy that you may find it difficult to pull yourself away to visit other theme parks. In my opinion, the rainbow of color created by the Flower and Garden Festival is best viewed from the Monorail's loop through EPCOT and is second only to that first glimpse of Cinderella Castle as I turn onto Main Street, U.S.A. during each vacation.
While I hope you'll take the time to immerse yourself in the Flower & Garden Festival, it's clear you're planning to enjoy some of my other magical must-dos — Walt Disney World's nighttime spectaculars. You're wise, Chelsea, to use the
Hours & Events Calendar to plan your days before your vacation begins. While it may seem odd that Fantasmic! and
Luminous The Symphony of Us are currently scheduled to begin after the theme park officially closes for the day, it's actually very common. Just as Guests are often able to enter certain areas of Walt Disney World's theme parks before they officially open for the day, Guests are not immediately escorted out at the stated theme park closing time. With this in mind, I tend to think of the theme park hours as guides for entering queues for attractions and dining rather than the times Guests are allowed inside the theme parks. This strategy allows crowds to filter out over longer periods of time and is especially helpful for those of us using
Walt Disney World's complimentary transportation to return to our magical homes away from home.
For both
Fantasmic! and Luminous, you'll be welcome to secure your viewing spot either before or after the theme park officially closes for the day, and once the display or performance is over, you'll be encouraged to make your way to the theme park's exit. In my experience, shops along your path to the exit often stay open, so it's a great time to do some shopping or snap a few photos!
As you make your plans, Chelsea, I want to remind you that Walt Disney World's scheduling is always subject to change, so I encourage you to keep an eye on the Hours & Events Calendar as your vacation approaches. If you need further clarification or suggestions, feel free to
stop back by. I'm always happy to help!
Thinking Happy Thoughts,
Lizzie