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The Magic Kingdom is often the first stop and the top priority for many Guests who vacation at the Walt Disney World Resort, and as such, it typically becomes the first Disney Park to fill to capacity when the crowds set in.
This theme park is the first at Disney World to become sold out during the busiest times of the year like Christmas and New Year’s weeks, Fourth of July, and spring break and school vacation week, along with several holiday weekends. But it is not only extra time off from school and work that can cause the crowds to surge at Walt Disney World’s original Park, as the Magic Kingdom’s latest sellouts result from exciting new experiences.
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The Magic Kingdom is currently undergoing several exciting updates, with the bulk of the new (and returning!) experiences opening in early April. First, Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration, which kicked off on October 1, 2021, is set to officially end on March 31, 2023. With the end of the celebration coming up quickly, many Guests are planning their final trips to the Park to see Cinderella Castle with its anniversary decor along with other experiences specific to the event, like specialty snacks, character interactions, and more.
Moving on to April, Walt Disney World’s official website notes that April 3 and 4, 2023, the Magic Kingdom is now sold out to most Guests. (There is a separate theme park reservation calendar for Annual Passholders which still lists availability for April 4, though if you are reading this and you have an Annual Pass, you may still want to make your reservations soon…)
What is it about April 3 and 4 that is making the Magic Kingdom so popular? For some Guests with longer stays, it could coincide with an Easter trip, but it’s too early for school vacation weeks. The real reason the Magic Kingdom is selling out in early April then surely coincides with both the return of Disney’s Happily Ever After fireworks and the official opening of TRON Lightcycle / Run.
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Disney’s Happily Ever After nighttime fireworks spectacular ended in 2021 to make way for Disney Enchantment, the fireworks show that was created for the Resort’s 50th anniversary. With the celebration coming to an end this month, both Happily Ever After will return to the Magic Kingdom, and EPCOT Forever will return to EPCOT (replacing Harmonious, and the controversial barges on World Showcase Lagoon.)
The first showing of Happily Ever After will take place at 9:00 p.m. on April 3, 2023, and the sold-out theme park reservation calendar and reports on social media indicate that the crowds will indeed be in the Magic Kingdom on this date to see the show.
The following morning, April 4, 2023, marks the official opening of TRON Lightcycle / Run in Tomorrowland. This new-to-Walt-Disney-World roller coaster originally debuted in 2016 at Shanghai Disneyland, and Guests have been waiting for years for the attraction to arrive in the U.S. Previews have already been underway for Cast Members, D23 Members, Annual Passholders, and Disney Vacation Club Members, but we are still expecting large crowds on April 4 when the ride opens to all Guests.
When TRON Lightcycle / Run opens, Guests will be able to ride via virtual queue or Individual Lightning Lane purchase. (The process will be the same system used at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT.)
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Planning to visit Magic Kingdom this April?
Be sure to make your Park reservations asap! The theme park reservation remains in place at Walt Disney World, and these dates are likely only the beginning of sold-out days at the Magic Kingdom.
If you are unable to secure reservations for the Magic Kingdom during your next trip, remember that you do not need reservations to Park hop (so you can at least visit later in the day to see Happily Ever After!). And, it never hurts to keep checking the reservation calendar as you can always modify your plans if something opens up.
Visit DisneyWorld.com or use the My Disney Experience app to check out the latest theme park reservation availability ahead of your next vacation. Best of luck, and have a magical time!
