Typically, Magic Kingdom, like other Walt Disney World parks, opens at 9 am and closes at 10 pm. But thanks to a rare schedule change last week, guests could take advantage of the amazing childhood wonderland into later hours of the night - an especially cool thing given how packed with crowds Magic Kingdom has been lately during the day. And with Extra Magic Hours, Disney resort guests were especially able to take advantage of extra time at their favorite park early in the morning.

From Wednesday, April 15, through Sunday, April 19, Magic Kingdom’s usual closing time was be pushed back until midnight for all park guests. As for guests staying at select Walt Disney World resorts like the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Grand Floridian Resort, they were able to pack on even more time at the park with Extra Magic Hours from 8am to 9 am on Thursday and Saturday, and from 7 am to 9 am on Friday. On Sunday, Extra Magic Hours tacked on to the already late closing hour of midnight kept the park open for resort guests until 3 am.

Extra Magic Hours after normal park closing provides everyone at least two extra hours to witness their favorite attractions, experience their favorite thrills, and see all the magic that they didn’t get a chance to see earlier in the day. Haunted Mansion is particularly fun at night since the darkness outside makes this mysterious tour even spookier. The Wishes Nighttime Spectacular is obviously another nighttime favorite as one of the brightest and biggest fireworks extravaganzas in the history of Magic Kingdom. And when the park closes extra late, guests have additional time to sit down and enjoy a leisurely meal at tasty dining spots like the Crystal Palace, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Tony’s Town Square, or the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station.

In addition to providing more opportunities to see beloved attractions, Magic Kingdom’s later hours last week meant a second chance to see the SpectroMagic Parade. Usually appearing once at 9 pm, this dazzling nighttime procession filled with brilliantly lit Disney characters and floats appeared for a second time through Sunday at 11 pm. Known for putting miles of smiles on guests faces, the SpectroMagic Parade features 500,000 lights and miles of twinkling fiber optic cables.

So if you want to get the most magic out of a trip to Magic Kingdom, keep an eye out on the park schedules for last minute changes and Extra Magic Hours! Extended hours at the parks are rare, but when they happen, you won’t want to miss a chance to stay up late at the most magical place in the world. Get your Walt Disney World tickets from OrlandoFunTickets.com today and have a good night at Magic Kingdom.