Walt Disney World Wait Times for End of January 2026

Well, it finally happened. After a gradual wind-down of operations, a themed land just closed.

Fans won’t have DinoLand USA to kick around anymore, which creates a void at the park.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom guests must alter their visiting patterns now.

Also, they have fewer options for rides at the park, which is a concern in the short term.

Photo: Playbuzz.com

So, how did the big closure impact the crowds at this and other Disney theme parks?

Here are Walt Disney World’s wait times for the end of January 2026.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

I already touched on the big story, which will have ripple effects throughout the park.

MickeyBlog may have already published my adjusted Animal Kingdom itinerary on this topic.

If not, you should expect it later this week. But the gist is simple.

Shockingly little changes in the absence of DinoLand USA. Guests just won’t go that way now.

Judging by the historical wait times at DinoLand USA, they weren’t doing that anyway.

I will add that as Kristin Sabol noted, the lines swelled on DINOSAUR’s final weekend.

That’s to be expected any time a longstanding Disney attraction closes.

However, as I’d chronicled in previous wait times articles, DINOSAUR didn’t get it until the end.

I happen to love this attraction, but I’ve been in the minority on this one.

Still, DINOSAUR closed its prehistoric run with an average wait time of 65 minutes.

That’s an increase of 29 minutes from its penultimate week, which suggests at least some fond memories.

Here are the other Animal Kingdom wait times last week:

• Avatar Flight of Passage – 66 minutes, down 3
• Na’vi River Journey – 49 minutes, down 2
• Expedition Everest – 41 minutes, up 4
• Adventurers Outpost – 35 minutes, down 1
• Kilimanjaro Safaris – 31 minutes, down 7
• Kali River Rapids – 8 minutes, down 6

If you boggled at the Kali River Rapids number, please remember the weather aspect.

At one point last week, Orlando’s temperature fell into the 20s (!), forcing some residents to buy winter coats.

Overall, Animal Kingdom attractions averaged a wait of 42 minutes each.

That’s four minutes more than last time, which is entirely the DINOSAUR bump.

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

This park got the jump on Animal Kingdom by closing its old attractions last year.

We lost Muppets Courtyard and Animation Courtyard in a span of just over three months.

Muppets Courtyard

Now, we’re currently in Disney World’s gap year as everyone waits for the excitement of 2027.

Of course, the Boston Celtics were supposed to be taking a gap year, and they’re in second place in the East as I type this.

Hold that thought at Hollywood Studios, as help is coming sooner than you think.

We’ll get Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets soon after its predecessor closes.

Photo: Disney

Similarly, The Walt Disney Studios, the replacement to Animation Courtyard, arrives this summer, too.

As we all await the next phase, here are the park’s average wait times for last week:

• Slinky Dog Dash – 70 minutes, down 2
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – 70 minutes, up 12
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – 68 minutes, up 6
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith – 59 minutes, up 3
• Toy Story Mania! – 51 minutes, down 7
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – 47 minutes, down 2
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – 46 minutes, up 2
• Red Carpet Dreams – 36 minutes, down 2
• Alien Swirling Saucers – 29 minutes, down 4
• Celebrity Spotlight – 17 minutes, no change
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue! – 9 minutes, down 2

(Kent Phillips, photographer)

Overall, Hollywood Studios guests stood in line for an average of 46 minutes per attraction.

That’s one minute more than last time. So, we’re trending slightly upward this week.

EPCOT

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is nearing the middle of its run.

However, Disney already confirmed the details for the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival.

Completed Chalk Art – 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts

Believe it or not, EPCOT’s second festival of 2026 is just a month away from its start.

So, savor all the joys of the Festival of the Arts while you can! This year’s desserts are next-level.

Anyway, here are the park’s average wait times for last week:

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – 77 minutes, down 2
• Test Track – 73 minutes, down 4
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure – 51 minutes, down 4
• Royal Sommerhus – 44 minutes, down 5
• Soarin’ Around the World – 41 minutes, down 4
• Meet Mickey & Friends – 25 minutes, down 1
• Living with the Land – 22 minutes, no change
• Spaceship Earth – 19 minutes, down 3
• Turtle Talk with Crush – 18 minutes, down 1
• Mission: SPACE – 17 minutes, down 5
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends – 14 minutes, down 7
• Journey into Imagination with Figment – 12 minutes, down 3
• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros – 11 minutes, down 1

Photo: Disney

As a reminder, Frozen Ever After has briefly closed to update its Audio-Animatronics.

So, the park behavior here will change a bit, as that one IS an in-demand attraction.

Also, that mucks up our weekly comparison, as it’s a top-three ride at EPCOT.

Overall, guests waited for an average of 33 minutes per attraction.

Technically, that’s four minutes less than last time, but the data comes with a huge asterisk.

Magic Kingdom

Photo: Disney

Finally, here are Magic Kingdom’s average wait times for last week:

• TRON Lightcycle / Run – 75 minutes, up 6
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – 64 minutes, up 1
• Space Mountain – 50 minutes, up 4
• Peter Pan’s Flight – 49 minutes, no change
• Jungle Cruise – 47 minutes, down 1
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – 42 minutes, up 3
• Haunted Mansion – 39 minutes, up 1
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure – 35 minutes, down 4
• Princess Fairytale Hall – 32 minutes, no change
• Town Square Theater – 31 minutes, up 4
• Ariel’s Grotto – 29 minutes, down 1
• Pirates of the Caribbean – 27 minutes, down 2
• Astro Orbiter – 25 minutes, down 1
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin – 24 minutes, up 1
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid – 24 minutes, up 1
• The Barnstormer – 23 minutes, down 2
• Enchanted Tales with Belle – 22 minutes, down 1
• It’s a Small World – 22 minutes, down 2
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant – 21 minutes, down 2
• Tomorrowland Speedway – 20 minutes, up 3
• Walt Disney World Railroad – 20 minutes, up 1
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic – 15 minutes, no change
• Mad Tea Party – 14 minutes, down 1
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover – 14 minutes, no change
• Country Bear Musical Jamboree – 13 minutes, no change
• Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor – 12 minutes, down 1
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel – 11 minutes, down 1
• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress – 5 minutes, no change

Final Thoughts

Hatbox Ghost

Overall, Magic Kingdom guests stood in line for an average of 29 minutes per attraction.

That’s the same as last week. So, I think it’s fair to say that Disney World crowds were about the same last week.

Cinderella Castle

If anything, they modestly increased, but it’s a bit hard to know for sure with DINOSAUR skewing the data.

Still, Disney appears to be off to a terrific start in 2026.

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Feature Photo: Disney