As most of the day's crowd departs and the lights come up in the park, Disney World offers a whole different type of magic. Disney After Hours allows you to experience Disney World with fewer people, shorter lines, complimentary snacks, exclusive character meet and greets, and more at these special ticketed events.
If you're considering adding After Hours tickets to your family's Disney World packages, Get Away Today can show you how it’s done with ticket options and tips to ensure your night is as enchanted as possible.
After Hours Events at a Glance
At Walt Disney World Resort there are now more ways to extend the fun than ever before. When we talk about Extra Hours Events and tickets, most people are referring to one or more of these three options:
- Disney After Hours Events
- Disney Extended Evening Hours
- Disney Early Theme Park Entry
What is Disney After Hours?
Disney World After Hours is a three-hour ticketed event that takes place on select nights at select Disney parks after closing time.
After Hours guests are able to enter select parks starting at 7:00 pm ET. Attractions are open and snacks are included. Only those with After Hours Disney World park tickets can remain inside and enjoy the after hours magic! It’s a fantastic addition to your Walt Disney World vacation and especially nice for arrival days when a full park day isn’t an option.
What are the Perks of Disney After Hours?
There are so many reasons to add extra hours to your Disney vacation.
For After Hours, only a smaller number of park guests will purchase After Hours Disney tickets. With these tickets, your family will be able to enjoy the rides and attractions with far shorter lines and limited crowds.
You'll experience little-to-no wait time for all the attractions as well as for character meet and greets. To keep your energy up, After Hours guests also get popcorn, ice cream, and bottled beverages included with the cost of their ticket.
When are Disney After Hours Events?
After hours events don’t happen every day of the year—these exclusive opportunities are limited in dates and times. Here is a quick look at some of the After Hours events you can attend at Walt Disney World.
- Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park select nights January 11 - April 8, 2024.
- Disney After Hours at Disney's Hollywood Studios select nights January 10 - April 10, 2024.
- Disney After Hours at EPCOT select nights February 2 - April 4, 2024.
- Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon to be announced.
- Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom select nights during Halloween Time.
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom select nights during the Holiday season.
- Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios select nights during the Holiday season.
After Hours Arrival Tips
Disney After Hours events officially start around 7:00 pm ET or later, depending on the park and the time of year. However, with each After Hours Disney World Park ticket, guests may enter the theme park earlier than the party start time.
These “mix in” hours are the perfect time to get situated without feeling rushed, grab a meal or locker if needed and be ready for some pre-party fun.
Be sure to check the day's schedule and come as soon as your ticket allows in order to make the most of your time. There may also be exciting evening events that you will want to attend even before the After Hours event begins.
1. Don’t Be Late
While Disney After Hours run for a specific set time, you will want to get to the park as soon as check-in is allowed so that you can experience everything. Some rides and attractions may be closed during After Hours events, so you’ll want to ride those during mix in hours.
Be sure to check out the attraction schedule ahead of time and plan to visit anything that closes with the park in the overlap time after you arrive.
2. After Hours Entrance
When you arrive at the park, look for the After Hours or Special Event turnstile at the gate. This check-in area will distribute your wristband and any other amenities included with your ticket. If you have regular daytime admission tickets and are already enjoying the park, look for After Hours or Special Event stations inside the park to get your evening wristband. This way, you won't have to exit and re-enter.
3. Get a Good Dinner In
Many restaurants and dining options will close when the park does. While After Hours guests enjoy complimentary snacks like popcorn and ice cream, you should ensure everyone gets a filling dinner in beforehand to fuel up for the night. Take a look at some of our favorite Quick Service dining locations at Walt Disney World here.
4. Make a Plan
With shorter lines, you should be able to ride more rides in less time. However, making a game plan before your visit is still helpful. Make a list of your must-dos, study a park map, and come up with the best route to take. Remember to prioritize the attractions you're most excited about, along with special offerings only available during your After Hours Event.
5. Dress Comfortably
As the sun sets, the weather shifts. Check the weather forecast before your visit and ensure you are dressed appropriately. Pack an extra layer to keep warm as the park cools down at night.
6. Pack a Backpack
Speaking of packing, bring a backpack. Bring water bottles to keep hydrated, snacks to supplement your Disney treats, a portable phone charger to keep your battery charged late at night, and an umbrella or poncho in case of rain. You'll also want to stash away any souvenirs to keep your hands free.
7. Check out the Exclusive Entertainment
Depending on your specific After Hours Event, there may be exclusive entertainment, food and character meet and greets only offered during this specific time. To make the most of After Hours, look out for special events like:
- Guests entering the park early can enjoy EPCOT Forever at EPCOT
- Illuminated attractions and a DJ dance party at Disney H2O Glow After Hours
- Trick or Treating and rare Disney Villains at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
- Mickey‘s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade only at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
- Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!—a seasonal nighttime spectacular at Disney Jollywood Nights
8. Don’t Forget Meet and Greets
Special meet and greets often happen during After Hours Events and they are very popular among guests. If meet and greets are important to your group, be sure to prioritize seeing your favorite Disney pals during the event hours.
Booking Your Disney After Hours Vacation
There are a lot of Disney ticket packages to choose from when planning your or your family’s big Disney vacation. However, if you’ve always wanted to experience a Disney theme park with shorter lines and smaller crowds, After Hours tickets may be the perfect addition to your trip. Just be sure to plan ahead, pack the necessities, and grab a Joffrey’s iced latte or two to be able to stay up past midnight!
We recommend…
We recommend at least a 4-day 1 Park per Day ticket so you can experience one day at each of the main theme parks. Then add on an After Hours event ticket for one night of your stay to extend the magic. In addition to these After Hours Events, there is also the option to join in on Extended Evening Theme Park Hours for guests of Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts or other select hotels as announced. Our Walt Disney World travel experts will help you with every step of the way. We can help you choose your hotel, decide which Disney World tickets are best for your stay and walk you through everything you need to know. You can book your Disney World vacation online or by calling us at 855 GET AWAY.
We recommend at least a 4-day 1 Park per Day ticket so you can experience one day at each of the main theme parks. Then add on an After Hours event ticket for one night of your stay to extend the magic. In addition to these After Hours Events, there is also the option to join in on Extended Evening Theme Park Hours for guests of Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts or other select hotels as announced. Our Walt Disney World travel experts will help you with every step of the way. We can help you choose your hotel, decide which Disney World tickets are best for your stay and walk you through everything you need to know. You can book your Disney World vacation online or by calling us at 855 GET AWAY.
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