Are Disney After Hours 2024 Events Worth it?

Are Disney After Hours 2024 Events Worth it?

In typical Walt Disney World fashion, there is always another party, another festival, or another special event to add more magic to your already magical Disney Vacation. Disney After Hours events are no exception. But, with the high cost of yet another ticket and limited hours, one has to ask; Are Disney After Hours Events Worth it?

It comes as no surprise that a Disney After Hours ticket is a higher price than a day ticket. With nighttime hours, limited capacity, complimentary snacks, and low wait times you may be wondering if it’s realistic to get in everything you want to do in such a short “party.” Here’s our take on Disney’s After Hours Party events and whether or not it may or may not be worth your Disney dollar. 

Disney After Hours Dates 2024

Walt Disney World just announced Disney After Hours Events for 2024! This late-night, after-hours event allows guests an EXTRA 3 hours in the parks after the closing time, with entry into the park as early as 7 p.m. For 2024 Disney World is hosting Disney After Hours Parties at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios on select nights. You can grab After Hours tickets on Disney’s Special Events page. 

When is Disney After Hours at Walt Disney World 2024?

Disney After Hours Events at Magic Kingdom takes place on select nights from January 11- April 8, 2024, from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. At Hollywood Studios, Disney After Hours Events take place on select nights from January 10- April 10, 2024, from 9:30 p.m.- 12:30 a.m. Disney After Hours Events at EPCOT Park take place on select nights from February 2- April 4, 2024, from 10:00 p.m.- to 1:00 a.m. Party Guests are allowed to enter the park as early as 7:00 p.m. Walt Disney World After Hours Events in 2024 take place at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood, and EPCOT, on select nights. Each park hosts the event at different times. 

  • January 10 to April 10, 2024: Disney After Hours at Hollywood Studios Select Nights 9:30 pm- 12:30 am
  • January 11 to April 8, 2024: Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Select Nights 10:00 pm- 1:00 am
  • February 2 through April 4, 2024: Disney After Hours at EPCOT Select Nights 10:00 pm to 1:00 am

Disney Halloween Castle

Magic Kingdom After Hours Party Dates and Prices 2024

It's a small World at Disney world

Magic Kingdom After Hours Party  | January 11 to April 8, 2024. Select Nights

After Hours at Magic Kingdom in 2024, takes place on select nights from January 11- April 8, 2024. This limited-capacity after-hours event gets you into the park for access to rides, special characters, and complimentary snacks so you can make the most of your evening. With fewer crowds, and the opportunity to enter the park up to 3 hours before the party starts time, you can plan on low ride waits, and the chance to do all your favorite things. Here are the Dates for the Magic Kingdom After Hours Party. 

  • Thursday, January 11
  • Monday, January 15
  • Monday, January 22
  • Thursday, February 1
  • Monday, February 5
  • Monday, February 12
  • Thursday, February 29
  • Monday, March 4
  • Monday, March 18
  • Monday, April 8

Hollywood Studios Park Disney World

Hollywood Studios After Hours Dates and Prices 2024

Hollywood Studios Park

Hollywood Studios After Hours Party | January 10 to April 10, 2024

After Hours at Hollywood Studios in 2024, takes place on select nights from January 10- April 10, 2024. This limited-capacity after-hours event gets you into the park for access to rides, special characters, and complimentary snacks so you can make the most of your evening. With fewer crowds, and the opportunity to enter the park up to 3 hours before the party starts time, you can plan on low ride waits, and the chance to do all your favorite things. Here are the Dates for the Hollywood Studios After Hours Party. 

  • Wednesday, January 10
  • Wednesday, January 24
  • Wednesday, February 21
  • Monday, February 26
  • Wednesday, March 13
  • Wednesday, March 20
  • Wednesday, March 27
  • Wednesday, April 3
  • Wednesday, April 10

EPCOT Spaceship Earth Ride

EPCOT After Hours Dates and Prices 2024

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind

EPCOT After Hours Party | February 2 through April 4, 2024

After Hours at Hollywood Studios in 2024, takes place on select nights from February 2- April 4, 2024. This limited-capacity after-hours event gets you into the park for access to rides, special characters, and complimentary snacks so you can make the most of your evening. With fewer crowds, and the opportunity to enter the park up to 3 hours before the party starts time, you can plan on low ride waits, and the chance to do all your favorite things. Here are the Dates for the EPCOT After Hours Party. 

  • Friday, February 2
  • Thursday, February 8
  • Thursday, February 15
  • Thursday, March 7
  • Thursday, March 28
  • Thursday, April 4

How Long is the Disney After Hours Party 2024?

Disney After Hours Parties are 3 hours long but allow guests to enter the park early at 7 p.m., giving partygoers between 5.5 to 6 hours in the park on an After Hours Ticket. 

  • Hollywood Studios Select Nights 9:30 pm- 12:30 am. Enter as early as 7 p.m. 5.5 Hours
  • Magic Kingdom Select Nights 10:00 pm- 1:00 am. Enter as early as 7 p.m. 6 Hours
  • EPCOT Select Nights 10:00 pm to 1:00 am. Enter as early as 7 p.m. 6 Hours

Disney Rides at Walt Disney World

Disney After Hours Tickets 2024

If you’re looking to snag tickets to this special event at Walt Disney World, note that tickets are limited. As a result, they may not be available for purchase on the day of the event, as capacity is limited. As such it’s best to get tickets as soon as they become available.

When are Disney After Hours Tickets on Sale for 2024?

  • November 7, 2023: Disney After Hours Tickets available for Disney Resort Guests. You can access tickets on the website, My Disney Experience App, or by calling. Guests of select Walt Disney World Disney Resort hotels looking to purchase these special event tickets early must call (407) 934-7639 beginning November 7, 2023. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.
  • November 14, 2023: All other Guests may purchase tickets online beginning November 14, 2023. Check back soon for more details.

How Much Do Disney After Tickets Cost?

Disney After Hours Tickets vary in cost depending on your selected park and date. Additionally, Annual Passholders and DVC members also qualify for a discount. Check out the ticket cost for each After Hours Event in each Disney Park. 

  • Magic Kingdom After Hours Tickets cost between $155-$175 per person, depending on the night selected. Disney Annual Passholders and DVC Members are able to purchase tickets at a discount, between $125- $145 per person, depending on the night selected. 
  • Hollywood Studios After Hours Tickets cost between $155-$175 per person, depending on the night selected. Disney Annual Passholders and DVC Members are able to purchase tickets at a discount, between $125- $145 per person, depending on the night selected. 
  • EPCOT After-Hours Tickets cost between $149-$159 per person, depending on the night selected. Disney Annual Passholders and DVC Members are able to purchase tickets at a discount, between $119- $129 per person, depending on the night selected. 

Disney's After Hours at Magic Kingdom

What is Disney After Hours at Walt Disney World?

A Disney After Hours Party requires a separate ticket and allows guests the chance the stay 3 hours longer than regular park closing time. Meaning, party guests get late-night access to the parks, with the chance to ride any of the 20 open rides, without the line waits. Disney After Hours Party events typically have a certain theme; Villians, Boo Bash, Merriest Hours, etc. Still, no matter the theme, or park, all After Hours events, so far, have had the same structure. Here is everything you need to know about attending an After Hours event at Walt Disney World. 

What’s Included with your Disney After Hours Ticket?

  • 3 hours After Hours access to the park
  • Limited capacity offers lower crowds and less wait time
  • Special character greetings
  • Specialty Snacks
  • Specialty Merchandise
  • Special Entertainment- sometimes
  • Complimentary Snacks include unlimited popcorn, ice cream treats, and bottled beverages.

How Long Does Disney After Hours Last?

Disney’s After Hours events are 3 hours long. The 2024 Disney After Hours events take place from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT and from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Hollywood Studios. You can get a head start on the fun by entering the park at 7:00 PM—a few hours before the event officially begins. This means you get full access to the regular evening events in the park ( like nighttime shows, evening parades, or character cavalcades and fireworks) and any attractions that may not be open during the event! Disney Pro Tip: Arrive at 7 pm, so that you can lengthen your time in the parks just by being there a little earlier. 

Do you Need a Ticket for Disney After Hours?

Yes! Disney’s After Hours is a separately ticketed event, meaning that it requires its own ticket that must be purchased separately from regular park tickets. Like other separately-ticketed events, a Disney After Hours Ticket allows you access to the park as early as 7 p.m.; allowing you to enter the park a little bit before party time. Once you enter the park just look for the cast members to get your Disney After Hour’s wristband and direct you where to go. 

Disney After Hours Tickets

How do you Get Disney After Hours Tickets?

Purchasing tickets through the Walt Disney World website, travel agents and even the My Disney Experience app are all options for getting tickets. Note, that some events and some nights will sell out fast. 

How Much Do Disney After-Hours Tickets Cost?

Disney’s After Hours events vary in cost depending on whether it’s a standard After Hours event, a themed event, or an event held on a special night, like Halloween. In general, tickets range from $145- $175 dollars per person. Yes, this is higher than both Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. But, then it’s also meant for adults and gives a level of exclusivity you do not get at the parties. Over the last few years, we’ve questioned if the parties even have a capacity limit at all, as they are packed with people. So what you’re really paying for here is a close-to-empty park with the opportunity to enjoy all the attractions you like without the wait. Disney Pro Tip: Advance Tickets are cheaper! And go up about 10 dollars if you wait until the day of the event to purchase your tickets. That is if they’re not sold out! Purchase ahead of time.

Are There Discounts Available for Disney After Hours? 

Yes. For both Disney Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Members, there is a $30 Discount offered for select nights in 2024. 

Disney's Boo Bash Magic Kingdom

What is the Capacity of Disney’s After Hours?

The biggest perk of a Walt Disney World After Hours event is the extremely low wait times. Think 5-10 minutes for all your favorite rides. While not every ride or area in the park is open, all the main attractions are part of this event. The park is close to empty, in a fun and eerie sort of way.

What Food is Available at Disney’s After Hours?

Since the park is closed after 9, you won’t typically find Table-Service or Quick-Service Restaurants open. That said, be sure to grab dinner prior to the party or at a quick service location in the park when you arrive at 7 p.m. While you may find a couple of places open after 9 pm, like Main Street Bakery and Storybook Treats, most food places are usually closed. Since the evening is more about taking advantage of riding everything you enjoy without wait times, be sure to grab the complimentary treats in between rides! Disney Pro Tip: Complimentary snacks are available throughout the park on kiosks and carts, so if the line looks long just wait for the next one!

Magic Kingdom Disney After Hours

Attractions and Character Meets at Disney’s After Hours

During these events, much of the park is open. This includes rides and some select character meet and greets, depending on whether it’s a themed event or not. Here are the things you can experience during the party. As always, check out the Disney After Hours webpage for details and last-minute changes. 

What Attractions are OPEN Disney’s After Hours at Magic Kingdom?

Adventureland

  • The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Swiss Family Treehouse
  • Enchanted Tiki Room

Frontierland

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Splash Mountain
  • Country Bear Jamboree

Liberty Square

  • Haunted Mansion

Fantasyland

  • The Barnstormer
  • Dumbo
  • “it’s a small world”
  • Mad Tea Party
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • Mickey’s PhilharMagic
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid

Tomorrowland

  • Astro Orbiter
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Space Mountain
  • Tomorrowland Speedway
  • Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

What Attractions are NOT AVAILABLE during Disney’s After Hours at Magic Kingdom?

Sometimes the After Hours events have theme-specific digital shows, attractions, or fireworks as part of the event. But other attractions generally unavailable are as follows. 

  • Enchanted Tales with Belle
  • The Hall of Presidents
  • Carousel of Progress

What Food is Included during Disney’s After Hours at Magic Kingdom?

You can enjoy complimentary ice cream novelties, popcorn, and select bottled beverages—all included in the cost of this ticketed event—available at carts stationed throughout the park.

Other Snacks Available for Purchase
In addition, you can also purchase items at Main Street Bakery and select locations throughout the park.

rise of the resistance

What Attractions are OPEN during Disney’s After Hours at Hollywood Studios?

  • Alien Swirling Saucers
  • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
  • Slinky Dog Dash
  • Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
  • Toy Story Mania!
  • The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

What Attractions are NOT AVAILABLE during Disney’s After Hours at Hollywood Studios?

Sometimes the After Hours events have theme-specific digital shows, attractions, or fireworks as part of the event. But other attractions generally unavailable are as follows. 

  • Muppet Vision 3D
  • Character Meet and Greets
  • Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
  • Disney Junior Dance Party!
  • For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
  • Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
  • Fantasmic!
  • Voyage of the Little Mermaid
  • Wonderful World of Animation

What Food is Included during Disney’s After Hours at Hollywood Studios?

Delight in ice cream novelties, popcorn and select bottled beverages—all included in the cost of this ticketed event! These snacks are available at the carts in the following locations:

  • Grand Avenue
  • Hollywood Boulevard
  • Sunset Boulevard
  • Toy Story Land

Other Snacks Available for Purchase
You can purchase select food and beverages at these quick-service spots:

Looking for refreshing libations? Select outdoor bars will be available throughout the park. Or, check for walk-up availability at Oga’s Cantina.

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind Ride

What Attractions are AVAILABLE during After Hours at EPCOT

  • Frozen Ever After
  • Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
  • Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
  • Living with the Land Presented by Chiquita®
  • Mission: SPACE
  • Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends
  • Soarin’ Around the World
  • Spaceship Earth
  • Test Track Presented by Chevrolet®

What Food is Included during Disney’s After Hours at EPCOT?

You can grab ice cream novelties, popcorn, and select bottled beverages—all included in the cost of this ticketed event—available at the following locations:

  • Mission: SPACE Cart
  • Imagination Cart
  • Connections Cart
  • Fountain Popcorn Cart

Is Disney After Hours Worth it?

From a budget standpoint, a Disney After Hours ticket is equivalent to a full-day ticket in some cases. It’s also more than a party ticket for either of Magic Kingdom’s main parties; Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. However, if you look at Disney’s After Hours event through the lens of how many rides you can get in during a certain period of time, we can guarantee you’re better off staying up late for this event. A daytime trip to Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios will be crowded and will require waits whether it be for characters, rides, or experiences. Additionally, certain rides may be completely unattainable! Snow White’s Mine Ride and Rise of the Resistance routinely have high waits and you may not get to them during your trip. 

Is Disney After Hours Good for Kids?

While the Disney After Hours Events are one of our top things to do at Disney World for Adults, we feel differently about it for families. Disney After Hours isn’t great for kids under 10 years old. But this is a decision only you can make for yourself and your family. There are a few reasons that a Disney After Hours Event may not be great for little ones. The late hours alone require a lot from children who may have already had a very mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting day. The pace of an After Hours event is all about fitting in EVERYTHING you want to do in a short period of time. While the lines are low, covering the ground of the park in a few hours, means potentially walking fast and racing around to get it all in. Only you know what your kids may, or may not be, up for.

Disney's After Hours Magic Kingdom

Who Should Attend Disney After Hours?

This After Hours event at Walt Disney World is perfect for people who may be taking shorter vacations and won’t be able to take 2 days in the park. Mainly because you can tackle more rides in a few hours, in an uncrowded park, than during daytime hours. It’s also wonderful for Disney Adults who want to maximize their time in the parks, so they can spend their vacation enjoying other things like restaurants, resorts, and Disney Springs. 

Main Street at Disney World

Disney After-Hours Planning Tips

Just like anything at Disney World, half the work is in the planning. In order to make the most of your After Hours Party time we recommend reviewing these tips, so that you can get prepared and enjoy the evening. 

Maximize Your Time

Arrive at the Park just before 7 pm. This way you can enter the park ASAP and start having fun right away and stretch a 3-hour long event to 5 hours. 

Before the Party Starts

Since you’ll be arriving in the park before the event you’ll have the option to take advantage of ALL the in-park entertainment, attractions, and food options. We recommend getting in all the things that won’t be available during the party; character meet and greets, fireworks, etc. 

Focus on the Rides and Entertainment

While the lure of “Free Food” is always exciting, keep in mind that the Complimentary Snacks at this event are basic. Popcorn, ice cream treats, and bottled beverages are relatively low-cost, so don’t spend the night waiting in lines for free snacks. Focus on grabbing these snacks in between the rides and entertainment. 

Grab Extra Free Snacks at the End of the Night

While we don’t recommend focusing on the free snacks, we do recommend grabbing some to take back to your resort before you leave. Heck, free is free! Right? Grab some extra treats for later.

Take Advantage of PhotoPass

Night photos are fun to take but they do take practice to get the right lighting, contrast, composition, and everything else! Plus, if a PhotoPass photographer snaps your picture, you are guaranteed a halfway decent picture. We recommend being sure to get a picture in front of the castle on the way out. Your chances of a picture without the people in the background are pretty good as it gets later in the evening. 

Hopefully, this gives you a good idea as to whether or not a Disney After Hours event is worth it for you and your family. Let us know your thoughts! 

Disney's After Hours event at Magic Kingdom is expensive! Is it worth it? For a 3 hour event, with limited capacity, and complimentary snacks, here is everything you need to know about an After Hours event at Magic Kingdom Park. #polkadotpixies #disneyvacation

 

Co-Founder and Director at Polka Dot Pixie Co LLC | Website | + posts

Rochelle Mariah is a writer, designer and photographer with an MLIS in Information Science and a B.S. in Arch and Design. Determined to make Planning a DIY Disney Vacation easier she makes lots of lists and drinks lots of coffee. When not designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's watching old movies and planning the holidays. She has been traveling to Disney destinations since 2010.


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