Disney After Hours is a private event offered on select dates at Magic Kingdom . It’s not cheap, but it might be worth it for many people.

Here’s info on what it is, how much it costs, who should plan to attend, and a suggested itinerary if you decide to go.

Update: After Hours Boo Bash coming to Magic Kingdom

We are happy to report that in 2021, Magic Kingdom will see the spooky season return. And, while we are a bit sad it won’t be the full Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party, we are excited to see that some popular features (like trick-or-treating) will be included in the ticket price.

Read all about the new Disney After Hours Boo Bash.

What is Disney After Hours?

Disney After Hours is a separately-ticketed event (meaning it’s a ticket that is purchased separate from regular park tickets) that allows people to enter Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom at 7 p.m. and stay until midnight or 1 a.m. (ending time varies by date).

Like other separately-ticketed events, you’ll be able to enter the theme park before the official party start time and there will be a Cast Member at the front of the park with a sign directing guests where to go.

You’ll scan your MagicBand or ticket and receive your special “After Hours” wristband at that time.

Already planning to be in Magic Kingdom? No worries. You don’t have to go all the way back to the front of the park to check-in.

You’re able to pick up your After Hours wristband at stations in the park, like this one in Tomorrowland.

(These Cast Members were the BEST! So much fun!)

There are a limited number of tickets sold so you’ll find that the wait times are small (think 5-10 minutes) or, better yet: non-existent!

Seriously, the park is almost empty and kind of eerily quiet.

And you can walk on rides, meet characters, and enjoy treats and bottled beverages (they’re included with the ticket!) as you walk through the park.

Though the ticket allows you to enter at 7:00 p.m., the event doesn’t begin until 9:00 p.m. which means you can do things between 7 and the event starting time that aren’t available during the party.

Most importantly, that includes fireworks and attractions that won’t be open during the event.

What about food?

During the event you’ll find that most of the regular Table Service and Quick Service locations aren’t open (although there will be a couple spots like Main Street Bakery that are) but that may not be necessary since the event includes unlimited ice cream treats, popcorn, and bottled beverages.

You’ll typically find these at the carts and kiosks spread throughout the park so if the line looks long at one it might be worth it to hold off and try the next one you come across.

Disney After Hours dates and times

The time for each Disney After Hours event at Magic Kingdom depends upon the date (as shown below).

Note: the list below includes both the regular After Hours events and the Disney Villains After Hours events. You can find more info on Disney Villains After Hours below.

2020 Disney After Hours dates

Note: due to worldwide events, some previously scheduled dates have been effected and are indicated below:

January

• Monday, January 6, 2020³
• Monday, January 13, 2020³
• Friday, January 17, 2020²
• Monday, January 20, 2020²
• Thursday, January 23, 2020³
• Monday, January 27, 2020³
• Friday, January 31, 2020³

February

• Monday, February 3, 2020²
• Friday, February 7, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Monday, February 10, 2020²
• Friday, February 14, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Monday, February 17, 2020²
• Friday, February 21, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Monday, February 24, 2020²
• Friday, February 28, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)

March

• Monday, March 2, 2020³
• Friday, March 6, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Monday, March 9, 2020¹
• Wednesday, March 11, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Monday, March 16, 2020¹
• Wednesday, March 18, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Monday, March 23, 2020¹
• Friday, March 27, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Monday, March 30, 2020¹

April

• Friday, April 3, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Sunday, April 5, 2020¹
• Friday, April 10, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Monday, April 13, 2020¹
• Friday, April 17, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Monday, April 20, 2020¹
• Friday, April 24, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Monday, April 27, 2020¹

May

• Friday, May 1, 2020*
• Tuesday, May 5, 2020¹
• Friday, May 8, 2020*
• Monday, May 11, 2020²
• Thursday, May 14, 2020*
• Monday, May 18, 2020²
• Friday, May 22, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Monday, May 25, 2020¹
• Friday, May 29, 2020*

June

• Friday, June 5, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Friday, June 12, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Friday, June 19, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Friday, June 26, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Monday, June 29, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)

July

• Monday, July 6, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Friday, July 10, 2020 (Disney Villains After Hours)

August – December, 2020 TBD

¹event takes place from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
²event takes place 9 p.m. to midnight
³event takes place 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Disney Villains After Hours (more info on what that means below) takes place either from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. or 9:00 p.m to 12:00 a.m, depending on the date

Historical Event Dates

Oftentimes you’ll find that Disney only releases event dates a few months out, which can make it difficult if you’re trying to plan your vacation.

To help we have included some historical dates below.

Keep in mind that these dates are not guarantees of what will happen in the future; rather, use them as guides as to what you might expect to see.

These are the dates the event was offered in 2019:

January 2019

• Monday, January 7, 2019³
• Thursday, January 17, 2019³
• Thursday, January 24, 2019³
• Monday, January 28, 2019³

February 2019

• Thursday, February 7, 2019³
• Thursday, February 14, 2019²
• Thursday, February 21, 2019²
• Thursday, February 28, 2019³

March 2019

• Thursday, March 7, 2019²
• Thursday, March 21, 2019¹
• Thursday, March 28, 2019¹

April 2019

• Thursday, April 4, 2019¹
• Thursday, April 11, 2019¹

May 2019

• Thursday, May 2, 2019¹
• Thursday, May 9, 2019¹
• Thursday, May 16, 2019¹
• Thursday, May 23, 2019¹
• Thursday, May 30, 2019¹

June 2019

• Thursday, June 6, 2019 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Thursday, June 13, 2019 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Thursday, June 20, 2019 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Thursday, June 27, 2019 (Disney Villains After Hours)

July 2019

• Monday, July 1, 2019 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Thursday, July 11, 2019 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Thursday, July 18, 2019 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Thursday, July 25, 2019 (Disney Villains After Hours)

August 2019

• Thursday, August 1, 2019 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Thursday, August 8, 2019 (Disney Villains After Hours)
• Thursday August 22, 2019¹
• Thursday, August 29, 2019¹

September 2019

• Thursday, September 5, 2019¹
• Thursday, September 12, 2019¹
• Thursday, September 19, 2019¹
• Thursday, September 26, 2019¹

November 2019

• Monday, November 18, 2019¹

December 2019

• Monday, December 9, 2019¹

¹event takes place from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
²event takes place 9 p.m. to midnight
³event takes place 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Disney Villains After Hours (more info on what that means below) takes place 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Attractions & Character Meets

Definitely the main focus of Disney After Hours is the ability to ride lots of attractions and see some select characters with little to no waits.

As you can tell by the list below, the majority of the park will be open making it easy to see and ride all of your favorites.

Here’s what you can typically find available:

Main Street U.S.A.

• Meet Mickey Mouse and Tinker Bell at Town Square Theater

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
• Meet Ariel in her grotto
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Meet Disney Princesses in Princess Fairytale Hall
• 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

And here’s what’s NOT available:

• Happily Ever After (nighttime fireworks show)
• Most character meets not listed above

Fantasyland

• Enchanted Tales with Belle

Liberty Square

• The Hall of Presidents

Tomorrowland

• Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
• Carousel of Progress

Disney After Hours cost

Current ticket prices are:

• $129 plus tax per adult or child (when purchased in advance)
• $139 plus tax when purchased day of the event

Discounts

There are some discounts available, though.

Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members can purchase tickets for $99 so that is a nice bit of savings if you are a member of either of those groups.

How to get tickets

When it comes time to purchase tickets you have a couple of options:

You can purchase them from your travel professional.

Or, if you’d rather, tickets can be purchased online or by calling 407-827-7185.

Who should attend?

Although the price sounds high for just 4-6 hours in the park, we suggest it does make sense if you think of it in terms of number of attractions rather than number of hours.

You can get more done at the event than you could in a whole day at Magic Kingdom.

For that reason, I’d highly suggest it for people who have short trips and want to fit in as much as possible because it’s a really great way to do that.

Planning your time

Here’s how we recommend you plan spend your time at this event.

• Arrive at Magic Kingdom just before 7:00 so you can enter the park as soon as you can.
• Visit any attractions that won’t be open during the event.
• See the fireworks.
• Spend most of your time visiting attractions and meeting characters, picking up snacks at kiosks throughout Magic Kingdom as you go.
• Grab a bottle or two of beverages to take back to your hotel.
• Have a PhotoPass photographer snap your pic on Main Street on the way out. Gotta take advantage of having almost nobody in the park to clutter up your photo!

Disney Villains After Hours 

In the Summer of 2019, Disney began offering a new twist to the already popular After Hours events: Disney Villains After Hours.

You get all the regular stuff included (like access to attractions, free bottled beverages and ice cream treats, etc.) but in addition to all of that you’ll also have a few fun extras:

• Disney Villains stage show – This new show called “Villains Unite the Night” will star Hades and Meg from “Hercules” with some special appearances by Jafar, The Queen, Dr. Facilier and Maleficent
• Maleficent the Dragon –  Maleficent the Dragon (which is the super popular float from the Festival of Fantasy parade) will be found creeping through the park and breathing her scary fire 
• “Villanous Enhancements” to attractions: Both Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain will get some fun villain-themed additions for these special nights
• Special food & beverage offerings -In addition to the free goodies, guests will find an assortment of specially-themed items available for purchase all inspired by some of your favorite villains like The Queen, Cruella de Vil, Maleficent, Hades, Dr. Facilier, and even Emperor Zurg
• Villain-themed merchandise – Event specific merchandise will be available for purchase

NOTE: One thing will NOT be available, though: special villain character meets.  

And, for added fun – much like with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, for this special event guests are encouraged to “feel free to show off [their] sinister side by dressing in attire inspired by [their] favorite baddie.”

Prices for this enhanced version of Disney After Hours is slightly more expensive:

• $145 (plus tax) for tickets purchased in advance.
• $155 (plus tax) for tickets purchased on the night of the event.

Discounts are available, though. Guests that have Annual Passes or are members of Disney’s Vacation Club can save $30/ticket (making the total with discount $109 plus tax).

Tickets for this new offering are now on sale.

Read more about Disney Villains After Hours.

Early Morning Magic vs. Disney After Hours

Can’t decide which paid event to do? Here’s a comparison chart to help.

Video: Why Disney After Hours is my favorite event

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