2018 saw the end of Extra Magic Hours for all Disney World Resort guests, and honestly, I have not been the same since. Long ago are the days we could stay in the almost empty park until 2 A.M. riding Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train over and over again…
Or so we thought.
As part of the 50th Anniversary celebration, Walt Disney World is offering an exclusive Disney After Hours event. This ticket-only party takes place at Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios on select nights through April. It works almost exactly like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. You purchase a separate ticket (of limited quantity) and beginning at 9:00 P.M., you have virtually exclusive access to the park. Complimentary ice cream, popcorn, and select beverages are also included in your admission.
I actually attended one of these events last year at Hollywood Studios, and it truly exceeded my expectations. I will admit, I was skeptical. I love the Halloween party because of all the extra shows and characters you get to enjoy. To me, this seemed like buying a ticket to enjoy a few extra hours of park time that I could experience another day with my regular admission.
We spent the day enjoying our resort pool and shopping through Disney Springs, instead of buying a full-day park ticket. We scanned into the park at 7 P.M. even though the event did not officially begin until 9:30 P.M. We enjoyed a dinner reservation at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, and by the time we finished, it was time to enjoy the event. We rode every ride we wanted in Hollywood Studios, and we could have done any attraction multiple times, even Rise of the Resistance. We also loved getting to take cute pictures in an almost empty park. My one regret is not eating enough of the free food. The event officially lasted 3-hours, and transportation was waiting to take us back to our resort when the event ended.
If you are looking for a way to minimize your time in line and maximize your fun, I cannot recommend this enough. For my attraction-crazed group, this was perfect. We did not have to worry about waiting in lines, and one of the cast members even let us stay on to ride Alien’s Swirling Saucers twice in a row. Characters were wandering around, and we got to watch an additional nighttime projection show just for ticket holders.
I encourage anyone traveling for spring break to consider this event a must-do. The parks will be overcrowded with travelers from all over the United States enjoying their break from school. I promise the extra money is worth it.
Tickets range between $139 and $159 per person and are very limited in availability until April 19, 2023.
If you think this is something you would enjoy, contact us and request a complimentary consultation!
