If you've ever wished you could have a Disney park (almost) to yourself, Disney After Hours is about as close as it gets. These separately ticketed nighttime events let you stay in a participating park after regular hours with a much smaller crowd, which means little to no waits for rides, character meet-and-greets, and more. Oh, and the popcorn, ice cream, and bottled drinks are included.

These events run about three hours and typically pop up from January through September at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT.

After Hours vs. Extended Evening Hours

These two sound alike, so let me clear it up fast, because they're not the same thing.

Disney After Hours is a separately ticketed event that anyone can buy into. Extended Evening Hours is a free perk just for guests staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort hotel, letting them stay in a park a couple of hours past close with no extra ticket needed (beyond valid park admission). So if you're not in a Deluxe resort, After Hours is your ticket to that quiet, magical, after-dark park experience.

2026 Dates and Tickets

After Hours is back for 2026 on select nights. Here's the typical schedule:

Hollywood Studios: 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Magic Kingdom and EPCOT: 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Your event ticket also gets you into the park as early as 7 p.m. (more on that below).

Magic Kingdom 2026 nights (Mondays): Jan. 12, Jan. 19, Feb. 2, Feb. 9, Feb. 23, March 2, March 9, April 13, April 20, May 4, May 11, May 18, May 25, June 1, June 22, July 13, July 27.

Hollywood Studios 2026 nights: Jan. 14, Jan. 28, Feb. 4, Feb. 11, Feb. 21 (Sat.), Feb. 25, April 29, May 6, May 14 (Thurs.), May 30 (Sat.), June 3, June 10, June 17, June 24, July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29, Aug. 5, Aug. 12, Aug. 19, Aug. 26 (Sat.), Sept. 2, Sept. 12 (Sat.).
Two exceptions: on May 30 the event runs 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., and on Sept. 12 it runs 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

EPCOT 2026 nights (Thursdays unless noted): Jan. 22, Jan. 29, Feb. 19, March 5, March 12, April 2, April 9, April 15 (Wed.), April 23, April 30, May 21, June 11, June 18, July 9, Aug. 6, Aug. 13, Sept. 16 (Wed.), Sept. 24.

A couple of things to know: tickets usually go on sale the fall before, resort guests often get first crack, and the most popular nights can sell out. Dates and times can also shift, so always confirm before you buy. If you want help snagging tickets or picking the best night for your trip, that's exactly what I'm here for. Just reach out.

Getting In: Arrival and Early Entry

Here's a tip you'll want to use: even though the event officially starts between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. depending on the park, your event ticket lets you into the park as early as 7 p.m. That's two to three bonus hours, and you should absolutely take advantage of them.

Arriving at 7 p.m. or later? You only need your event ticket.
Want to get there earlier? You'll need regular park admission for the day. (Park reservations aren't required for date-based tickets, though annual passholders may still need one.)

If you arrive at or after 7 p.m., head to the event turnstiles to pick up your special wristband. Already in the park for the afternoon? Look for the event signs. Cast Members usually hand out wristbands at stations inside the park, so you won't have to trek back to the entrance.

Once the park closes to daytime guests, anyone without a wristband is guided toward the exit. There's usually a 30-minute to one-hour window between park close and the official event start to allow for that shuffle, so expect a little overlap near the front, especially as the crowd clears out. On some nights the park closes right as the event begins, so you may see some crowds until things thin out.

One more tip: eat dinner before the event starts. Most restaurants close during After Hours, and you'll want every minute for rides. That overlap window is also the perfect time to catch anything that isn't offered during the event, like Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios or the fireworks at EPCOT and Magic Kingdom.

The Rides

This is the whole reason to go. You'll walk onto your favorite rides with little to no wait, often under 10 minutes and frequently a straight walk-on. Not every attraction is open during the event, and lineups can change, so check the My Disney Experience app on your night. During that transition window from park close to event start, you can hop on any available ride just by showing your wristband (wait times won't display in the app during that stretch, but the event rides should be running).

Here's what you can generally expect to be open:

Magic Kingdom: Jungle Cruise, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Pirates of the Caribbean, Swiss Family Treehouse, Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, Country Bear Musical Jamboree, Haunted Mansion, The Barnstormer, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, "it's a small world," Mad Tea Party, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey's PhilharMagic, Peter Pan's Flight, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Speedway, the PeopleMover, and TRON Lightcycle / Run.

Hollywood Studios: Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Alien Swirling Saucers, Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania!, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets.

EPCOT: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros, Living with the Land, Mission: SPACE, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Soarin' Around the World, Spaceship Earth, and Test Track.

One EPCOT note: the World Showcase pavilions from China through Morocco are roped off during the event. To get around the lagoon you'll go from Norway to Mexico to the World Showcase entrance, then over to Canada, the United Kingdom, and France. So enjoy those middle-of-the-lagoon countries during regular park hours before the event kicks off.

Bottom line: between early entry and the event itself, you can ride nearly everything, most of it with barely a wait.

Characters

Character meet-and-greets are often part of After Hours too, though the locations can be more limited than during the day. At Hollywood Studios, you'll find fun, rare characters rotating through the night, sometimes Stitch, Jiminy Cricket, or Duffy. At Magic Kingdom, Mickey greets guests at Town Square Theater. At EPCOT, look for Mickey near the Dreamers Point statue, Goofy at his dance party in CommuniCore Plaza, and Minnie at the France gazebo. If characters are a priority for your crew, use that early entry time to knock them out.

Entertainment

A nighttime fireworks show is sometimes included on Magic Kingdom event nights, and on those nights you can catch fireworks earlier in the evening too, so it's double the show. Over at EPCOT, the party keeps going at Goofy's DJ dance party in CommuniCore Plaza, and there's often live fun at the Canada Mill Stage. PhotoPass photographers are stationed around the parks during the event as well, so you can grab some gorgeous, low-crowd photos.

Snacks and Shopping

Here's the part your kids (and let's be honest, you) will love. Your ticket includes unlimited ice cream treats (Mickey bars, Mickey ice cream sandwiches, and strawberry bars), popcorn, and select bottled drinks (water, Coke, Diet Coke, and Sprite), served from carts around the park once the event officially starts.

Most sit-down and quick-service restaurants close during the event, though a few spots may stay open. That's why I always recommend eating dinner beforehand, so you can just grab a Mickey bar and keep moving. A handful of shops may stay open too, sometimes including limited walk-up availability at Savi's Workshop and Droid Depot at Hollywood Studios, but I wouldn't spend your precious event time shopping.

H2O Glow After Hours

If you're visiting in summer, there's a fun water park version too. Disney H2O Glow After Hours is a separately ticketed nighttime event at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, with DJ dance parties, specialty food and drinks, and your favorite water attractions glowing after dark. It's a great pick for a warm summer night.

My Tips for Making the Most of It

Get there at 7 p.m. Those early hours are gold. Use them for anything that closes before the event, and to knock out character meets.
Eat dinner first. Snacks and drinks are covered, but full meals aren't easy to come by once the event starts.
Have a game plan. Three hours flies by. Decide on your must-dos before you walk in and hit them first.
Move in one direction. Start with your number-one ride, then work your way around the park instead of crisscrossing back and forth.
Take a breather. Don't get so focused on doing it all that you forget to enjoy it. A bench and a Mickey bar make the perfect pit stop.

Is Disney After Hours Worth It?

Honestly, it comes down to your family, your schedule, and your budget. Here's how I'd think about it.

It's a great fit if:

You want to ride the popular attractions with barely any wait.
You'd love to skip the long lines, big crowds, and daytime Florida heat.
You're a big Star Wars fan and want Galaxy's Edge with short waits and gorgeous nighttime vibes.
You're on a short trip and just want to hit the highlights. After Hours can help you squeeze in a park you might otherwise miss.

It might not be the move if:

You want to experience absolutely everything a park offers. Many shows stop after daytime hours, and some rides aren't open during the event.
The extra ticket doesn't fit your budget right now.
You've got very little ones with early bedtimes. A late-night event is a lot for a tired toddler, so it may be better as a grown-ups or big-kids night out.

All in all, a nearly empty park with unlimited snacks is a pretty magical way to spend an evening. If you want help deciding whether it's right for your trip, or getting your tickets booked, just reach out. I'd love to help you plan it.

Disney After Hours