by Beth Keating
News
DisneyBizJournal.com
February 22, 2023
After-hours events are a hot topic at Disney this week, with new events scheduled for both Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California. Disney World is even adding a park that has never been featured before as one of its upcoming after hours events.
At Disney World, EPCOT will be joining the list of parks offering these specially ticketed experiences to guests seeking lower crowds during their vacations. The three-hour-long events take place from 10:00 pm to 1:00 am, after the parks close to day guests, and typically include early entry into the parks on party nights (as early as 7:00 pm, so you can get in more than the 3 party hours!), low-wait access to park rides, lots of (included) snacks at carts throughout the park, unique character meet-and-greets, dance parties and more.
Also at Disney World, H2O Glow After Hours will be returning to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park from 8:00-11:00 pm on 18 select nights from May to September, with glow-lights, specialty snacks, and DJ dance parties. Hollywood Studios has added more dates to the line-up for that park, and Magic Kingdom’s nighttime parties are already underway as well.
This year’s new parties are scheduled to kick off May 20 at Typhoon Lagoon and June 1 at EPCOT. Magic Kingdom’s parties continue through March 27 (tickets are already on sale), and Hollywood Studios has added additional dates beginning May 3 to their often sold out events. Tickets are on sale now for the existing Hollywood Studios’ dates (through April 19), with the new May and June party dates going on sale March 3. (If this all seems a bit unwieldy, each park has its own event page with the details on dates, times and prices at DisneyWorld.com/AfterHours.)
According to Disney Parks Blog, “Event tickets for EPCOT, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Hollywood Studios can be purchased by all guests starting March 3, 2023, with prices ranging from $75 to $149 (plus tax). Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels can begin purchasing Disney After Hours tickets for EPCOT and Typhoon Lagoon as early as February 28. The advance-purchase window is available to guests at Disney Resort hotels and Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, as well as Shades of Green at Walt Disney World Resort.”
There are ticket discounts available for Annual Pass Holders and Disney Vacation Club holders for certain dates, and ticket prices vary by date and by park event.
For the complete list of the Disney World parks with upcoming after hours events, as well as the dates and times, again, check out DisneyWorld.com/AfterHours. Tickets for the events can also be purchased through that link.
Over on the west coast, Disneyland has added two more themed after dark parties to its existing themed nites, such as the already sold out March 2023 Princess Nites. The new additions are: Disneyland After Dark: Throwback Nite and Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite.
Disneyland After Dark begins with a three-hour pre-party mix-in from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Disneyland park, then the private party begins from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. In addition to low ride wait times, party guests at Disneyland After Dark get unlimited digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos taken during the party.
Disneyland After Dark: Throwback Nite takes place April 18 and 20, 2023, at Disneyland Park. Guests are encouraged to dress up in their favorite “flashback fashions” from the ‘50s and ‘60s while they enjoy music from “the first decade of Disneyland park.” They may even see Mickey and friends dressed in their best throwback attire!
According to Disney Parks Blog, Throwback Nite also includes the chance to:
- Gaze upon “Fantasy in the Sky,” a nighttime spectacular giving a nod to the same-named fireworks display that first illuminated the night in Disneyland park in 1957!
- Do the twist, the mashed potato and bunny hop your way to dance parties around Disneyland park with bands and deejays inspired by the era.
- Snack like it’s 1955 with treats that are inspired by the park’s early days, made once again just for this event!
- Picture yourself in vintage photo backdrops of attractions and posters from yesteryear like Skyway or Autopia, and from timeless Disney films captured by Disney PhotoPass photographers at the party.
- Enjoy after-hours access to iconic Disneyland attractions such as Peter Pan’s Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise.
- Enjoy pre-party mix-in admission to Disneyland park starting at 6 p.m., no theme park reservation required.
If you prefer your entertainment from a “Galaxy Far, Far Away,” Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite may be more your style. This event takes place May 2, 4, 8 & 11, 2023, from 9:00 pm to 1:00 am at Disneyland Park. Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite even lets you come dressed as your favorite Star Wars hero or villain, and:
- Be wowed watching “Star Wars: Celebrate the Nite” as fireworks illuminate the skies above Disneyland park. This pyrotechnic spectacle is set to the powerful music of Star Wars films.
- Prepare for Captain Phasma and her Stormtroopers during the March of the First Order in Tomorrowland, as they search for a Resistance spy.
- You may encounter travelers across the galaxy like Tusken Raiders and Jawas.
- Get ready to master a lightsaber! Attend the Lightsaber Instructional demonstration, where you will learn to handle a lightsaber through a series of elite moves, sure to bring out your inner Jedi!
- Picture yourself in dynamic photo backdrops featuring some of the galaxy’s favorite heroes and villains, captured by Disney PhotoPass photographers at the party.
- Explore themed snacks such as galactic churros and other out-of-this-world sweets!
- Begin your adventure with pre-party mix-in admission to Disneyland park starting at 6 p.m., no theme park reservation required.
A limited number of Disneyland After Dark tickets went on pre-sale for Magic Key holders on February 21, 2023, on Disneyland.com. (As of this writing, Presale Magic Key tickets for Star Wars Nite are already sold out). Tickets for the general public go on sale on February 23, 2023 (9 a.m. PT), and are subject to availability, and range from $129 for the April 18 Throwback Nite, to $145 for the April 20 Throwback Nite, to $149 to $169 for Star Wars Nite, depending on the date. Check the Disneyland website for all the pertinent details on the tickets, costuming, and up-to-date availability.
And a note to those who may be vacationing at Disney during these time frames, even if you aren’t planning on attending an after-hours party: the parks often close earlier than expected on party nights, so pay attention to the park closing times ahead of your trip so you don’t get caught off-guard. You may want to choose a different park to visit that day so you don’t lose valuable park time due to early closing hours at certain parks.
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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.
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