The Disney After Hours experience, even though it got off to a slow start, has been super popular in recent months, selling out at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom earlier this year. And while this event provides plenty of perks (short lines, unlimited soft drinks and ice cream, etc.), Disney has announced a new, plussed up version of Disney After Hours at the Magic Kingdom coming this summer. And you’ll definitely want to pay attention if you are a fan of the darker side of Disney….
1. Introducing Disney Villains After Hours
Image: Disney
Beginning this summer on select nights the Magic Kingdom will host Disney Villains After Hours which will once again feature limited guest numbers, complimentary snacks and access to most attractions. However, in addition to the standard After Hours offerings, this plussed up event will include the following Villains-inspired enhancements:
- Hades and Meg from “Hercules” will set the castle stage ablaze in an all-new stage show, Villains Unite the Night, which will also feature appearances by other notable baddies including Jafar, The Queen, Dr. Facilier and Maleficent.
- Maleficent the Dragon (as seen in the Festival of Fantasy parade) will be let loose for the first time at night – breathing fire as she creeps through the park as a one-of-a-kind experience for After Hours guests.
- Plussed versions of Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain will have villain-inspired enhancements and overlays
- A variety of special food & beverage offerings will also be available for purchase, including desserts, drinks and dishes inspired by The Evil Queen, Cruella de Vil, Maleficent, Hades, Dr. Facilier and even Emperor Zurg.
- Special merchandise themed to villains will also be available for purchase.
This brand new Disney Villains inspired event will be available beginning this summer, and is being offered on the following dates:
- June 6, 13, 20, 27 2019
- July 1, 11, 18, 25 2019
- August 1, 8 2019
Ticket prices go up by $15 across the board
As you might expect, Disney is going to be charging guests extra for this plussed up version of Disney After Hours at the Magic Kingdom. Instead of the usual $125 ticket price ($95 for DVC/ Annual Passholder) tickets to this upcharge experience will cost $139 plus tax in advance ($109 for DVC and Annual Passholders), or $144 plus tax on the event night. Tickets for this special Disney Villains After Hours event will go on sale in just a few weeks on April 29th.
Is this just a clever way to extend Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?
Image: Disney
Though Disney is calling this a Disney Villains After Hours event, with a spooky new show, and Disney Villains-inspired overlays on some of the Magic Kingdom’s most popular attractions, this plussed up After Hours event kind of seems like a summer edition of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, but with limited admission, higher prices, no costumes, and no character meet and greets. Though nothing has been confirmed yet, we wouldn’t be surprised if elements of the new show and villain attractions overlay end up in Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which kicks off in August, making Disney Villains After Hours perhaps the best way to preview what’s coming at this year’s Halloween Event before everyone else.
Could we be moving towards more themed After Hours events?
If the Disney Villains After Hours events is a success, we will likely start seeing more “seasonal” and themed editions of Disney After Hours in the future, as Disney continues to try and market this year-round upcharge experience. Christmas-themed events at the Magic Kingdom later in the year, and perhaps Star Wars events at Disney’s Hollywood Studios could all help set Disney After Hours apart from Disney’s “regular” Extra Magic Hours program, which continues to be downvalued, as well as all the other parties and Early Morning Magic offerings.
Though there’s no way to know exactly what the future will hold for this evolving event, Disney looks like they are sticking with Disney After Hours for as long as possible, and will be continuing to make changes to both the price and content to keep guests coming back for more.
