Back in 2022, it was announced that after nearly three years, the Disney After Hours upcharge event would be returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom on select nights in early 2023. And though a lot of this event would remain unchanged from when it first debuted back in 2018, a lot has changed in the past three years. If you’re thinking about checking out this event, here are some important things to keep in mind before purchasing a ticket:
1. Ticket prices in 2023 will be more expensive, especially for DVC Members and Annual Passholders
Ticket prices vary by park and date, but no matter when you go, you are going to pay as much as $30 more for a ticket to Disney After Hours next year.
For Magic Kingdom event nights, Disney After Hours will take place select Mondays and Thursdays from January 9 through March 27, and tickets will cost between $135-$159. Special discounted pricing is available for DVC members and annual passholders, who can expect to pay between $105-$129 to attend this upcharge event.
Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney After Hours will take place select Wednesdays and one Sunday between January 4 and April 19. Additional dates have now been added at Disney’s Hollywood Studios from May 3. Ticket prices range between $129-$149, $99-$115 with discount. There are no child-priced tickets for this event, so even if you have children in your party, their price will be the same as an adult.
Disney has now added After Hours dates at EPCOT from June 1 and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon from May 20. Tickets can be booked beginning March 3 for EPCOT, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with prices ranging from 75 – $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.
These prices are a lot higher than those that were last seen in 2020 (especially for DVC Members and Annual Passholders, who previously paid a flat $99 rate to attend these events), but this price hike was expected since the cost of a Disney ticket has also risen since 2020, and Disney has seen no dips in attendance at other upcharge events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which also returned in 2022 with much higher prices.
2. Popular attractions will be available, but no Genie+ service is expected
At the Magic Kingdom, many of the park’s most popular attractions will be available at the After Hours event, including the Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, The Haunted Mansion, and Space Mountain. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the attraction lineup will include Slinky Dog Dash, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Toy Story Mania, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run.
Frequent guests at Walt Disney World already know that these attraction typically have very long waits during daytime hours, and while many guests use the Genie+ and Lightning Lane services to help speed through their day, this service is not expected to be available during this event. Because capacity will be limited for the Disney After Hours event, lines are expected to be short, and not using this service will allow everyone to have the same opportunity to experience these short lines.
3. After Hours event nights will likely sell out far in advance
Though next year’s event will be more expensive to attend, based on crowd trends, and attendance levels at other upcharge events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, it seems likely that this year’s events will sell out, possibly weeks or months before they actually take place. So if you are sure about your travel plans, definitely make sure to get tickets as soon as you are able to from Walt Disney World’s official website to ensure your spot at these in-demand events.
As a reminder, tickets can be booked beginning March 3 for EPCOT, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with prices ranging from 75 – $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.
4. No After Hours dates are currently available for Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Though Disney After Hours events have been available at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in the past, it looks like without a nighttime spectacular, this park has not been added back to the lineup for 2023. Though this could change in the summer if Disney brings back a mid-year version of this event, but right now Disney’s Animal Kingdom is still not included. It is fantastic news that EPCOT has now been added to the After Hours line up starting June 1, especially with the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon has also been added beginning May 20.
5. Early entry during park hours is still permitted, and no park reservations will be required for After Hours guests
At the Magic Kingdom, Disney After Hours officially begins at 10:00 PM, but ticket-holders can enter the park as early as 7:00 PM without a park reservation so that they can enjoy a few hours in the park with regular guests as well as a performance of the Enchantment nighttime spectacular while waiting for the event to start.
Similarly, Disney After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios kicks off at 9:30 PM but guests can enter the park as early as 7:00 PM without a reservation and catch the evening’s performance of Fantasmic! before the park officially closes to day guests.
At EPCOT guests will be able to enter the park from 7:00PM and at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon it will be from 6:00PM. Events at all parks last three hours after park closing.
6. Free snacks will still be included with admission
Disney has confirmed that one of the most popular elements of the original Disney After Hours events, which included free ice cream novelties, popcorn and select beverages, will once again be made available in 2023. Of course, more substantial fare will still be available for purchase, but guests looking to indulge in their snack cravings will still be able to do so at Disney After hours, free of charge.
Though it has been almost three years since the Disney After Hours event has taken place at Walt Disney World, it looks like Disney has made the right decision to bring back this fan favorite event as they are now extending dates at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and adding EPCOT and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon to the lineup. If the event continues to be a success during 2023, we’d imagine that Disney will extend this offering further throughout the summer. Are you going to be checking out this returning event, even though it is more expensive?
