Enjoy Disney After Dark in 2023

Looking to squeeze every last moment of fun out of your upcoming Disney World getaway? We have good news! Disney has announced that their popular Disney After Hours events have returned for 2023. Dedicated Disney enthusiasts may remember After Hours events from years prior, but for the past three years, there have been no After Hours events at all. Here’s the scoop on their big return and what you can expect as you plan your next Central Florida Disney vacation.

Billed as “an extra dash of pixie dust,” After Hours events at Walt Disney World are when one of the theme parks stays open for a few extra hours after closing to a limited number of special ticketed guests. Because the number allowed within the park gates is limited, those who participate will enjoy much shorter attraction wait times and an overall more streamlined park experience. 

For winter and spring 2023, the Walt Disney World resort complex is offering After Hours experiences at Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom. While there is plenty of fun to be had during the day at Epcot and Animal Kingdom, there are currently no After Hours events planned at these parks. 

The official extra time that an After Hours ticket entitles a guest to is 10 pm (park close) until around 1 am (contingent upon which specific park and date you select, and subject to change). However, ticketed After Hours guests are invited to enter the park as early as 7 pm for no additional cost, so you can essentially squeeze six hours of fun out of the price of admission, with three being when the park is cleared of other guests. 

Beyond thinned-out crowds and shorter wait times, each After Hours event treats guests to a variety of all-you-can-eat, complimentary snacks and drinks. The snack array typically includes the quintessential Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar as well as select soft drinks, popcorn, and bottled water. Carts are located throughout the park, standing ready to fuel your nighttime adventures. 

A few things to note: these events require a separate ticket and they sell out quickly, so book yours before you arrive for your vacation. Events are on select dates and not all park attractions remain open for each event, though usually, the most popular attractions do. At Hollywood Studios, attractions like the Slinky Dog Dash, Millennium Falcon, and Toy Story Mania! are expected to be included. At Magic Kingdom, fan favorites like Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Haunted Mansion, and Space Mountain are among the more than twenty rides regularly kept open for the event. 

After some extra nighttime fun at the parks, head to a comfortable room to get your rest. Plenty of great options that are close to Disney, which include Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Orlando Lake Buena Vista,  Crowne Plaza Orlando – Lake Buena Vista, or Staybridge Suites Orlando Royale Parc Suites which also have free shuttle options. Along International Drive, you’ll find Aloft Orlando International Drive, Comfort Inn International, Element Orlando International Drive, and Best Western International Drive. Other excellent area options include the Wyndham Orlando Resort & Conference Center/Celebration, and Fairfield Inn Orlando Airport.