Disney After Hours is a separately ticketed event that lets you enjoy select Walt Disney World attractions late at night with fewer guests in the park. Each event includes three hours of limited-capacity access, complimentary snacks and drinks, and admission starting several hours before the event officially begins.
For 2027, Disney After Hours is scheduled at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Tickets cost between $159 and $209 per person before tax, depending on which park and date you choose.
The appeal is straightforward: you can spend less time waiting in lines and more time enjoying rides. Whether that convenience justifies the extra ticket price depends on your priorities, which park you’re visiting and how comfortable you are staying out past midnight.
Disney After Hours Prices and Times for 2027
All three parks allow After Hours ticket holders to enter as early as 7:00 PM, even though the event itself starts later. You do not need to purchase a regular daytime park ticket to use that early admission benefit.
| Park | 2027 ticket price | Early entry | Event hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Kingdom | $189–$209 | 7:00 PM | 10:00 PM–1:00 AM |
| EPCOT | $159–$189 | 7:00 PM | 9:30 PM–12:30 AM |
| Hollywood Studios | $159–$199 | 7:00 PM | 9:30 PM–12:30 AM* |
Annual Passholders and eligible Disney Vacation Club Members can save $30 per ticket on the 2027 EPCOT and Hollywood Studios events. Disney does not list that discount for Magic Kingdom.
The important detail is the difference between early entry and event hours. For example, a Magic Kingdom After Hours ticket gets you into the park at 7:00 PM, but the limited-capacity portion doesn’t begin until 10:00 PM. Until then, you’ll be sharing the park with regular daytime guests.
What Does Disney After Hours Include?
Your ticket covers more than the three-hour event itself. Here’s what you receive:
- Admission beginning at 7:00 PM: No additional theme park ticket is required when entering at or after that time.
- Three hours of limited-capacity park access: Select attractions remain open after the regular park day ends.
- Included snacks: Ice cream novelties and popcorn are available at participating locations during the event.
- Select bottled drinks: These are included at designated locations.
- Lower attraction wait times: Disney limits ticket sales, although popular rides can still have lines.
Don’t plan on replacing dinner with the included snacks. A better approach is to eat before the event and save the limited-capacity hours for attractions.
Disney also makes clear that attraction lineups can change and that event admission does not guarantee access to every ride. If one particular attraction is your reason for buying a ticket, check the official event page before purchasing.
Which Disney World After Hours Event Is Best?
The parks offer the same basic event format, but they’re not equally suited to every visitor. The best choice depends on which rides you care about most.
Magic Kingdom: Best for Riding the Most Attractions
Magic Kingdom is my first choice for someone who wants to experience as many different rides as possible. It has an extensive attraction lineup, and lower crowds can make it much easier to move between Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland and the rest of the park.
Disney’s announced 2027 After Hours lineup includes attractions such as:
- TRON Lightcycle / Run
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Space Mountain
- Haunted Mansion
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
At $189 to $209 before tax, it’s the most expensive of the three events. Still, it may offer the strongest value for guests who enjoy both major thrill rides and classic Disney attractions.
One useful strategy is to use the 7:00 PM entry period for attractions with manageable waits, then save the busiest rides for after 10:00 PM.
EPCOT: Best for a Few High-Demand Rides
EPCOT makes sense if your goal is to ride a handful of attractions that commonly demand significant time during the regular park day.
Disney lists these attractions among its 2027 EPCOT After Hours offerings:
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Frozen Ever After
- Test Track
- Soarin’ Across America
- Spaceship Earth
The biggest consideration is EPCOT’s size. If you spend the night repeatedly crossing the park, you’ll use a surprising amount of your event time walking. Group attractions by location and avoid unnecessary trips between World Discovery and World Showcase.
EPCOT tickets start at $159 before tax. For more park-specific planning, see our EPCOT After Hours guide.
Hollywood Studios: Best for Thrill Rides and Star Wars
Hollywood Studios has a concentrated collection of popular attractions, making it a compelling choice for guests who want to spend the evening riding rather than watching shows.
Disney’s 2027 event highlights include:
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Slinky Dog Dash
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets
For a Star Wars fan, the opportunity to experience Galaxy’s Edge with fewer people around can be a major reason to choose this park. Hollywood Studios can also be a good option for guests who would rather repeat favorite thrill rides than spend their night covering a larger park.
Tickets range from $159 to $199 before tax. Disney has also announced that select character encounters may take place during the event.
Disney After Hours Dates for 2027
After Hours doesn’t happen every night. Disney has announced the following dates for 2027, with tickets available for purchase.
Magic Kingdom Dates
January: 11, 18
February: 1, 8, 15, 22
March: 4, 8, 15
April: 5, 12, 26
May: 17, 24
June: 14, 21, 28
July: 15, 19
EPCOT Dates
January: 21
February: 18
April: 1, 15, 22
May: 6, 13
June: 3, 12
July: 8, 22, 29
August: 7, 12, 19
Hollywood Studios Dates
January: 16, 27
February: 13, 24
March: 13, 17, 24
April: 7, 24, 28
May: 19, 26
June: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
July: 5, 12, 26
August: 4, 25
Remember that the Hollywood Studios event on April 24 runs from 10:30 PM to 1:30 AM instead of its usual 9:30 PM start.
Check Disney’s official After Hours page before booking. Dates, availability, attraction offerings and event details can change.
Is Disney After Hours Worth the Money?
I think Disney After Hours is most worthwhile when you plan to spend the entire event riding attractions that normally have substantial waits. It’s harder to justify if you’re mainly interested in strolling around the park, shopping or eating.
Consider the total cost. For two adults attending EPCOT, tickets start at $318 before tax. At Magic Kingdom, two tickets cost between $378 and $418 before tax. That’s a meaningful extra expense, particularly for a larger family.
However, an After Hours ticket can also function as your admission for that evening. If you’re not buying a regular daytime ticket for the same park, the comparison becomes more favorable.
After Hours is especially appealing if:
- You have a short vacation and want to fit several popular rides into one evening.
- You dislike long standby lines and crowded walkways.
- You can comfortably stay at the park until 12:30 or 1:00 AM.
- You’re willing to arrive at 7:00 PM and use the full admission window.
I’d be more hesitant if:
- You’re traveling with young children who usually go to bed early.
- You’re already paying for several full park days and don’t need more ride time.
- Your main priority is daytime entertainment or dining that may not be available during the event.
- You’re expecting every ride to have no wait at all.
It also helps to compare the ticket price with other ways of saving time. If you’re planning a full regular park day, our guide to whether Lightning Lane is worth it at Disney World covers another option. The two products serve different purposes, and you don’t automatically need both.
How to Get the Most Out of Your After Hours Ticket
Arrive at 7:00 PM
Arriving when event admission begins gives you an additional two and a half to three hours in the park before the limited-capacity portion starts.
You can use this time to eat dinner, enjoy an attraction with a reasonable standby wait or catch a nighttime show if one is scheduled. At Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, Disney specifically notes that early-arriving guests may be able to enjoy the regular nighttime spectaculars.
Save Your Hardest-to-Ride Attractions for Later
Don’t automatically rush to the most popular ride at 7:00 PM. The regular park crowd is still there, and those attractions may have substantial waits.
Check posted wait times, enjoy something convenient during early entry and reconsider your priorities after the daytime guests leave. You may get more value from the event by riding several major attractions than by waiting too long for a single favorite.
Eat Before the Three-Hour Event Begins
Popcorn, ice cream and bottled drinks are useful perks, but they’re not a substitute for dinner. Having a meal before the event starts lets you spend more of your limited-capacity time enjoying attractions.
Plan for a Very Late Finish
Consider your transportation home before buying tickets. If you’re staying at a Disney Resort hotel, confirm the transportation arrangements for your event night. If you’re driving or using a rideshare service, allow time to exit the park after midnight.
A portable phone charger, comfortable walking shoes and an extra layer during cooler months can also make the final hours more enjoyable.
Disney After Hours vs. Extended Evening Theme Park Hours
These two nighttime offerings sound similar, but they work differently.
| Disney After Hours | Extended Evening Theme Park Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can attend? | Anyone who purchases an event ticket | Eligible guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts, Deluxe Villa Resorts and select other hotels |
| Separate event ticket? | Required | No separate event ticket; valid park admission and eligibility are required |
| Included snacks? | Yes, select items | Not included as a general benefit |
| How it works | A limited-capacity, three-hour nighttime event | Extra park time offered to eligible hotel guests on select nights |
If you’re staying at an eligible resort, check whether Extended Evening Theme Park Hours already fit your plans before paying for After Hours. They’re different experiences, but the resort benefit may give you enough additional attraction time for your trip.
Disney After Hours is also different from separately ticketed seasonal celebrations, such as Halloween and Christmas parties. Those events have their own entertainment, dates, admission rules and pricing.
Can You Visit Disney After Hours Without a Regular Park Ticket?
Yes. A valid Disney After Hours ticket is enough to enter the participating park beginning at 7:00 PM on your event date. You don’t need to buy a regular daytime ticket or make an additional park reservation for that entry.
If you want to enter before 7:00 PM, you’ll need valid regular park admission, and a park reservation may be required depending on your ticket type.
For many visitors, this is one of the event’s biggest selling points. You can spend the day resting, swimming or exploring your resort, then use your After Hours ticket for an evening in the park.
The Bottom Line
Disney After Hours is a premium way to experience Walt Disney World, not necessarily the cheapest one. You’re paying for a smaller crowd, shorter waits at participating attractions and a more concentrated evening of rides.
I’d choose Magic Kingdom for the widest variety of attractions, EPCOT for its major headliners and Hollywood Studios for thrill rides and Star Wars. Whatever you choose, plan to arrive at 7:00 PM and stay until the event ends. Using the full admission window is one of the simplest ways to improve the value of your ticket.
