Disney After Hours 2027 Guide: Dates, Tickets, Rides & Are They Worth The Splurge?
Updated: Sep 13
Updated September 13, 2027
If you’ve ever dreamed of having the parks almost to yourself, Disney’s After Hours events are your golden ticket. Disney After Hours events are returning to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios in 2027. Disney has also offered a separate H2O Glow After Hours event at Typhoon Lagoon, although those 2027 dates have not been announced yet.
We attended an After Hours event at Magic Kingdom in 2024, and most recently, we splurged on an After Hours night at Hollywood Studios for Kim’s birthday in May of 2025. For our family—especially traveling with someone who struggles with social anxiety—these events have been a big win. The low crowds, minimal wait times, and quieter park vibes completely change the game. We’re here for it.
Let’s dive into all the magical details: what’s included, what’s not, and whether we think the extra cost is worth it.
What Is a Disney After Hours Event?
Disney After Hours is a hard-ticketed event—meaning you’ll need to purchase a separate ticket even if you have a regular park pass. But here’s the pixie dust: with limited crowds, you’ll likely experience more attractions in less time than you would during a regular park day.
Disney Theme Park After Hours Events.
Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios each host After Hours events on select nights throughout the year—but do not look for one at Animal Kingdom, because it doesn’t currently offer this experience. Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios will each host Disney After Hours on select nights in 2027. Animal Kingdom does not currently offer an After Hours event. The schedule generally runs from winter through summer before Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios shift toward separately ticketed fall and holiday events, including Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Part, and Disney Jollywood Nights.
Planning an After Hours Event? 👉 Check out our attraction guides: Magic Kingdom Ride & Attraction Guide, EPCOT Ride & Attraction Guide, and Hollywood Studios Ride Guide
What are the 2027 dates for the After Hours Events?
Disney has announced 56 nights altogether: 19 at Magic Kingdom, 22 at Hollywood Studios, and 15 at EPCOT.
Park | 2027 Disney After Hours dates |
Magic Kingdom | Jan. 11 and 18; Feb. 1, 8, 15 and 22; March 4, 8 and 15; April 5, 12 and 26; May 17 and 24; June 14, 21 and 28; July 15 and 19 |
Hollywood Studios | Jan. 16 and 27; Feb. 13 and 24; March 13, 17 and 24; April 7, 24 and 28; May 19 and 26; June 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30; July 5, 12 and 26; Aug. 4 and 25 |
EPCOT | Jan. 21; Feb. 18; April 1, 15 and 22; May 6 and 13; June 3 and 12; July 8, 22 and 29; Aug. 7, 12 and 19 |
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Want all the dates in a cute, screenshot-ready format? Grab our free printable cheat sheets for each park — they’re linked below!
What are the Hours for the After Hours Events?
🕖 Event Hours Updated for 2027
Hollywood Studios: 9:30 PM–12:30 AM except for:
April 24 → 10:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.
Magic Kingdom: 10:00 PM – 1:00 AM
EPCOT: 9:30 PM –12:30 AM
Typhoon Lagoon: 8:00 PM –11:00 PM
Early Entry at 7:00 PM
You can enter the park starting at 7:00 PM, so you’ll get 5.5 to 6 hours of total park time depending on the location.
2027 Ticket Pricing
Magic Kingdom: $189–$209 per ticket, plus tax
Hollywood Studios: $159–$199 per ticket, plus tax
EPCOT: $159–$189 per ticket, plus tax
Tickets on sale for 2027 Events:
Guests staying at Disney Resorts Collection hotels, Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin or Swan Reserve, and Shades of Green can purchase tickets now for eligible event nights during their resort stay. Tickets go on sale to all other guests on September 22, 2026.
What’s Included at After Hours Events?
✔️ Lower Wait Times—often dramatically lower than during regular park hours
✔️ Complimentary Snacks (think Mickey bars, popcorn, and bottled drinks)
✔️ ✔️ Access to Popular Attractions, including TRON Lightcycle / Run, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Rise of the Resistance, and Slinky Dog Dash
✔️ ✔️ DAS was available during the After Hours events we attended. It was not abundantly clear when we searched before our visit, so discovering that we could continue using it was a pleasant surprise. Because accommodations and attraction procedures can change, ask a Cast Member or Accessibility Services about the current process for your event night. Learn more about DAS here →
Keep in mind that not every attraction or experience is available during Disney After Hours events. Many entertainment offerings, character meet-and-greets, restaurants, and gift shops are closed during these late-night hours. If you’re hoping for the full park experience, this may not be the night for it.
Want to know exactly which rides are open during After Hours at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, or Hollywood Studios? Need an easy to save list of 2027 event dates?
Head over to our After Hours Attraction Cheat Sheets for the dates and for park-by-park attraction lists and important planning details!
Do any of the water parks have an After Hours Event?
Disney has not announced 2027 dates for H2O Glow After Hours at Typhoon Lagoon yet. The separately ticketed water park party has returned in previous summers with shorter waits for slides, included snacks and drinks, character appearances, and glow-themed entertainment hosted by Partysaurus Rex. Disney’s official site currently says to check back for 2027 information, so we will update this guide—and our cheat sheets—if another round of splashy nighttime shenanigans is announced.
What to Expect:
Lower crowds
Short lines for popular slides
Complimentary snacks
Glow-themed decor and entertainment
🧚 Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Water parks at night = cooler temps, shorter lines, and a seriously fun way to end your day.
Our Experience: Is Disney After Hours Actually Less Crowded?
We have now attended Disney After Hours at both Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, and the difference in crowd levels was not subtle. During our 2024 Magic Kingdom event, we entered at about 7:15 p.m., watched Happily Ever After, and completed 11 attractions before leaving shortly before 1:00 a.m. Several attractions were walk-ons, and even the park itself felt calmer once the daytime crowds cleared out.
We returned for Hollywood Studios After Hours for Kim’s birthday in May 2025 and again in July of 2026. For our family, the quieter atmosphere is almost as valuable as the shorter attraction waits. Kim struggles with crowded and unpredictable environments, and After Hours gave us room to move through the park without constantly navigating packed walkways and lengthy queues. In both May and July it is very hot in Florida. So being able to do a larger number of attractions after the sun goes down and the parks start to cool a little was also a big motivator for us.
That does not mean every moment was perfectly empty. Crowds remained noticeable during the early-entry overlap, and weather, attraction downtime, or temporary closures can make a much bigger dent when the official event lasts only three hours. We also started running out of steam before the night ended, and the included popcorn and Mickey bars were delightful, but they were not dinner.
🧚 Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Treat this as your main park ticket for the day. Sleep in, have brunch, lounge by the pool, or explore Disney Springs. Then head to the park around 6:30 PM ready to go, with a portable charger and a full battery (for both your phone and yourself).
Who are Disney After Hours really for?
Honestly, it’s best suited for anyone who can hang past 1:00 AM—night owls, thrill seekers, and park pros who don’t mind skipping the daytime bells and whistles in favor of late-night low crowds and walk-on attractions.
If you’ve got little ones who absolutely need their bedtime routine, or if you’re someone who starts yawning by fireworks time, this probably isn’t the event for you—yet. Save it for a future trip when the kids are older (or the grown-ups are more caffeinated).
It’s also not ideal if your Disney must-dos include fireworks, parades, character meet-and-greets, or leisurely browsing the World Showcase at EPCOT. At Magic Kingdom, for example, you’ll miss out on some classic attractions like Carousel of Progress and Enchanted Tales with Belle. And while complimentary snacks like popcorn and Mickey bars are included, full dining options are limited—so don’t come hungry expecting a proper meal.
But, if you're okay with the trade-offs and just want to knock out headliners like Tron, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, or Cosmic Rewind with minimal waits? This is your moment.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Want to plan like a pro? These guides will help you map out your night After Hours Event of party night:
🧚 Pixie Dust Hugs,
Bren, Kim and Lyn
P.S. Planning your own magical getaway?
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