Disney in a Minute: What is Disney After Hours?

Disney After Hours is a special ticketed event that takes place at select Disney theme parks after the park has closed ‘for the day’. After Hours events are held at the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios. The Typhoon Lagoon Water Park also has After Hours events, known as H2O Glow.

For most other hard-ticket events, the parks close early. But not for this event, it’s held … wait for it … After Hours! A limited number of tickets are sold, which means the parks are far less crowded than usual. Other events do limit ticket sales, but Disney After Hours specifically focuses on low crowds and low waits. For most people, the big draw of this event is short lines.

Perhaps the best thing about Disney After Hours is that you’re able to enjoy a lot of popular rides with low (or no) wait. But After Hours events at some parks have special entertainment or rare characters. Another big plus is complimentary snacks: unlimited Mickey bars, popcorn, and bottled drinks.

Disney After Hours is probably best enjoyed by

• families with older kids
• couples
• night owls
• those looking to escape the heat in summer

But they can be great for anyone who wants to enjoy the parks in a more relaxed way (and who can stay up long past my bedtime). For After Hours dates and even more specifics, see: Disney World After Hours Dates and Details. To see what you might get done at an After Hours event, see one of our After Hours touring guides: Magic Kingdom | EPCOT | Hollywood Studios

Disney in a Minute is a series of short posts designed to help you better understand a Disney term or planning topic. Do you have a Disney term that you think needs a bit more explanation? Let us know in the comments.