Disney World After Hours Events Returning January 2023
Disney World has announced that After Hours events will be coming back, beginning in January 2023. Tickets go on sale for guests of select Disney World Hotels on October 4, 2022, and to the general public on October 7, 2022.
What Are Disney After Hours Events?
These are a separate “hard-ticket” event that are held after regular park hours. After Hours attendees can enter the park up to 1 hour before closing without needing regular admission, and the event itself is 3 hours. These events offer
- A selection of snacks and treats included free
- Shorter lines for attractions
They are similar to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, but with some important differences:
- After Hours events don’t offer themed entertainment extras like parades and fireworks unless. (Some special After Hours offerings with names like “Villains After Hours” may offer entertainment extras).
- Since they begin after regular hours, crowd patterns during the day aren’t affected. And if you’re attending a party, you can arrive toward the end of regular hours to see the fireworks before the event starts.
When, Where, and How Much?
Disney After Hours events will begin at the Magic Kingdom on January 9 and are confirmed through March 27, 2023 – more dates may be added later. Tickets range from $135-$159, with discounts available for Disney Vacation Club members and Annual Passholders. The event runs from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., with event guests allowed to enter the park at 7 p.m. See the event page for complete details.
Disney After Hours events will be returning to Hollywood Studios beginning on January 4 and confirmed through April 19, 2023 – more dates may be added later. Tickets range from $129-$149, with discounts available for Disney Vacation Club members and Annual Passholders. The event runs from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., with event guests allowed to enter the park at 7 p.m. See the event page for complete details.
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I never thought that WDW would have these events during marathon week, when is our typical time to go, but now they are, I am so excited! Do we buy these tickets on the Disney website?
Hi Andrea, I love it when people are excited about going to Disney World! Yes, you can buy directly from Disney’s website. Once sales open you should see a link on the event page.
Thank you!
Great news! Do you know if these event tickets are refundable? I ask because the Wed Jan 4 event at HS falls the same time as Extended Evening Hours typically are offered at Magic Kingdom (Wednesdays), but the EEH calendar for January isn’t out yet. Not sure how far in advance Disney announces those event dates.
I am wondering the same, will Extended Evening hours at Magic Kingdome be the same night as Hollywood Studios after hours event? Will they change the dates for Extended Evening hours? Or discontinue them all together? I have been planning a vacation Jan 1-8 and worried that Extended Evening hours may not happen starting that week….
Hi Angela, Disney World tickets are not refundable, including special event tickets. Disney is known to sometimes accommodate people who need to cancel due to hardship (job loss, illness preventing travel, etc.) with refunds, but you shouldn’t count on it.
How sad, why don’t you have an event in the first week and second week of February?
Do you think that they might add events for the end of January/early February. Seems odd that they skipped those weeks. Thank you!
Hi Kelly, I agree there’s an odd gap there, but I can’t think of anything else around then that would cause those weeks to be skipped. As to whether they will add more dates, I don’t know. Usually when Disney adds dates they are at the beginning or end (and I do expect that we might see more dates added to the end), but rarely in the middle. But I’m pretty sure that’s usually, and not always, so …
Thank you for the reply! I’ll cross my fingers they add an event for our travel dates
What time will tickets go on sale on October 4th? The same time as dining reservations are released- 5:45 a.m. EST?
Thanks in advance for any help or wisdom.
They go on sale at midnight EST, a DVC cast member also recommended to be sure your hotel reservations are linked in your MDE
I notice Rock n Roll Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror are not listed. Anyway to find out if they will be included. Logically you’d think they would be but also they are so popular you would think they would be listed if included.
Thanks.
Robbie I think the key words here are right under the listed attractions: “subject to change without notice”. RnR and ToT have been open at Hollywood Studios After Hours events in the past, so the fact that they aren’t explicitly listed doesn’t mean they won’t be included. My personal opinion is that they’ll be included, but that’s just based on – as you say – knowledge that they’re popular and they’ve been included in the past.
Are there any hints about Animal Kingdom After Hours returning? That was a great time to take in the Pandora rides (as well as the others) plus the light show on the Tree of Life. The early evening safari wasn’t so great as it really got too dark before the end of the tour.
Hi Connie, I don’t think we’ve heard anything. It’s been almost 2 years since reopening and Disney World is still adding staff and slowly re-adding events like this back into the regular schedule, so I wouldn’t give up hope.
Also keen to know if Extended Evening Hours for Deluxe Guests will be discontinued and replaced by these paid events. Was planning on booking a Deluxe Resort for that benefit – but won’t if it is no longer included.
Hi Simone, Extended Evening Hours are part of WDW’s 50th Anniversary celebration. We don’t know what will happen to them when the celebration ends in March, 2023 – they may be continued, or maybe not. But the After Hours events are a separate thing; even if EEH are not continued I wouldn’t say that the After Hours have replaced them.
Have a great trip!
Hi Jennifer, thanks for the helpful information. We are planning on a stay at a deluxe resort in January 2023. I just want to confirm that you believe the extended hours will continue from at least January through March of 2023 (in addition to the after hours offering)?
Thanks for all your help!
Hi Ryan – the top of Disney’s Extended hours page (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/extended-evening/) uses the language “With the kickoff of the 50th anniversary, enjoy extended evening hours on select evenings in select theme parks when you stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort or, Disney Deluxe Villa Resort or other select hotels.”
That has been generally interpreted by myself and others in the Disney community to mean that Extended Hours is a 50th Anniversary offering, which will be available until the 50th Anniversary is officially over.
But I want to be clear: I’m unaware of anything from Disney that confirms that interpretation or guarantees that they will continue through the end of March (which is when the 50th Anniversary ends). Unfortunately Disney has not yet announced any dates in January 2023 that might clear this up.
So do I believe that they’ll be available in January 2023? Yes, I do – but that might turn out to be wrong.
Have a great trip!
Much appreciated, thank you Jennifer!
Hi! Thanks for the information! Any word about After Hours to happen also in late 2023 (september, october…)?? Thanks so much!
Hi Pedro, I don’t think anyone knows yet. In the past Disney would add these events to the schedule over time, in the same way that they update Park Hours. We’ll just have to wait and see if they will continue past the dates confirmed above.
Hello!
Wondering about transferring back to the hotel (Art of Animation) if we were to purchase the after hours tickets. I assume the skyliner would be closed, but would the buses still be operating? Thank you!
Hi Stacey, I wouldn’t be so sure about the Skyliner. Disney typically coordinates transportation based on when the last guest leaves the parks, not the park closing time, and there is no bus between Art of Animation and EPCOT unless the Skyliner is not running. Either way, you should be able to count on getting Disney transportation back to your resort when the event is over.
Hi
I am trying to make a touring plan for mk. I purchased the ticket for after hours. Is there anyway to incorporate it in my plan? Also how do I know what attractions to do before the change over?
Also will the boats run back to the wilderness lodge?
Hi Lori, After Hours is not supported in the custom touring plans, so right now there isn’t a way for you to incorporate it in the plan. In general, the attractions with the longest waits during regular hours will be the ones that benefit the most from doing them during After Hours. The problem is that you can’t just leave *all* of these attractions for After Hours, or there won’t be enough time to fit them in – because it still takes time to actually ride them! (And also, there will still be lines, just much shorter.)
You might find this article from the Boo Bash After Hours events useful to give you an idea of what you could accomplish during the After Hours. Although those After Hours events included holiday entertainment, the article contains a sample plan for those who just want to do rides. https://touringplans.com/blog/after-hours-boo-bash-plans-plus-doing-magic-kingdom-in-one-day/
As for the boats, that’s a question for Disney – we’re not in charge of it. But historically I can tell you that Disney transportation runs for 45-minutes to an hour after the theme park closes to guests, which in this case would be the end of the After Hours. It might not be the boats, but you can safely rely on being able to use Disney transportation to get back to your resort.
Thank you!