My family and I have been going to the Magic Kingdom regularly for over a decade. Every visit has been different and full of amazing memories. But, our last visit might have been the most fun that we’ve ever had! It was our first time experiencing Late Night Family Fun at Disney After Hours.
Late Night Family Fun at Disney After Hours
Disney After Hours is the PINNACLE of how to fully experience the Magic Kingdom! The ticket price is $119 per adult or child, plus tax (when purchased in advance). It is worth every dollar! The fam and I practically had the entire park to ourselves. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing AND you get complimentary popcorn, ice cream, water and soft drinks, for 3 hours after the park officially closes to regular guests. The three of us were running around the park with ice cream dripping off our chins and perma-smiles plastered to our faces.
My daughter had never ridden Space Mountain, so I informed her that it would be our first stop. Many years ago, my wife got me over my fear of roller coasters by forcing me to ride Space Mountain five times in a row (I was in my mid-thirties and I had only been on one coaster my entire life). The kid was a champ… She loved it! The sound of my entire family laughing together while we took all of the dark turns and dips was priceless.
Disney After Hours will start at either 9:00 pm or 10:00 pm. It will depend on the date and lasts for three hours. You can enter the park as early as 7:00 pm, but you won’t be able to walk on the rides or get free popcorn, ice cream or beverage until the daytime crowds have moved out and Disney After Hours officially begins.
We received a special Disney After Hours lanyard. It is given to Disney After Hours guests and is easily visible to cast members.
The fam and I showed up around 9:00 pm, thinking that we were going to be okay. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!!!
We had to deal with all of the daytime crowds leaving the Magic Kingdom. Go a bit early, find your spot (Ours was Space Mountain) and wait out the crowd. The staff knew what was going on and directed us to just sit tight for a few minutes. It worked out perfectly!
25 of the most popular attractions are open for Disney After Hours and character greetings have little to no wait. In fact, the longest wait of the night was for popcorn and water, and that didn’t even top five minutes!
We had an AMAZING time and you and your family will too!
Dates for Disney After Hours Summer 2018:
The event takes place from 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM:
- Thursday, June 28, 2018
- Saturday, June 30, 2018
- Saturday, July 7, 2018
- Monday, July 9, 2018
- Saturday, July 14, 2018
- Saturday, July 21, 2018
- Saturday, July 28, 2018
- Saturday, August 4, 2018
- Saturday, August 11, 2018
And 9:00 PM to midnight:
- Thursday, August 30, 2018
- Thursday, September 20, 2018
Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can take advantage of specially priced tickets for just $89 per adult or child, plus tax.
Special thanks to Disney Parks for providing my family with tickets. All opinions are my own.