2023 Disneyland After Dark Party Dates & Details
Disneyland After Dark parties have been announced for 2023! Star Wars, Throwback, and the first-ever Pride Nite will occur as part of these popular post park closing events. This shares details and offers commentary about these hard ticket events in California. (Updated April 13, 2023.)
In case you’re unfamiliar with it, Disneyland After Dark parties are limited-time parties that take place after regular park hours and feature unique themes, festivities, character meet & greets, special nighttime entertainment, access to attractions with reduced wait times, and more.
With each separately ticketed Disneyland After Dark event, you get 4 hours of party time after the parks close to day guests. Plus, there’s a 3-hour pre-party mix-in at the same park as the event. That amounts to a total of 7 hours park time, minus however long it takes to check into the event.
Additionally, at each of these events, you’ll receive unlimited digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos taken during the party, plus commemorative keepsakes including a souvenir credential and event guide map. Parking fees are not included in the ticket price.
Here are the details for each of the upcoming Disneyland After Dark Nites in 2023…
Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite – June 13 & 15 2023
Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite is a separately ticketed event which celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and allies, and will be held on June 13 and 15, 2023, inside Disneyland park. This after-hours event includes themed entertainment, Disney characters, one-of-a-kind photo opportunities, specialty menu items, event merchandise and more!
Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite begins with a three-hour pre-party mix-in from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. PT, then the private party runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. PT, when guests can ride some popular attractions after regular park hours.
In addition to the special offerings during Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite, guests will receive unlimited digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos taken during the party, along with commemorative keepsakes including a souvenir credential and event guide map.
Here are the event details for Disneyland After Dark – Pride Nite:
- Celebrate at the Pride Nite Cavalcade featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Clarabelle, Donald, Daisy and Goofy dressed in special attire as they make their way through the heart of Disneyland park down Main Street, U.S.A.!
- Join Stitch at the Ohana Dance Party at Tomorrowland Terrace, where a DJ will be spinning great tunes with joyful energy at a dance party that celebrates “ohana” – family!
- The Pride Nite Dance Club will come alive along the Rivers of America, inviting everyone to dance and enjoy music under the stars.
- Kick up your heels with country line dancing at the Golden Horseshoe!
- Picture yourself in fun photo backdrops with inspirational messages or Disney characters and enjoy unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads.
- Enjoy after-hours access to iconic Disneyland attractions such as Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones Adventure and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, usually with shorter wait times.
- Savory snacks and sweets specially made for the party include the Chocolate Almond Churro at New Orleans Square, Spiced Beef Potato Loaded Bites at Red Rose Taverne, a Berry Cheesecake Funnel Cake at Stage Door Cafe or a Grapefruit Lemonade Soda at Galactic Grill.
A limited number of these Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite tickets will go on pre-sale for Magic Key holders beginning April 18, 2023 (no earlier than 9 a.m. PT) and to the general public on April 20, 2023 (no earlier than 9 a.m. PT), on Disneyland.com, subject to availability.
Disneyland After Dark: Throwback Nite – April 18 & 20, 2023 at Disneyland
Don your favorite flashback fashions for Disneyland After Dark: Throwback Nite, an after-hours soiree inspired by the debonair days of the ‘50s and ‘60s.
Take a trip down memory lane to relive Disney’s classic past with music and entertainment that pay tribute to the first decade of Disneyland park. Mickey Mouse and his friends will sport retro outfits, along with visits from some nostalgic characters, which will make for great photo moments!
Here are some additional highlights of what you’ll enjoy during Disneyland After Dark: Throwback Nite:
- Gaze upon “Fantasy in the Sky,” a nighttime spectacular giving a nod to the same-named fireworks display that first illuminated the night at Disneyland in 1957!
- Do the twist, the mashed potato and bunny hop your way to dance parties around Disneyland park with bands and deejays inspired by the era.
- Snack like it’s 1955 with treats that are inspired by the park’s early days, made once again just for this event!
- Picture yourself in vintage photo backdrops of attractions and posters from yesteryear like Skyway or Autopia, and from timeless Disney films captured by Disney PhotoPass photographers at the party.
- Enjoy after-hours access to iconic Disneyland attractions such as Peter Pan’s Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise.
- Enjoy pre-party mix-in admission to Disneyland park starting at 6 p.m., no theme park reservation required.
Disneyland After Dark: Throwback Nite should be right up our alley. We love retro events, and when the parks pay tribute to their past. We aren’t alone–there are a ton of nostalgic Disneyland fans, and I’d hazard a guess that this party will be popular with them.
However, I can’t say anything about this gets me excited. I enjoy Fantasy in the Sky, but at this point, it feels very much like ‘interim fireworks’ between permanent nighttime spectaculars. I’ve seen it many times before and–unless presented with a special holiday tag–it really doesn’t hold a candle to modern nighttime spectaculars. That’s especially true when contrast against the exceptional Wondrous Journeys.
As for everything else, it just strikes me as stuff that Disneyland used to do all the time or during milestone anniversaries. I understand it’s not possible to resurrect extinct attractions for a party, but there’s gotta be something more than photo ops and fireworks.
Star Wars Nite – May 2, 4, 8 & 11, 2023 at Disneyland
Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite will be the ultimate Star Wars extravaganza, packed with galactic fun on four separate nights at Disneyland in May 2023.
Highlights of Star Wars Nite include:
- An amazing pyrotechnical spectacle that will illuminate the skies with the “Star Wars: Celebrate the Nite” fireworks show illuminating the skies above Disneyland. This pyrotechnic spectacle is set to the powerful music of Star Wars films.
- Prepare for Captain Phasma and her Stormtroopers during the March of the First Order in Tomorrowland, as they search for a Resistance spy.
- You may encounter travelers across the galaxy like Tusken Raiders and Jawas.
- Get ready to master a lightsaber! Attend the Lightsaber Instructional demonstration, where you will learn to handle a lightsaber through a series of elite moves, sure to bring out your inner Jedi!
- Picture yourself in dynamic photo backdrops featuring some of the galaxy’s favorite heroes and villains, captured by Disney PhotoPass photographers at the party.
- Explore themed snacks such as galactic churros and other out-of-this-world sweets!
- Begin your adventure with pre-party mix-in admission to Disneyland park starting at 6 p.m., no theme park reservation required.
A limited number of these Disneyland After Dark tickets will go on presale for Magic Key holders beginning February 21, 2023 (no earlier than 9 a.m. PT) on Disneyland.com.
On February 23, 2023 (no earlier than 9 a.m. PT), tickets will go on sale to the general public and are subject to availability. Those “no earlier than” times really are accurate–the virtual queue seldom starts on time, and instead opens when Disneyland gets around to it.
Star Wars Nite has a lot of potential, especially if it adds something special or unique to Galaxy’s Edge, or brings rare and unique meet & greets. The idea of a Star Wars fireworks show is also attractive, and that was always a big hit at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Of course, it’ll come down to execution–the previous Star Wars Nite struck me as a cash grab to take advantage of Star Wars Celebration at the Anaheim Convention Center.
In any case, I’m not enough of a Star Wars fan to plop down $150+ to attend a Star Wars party. So from that perspective, it really does not matter what I think of this event–I’m not the target audience.
Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite – March 7 & 9
Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite is an all-new event where adventurous heroines and aspirational hearts unite. Immerse yourself in this night at Disneyland with characters who light the world with kindness, courage, etc. With shimmering décor, special photo opportunities, themed food and beverage offerings, commemorative keepsakes and characters galore, you’ll be ready to step into your own adventure of bravery and grace.
Here are event details for Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite
- Receive a royal welcome at the Disneyland Train Station featuring Princess Minnie Mouse and Princess Daisy Duck with fanfare trumpeters
- Enjoy an inspiring musical concert celebrating heartwarming, adventurous heroines including Moana, Merida and more accompanied by live vocalists
- Raise the royal roof and dance the night away at the high-energy, candy-themed dance party at Tomorrowland stage with Vanellope Von Schweetz
- Revel in Tiana’s Southern hospitality and dance along to jazz music in New Orleans Square
- Savor specialty menu items befitting royalty throughout Disneyland park, available for purchase
- Picture yourself in photo backdrops inspired by Disney films like “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Princess Diaries” including unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads from the party
- Have a ball with pre-party mix-in admission to Disneyland park starting at 6 p.m., no theme park reservation required
To me, what’s most remarkable about Disneyland After Dark is that it sounds like an inferior paid replacement for the free Annual Passholder nights that used to occur prior to the Diamond Celebration. We attended several of those, and always had a blast.
That’s probably a big reason why even Disneyland After Dark: Throwback Nite doesn’t sound particularly appealing to me. I’ve attended the free version of that event, and it offered more than what’s advertised for the $129+ party. Of course, times have changed considerably since then.
The demand for all things Disney is exponentially higher than it was ~8 years ago. I understand that, and don’t begrudge the company monetizing these events and charging whatever the market will bear. As I’ve written repeatedly, I’d be willing to overpay for tickets to a 90s Nite that leans heavily into nostalgia for the Disney Afternoon and offers substantive entertainment from that era.
I just want something that delivers a satisfying amount of bang for buck, and none of these strike me as fitting the bill. To each their own, though. I’m sure the 2023 Disneyland After Dark events will be fun for those who opt to attend.
Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney. For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides beyond Disney, check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and tons of other places!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you excited for the return of Disneyland After Dark in 2023? Disappointed about another special event, or think it’ll be a worthwhile “value add” of entertainment? Which of these “Nites” do you think looks like it has the best lineup? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Hey we are heading for our first time to Disneyland for our first anniversary. We will be in Anaheim on July 16 and 17 and we’re hoping to go one of the two days. We just noticed that the Disney land birthday is on the 17. Are the crowds expected to be much higher that day? Also are there any after dark nights in July? Thanks in advance
I’m interested in your opinion on the second week in June? In your Disneyland June 2023 crowd predictions, you said that might be a better time to go. With the new Pride Nites that week as well as Grad Nights, do you still feel that way? Or is the first week, avoiding Grad Nights, a better option?
What do they mean when they say that *some* popular attractions will be open during these events?? Are there certain lands or rides that we could anticipate being closed?
Rise of the Resistance closes at 9pm even on regular nights, plus refurbishments. Nemo closes one hour before the parties end, too. The vast majority of the attractions are open for the entirety of the party, though.
Thanks!
Depending on the nature of the live music, Throwback Nite may be an attempt to bring back Date Nite/Sweetheart Nite without limiting the the advertising and theming to romance. Hard to say without more specifics, but I’ve got a soft spot for Disney’s first after hours event.
Wow, they really don’t care about us out-of-state folks at all, with such little notice.
Are the Princess parties like Halloween, where adults can come in costume? It would make the photo ops more appealing if you could be dressed to fit in.
The See and Be Seen, Show Up and Show Out vibe is the main draw for these events for anyone who has cosplayed. Considering the costumes I saw at MTFBWY ’22 at Batuu East, I would pay that much for the DL event if it draws in the best SW cosplayers SoCal has to offer.
From the DL website:
“Dress Your Magical Best
Step out in style—take cues from your favourite Disney Princess. (See Costume Guidelines below.)”
I am planning to be in town May 1st through 5th just for May the 4th, as I was really hoping they’d do a Star Wars night. I’d been starting to get worried it wouldn’t happen this year since they’d already announced the Grad nights…so this is great news for me. A couple of questions:
1) Any idea how much competition there is for these tickets? Coming off the heels of missing out on Tron, I’m not ready for a second disappointment.
2) It says costumes are allowed but I can’t find information on the restrictions for these and would really love to bring Ventress. In your experience is that sort of thing allowed at, say, Oogie Boogie bash? I’d imagine the rules are pretty close…
3) If you are interested in attending either May 2nd or May 4th, reach out to me. I’d easily consider a ticket purchase for you and/or Sarah worth the amount of assistance your blog has brought to me and many others.
1) Tickets sold out quickly last year, but part of that might’ve been due to the event being cancelled in 2020 and those buyers having priority. With that said, Oogie Boogie Bash sold out super fast last year, too. You should buy ASAP to play it safe.
2) To the best of my knowledge, you should be fine. These are the rules that *should* apply to the event: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/disneyland-resort-costume-guidelines/
3) Very much appreciate your offer, but we will respectfully decline. I’m not even sure if we’ll be in the state or country at the beginning of May at this point. Thank you so much for the thought, though! Hope you have a blast at the event!
Well I ended up having to go to a funeral but even having several friends trying we all have queue times over an hour. -.- Not very happy right now…
It went pretty smoothly in the end. Though I did get those back and forth line wait times like with Tron which are frustrating.
Good to hear that you were able to get tickets–thanks for sharing the VQ process! Not much buzz about this one in my circles.