2024 Disneyland After Dark Party Dates & Details

Disney has announced the lineup and dates of 2024 Disneyland After Dark parties! Returning are Star Wars and Pride Nites, joined by the first-ever Disney Channel night as part of the popular post-park closing hard ticket events. This shares details and offers commentary about these hard ticket events in California. (Updated April 5, 2024.)

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. It’s the Disneyland equivalent of After Hours at Walt Disney World, albeit typically with more on the thematic front.

With each separately-ticketed Disneyland After Dark party, attendees 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.

The release of these Disneyland After Dark themes and dates follows Disney releasing the Full 2024 Calendar of Events at Disneyland, which includes seasonal events that’ll run concurrent with these parties, including Season of the Force and Pixar Fest. So attendees can enjoy those offerings during the mix-in hours, followed by the event-exclusive entertainment (etc.) during Disneyland After Dark.

In addition to all the themed fun brought to life just for the party, admission also includes commemorative keepsakes such as a souvenir credential and an event guide map, plus unlimited digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos taken throughout Disneyland After Dark, which is a nice since a lot about these events revolves around photos and fun.

Here’s the 2024 Disneyland After Dark lineup:

Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite

We’ll start with Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite because Disney has finally shared full details about this special event that debuted last year. Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite returns to the Disneyland Resort in Summer 2024 for its second year with colorful celebrations, joyful photo opportunities, event merchandise, fabulous food and divine drinks. This separately ticketed, after-hours event will be held at Disneyland on June 18 and 20, 2024.

Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community, bringing allies and community members together as Disneyland park is illuminated with rainbow projections. In addition to the colorful décor, here’s just some of the entertainment, photo opportunities and themed menu items in store for you:

• As the evening begins, direct your attention to the skies above The Happiest Place on Earth as you view an inspirational display of colors, pyrotechnics and music during the Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite Fireworks – WELCOME!
• The Welcome Pride Cavalcade invites you to celebrate with favorite characters Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Clarabelle in their multicolor outfits for an upbeat procession through Disneyland park.
• Whirl, twirl, sparkle and sway under the stars at the Pride Nite Dance Club along the Rivers of America.
• Everyone’s favorite extraterrestrial, Stitch, leads the Ohana Dance Party in Tomorrowland, where a DJ will be spinning tunes to celebrate “ohana” – family.
• If your feet favor a twist to a western beat, be sure to join the Country Line Dancing at The Golden Horseshoe.
• Immersive photo opportunities throughout Disneyland park allow you to step into the story with photo backdrops inspired by Disney characters and films.
• Enjoy savory snacks and sweets curated specially for the party, including these new items: Key Lime Pudding and Red Berry Sangria at River Belle Terrace, 5 Spice Popcorn Chicken at The Tropical Hideaway, Funnel Cake with Cereal Milk and Multi-Colored Marshmallow Cereal Topping at Stage Door Café and Firecracker Loaded Fries at Hungry Bear Restaurant, and more. Additionally, Plaza Inn will offer a dining package which includes reserved viewing for both the fireworks and cavalcade.

On April 9, 2024, (no earlier than 9 a.m. PT) all Magic Key holders will have the opportunity to purchase Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite tickets from a select amount of pre-sale tickets on Disneyland.com. Then, on April 11, 2024, (no earlier than 9 a.m. PT), Pride Nite tickets will go on sale to the general public, subject to availability.

If you’re waiting in the online queue to purchase tickets, don’t forget the new option to be digitally notified when it’s your time to enter the ticket store. Once in the queue, choose the “notify me” option and enter your email address. You’ll receive an email letting you know it’s your turn.

Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite

Star Wars Nites are back, with more nights than ever before! Prepare to launch your course for a galactic adventure like no other. Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nites will take place during Season of the Force, happening at Disneyland park from April 5 to June 2, 2024.

Here are Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite party dates:

• April 16, 2024
• April 18, 2024
• April 23, 2024
• April 25, 2024
• April 30, 2024
• May 2, 2024
• May 7, 2024
• May 9, 2024

To learn more, see our dedicated Guide to Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nites.

All other Disneyland After Dark Nites for 2024 have now ended. For more about these, the following info is preserved for the sake of posterity. Pleased by advised that party themes do not necessarily occur during the same timeframes each year–or at all.

Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite

Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite celebrates the love all around us on eight different nights in Disneyland. Plan a dreamy rendez-vous, besties night, or start a family tradition at these sensational soirées. Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite parties occur around Valentines Day, from late January through mid-February.

Sweethearts’ Nite includes many heartwarming offerings:

• A royal cavalcade will make its way through Disneyland park, offering an enchanting gathering of some of Disney’s favorite royals, transported by equally splendid equines.
• Near “it’s a small world,” dance along with princesses, princes and Disney characters at the evening’s royal ball.
• Stitch and Angel will host their very own dance party at the stage in Tomorrowland. Join them throughout the night to dance and sing to some awesome beats!
• Throughout the park, unique photo backdrops will offer you an opportunity to step inside some of Disney’s iconic scenes of love and friendship, including “Lady and the Tramp,” “Tangled,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Aladdin,” and more.
• Divine lighting, fabulous projections and the music of Disney love songs create the ultimate atmosphere for romance, friendship and family throughout the park.
• Enjoy many sweet treats to indulge in and themed savory items available throughout the park, created especially for Sweethearts’ Nite. New offerings will include the shortbread cookie churro with strawberry cheesecake dipping sauce and the Café Daisy fried heart-shaped ravioli, plus some returning and reimagined favorites like the Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe Chocolate & Strawberry-stuffed croissant.
• Plus, specialty menu items will also be available at Plaza Inn, Cafe Orleans, River Belle Terrace and Carnation Café, subject to availability. Reservations are recommended and can be booked online soon.

Disneyland After Dark: Disney Channel Nite

Get ready for this all-new, nostalgic celebration as Disneyland After Dark: Disney Channel Nite comes to life, highlighting themed offerings from favorite Disney Channel shows across various eras of programming with fantastic music, memorable characters, high-energy parties, unique photo opportunities, and more!

Disneyland After Dark: Disney Channel Nite was held March 5 & 7 at Disneyland. Offerings included:

• The “High School Musical” pep rally will take place through the streets of Disneyland park celebrating the songs from the beloved “High School Musical” franchise.
• The “Phineas and Ferb” dance party at the stage in Tomorrowland will be a high-energy dance party, complete with a DJ and appearances by your favorite “Phineas and Ferb” characters!
• “Camp Rock” karaoke will allow you to sing favorite songs, and The Ultimate Disney Channel Trivia Challenge will test true Disney Channel fans, all in the cozy atmosphere of The Golden Horseshoe.
• “Descendants” at the Rivers of America will invite you to take a cruise on the Sailing Ship Columbia and enjoy music from the “Descendants” trilogy.
• Opportunities to step into imaginative photo backdrops representing favorite Disney Channel shows and movies, including “Lizzie McGuire,” “The Cheetah Girls,” “Teen Beach Movie” and more, will make you the star!
• Enjoy specially themed foods and snacks all evening long. A few items to expect are the mini banana burritos and tropical banana punch at Red Rose Taverne, plus chili cheese loaded nachos, and s’mores donut skewer from Café Daisy. Additionally, specialty dining packages will be available, too

Turning to commentary, there are a couple of surprises here–but it’s mostly what we expected. I’ll start by admitting that when I first saw the press release about this, I misread it and thought we were finally getting a Disney Afternoon Nite, which would’ve been a “shut up and take my money” dream scenario for us. 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.

Then I realized that it’s actually Disney Channel. Then I read the shows, movies, and characters it’ll feature. Oh. While I am personally disappointed, I can’t knock the concept. There are a ton of people who love all things Disney Channel, and I’m happy for them that they’re getting an event right up their alley!

Not everything needs to be squarely aimed at me–I think I’m just a few years too old to be the target audience for this one. Nevertheless, it’s nice to see a party like this. Really! I’m betting it’ll be a huge hit. (And hopefully that will mean Disney Afternoon is next. See? I’m playing the long game!) My biggest surprise is that it’s only two nights.

Honestly, the biggest surprise to me that Disney Channel and Pride Nite each only have two dates. The latter sure seemed like it was a massive success last year, and I fully expected to see (at least) a half-dozen Pride Nite parties this year as a result.

In fact, if the dates were at the beginning of June 2024 instead of late in the month, I would’ve speculated here that they were possibly testing the waters and planned to add more dates ‘by popular demand’ if tickets sold well. And I guess that could still happen, but it seems unlikely with the parties happening later in June.

But I learned a long time ago that it’s a fool’s errand trying to make sense of the Disneyland After Dark schedule. A couple of years ago, when they scheduled more Grad Nite Reunion parties than anything else–and then had trouble selling tickets–cemented that for me. I’m sure there’s some method to the madness, but sometimes it seems as if Disneyland just kind of does what it wants with these parties. Like there’s one leader who is really passionate about Sweethearts’ Nite, so that one keeps coming back with a lot of dates.

Ultimately, that’s about all we have to say about the 2024 Disneyland After Dark lineup. We had already made the decision to attend one, with a new and exciting concept having top priority, followed by whatever would be most bloggable. I had hoped that would be 80s or 90s Nite, but assumed it’d mean Pride Nite. In reality, looks like it’ll probably be Star Wars Nite. Here’s hoping that ends up being significantly different this year for Season of the Force!

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 lineup of Disneyland After Dark in 2024? Excited or disappointed about the event themes? Which of these “Nites” do you think looks like it has the best lineup? Does Disney Channel Nite look appealing to you, or would you prefer 80s/90s/Disney Afternoon Nite? 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!