2026 After Hours at Disney World: Party Dates, Ticket Sales, Rides, Prices & Discounts
After Hours parties return in January 2026 at three of the four Walt Disney World theme parks! This shares dates, pricing, and other details about the low-crowds special events at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, plus our recommendations about when to do and not do them, and more.
Let’s start with the basics. In case you aren’t familiar with Disney After Hours, these late-night, separately ticketed events let you enjoy a Walt Disney World theme park for three additional hours after regular park hours. After Hours events include “free” treats such as ice cream, popcorn and select beverages (air quotes around free since you’re paying for a ticket and it’s presumably built into the cost).
Disney After Hours will start on January 12, 2026 at Magic Kingdom; January 14, 2026 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios; and January 22, 2026 at EPCOT. The parties run through July 27, 2026 at Magic Kingdom; September 12, 2026 at DHS; and September 24, 2026 at EPCOT. The reason for the earlier end date at Magic Kingdom is due to the start of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.
The only park not participating in After Hours is Animal Kingdom, which is probably because its initial experiment with the offering didn’t go so well. People did seem to enjoy Extended Evening Hours at Animal Kingdom last Party Season, but that’s a “free” event for certain on-site guests, so there’s a difference in expectations between that and the pricey After Hours parties.
It’s also worth noting that fans were far less enthusiastic about ExEH at DAK this summer, and having an ‘after dark’ event that ends around sunset in the summer might not be well-received. Oh, and there’s the reality that Animal Kingdom will be down a few attractions in 2026, lightening its already light ride roster. So maybe check back in 2028 once Tropical Americas is open!
The main selling point of Disney After Hours events is that the number of tickets for these events is limited, which means lower wait times for some of your favorite attractions. Unlike Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, these After Hours evenings are advertised as low crowds events.
Event times at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT are from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., while Magic Kingdom is from 10 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. You can get a head start on attractions by entering the park beginning at 7 p.m. to squeeze even more fun out of your midnight merriment with family and friends.
There are also character meet & greets and surprise encounters during After Hours. This definitely is not a selling point, and previously wasn’t even something that was heavily advertised. It’s more ‘surprise & delight,’ since there are so few characters relative to other special events. Specifics have not yet been announced for Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but here are the EPCOT characters:
- Mickey Mouse at the Dreamer statue
- Goofy at the DJ dance party in CommuniCore Plaza
- Minnie Mouse at the France gazebo
Let’s take a look at attractions, event date ranges, ticket prices, and other details for After Hours at Walt Disney World in 2026…
After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
During After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can play in Andy’s backyard in Toy Story Land, join the resistance with Chewbacca in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and embark on a whimsical adventure aboard Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, among other favorites.
The 2026 After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will take place on:
- January 14, 2026
- January 28, 2026
- February 4, 2026
- February 11, 2026
- February 21, 2026
- February 25, 2026
- April 29, 2026
- May 6, 2026
- May 14, 2026
- May 30, 2026
- June 3, 2026
- June 10, 2026
- June 17, 2026
- June 24, 2026
- July 1, 2026
- July 8, 2026
- July 15, 2026
- July 22, 2026
- July 29, 2026
- August 5, 2026
- August 12, 2026
- August 19, 2026
- August 26, 2026
- September 2, 2026
- September 12, 2026
Deviating from typical hours, the May 30th event will run from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. and the Sept. 12th event will run from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, attractions include:
- Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Toy Story Mania!
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Note that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is not on the list.
See our Guide to After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for full dates and specific ticket prices, strategy, and more.
After Hours at Magic Kingdom
At Magic Kingdom, you can see the lights of Prince Charming Regal Carousel swirling just beyond the castle, go for late night popcorn runs on the way to Haunted Mansion and ride the PeopleMover through a glittering Tomorrowland.
The 2026 After Hours at Magic Kingdom parties will take place on:
- January 12, 2026
- January 19, 2026
- February 2, 2026
- February 9, 2026
- February 23, 2026
- March 2, 2026
- March 9, 2026
- April 13, 2026
- April 20, 2026
- May 4, 2026
- May 11, 2026
- May 18, 2026
- May 25, 2026
- June 1, 2026
- June 22, 2026
- June 29, 2026
- July 13, 2026
- July 27, 2026
At Magic Kingdom, this means you can enjoy more than 20 popular attractions with lower wait times, including but not limited to the following:
- TRON Lightcycle / Run
- Space Mountain
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Haunted Mansion
- “it’s a small world”
- Jungle Cruise
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid
- Mad Tea Party
Note that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad are not on the list. This could be changed later since the list is not exhaustive, but two of the three are closed for refurbishment/reimagining and TBA was previously removed from the After Hours lineup after originally being advertised as part of the event.
See our Guide to After Hours at Magic Kingdom for full dates and specific ticket prices, strategy, and more.
After Hours at EPCOT
Bask in the vibrant glow of Spaceship Earth as you experience the magic of EPCOT after dark. Enjoy your favorite attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After and Soarin’ Around the World.
The party vibes are going strong at Goofy’s DJ dance party where you can join in on a fun, interactive character meet and greet with the Goof himself. You’ll have plenty of room at CommuniCore Plaza to show Goofy your best dance moves and maybe even the ones you’re still working on.
With plenty of room to dance (and lots of seating for those night owl legs), the Canada Mill Stage is a central hub to toast, groove, and maybe even howl under the moon with your crew. There will also be snack kiosks and bakeries open throughout World Showcase to purchase dishes and desserts.
The 2026 After Hours at EPCOT will take place on:
- January 22, 2026
- January 29, 2026
- February 19, 2026
- March 5, 2026
- March 12, 2026
- April 2, 2026
- April 9, 2026
- April 15, 2026
- April 23, 2026
- April 30, 2026
- May 21, 2026
- June 11, 2026
- June 18, 2026
- July 9, 2026
- July 23, 2026
- August 6, 2026
- August 13, 2026
- September 16, 2026
- September 24, 2026
The following is a list of some of the attractions available during EPCOT After Hours:
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Test Track 3.0
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Frozen Ever After
- Soarin’ Around the World
- Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
- Living with the Land
- Mission: SPACE
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Spaceship Earth
See our Guide to After Hours at EPCOT for full dates and specific ticket prices, strategy, and more.
2026 Disney After Hours Ticket Prices & Sales Dates
Disney After Hours ticket prices range from $175 to $199 (plus tax) for Magic Kingdom, $155 to $179 (plus tax) for EPCOT and $155 to $189 (plus tax) for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members can enjoy the benefit of specially priced tickets at EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, saving $30 off.
Guests staying at all Disney-owned resort hotels, as well as the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotels, Swan Reserve, and Shades of Green can purchase After Hours at Walt Disney World tickets starting October 9, 2025. All other guests can purchase their tickets starting October 14, 2025. There is zero need whatsoever to purchase during the pre-sale. After Hours tickets won’t start selling out until December at the absolute earliest. Some dates likely won’t sell out at all.
All you need to do is pick your night, pick your park and enjoy your after-hour exploration. To learn more about Disney After Hours events, visit the official website: DisneyWorld.com/AfterHours.
Note that After Hours still does not mean the end of the free Extended Evening Hours. While originally promoted as a special perk for the 50th Anniversary, Walt Disney World has confirmed that Extended Evening Hours will continue throughout all of 2026 for guests staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort, Disney Deluxe Villa Resort, or other select hotels.
About the only thing that might change is the schedule, with modifications along the lines of what we’ve seen for Party Season. But even that is doubtful, as After Hours doesn’t cause Magic Kingdom to close at 6 pm like MNSSHP or MVMCP.
If you’re eligible for it, we highly recommend Extended Evening Hours. It’s not as good as After Hours, but it also doesn’t cost extra. Given that, it’s difficult for us to justify (or recommend to others) paying more for After Hours. For more info on the free ‘version’ of this perk, see our Guide to Extended Evening Hours at Walt Disney World.
As you’re planning ahead for 2026 Walt Disney World vacations, one thing to keep in mind is that normal park hours are not just subject to change, but absolutely will change. We’ve heard from a couple of disappointed readers who bought After Hours tickets on the basis of shorter regular hours, only to have hours during their travel dates extended.
Don’t be surprised when regular operating hours are extended ~3 weeks before your travel dates. This will likely happen, and if it doesn’t, that’s because low crowds are projected. Walt Disney World always releases “boilerplate” hours that are virtually meaningless, with the three parks that do After Hours open from 9 am to 9 pm.
Suffice to say, don’t use posted park hours as a basis for making a decision to buy (or not buy) After Hours tickets. Buy tickets to the event, if at all, because you want to attend for fun, not because you need to attend due to hours or expectations about crowds. There are other ways to beat crowds. After Hours is best viewed as a quasi-VIP splurge that makes for an easier and more enjoyable park experience.
We’ve done every single After Hours event that Walt Disney World has held, from the themed ones (Villains, Halloween, Christmas) to these vanilla ones at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as well as the newer After Hours at EPCOT.
For the most part, our experiences have been positive, although colored by a bit by annoyance that what was once free now costs money. At this point, that’s just the story of Walt Disney World. Magic Kingdom used to close at midnight on even moderately crowded days, and on many of those same nights, had Extra Magic Hours until 3 a.m. (Evening Extra Magic Hours used to be 3 hours long).
This was even the case during the Great Recession when attendance was lower than it is now, so daytime crowds were comparatively light. Now, attendance is significantly higher (by several millions of guests per year), and regular park hours have been reduced by several hours per day. More people crammed into fewer hours, which does not compute.
Nevertheless, we’ve (begrudgingly) bought the After Hours tickets in the past because we’ve felt that the parties are worth it as quasi-VIP experiences for a more approachable price. As noted above, After Hours is comparable to the Halloween and Christmas parties, albeit with significantly lower crowds and minus the seasonal entertainment. In fact, we’ve been so pleased with this event in previous years that it made our Best Value Splurges at Walt Disney World List.
You might notice those assessments are in the past tense. Ticket prices went up pretty significantly for the After Hours parties a couple of years ago. For most of the ones we’d want to attend (on the basis of crowds or weather), After Hours now costs $179 to $199. Adding insult to injury, there’s no DVC or AP discount for Magic Kingdom. That’s just too much for us to justify–but we’re also Annual Passholders who’ve been to the parks and done every attraction tons of times.
While we do expect many/most 2026 After Hours events to sell out, but not like MNSSHP or MVMCP. With this event, more guests have reached their breaking point. This is probably why Walt Disney World has strategically scheduled fewer After Hours dates in 2026 during certain months. If you’re wondering why certain weeks are skipped, that’s the most likely explanation–they’re not busy enough to sustain multiple After Hours events.
If you’re a first-timer or infrequent Walt Disney World visitor, your calculus probably differs from ours as Annual Passholders who are in the parks regularly. Essentially, the value proposition of After Hours is whether 6 hours (3 with low crowds, 3 with low to moderate crowds) is better than 10-12 hours in the parks during the day. Even if you used an efficient itinerary for Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios during those normal operating hours, the answer to that used to be yes.
The equation has changed a bit with Lightning Lanes, as well as Early Entry and Extended Evening Hours. At least two of these things are controversial, but can be highly advantageous. We love Early Entry, and despite it only being 30 minutes, it offers a tremendous head-start. Extended Evening Hours is likewise fantastic at Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The other thing that it’s important not to overlook is the timing of After Hours. This is good or bad, depending upon your perspective. For many parents, it’s a total nonstarter, as the prime time for the event is post-bedtime for many kids.
For others, it’s a huge upside when considering the reality of Florida weather. Humidity can be oppressive and the midday sun can be draining. At night, the sun is down and it feels better. That’s one of the reasons why we love After Hours in the summer months. The weather is very different at the beginning of the year, but being in the parks at night is still nicer.
Ultimately, that’s my basis for reluctantly recommending After Hours at Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios to first-timers or infrequent Walt Disney World visitors with limited vacation time and extra money for splurging. (We do not recommend After Hours at EPCOT except in very specific circumstances.)
The After Hours events are unquestionably expensive, but also a good way to get a lot done at Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios without waking up at the crack of dawn for Early Entry or criss-crossing the park while using Lightning Lanes. Most importantly, After Hours events are friction-less.
You don’t need some grand strategy or plan-of-attack for experiencing a ton of attractions during these hard ticket events. They offer a quasi-VIP experience without having to be accompanied by a tour guide–best of both worlds! On top of that, After Hours occurs at night. Obviously. Point being, you’re getting the best of weather, crowds, wait times and (as a result of all three) just general pleasantness. You’re likely to enjoy After Hours a great deal, especially as compared to a normal day in the park.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
Have you attended After Hours at Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or EPCOT? What did you think of the event? Will you be buying After Hours tickets for 2026? Would you attend, or is it too pricey? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? 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!
Would it be wise to avoid these parks on days when there are after hours events? Or even those weeks? I’m looking at the first week in March 2026 — both Epcot and MK have after hours — will those dates be especially busy? Also, Epcot after hours is Thursday March 5th? Is that a possible hint as to when the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival will begin?
me and my wife are planning to get the hollywood studios after hours tickets. on June 3 it will be our 5 year wedding anniversary. what all comes with the experience besides lower wait times for rides. Are there alot or a few rare characters meet and greet will be our 2nd time at disney world.
So After Hours at MK will run from 10pm-1am next May/June/July. Do they plan to only have one showing of Starlight next summer? Because I don’t see how they get in parade/fireworks/parade with the 1 hour cadence between sunset and 10pm.
Also, wow, those prices are comparable to a single day ticket or party ticket! For that price, you could add a day to a multi day ticket AND buy lightning lanes, and thus get all the entertainment too.
Nooo! The month- long gap at Epcot after August 13 makes me so sad… we were so happy to go to After Hours at this park this past August, now it’s not available in 2026 during this travel window.
So Tom now that you have Megatron, will you still do after hours with her?
The After Hour ticket’s benefits are aimed at a time period after the park’s normal operating hours for that day. So do the days that After Hours are offered have much of an impact on crowd size for the park during normal hours?
A year and a half ago I went to Universal over a weekend for the Orlando informer meetup and then stayed at All Star sports for two nights. This way we could go to Hollywood Studios after hours, and I have to say it was tremendous. That night was probably the best time I’ve ever had at Hollywood studios. If you’re doing a shorter trip especially I think it’s worth it.
Probably depends on the night. We did HS after hours this past Aug 6 and it was horrendous. Toy Story over 40 min wait all night, Rise over 50 min wait all night, Slinky over 35 min wait all night. Nothing was “down’ by the way – the only thing I could figure was they didn’t have enough staff on board for how many tix they sold because Toy Story loading area was slow slow slow and we were in the room with the storm troopers for Rise for a long long time waiting to get to the next room (more slow loading). At the beginning of the night Rock n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror were only a 15 minute wait or so and Mickey Minnie Railway was only a 5 minute wait but those other 3 rides being long the whole night kind of killed the fun….especially when we didn’t realize there were no snacks over in Batuu so by the time we said well let’s head over there and do the Falcon (also over 30 min wait) and Rise before this thing is over (we had only done everything else once and only had time for one character meet and greet) there wasn’t time to trek all the way back to Toy Story Land to get popcorn and drinks. SO…your mileage may vary but I don’t see us doing this again. We were so looking forward to it that the disappointment of it not actually being an event where you could conceivably ride headliners more than once isn’t worth the stress and money for me. Be sure to get your snacks before you head over to Batuu….
Oh man that stinks. I wonder why that was. We did ours in February. I did know there’s no snacks in Batuu. They take the immersion there very seriously. It’s why the coke bottled are even specially made.
Any reason why they did not include January 26th for the Magic Kingdom?
i was wondering the same thing! that’s the week we will be there 🙁
A quick glance of the calendar and dates that are missing for all of the parks suggests to me that they’re not doing After Hours during weeks that are historically slower. After Hours is not as *needed* during those timeframes, and also, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve had difficulty selling out tickets then.
I don’t pay particularly close attention to when After Hours does and doesn’t sell out, but I know it’s not like MNSSHP or MVMCP in that regard. Many dates in the last two years haven’t sold out, or have sold slowly.
Tom do you know if guests are able to use a DAS pass during After Hours events? One of our party typically qualifies for that pass at DLR and would be visiting FL with us. The heat is a major factor in making WDW difficult for them (and all of us really) so After Hours at MK is really tempting. Don’t know if it would tempt us enough to navigate without the DAS though
I was able to use my DAS pass at Magic Kingdom in January 2024. Since most everything was walk on, the only thing I actually used it for was Tron. I felt weird doing it, since the LL queue has no purpose during After Hours except for DAS, I was the only person walking through and in the preshow for the ride. (I was attending the parks solo that trip.) If you’re easily self-conscious, as I am, that might make it awkward for you like it did for me. There were lots of people looking at me. Not that it’s any of their business, but I decided not to use it anymore. The only other attraction that made it tempting was Mine Train. I think that’s the only other ride that had any sort of wait. I ended the night by riding Thunder Mountain three times in a row, until I got dizzy and couldn’t continue. It was amazing. I highly recommend the event, though without BTMRR, I personally might not return to After Hours in 2026.
Has Disney ever published a list of what restaurants/snack locations are open during the After Hours events? Not exactly the same, but we did an Extended Evening Hours at EPCOT last year and were a little surprised on how few food/drink options there were once the fireworks ended, even though the park was open for another couple of hours.
I don’t believe they’ve put that info online, and honestly, I don’t even remember it in printed event maps. (Possible I just missed it.) But I also have never bought any food during After Hours, always opting to “get my money’s worth” by subsisting on a diet of Mickey Bars.