2027 After Hours at Disney World: Party Dates, Ticket Costs, Ride Roster, Price Increases & Discounts
After Hours parties return in January 2027 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 11, 2027 at Magic Kingdom; January 16, 2027 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios; and January 21, 2027 at EPCOT. The parties run through July 19, 2027 at Magic Kingdom; August 25, 2027 at DHS; and August 19, 2027 at EPCOT.
The only park not participating in After Hours at all 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 is currently down a few attractions. So maybe check back in 2028 once Tropical Americas is open!
The reason for the earlier end date at Magic Kingdom is due to the start of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, which likely starts in early August 2027. Even beyond that, it’s worth noting that both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT are ending their After Hours “seasons” early in 2027. DHS stops a few weeks earlier than this year, and EPCOT stops a full month ahead of this year’s schedule (September 24, 2026, for reference).
Our best guess is that this reflects slower sales in the off-season after schools go back into session. It is also possible that guest satisfaction isn’t as high for the September events, as the contrast in daytime vs. event crowds is not as pronounced during the off-season.
Yet another possibility is that the start of Party Season at Magic Kingdom throws a monkey wrench into the Extended Evening Hours schedule at the other parks, and Disney has gotten complaints about ExEH being shifted to Animal Kingdom as a result. Regardless of the reason, the end result is the same: no After Hours in September 2027.
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.
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 the 2027 After Hours, but we expect this component to return, albeit perhaps in an unadvertised manner.
Let’s take a look at attractions, event date ranges, ticket costs, price increases, changes and other details for After Hours at Walt Disney World in 2027…
After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios typically runs from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (except on April 24, 2027, when the event is from 10:30 PM to 1:30 AM), on select evenings from January 16, 2027 through August 25, 2027. To get the most out of your evening in the Hollywood spotlight, come to the park as early as 7:00 p.m., before the official event even begins.
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 2027 After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will take place on:
- January 16, 2027
- January 27, 2027
- February 13, 2027
- February 24, 2027
- March 13, 2027
- March 17, 2027
- March 24, 2027
- April 7, 2027
- April 24, 2027
- April 28, 2027
- May 19, 2027
- May 26, 2027
- June 2, 2027
- June 9, 2027
- June 16, 2027
- June 23, 2027
- June 30, 2027
- July 5, 2027
- July 12, 2027
- July 26, 2027
- August 4, 2027
- August 25, 2027
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
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets
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.
Magic Kingdom After Hours runs from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. each event night. Guests with an After Hours ticket do not need to make a park reservation to come in before the event officially starts. As with all After Hours events, you can enter the park as early as 7:00 p.m.
The 2027 After Hours at Magic Kingdom parties will take place on:
- January 11, 2027
- January 18, 2027
- February 1, 2027
- February 8, 2027
- February 15, 2027
- February 22, 2027
- March 4, 2027
- March 8, 2027
- March 15, 2027
- April 5, 2027
- April 12, 2027
- April 26, 2027
- May 17, 2027
- May 24, 2027
- June 14, 2027
- June 21, 2027
- June 28, 2027
- July 15, 2027
- July 19, 2027
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
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- 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 is not on the list. This could be changed later since the list is not exhaustive, but TBA was previously removed from the After Hours lineup after originally being advertised as part of the event last year, and was not restored this year. If another major attraction, such as Space Mountain, closes for refurbishment in 2027, that could change.
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’ Across America.
After Hours at EPCOT runs from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on select evenings through August 19, 2027. Like After Hours at DHS or MK, your party ticket allows you to enter EPCOT as early as 7:00 p.m.
This gives you a full five and a half hours to party the night away. (Speaking of which, Disney has not confirmed whether dance parties will return to the 2027 After Hours at EPCOT, but we assume so.)
The 2027 After Hours at EPCOT will take place on:
- January 21, 2027
- February 18, 2027
- April 1, 2027
- April 15, 2027
- April 22, 2027
- May 6, 2027
- May 13, 2027
- June 3, 2027
- June 12, 2027
- July 8, 2027
- July 22, 2027
- July 29, 2027
- August 7, 2027
- August 12, 2027
- August 19, 2027
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’ Across America
- 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.
2027 Disney After Hours Ticket Price Increases
Here are 2027 Disney After Hours ticket price ranges per park:
- After Hours at Magic Kingdom: $189 to $209 per ticket (plus tax)
- After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: $159 to $199 per ticket (plus tax)
- After Hours at EPCOT: $159 to $189 per ticket (plus tax)
Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members can enjoy the benefit of specially priced tickets at EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, saving $30 off. Tickets to After Hours at Magic Kingdom are NOT discounted.
For reference, 2026 Disney After Hours ticket prices ranged 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. That amounts to about a $5 to $15 price increase, depending on the park and date.
2027 Disney After Hours Sales Dates
Guests staying at all Disney-owned resort hotels (anything that starts with “Disney’s”), 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 September 10, 2026 (meaning they are now on sale).
All other guests can purchase their tickets starting September 22, 2026. 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. Most dates only sell out a month or less in advance, and some dates 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.
Extended Evening Hours Continue
Note that After Hours still does not mean the end of the free Extended Evening Hours. Walt Disney World has already confirmed that Extended Evening Hours will continue throughout all of 2027 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.
Our After Hours Experiences
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 with After Hours at Walt Disney World. We most recently did After Hours at Magic Kingdom this summer, and had an excellent experience. While daytime crowds weren’t terrible, the combination of more pleasant weather and walking onto every attraction (except TRON Lightcycle Run) made After Hours “worth it” as a splurge. Even so, we only did it with friends who visit infrequently; if it were just us, we wouldn’t have gone.
We also did Extended Evening Hours at Magic Kingdom only a couple of days later, and that experience was far worse. Because of the aforementioned weather, Extended Evening Hours are disproportionately busy during the summer months. Even when crowds are lower, the high heat and humidity pushes more guests to take advantage of the “free” Extended Evening Hours perk, making it sometimes even busier than a regular day.
Suffice to say, After Hours tickets 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 $189 to $209. 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 2027 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 2027 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, 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! The closest comparison is probably a more flexible form of Lightning Lane Premier Pass, and After Hours tickets are actually considerably cheaper than that line-skipping option.
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 2027? 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!
