If you ask me, the best time at a Walt Disney World theme park is at night when the Orlando temperatures are lower and a majority of the crowds have left the parks. Unfortunately, the amount of time you can spend in the parks once this takes place is very limited. Thankfully, there is an event that allows you to take advantage of this situation for three hours at a time. We’ve just found out that this event is returning in 2026, and some people can purchase tickets starting this week!
Disney After Hours is a separately ticketed, limited-capacity event that occurs on specific nights at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As we reported earlier this year, Disney After Hours allows you to be in the park for three hours after the general public has departed. This allows you to enjoy those cooler nights with less wait times for rides. On top of that, you get free snacks! Items such as popcorn, frozen ice cream & fruit-bar novelties, and bottled beverages are yours at no additional cost.
The initial dates for Disney After Hours have been announced, and tickets go on sale this week for guests that currently have a resort reservation at a Disney Resorts Collection Hotel, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green. These guests can purchase Disney After Hours tickets for 2026 starting Thursday. Tickets go on sale to the general public without the aforementioned reservations starting October 14th.
Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park
If you attend a Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park event, the event officially starts at 10:00 PM and goes until 1:00 AM. However, you can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 7:00 PM through a Special Events line at the park entrance. This allows for a little bit of extra park time prior to the general public leaving. Therefore, you can get a couple more rides in, see Happily Ever After, grab dinner, or whatever you choose to do. Here are the 2026 dates for Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park:
- Jan 12
- Jan 19
- Feb 2
- Feb 9
- Feb 23
- Mar 2
- Mar 9
- Apr 13
- Apr 20
- May 4
- May 11
- May 18
- May 25
- Jun 1
- Jun 22
- Jun 29
- Jul 13
- Jul 27
Disney After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
If you attend a Disney After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios event, the event officially starts at 9:30 PM and goes until 12:30 AM. There are two specific dates that are the exception, however (see the dates listing below for the specially-noted exceptions). As with the Magic Kingdom event, event guests are able to enter Hollywood Studios as early as 7:00 PM through a Special Events line at the park entrance. A unique occurrence with this event is that you will find characters roaming the streets of Hollywood. Have your cameras ready! Here are the 2026 dates for Disney After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
- Jan 14
- Jan 28
- Feb 4
- Feb 11
- Feb 21
- Feb 25
- Apr 29
- May 6
- May 14
- May 30*
- Jun 3
- Jun 10
- Jun 17
- Jun 24
- Jul 1
- Jul 8
- Jul 15
- Jul 22
- Jul 29
- Aug 5
- Aug 12
- Aug 19
- Aug 26
- Sep 2
- Sep 12**
*On May 30th, Disney After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will take place from 10:30 PM – 1:30 AM
**On September 12th, Disney After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will take place from 10:00 PM – 1:00 AM
As an added bonus, Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members can save $30 per ticket.
Disney After Hours at EPCOT
If you attend a Disney After Hours at EPCOT event, the event officially starts at 9:30 PM and goes until 12:30 AM. Event guests are able to enter EPCOT as early as 7:00 PM through a Special Events line at the park entrance. There will be three unique character meetings at this event: Mickey at the Dreamer statue, Goofy at the CommuniCore Plaza DJ Dance Party, and Minnie at the France gazebo. Just like with the Hollywood Studios event, Passholders and DVC members can save $30 per ticket. Here are the 2026 dates for Disney After Hours at EPCOT:
- Jan 22
- Jan 29
- Feb 19
- Mar 5
- Mar 12
- Apr 2
- Apr 9
- Apr 15
- Apr 23
- Apr 30
- May 21
- Jun 11
- Jun 18
- Jul 9
- Aug 6
- Aug 13
- Sep 16
- Sep 24
As we’ve reported in our Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom article, the MouseHouseNews.net team definitely thinks the after hours events are worth it. We are also big fans of the Extended Evening Hours events open exclusively to guests staying at a Deluxe resort or villa, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, or Shades of Green. The difference is that if you aren’t shelling out the money for those resorts, it could possibly be a money saver to stay at a cheaper resort and just pay separately for this event. Also, you get three hours of limited-capacity park time (and snacks!) with the after hours events vs two hours of limited-capacity park time with Extended Evening Hours.
If you have any interest in participating in a limited-capacity park experience with snacks included, start your trip planning and include Disney After Hours. You’ll want to book the date(s) you desire as soon as possible, as the events do hit capacity and sell out. Keep coming back to MouseHouseNews.net for more tips as you plan your next vacation for Disney Adults.
