2023 After Hours at Magic Kingdom: Dates, Details, Tips, Rides & Review

After Hours at Magic Kingdom is a tough ticket occasion with restricted attendance and brief wait occasions for rides in Walt Disney World’s hottest park. This put up shares our experiences, information concerning the occasion, 2023 dates & particulars, suggestions & methods, and whether or not it’s well worth the cash.

This is the most recent of the After Hours occasions, which debuted at Magic Kingdom a number of years in the past and has had a number of completely different themes (Villains, Halloween & Christmas) since then. For 2023, the common or “vanilla” After Hours is as soon as once more returning to Magic Kingdom, with dates within the winter and spring, and extra prone to come for spring and summer season.

After Hours at Magic Kingdom takes place choose nights from January 9 till March 27, 2023. This occasion takes place from 10 pm till 1 am. In addition to that, After Hours attendees can get a head begin on the enjoyable by coming into the park at 7:00 PM—just a few hours earlier than the occasion formally begins!

Ticket costs for After Hours at Magic Kingdom range primarily based on date:

I had been planning on publishing our information and overview of the 2023 After Hours at Magic Kingdom following the primary occasion, which is now bought out. With that plus many dates at DHS additionally promoting quick, I figured it’d be extra helpful to share information, recommendation, and suggestions primarily based on our previous experiences with After Hours at Magic Kingdom now–earlier than each single date sells out. Posts aimed toward serving to individuals decide whether or not one thing “is worth it?” are typically extra helpful when the factor in query can nonetheless be bought.

In any case, we’ll circle again with an replace after attending with the 2023 After Hours at Magic Kingdom with any technique adjustments or overview updates! For now, right here’s a mixture of new information and technique primarily based on prior experiences with After Hours at Magic Kingdom…

One factor that gained’t be altering is the hallmark of the After Hours at Walt Disney World: UNLIMITED PREMIUM MICKEY ICE CREAM BARS!!! Those, plus different ice cream novelties, popcorn, and bottled drinks are all included in the price of After Hours at Magic Kingdom.

You merely stroll as much as outside merchandising carts stationed all through the park and seize a Premium Mickey Bar, Coca-Cola, or no matter else. It’s an admittedly good contact of the occasion, and though it’s undoubtedly priced into the (very excessive) value of tickets, it nonetheless has a pleasant, all-inclusive sort of feeling. Perhaps I’m only a man of easy tastes who is definitely impressed, however I really feel fancy strolling away from an ODV with “free” ice cream and pop.

You may also buy meals and drinks at choose eating places, however that is usually a horrible use of the restricted occasion time. Eat earlier than you arrive or replenish on ice cream and different treats on-the-go throughout After Hours at Magic Kingdom.

Attractions open for After Hours at Magic Kingdom will probably embrace most or the entire following:

• Astro Orbiter
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin*
• Country Bear Jamboree
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Haunted Mansion*
• “it’s a small world”*
• Jungle Cruise*
• Mad Tea Party
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train*
• Space Mountain*
• Swiss Family Treehouse
• Goofy’s Barnstormer
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid

You can be taught extra concerning the attraction lineup, pricing, and 2023 Disney After Hours dates on the official web site.

*These are the one points of interest that Walt Disney World has formally confirmed for 2023 After Hours at Magic Kingdom. The remainder of the listing is pulled from previous After Hours occasions, with the lineup being pretty constant. We’ve solely eliminated Splash Mountain from the listing, for apparent causes. 

With the possible experience roster out of the best way, the operative query about After Hours at Magic Kingdom is what number of rides are you able to accomplish? Narrowing {that a} bit additional, we assume most individuals studying this are involved with headliners like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train–and the way a lot time may be saved by paying to attend After Hours versus a traditional day at Magic Kingdom…

We’ve attended a number of After Hours occasions, themed and unthemed, at Magic Kingdom. During the final one we attended, we did the next:

• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Jungle Cruise
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (x2)
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Astro Orbiter
• Space Mountain (x2)
• Peter Pan’s Flight (x2)
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

That’s a complete of 15 issues, and we may’ve accomplished extra if effectivity had been our lone purpose and we didn’t backtrack as a lot. With Annual Passholder pricing at $115 and as much as $159 common pricing on the occasion, that breaks right down to round $7 to $11 per expertise.

We additionally ate a couple of half dozen ice cream novelties and had just a few Cokes, the worth of which might’ve exceeded $50 had been we paying out of pocket. However, I’d by no means purchase a bottle of water at Walt Disney World within the first place, a lot much less 6 of them in a day. So ascribing $50 of worth to the snacks is a little bit of a stretch. I’d truly say that added about $15 price of worth, as I did dinner in sugar-infused type.

As famous above, After Hours at Magic Kingdom doesn’t require common theme park admission and permits entry as early as 7 pm. Unlike the Disney’s Hollywood Studios model of the occasion, the particular occasion begins proper at official park closing time–at 10:00 p.m., and runs for 3 hours till 1:00 a.m. This means you possibly can see the fireworks or knock out just a few less-popular points of interest earlier than After Hours formally kicks off.

The final time we attended, we did precisely that–engaging in one other half-dozen points of interest (together with a number of not open throughout After Hours) in the course of the mix-in hours. It additionally helps that Walt Disney World tends to inflate wait occasions on celebration nights in an effort to “gently discourage” day friends from leaping in line on the final minute for one final experience.

As famous above, we’ve attended After Hours at Magic Kingdom on a number of events. If one factor has been constant, it’s the inconsistency of crowds. When these occasions first began, they seldom bought out and had been completely wonderful. Over time, they’ve turn into extra well-liked and began promoting out.

Unsurprisingly, there’s an enormous distinction in crowds between events which can be bought out and ones that aren’t. More surprisingly, there has additionally been variance in wait occasions and attendance even amongst bought out nights. Walt Disney World appears to have oversold some After Hours nights in late 2019 and early 2020, leading to worse crowds. However, that was not our expertise with the themed After Hours nights in 2021.

The 2023 After Hours at Magic Kingdom are already beginning to promote out, however it’s inconceivable to say what these events maintain when it comes to crowds. Our guess is that the capability is in step with the Halloween and Christmas After Hours, however with the important thing distinction that these had leisure to assist soak up crowds–which means wait occasions might be barely larger on the 2023 occasions. Hopefully, that’s an incorrect assumption on my half–and ticket gross sales are extra restricted. We shall see, and can report again!

Typically, strains are brief and manageable throughout After Hours at Magic Kingdom. Once the occasion will get began, most points of interest are walk-ons and are dispatching experience autos with empty seats. A handful may need 5 to 10 minute waits, with a pair being worse than that.

The two rides that often have measurable wait occasions within the first couple of hours are Peter Pan’s Flight and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. The latter is absolutely the largest offender, and we’ve accomplished a number of After Hours at Magic Kingdom throughout which the road by no means actually died down for that. In different instances, it has had a <15 minute wait time within the closing hour.

In phrases of suggestions, our recommendation can be to start out in Adventureland and proceed to Frontierland, earlier than knocking out most of Fantasyland and all of Tomorrowland. Finally, end off by backtracking and hitting Peter Pan’s Flight (doubtlessly a number of occasions) and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

If you need bang to your buck, the favored points of interest which can be best to knock out time and again both by re-riding or shortly returning to the queue are Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Astro Orbiter. Space Mountain nearly qualifies, however the lengthy queue and exit does add up.

As with a traditional night time, you possibly can soar into line for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train with one minute left within the occasion. In different phrases, in the event you solely need to do that experience as soon as, the wait time is usually irrelevant, as you’ll be lining up at 12:59 am and doing most of your ready after the celebration has concluded, anyway.

If you need to do Seven Dwarfs Mine Train greater than as soon as, you’ll most likely need to do prior rides within the 12 am hour–maybe alternating between it and Peter Pan’s Flight if you wish to change issues up.

As for whether or not After Hours at Magic Kingdom is well worth the cash, that actually relies upon. If you’re staying at a Deluxe Resort and have entry to Extended Evening Hours at Magic Kingdom, I’d not even contemplate shelling out $100+ per individual for this occasion except cash is totally no object. (In which case, why are you studying this overview?)

We’ve accomplished Extended Evening Hours at Magic Kingdom a number of occasions, and have had a blast at that. On common, we accomplish 8-10 points of interest throughout that 2-hour window. In our expertise, it’s very corresponding to After Hours, minus the included refreshments and additional hour. Do that as a substitute, pay for snacks out of pocket, and put the distinction in the direction of a unique splurge.

If you aren’t eligible for Extended Evening Hours and are thus debating whether or not to do After Hours as a substitute…have you ever thought-about doing a cut up keep and splurging on an evening at a Deluxe Resort? (See How to Do Split Stays at Walt Disney World Hotels.) You may additionally pair that with Club Level at a Magic Kingdom space resort, profiting from the early/late hours and having fun with the membership in the course of the center of the day.

Seriously. If you’ve got a celebration of 4, you’re taking a look at an outlay of ~$500 for After Hours at Magic Kingdom. That’s sufficient for staying at a Deluxe Resort for one night time, particularly in the event you e-book the Swan & Dolphin or do Disney Vacation Club Point Rentals. While cut up stays usually are not for everybody, we love them–to every their very own on that, although.

If doing a cut up keep is a non-starter otherwise you in any other case can’t or gained’t do a Deluxe Resort, there are nonetheless different choices. One is doing Early Entry and cord drop at Magic Kingdom. Generally talking, that’s not a comparable various to After Hours at Magic Kingdom.

For one factor, it’s within the morning quite than the very best time of day (night time) at Magic Kingdom. For one other factor, Early Entry just isn’t significantly helpful at Magic Kingdom (undoubtedly the worst of the 4 parks for the perk) as a result of later park opening time. If your solely choices are Early Entry or After Hours (a false selection, to make sure), we’d choose the latter.

Finally, there’s Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. If you’ve learn any of our many posts about utilizing paid FastPass at Magic Kingdom, you’re probably conscious we advocate for purchasing the service there. (If not, now you realize!)

With the most important Lightning Lane experience roster, Genie+ availability is best at Magic Kingdom than every other park. It usually has the very best return occasions and you may strategize so you aren’t crisscrossing the park and backtracking an excessive amount of. There’s additionally much less purpose to be in your telephone continuously enjoying the refresh recreation, as Genie+ is usually “easier” at Magic Kingdom.

Nevertheless, we’re cognizant of the truth that many friends need no display screen time or trouble. After Hours undoubtedly has that benefit over Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. There’s no expertise required and 0 complications in any respect. Of course, the tradeoff is a massively larger worth.

Ultimately, that’s my perspective on After Hours at Magic Kingdom. We will go for the sake of “research,” however I’d not purchase tickets to this if we had been the typical Walt Disney World guests. Likewise, we don’t advocate it for the majority of planners, particularly these on tight budgets or, paradoxically, prepared to splurge on a Deluxe Resort. That’s a change from earlier years, after we advisable After Hours at Magic Kingdom.

Ironically sufficient, I’m a lot much less eager on this occasion than beforehand. This is as a result of Extended Evening Hours are vastly superior to Evening Extra Magic Hours and Genie+ is best than FastPass+ at Magic Kingdom. That’s ironic as a result of, as a common matter, each of these adjustments have include a value. However, on this particular case, the smaller swimming pools of friends who can or do use each suggestions the scales of their favor–in different phrases, their value is decrease than this value.

Genie+ or Extended Evening Hours basically marginalize the worth of After Hours at Magic Kingdom. At least from my perspective, that is now a considerably pointless occasion and not using a theme connected, as there are viable options that value much less or have extra upside (or each). As all the time, to every their very own, although. I’m positive most nights of the 2023 After Hours at Magic Kingdom will promote out, and the overwhelming majority of attendees can have a improbable time. It’s merely not how I’d allocate my “TREAT YO SELF” funds for splurging on a Walt Disney World trip when selecting from the varied choices.

To that time, we’d (and do!) advocate the 2023 After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you hate crowds, hassles, and are prepared to splurge, After Hours at DHS shall be a terrific occasion for you. This is essentially as a result of there are is not any (normally-scheduled) Extended Evening Hours, Genie+ may be headache-inducing, and Early Entry is barely a viable possibility for knocking out 2-3 points of interest. With that stated, After Hours can be not strictly essential at DHS, both. It’s only a extra smart splurge, from our perspective.

With all of that stated, in the event you arbitrarily put aside the associated fee or simply need to splurge, it’s laborious to argue in opposition to After Hours. So lengthy as Walt Disney World doesn’t get grasping and enhance the attendance cap (as we’ve seen with MNSSHP and MVMCP), it ought to proceed to be a wonderful occasion. Even then, demand for these is means decrease than for the Halloween and Christmas Parties, so crowds are unlikely to be an issue. (My hope is that Walt Disney World switches issues up and affords a themed After Hours for Spring and Summer 2023, because it’s laborious for me to see this as a compelling providing that units itself other than Extended Evening Hours.)

At the top of the day, limited-capacity night occasions are essentially the most pleasing technique to expertise Magic Kingdom–there’s actually one thing to be stated for nighttime in Walt Disney World’s flagship park whereas it’s just about devoid of individuals. I personally want the Halloween and Christmas events for his or her leisure and ambiance–however I additionally don’t care about doing points of interest as a lot, so I do know that I’m not the norm.

After Hours at Magic Kingdom is just like the vanilla model of these for experience junkies or anybody who needs the bottom crowd ranges and essentially the most handy technique to keep away from lengthy strains. It might not supply the very best worth for cash from an goal perspective, however it’s however a robust possibility for many who are overwhelmed by planning, crowds, or the hassles of visiting Magic Kingdom within the present period. It’s not how we’d select to splurge, however that doesn’t make it a nasty occasion.

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YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you consider the After Hours occasions? Planning on doing the 2023 After Hours at Magic Kingdom to see what number of occasions you possibly can experience Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, or Space Mountain in a single night time? Is this one thing that pursuits you, or is the associated fee too excessive to justify? Would you favor to do that, or splurge on a Deluxe Resort and get the 2-hour model for “free”? Do you agree or disagree with our overview of the occasion? Any questions we may help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!