Here at Walt Disney World, summer nights set the stage for a particular kind of excitement. Maybe it’s the retreat of the Florida sun, the promise of another round of popcorn, or the colorful lighting on iconic rides — there’s something about being in Disney parks at night.

After Hours at Disney World are separately-ticketed events that deliver the ultimate nighttime experience at guests' favorite parks. With lower wait times, the chance to meet characters, and plenty of free snacks to fuel their adventures, Disney After Hours is a limited-capacity party — also known as the unforgettable experience they've been looking for to add to their next vacation.

Fellow Night Owls Listen Up: Here's everything they need to know about upcoming Disney World After Hours events and how to make the most of their visit.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios After Hours

Guests should get ready for their close up: Hollywood Studios hosts its After Hours event from 9:30 PM to 12:30 AM on select evenings until September 3, 2025.

To get the most out of your evening in the Hollywood spotlight, guests should come to the park as early as 7:00 PM, before the official event even begins. Guests with an After Hours ticket do not need to make a park reservation to come in before the event officially starts. That’s so much extra time to wave to their adoring fans!

Rides Open at Hollywood Studios After Hours

The stars of Hollywood Studios are swirling, twirling, and even saving the galaxy during After Hours all with notably lower wait times.

• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Toy Story Mania!
• Alien Swirling Saucers
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Surprise Character Encounters

As guests make their way through the park during After Hours, they never know who might be waiting for them around the corner. They should expect the unexpected, with characters roaming the streets of Hollywood, ready to say ‘hello!’

Lift a Glass and Grab a Bite

Around the park, outdoor bars will be ready to serve brews and select cocktails. Meanwhile, over at Oga’s Cantina, DJ R-3X will be spinning the hottest tunes this side of Coruscant as Oga serves up out-of-this-world cocktails and small bites. Guests can journey to Batuu for walk-up availability.

To fuel them long into the night, food and drinks will also be available at some of guests' favorite quick-service spots like:

• KRNR The Rock Station
• Milk Stand
• Woody’s Lunch Box

Snacks & Refreshments

We can’t think of many things as satisfying as asking for a Mickey Ice Cream Bar and just ... walking away with it. Select snacks are included in guests' tickets, such as ice cream novelties, popcorn, and bottled beverages. Snack carts will be scattered throughout the park, so they never have to go far to enjoy a tasty treat.

2025 Hollywood Studios After Hours Dates 

Here are the 2025 dates to help plan their big night out:

• July 2
• July 9
• July 16
• July 23
• July 30
• Aug 6
• Aug 20
• Aug 27
• Sept 3

EPCOT After Hours

EPCOT offers its After Hours event from 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM on select evenings through September 25, 2025. Like Hollywood Studios, tickets allow guests to enter EPCOT as early as 7:00 PM. This gives them a full six hours to party the night away.

Rides Open at EPCOT After Hours

At EPCOT, guests will have the chance to look for Donald in Mexico and even learn about Xandarian culture with drastically reduced wait times. Highlights include:

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• 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

Character Meet and Greets

EPCOT After Hours is also a fantastic opportunity to meet Disney characters in a more relaxed environment. During the event, guests might see:

• Mickey Mouse at the Dreamer statue
• Goofy at the DJ dance party in CommuniCore Plaza
• Minnie Mouse at the France gazebo

Can’t-Miss Jam Sessions

The party vibes are going strong at a DJ dance party where guests can join in on a fun, interactive character meet and greet with the Goof himself. For After Hours dates up to Sept. 1, guests will have plenty of room at CommuniCore Plaza to show Goofy their best dance moves and maybe even the ones they're still working on.

The Canada Band will be rockin’ out during the After Hours festivities. With plenty of room to dance (and lots of seating for those night owl legs), the Canada Mill Stage is a central hub for guests to toast, groove, and maybe even howl under the moon with their crew.

Get Your Grub On Around the World

EPCOTerrans can fuel up as they party throughout the evening and around the World Showcase. Here are a few of our fav spots to purchase food and drink during EPCOT After Hours:

• Various kiosks around the World Showcase
• Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
• Rose & Crown Pub

And Snacks Included in Their Ticket

As with Hollywood Studios, a night at EPCOT After Hours includes fueling guests' special nights with complimentary snacks like ice cream, popcorn, and bottled drinks at various locations.

2025 EPCOT After Hours Dates

For their planning notes, here are the 2025 dates:

• June 26
• July 10
• July 24
• July 31
• Aug 7
• Aug 14
• Aug 21
• Aug 28
• Sept 11
• Sept 25

2026 Magic Kingdom After Hours

Yes, we’re picturing it, too: The lights of Prince Charming Regal Carousel swirling just beyond the castle, late night popcorn runs on the way to Haunted Mansion and riding the PeopleMover over a glittering Tomorrowland.

While specific dates for Magic Kingdom’s After Hours event are still to be announced, we are keeping an eye out for future event details. Check back here as we’ll be updating this post as soon as the latest magical nights are released.

Dream Arrival Day: Free Water Park Splash and Then After Hours Bash

If guests are like us, they are always dreaming of their next Disney vacation and all the resort play, Park Hopping, and special event combinations they can fit into their stays. And an After Hours evening is definitely easy to work into their latest itinerary masterpiece.

For those staying at a Disney Resort hotel, they've got a splashy perk to work into their master plan: Resort guests can enjoy complimentary admission to a Disney water park on the day they check in. And during Cool Kid Summer, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are both open!

Let’s set the scene: Guests arrive at Disney World, drop their bags at the resort (bell services will hold their stuff), and park their car. They then hop on a Disney bus to a Water Park to take a relaxing glide down a lazy river or, hey, a wild slide down the side of Mount Gushmore.

Cool Kid Summer is in full swing at Blizzard Beach, with special activities, a dance party, and a chance to spot Goofy in his beach attire. Later guests can head back to the resort to transition into their sweetest sneaker-and-Goofy-ear-hat combo that screams, ‘Cool Kid Summer,’ and then they're off to the glimmer, glow, and snacks of After Hours at Hollywood Studios or EPCOT. Sounds like the perfect arrival day to us.

And, if they're looking for a way to make a splash after the sun goes down, they can enjoy Disney's Typhoon Lagoon like never before at H2O Glow After Hours now through Sept. 13. Annual Passholder and Disney Vacation Club discounts are also available for H2O Glow.

Guests can extend their magic into the night with a ticket to Disney After Hours to keep the excitement going well past dark. With lower wait times, complimentary snacks, surprise character encounters, and an overall more relaxed atmosphere, After Hours is perfect for both first-time guests and seasoned Disney fans looking to make their Disney trip even more special.

Complimentary admission to a Disney water park on the day of check in is subject to availability.