2024 Magic Kingdom After Hours Review & Event: Is It Worth It?

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Disney After Hours is back at Magic Kingdom for 2024!

Have you ever wanted to experience  Disney World after dark? Walt Disney World's after-hours events , like Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, offer guests a unique opportunity to visit Disney World's theme parks at night after they've closed to daytime guests. 

Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom provides shorter wait times on your favorite attractions, including TRON Lightcycle / Run, which offers a standby queue this year. You can enjoy smaller crowds, and experiences that are only available to party guests. 

In this post, I’ll share pricing, overview of the event, a recap of our night, what I was able to accomplish, and if Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom is worth attending. 

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What is Disney After Hours?

Disney After Hours is a separate ticketed event that takes place on select nights and allows guests to explore Magic Kingdom after regular park hours with lower wait times on some of the more popular Disney World attractions.

Snacks, bottled sodas, and ice cream novelties are included in the ticket price. 

Disney After Hours is a really unique way to experience Magic Kingdom without the crowds, and without worrying about Genie+.

 Disney After Hours has something for everyone. You can aim to do as many attractions as possible, or you can enjoy a more intimate, and leisurely evening at Magic Kingdom.

Disney After Hours events are also being held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT in 2024.

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Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Pricing & Dates

Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park takes place on select nights from January 11 to June 27, 2024.After Hours is held on select Mondays and Thursdays. 

Ticket prices for Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom range from $155- $175 for regularly priced tickets and $125- $145 for Annual Passholders or Disney Vacation Club Members.

• Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024

• Monday, Jan. 15, 2024

• Monday, Jan. 22, 2024

• Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024

• Monday, Feb. 5, 2024

• Monday, Feb. 12, 2024

• Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024

• Monday, March 4, 2024

• Monday, March 18, 2024

• Monday, April 8, 2024

• Monday, April 22, 2024

• Monday, April 29, 2024

• Monday, May 13, 2024

• Thursday, June 13, 2024

• Thursday, June 27, 2024

Ticket prices vary based on date!

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How Long is Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom

2024 Hours for Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom are from 10pm -  1am.  Guests with a Disney After Hours ticket can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 7pm to get a head start on the evening.

Guests with tickets to Disney After Hours do not need to make a Disney Park Pass reservation to enter the park after 7pm.

Check-in for the event is at the main entrance to Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney World has made it easy by having  multiple in-park check-in locations as well.

If you want to visit Disney's Magic Kingdom before 7pm, you need to make a Disney Park Pass reservation, and you'll need to purchase a separate park admission ticket.

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Magic Kingdom After Hours Attraction Offerings

Unlike at Hollywood Studios where there's  a 30-minute “free time” between park close and After Hours start, Magic Kingdom is open to day guests,  and then switches to open exclusively to After Hours guests.

All attractions are open from 10pm to 1am. That said, After Hours guests should take advantage of being able to get into the park starting at 7pm, so you cab have full access to all the rides during the remaining regular park hours.

Adventureland

• Jungle Cruise

• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

• Pirates of the Caribbean

• Swiss Family Treehouse

• Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

Liberty Square

• Haunted Mansion

Frontierland

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

• Country Bear Jamboree

Fantasyland

• Barnstormer

• Dumbo the Flying Elephant

• “It’s a small world”

• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

• Mickey’s PhilharMagic

• Peter Pan’s Flight

• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid

Tomorrowland

• Astro Orbiter

• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

• Space Mountain

• Tomorrowland Speedway

• PeopleMover

• TRON Lightcycle Run

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Magic Kingdom After Hours Complimentary Food & Snacks

Guests attending Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom can enjoy complimentary Mickey Bars, popcorn, ice cream, soda, and beverages. 

Snack carts around the park also have grab-and-go drinks and snacks.

Main Street Bakery and Casey’s Corner are open for actual food food dinning options.

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Magic Kingdom After Hours Entertainment

In 2024, Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom is offering an event-exclusive showing of the Disney Enchantment fireworks show that played at Magic Kingdom during the 50th Anniversary.  

Disney Enchantment is shown at 11pm during the Magic Kingdom After Hours event. 

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Magic Kingdom After Hours Characters

Only two are listed on the Magic Kingdom After Hours event guide: 

• Mickey Mouse at the Town Square Theater 

• Princesses at Princess Fairytale Hall. At Princess Fairytale Hall, the princesses available were

  •  Cinderella and Elena 

  • Rapunzel and Tiana

I didn’t see any surprise character meet and greets at Magic Kingdom's After Hours event like I did at Disney's Hollywood Studios After Hours event.

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Timeline of what I was able to accomplish:

7:00pm | Check in to Disney After Hours at Liberty Square ticketing office

• 7:10pm | Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

• 7:40pm | Peter Pan’s Flight

• 8:00pm | Pirates of the Caribbean

• 8:25pm | People Mover

• 8:40pm | Barnstormer

• 9:10pm | Dumbo the Flying Elephant

• 9:22pm | Journey of the Little Mermaid

• 10:15pm | Space Mountain

• 10:45pm | Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

• 11:00pm | Disney Enchantment fireworks show

• 11:30pm | Haunted Mansion

• 11:44pm | Thunder Mountain

• 12:00am | Winnie the Pooh

• 12:10am  | Princesses at Princess Fairytale Hall

• 12:34am | TRON 

• 12:58am | TRON 

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What's Not Offered During Disney After Hours?

Something to keep in mind for Disney After Hours is while all the rides are open, there are no stage shows and limited characters. Here are some offerings that may not be available during Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom:

• Attractions such as Carousel of Progress, The Hall of Presidents, Tom Sawyer Island, Walt Disney World Railroad

• Shows such as Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire, Enchanted Tales With Belle

• Regular or roaming characters beyond Town Square Theater or Princess Fairytale Hall

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Is Disney’s Magic Kingdom After Hours Event Worth It in 2024?

Definitely worth it! If I had to choose between a full day park ticket or an after hours park ticket, I’d take the after hours every time. It’s a much more relaxed and enjoyable experience.  Most of the park feels empty.

It’s one of the best ticketed event I've ever done at Disney World in terms of not being overwhelmed with missing out on all the entertainment offerings and characters (MNSSHP).

Ideal for those who want to get a lot of rides in at Magic Kingdom and don't care as much for the characters and entertainment.

The attractions that normally have really long wait times ( Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, and Peter Pain are significantly lower during this event. 

While Tron at times had a higher wait time than I would’ve liked to see, it was nice not having to deal with getting a VQ. You could legit ride it as much as you want!

This after hours event may not be best for those with little children that won't make it past midnight.

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