Disneyland is a place that is constantly growing and changing in a constant effort to bring its guests new, immersive types of entertainment. The newest addition to their repertoire of fun is their Disneyland After Dark parties, where guests who buy a special ticket get to enjoy a themed party after the park is closed to normal guests.
The number one question I am asked when I tell my friends or co-workers that I just went to a Disneyland After Dark event, is “was it worth the price?.” For me, that answer is yes, but others may want to pass. I can’t definitively tell you which side of the road you fall on, but I can give you the pros and cons to help you determine if you should go to the next Disneyland After Dark event.
After Dark: The Themes
A big factor in how much you enjoy the night depends on how much you care about the theme. My boyfriend and I just attended the 80’s themed night and had a blast. We would have preferred to go on a night with a different theme, but this was the only date that worked for us. Neither of us actually lived through the 80’s, but we are fans of 80’s music and movies, and found joy in the references from the era that were scattered throughout the park. Future Disneyland After Dark events in 2020 will be themed for Valentines Day, Pixar, Villains, and Star Wars. If one of these themes resonates strongly with you, the night is likely to be much more fun.
AFTER DARK: THE COST
Like most things related to Disney, Disneyland After Dark comes with a hefty price tag. At the time of writing this, tickets to the event are $109 a person, and you are not actually allowed to hang out in the park for a full day. If you wanted to spend the full day in either of the Disney Parks, you would have to buy a regular ticket as well, which means spending an additional $104 to $199 per ticket depending on the date and if you want to go into both Disneyland and California Adventure. Unless you have one of the Signature Annual Passes, you will also be paying around $25 to park in the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure. The events themselves only last for about 4 hours, but they usually do allow the attendees to enter the park around 6pm. For people who don’t go to Disneyland on a regular basis, it can be a tough call to determine if it’s better to spend roughly the same amount of money to spend a normal day there, or to enjoy the exclusive event.
The After Dark Experience
The biggest pro for my boyfriend and I was that we could walk on almost all the rides. Some of the most popular rides, such as “Space Mountain” or “The Indiana Jones Adventure” would normally have a wait time of at least 45 minutes, but we walked right on. We essentially had our own private boat tour on “The Jungle Cruise” because there was just no one else there. In Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, we were able to get on the Millennium Falcon in a matter of minutes, and take photos we wouldn’t normally be able to capture with the normal crowds.
Speaking of photos, Disneyland added creative, themed photo ops and backgrounds throughout the park that lead to some excellent Instagram pics. For example, Mickey Mouse was taking photos with guests in front of a “mousercise” background, which was a pun on Jazzercise. They also had photo ops with characters who would not normally be out and about, such as the Star Wars Ewoks, C-3PO, and the stars of DuckTales. While the exclusive character sightings are pretty cool, tread with caution because most of these meet and greets have longer than normal lines. If your goal for the night is to meet characters, be prepared to stand in line for hours. However, themed backdrops that didn’t have characters present did not have ridiculous wait times.
Disney encourages guests of the party nights to dress up accordingly. The park was full of neon colors, and leg warmers, which helped create a unique atmosphere. I love the atmosphere of being at Disneyland in general, but having special decorations and different music mixed it up in a really cool way. I especially loved the 80’s themed projections on Main Street and Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.
Though this event was fun, my boyfriend and I were disappointed with some elements. Disney promised exclusive themed merchandise, but we weren’t impressed by the offerings, which mostly consisted of two or three generic T-shirt designs, and a phone case. The line to see the merchandise was out the door, and took up to an hour to go through. Plus, Disney sold out of some of the products before we reached the front. Since the event is only 4 hours long, this felt like a waste of time. Supposedly Disneyland was offering themed menu selections at some of its dining locations, but we were unable to find any.
More cons to consider if you are on the fence about attending this event is that some parts of the park are closed during the after hours event. My boyfriend was particularly disappointed that all of the novelty pickle stands were closed. I saw many guests who were upset because the newest addition to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance,” was closed for the night. It’s also worth noting that rides can break down or be closed for refurbishment at any time. When we were there, the Haunted Mansion was closed as it was still transitioning from it’s Christmas to non-holiday theme, and two of the Fantasyland rides were closed for refurbishment.
You should also consider that the event only takes place in one park. The 80’s Night, Valentine’s Day, and Star Wars events are all in Disneyland, while Pixar Night and Villain’s Night will take place in Disney’s California Adventure Park. If you favor one park over the other, it’s something to think about when you buy your tickets.
Ultimately, your satisfaction with the Disneyland After Dark parties is up to you, and what you hope to get out of attending them. These events are entirely what you make of them, and if they are your thing, you’ll have a blast. If you want to learn more about Disneyland After Dark or buy tickets, click here.
I enjoyed your well written article on Disneyland After Dark! It was very informative and described your honest and unbiased experience for anyone who decides to visit Disneyland After Dark. Thanks so much for your story Catie! Keep up the excellent work ! I look forward to seeing more stories and articles in the coming future.