Robert Niles
Editor
Robert Niles

Here's a New Way to Stay After Hours in the Magic Kingdom

March 22, 2016, 8:32 AM · What to experience something like Extra Magic Hours at the Magic Kingdom, but not planning to stay at a Walt Disney World resort hotel? Now you can... but you'll have to pay extra for the perk.

Disney has started offering "Disney After Hours," a hard-ticket event that extends three hours after the Magic Kingdom's official closing time. Tickets cost $149 per person (plus tax) and can be bought by phone at +1-407-827-7185.

Disney long has offered after-hours parties in its parks, such as the No-So-Scary Halloween Party and Very Merry Christmas Party. The new event extends that concept, but without the holiday theme. Disney's not announced any special entertainment for the After Hours event, however, it will be offering complimentary ice cream and beverages during the event at special carts around the park, much like the free trick-or-treat candy handouts during the Halloween party and the free cookies and cocoa during the Christmas event.

Like with the holiday parties, you do not need to buy a "regular" park admission first in order to attend the event. And for the After Hours event, you can enter the Magic Kingdom on your event ticket starting at 7pm.

Event dates area April 14, 21, and 28, and May 5, 8, 12 and 19. None of those dates are Extra Magic Hours evenings in the Magic Kingdom — Disney's extended park hours for its hotel guests — so only event participants will be able to stay in the park after its official closing time.

Replies (23)

anonymous
74.124.35.215
March 22, 2016 at 9:42 AM · Disney is desperate for more money. Charging for parking at their resorts along with the resort fees. I guess they are trying to get guests to stay off property. The resorts must be too crowded.
Mbrou24
Writer
Mitchell Brouillard
March 22, 2016 at 10:04 AM · The biggest concern I have is if this is wildly popular, does it mean the beginning of he end of extra magic hours? I'd have to assume that the continued wear and tear on the rides would mean that either extra magic hours or this will get cut down the road.
jabracing
Jeffrey Britton
March 22, 2016 at 10:18 AM · For $149 ALL the attractions better remain open....
anonymous
207.13.197.219
March 22, 2016 at 10:34 AM · This is getting ridiculous. If prices are this high for just normal park operations, we can almost guarantee a dramatic price change for the holiday parties.
RobPastor
Rob Pastor
March 22, 2016 at 11:18 AM · I think you're on to something Mitchell. It's a test and that may well be the end result.
Figdragon
Sarah Warner
March 22, 2016 at 11:50 AM · We are slowly losing EVERY perk of staying at a WDW resort. Soon extra hours may only be for those willing to pay and I can't afford it after the resort fees... ;)
rcdude
Writer
AJ Hummel
March 22, 2016 at 12:27 PM · Let's see...$102 for 13-14 hours in the park or $149 for 6-7 hours? Without a short line guarantee, I think it's pretty obvious which is the better deal.
SC121
Sylvain Comeau
March 22, 2016 at 1:02 PM · This is the most outrageous upcharge "event" yet. You'd think they were hurting for money, instead of swimming in it.
anonymous
144.92.169.200
March 22, 2016 at 1:40 PM · As someone who has generally visited the parks child-free, I find this concept somewhat intriguing. At the higher cost and evening hours with no holiday or theme, one could assume there may be less families with young children in the parks, shorter wait times, etc. The Halloween party is the only time I've ever just walked on to Splash Mountain with no wait. Not saying I'd actually buy this, but maybe...
anonymous
107.223.205.91
March 22, 2016 at 1:41 PM · Disney is getting ridiculous. I know they can't be hard up for money.
Bigwig30
Writer
James Rao
March 22, 2016 at 2:36 PM · Walt isn't just rolling over in his grave, he's spinning like a top. #facepalm
RobPastor
Rob Pastor
March 22, 2016 at 3:26 PM · James: Don't give them ideas. That's a clue to their next up charge fee. "Watch Walt Spin Like a Top"
Bigwig30
Writer
James Rao
March 22, 2016 at 3:35 PM · Between Disney and Universal I don't think there are any money gouging ventures they haven't considered! I'm going to five Cedar Fair parks this summer on an extended, two week, 3000 mile road trip, riding 70+ coasters, staying at nice hotels, eating at fantastic restaurants, and still spending less than I would for five days at Disney or Universal! Crazy.
anonymous
71.239.13.35
March 22, 2016 at 4:48 PM · I agree with the comment - all ride must be open. Last December, I was extremely disappointed on how few ride were actually open during extended magic hours. The rides that were open had long lines. I remember buying an extended hours pass for E-Ticket night at a reasonable price ($20?) and having a great time. My experience with the extra magic hours was the exact opposite. I cannot imagine spending $149 for the Magic Kingdom.
coasterdude
Writer
Anthony Murphy
March 22, 2016 at 4:57 PM · AJ does have an interesting point! I have been trying to understand Disney's angle in all of this because it makes no sense on the surface.

I am not sure who this is really being marketed at. The rich people that used to hire people in wheelchairs so they can skip the line? The parks are crowded, but they are not THAT crowded during EMH.

For those looking for a good park that is a bargain, I highly recommend Knottsberry Farm.

writerguyfl
Alex Daley
March 22, 2016 at 5:26 PM · A few things to consider: Not everyone can or wants to spend 12-16 hours at a theme park. And, not everyone can or wants to spend multiple days at WDW. If your time is limited, it might make sense to spend an extra $50 for this. You can arrive at 7pm, do the 2nd tier stuff, see a parade and fireworks, and then ride the most popular attractions multiple times.

Florida has a population of 20 million. The vast majority of those people are within a 4 hour drive to Orlando. That's a fairly large pool of potential ticket-buyers for this event.

As for the cost, I certainly wouldn't pay it. But, I wouldn't pay $150+ for a Broadway show, live concert, or sporting event. However, lots of people do and each of those things are shorter than this Disney event.

BucsandCanes
BucsandCanes
March 22, 2016 at 6:42 PM · Nope, I'd just throw that money toward a Seasonal Pass
ynnam
Manny Barron
March 22, 2016 at 9:41 PM · Last year I paid 105 dollars or something like that for a one day ticket to the Magic Kingdom. For an extra 44 dollars I get to spend just 5 hours in the park, and if crowds are as light as possible and we all know the MK is even better at night well maybe just maybe I would....Nah I probably wouldn't.

The only way I might do this is if this was offered in the summer and to avoid the heat and crowds of the day, and enjoy the night...but still 5 hours, even 6 doesn't sound like a fair deal.

I do agree with several people here though. If this succeeds, resort guests may start to lose this privilege, or what I think will happen most realistically is that only people who pay for this event and people staying at Deluxe resorts will be able to enjoy after hours.

We vote with our wallets people!

anonymous
85.150.173.168
March 22, 2016 at 11:03 PM · It's clear Disney knows there is a demand. That what they deliver of an experiance is sub par. The solution is not adding new high capacity rides in every nook like Universal is doing but to present us with another paid event.
Disnet has become a bad game. They put it on the market at full priced but cut a lot of content from it. To be able to recieve it you need to pay. You want villains, pay 129, you want a good view for this firework or that christmas show; pay for a overpriced, bad diner. Hell they even let you pay for your entrance ticket!
Disney has been slowly cooking their guests building almost no new rides, cutting on entertainment and raising prices of everything from park entrance, hotels, food and souvenis while declining the quality of all those things. But the cows still come to be milked like a bunch of Disney crack addicts.
Last 4 vacations over a 10 year period I never once went into wdw. Universal studios is now giving me a better Disney experiance. Their guests are relaxed, having fun together without booking rides and restaurants. Characters a magicaly appearing and take their time for foto's. Food is great, restrooms clean, team members spontanius and fun, and their hotels are amazing.
That doesn't mean I don't want to visit the mouse but I don't recognise Walts legacy anymore in the corporation that is running the show and I found, visiting the parks, even for one day, made me sad and angry. This is not what Walt wanted and this sure as hell is not what I want!
GeneP
GeneP
March 23, 2016 at 8:42 AM · Why do people get offended when a business tries to earn extra money? This takes nothing away from anyone else. It just gives people another choice or option. If someone wants to pay the fee let them, they will get 7 hours in the park, 3 of those, that they will virtually be able to walk on the rides. Almost all the attractions will be accessible, and it includes ice cream and drinks. Disney tries different things all the time, some work out, some dont. If they didnt try certain things out, we might never see some of the great things we get to enjoy.
JK
JK
March 23, 2016 at 11:58 AM · Having done the boo to you ticketed events and the merry Christmas event I think these ticketed attractions have a lot to do to make them more of an attraction, the best one by far is the Halloween ticketed nights as you get a great night, treats etc but the Christmas one is a rip off, an extra parade and hot chocolate and cookies and now this new idea, I think it needs to offer more to be attractive. The other issue is like the Halloween and Christmas events where you see so many people who have not paid extra still in the park right up to closure will the same happen here, your pay extra and see people who have paid nothing still enjoying the park, on our last Halloween after hours event I asked a cast member why there is nothing being done and there answer was there is not enough staff to escort people out the parks and it's easier to let them stay then have a major disruption due to arguments, not good.
anonymous
38.100.102.58
March 24, 2016 at 6:06 AM · If this idea works - and Disney keeps it - it will become like the Halloween and Christmas parties - originally they had limited amount of tickets - so it was not too crowded and you could get on rides easily and get a good location for the parades and fireworks - but they saw the success and kept adding more tickets - now it is like any other time - long lines -to get a good seat to parade 1 hour ahead of time - so there goes some of your time for party - for the additional cost I did not mind it when it was limited -but I don't think I will go to another party and pay the price to be in a crowd like normal hours - so if Disney keeps this and sees it success - expect them to keep adding tickets and you will be paying for the same crowded experience as you have during the day
anonymous
50.89.19.43
March 25, 2016 at 10:25 AM · Can't wait for Disney to announce how many tickets they will sell for each of these days? Was there many years ago for Mickey's not so scary Halloween event and was told they sold 20,000 tickets and the Magic Kingdom appeared Empty. If they sell 100,000 tickets, would it be worth it ? If they sell 20,000 tickets Just maybe.?

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