Disney After Hours is back in 2027 at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney's Hollywood Studios. These are limited-capacity, separately ticketed nights: three hours after regular park close, plus entry as early as 7:00 p.m. the same evening. You get shorter waits on major attractions and included snacks (ice cream, popcorn, and select bottled drinks).
2026 After Hours tickets are still available. For 2027, Disney Resort hotel guests (Disney Resorts Collection, Swan, Swan Reserve, Dolphin, and Shades of Green) can buy tickets now for event nights during their stay. Everyone else can purchase starting September 22, 2026.
How I'm using After Hours in 2027
I'm in Orlando for one night before a Virgin Voyages cruise and two nights after. We have an Annual Pass now, but it expires before that cruise. Renewing it for a short stop, with no guaranteed Disney World trip in early or mid-2027, is a waste. We may buy another pass later in 2027 if we are back in Florida for 5 or more days. Until then, the renewal discount is not worth months of unused time between the cruise and a maybe trip at the end of the year. Aulani is the big family trip for 2028, so 2027 stays light. For this cruise window, After Hours beats a 1- or 2-day park ticket: a few hours of low-wait rides without paying for a full park day or another pass.
That is the use case this post is built around. If your 2027 visit is a full week with Early Theme Park Entry and a touring plan, a regular ticket may still win. If you are wrapping a cruise, squeezing in one park evening, or keeping 2027 light before a bigger Disney trip later, After Hours is worth pricing first.
Magic Kingdom
Nights in 2027:
- January 11 and 18
- February 1, 8, 15, and 22
- March 4, 8, and 15
- April 5, 12, and 26
- May 17 and 24
- June 14, 21, and 28
- July 15 and 19
Hours: 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. You can enter as early as 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $189 to $209 per person, plus tax (price varies by date)
Typical after-hours draws include TRON Lightcycle / Run Presented by Enterprise, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Space Mountain. Magic Kingdom After Hours wraps in July because Halloween and Christmas parties take over later in the year.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Nights in 2027:
- January 16 and 27
- February 13 and 24
- March 13, 17, and 24
- April 7, 24, and 28
- May 19 and 26
- June 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30
- July 5, 12, and 26
- August 4 and 25
Hours: 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on most nights. April 24 runs 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. You can enter as early as 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $159 to $199 per person, plus tax (price varies by date)
Galaxy's Edge, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, Tower of Terror, and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets are the usual focus.
EPCOT
Nights in 2027:
- January 21
- February 18
- April 1, 15, and 22
- May 6 and 13
- June 3 and 12
- July 8, 22, and 29
- August 7, 12, and 19
Hours: 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. You can enter as early as 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $159 to $189 per person, plus tax (price varies by date)
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Soarin', and Test Track presented by General Motors are the typical headliners, plus character greetings.
Discounts and who can buy when
Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save $30 per ticket on Hollywood Studios and EPCOT After Hours in 2027. That discount is not listed for Magic Kingdom.
Buy now if you are staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel, Swan, Swan Reserve, Dolphin, or Shades of Green and the event night falls during your stay. All other guests can buy starting September 22, 2026. Popular dates sell out, so match the night to your hotel stay first.
When After Hours is the smarter spend
Compare the After Hours price to a 1-day ticket plus Lightning Lane for the same park.
After Hours usually wins when:
- Your Orlando stay is short (pre-cruise, post-cruise, or two to three hotel nights)
- You care more about a few low-wait rides than a full touring day
- Off-site: you only need a few evening hours, not a full day ticket
- On-site: you would rather buy the After Hours night than build the trip around Early Theme Park Entry
- You are not buying Annual Passes or stacking multiple park days that year
- You already have park admission (or just let your pass expire) and want one easier night of rides
- Your group wants either a calm night to knock out favorites or a friendly race to ride as much as possible
A regular park ticket usually wins when:
- You want a full day, dining reservations, and a real touring plan
- You are already buying a multi-day ticket
- Kids need daytime characters, shows, and downtime that a late night does not give you
You still need a separate daytime ticket if you want to be in the park before 7:00 p.m. After Hours is one park per ticket.
Planning it with a cruise or short stay
If you are doing what I am doing (one night before Virgin Voyages and two nights after), pick the After Hours night that lands on the evening you are actually in Orlando and have the energy for a late finish. Hollywood Studios and EPCOT run later into August. Magic Kingdom is done by mid-July.
I can add After Hours to a hotel and ticket quote the same way I build a regular Disney package: check date availability, compare it to a 1-day ticket, and keep the rest of the trip simple. For crowd timing on a longer stay, see the 2026 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar.
Tell me your 2027 travel window, which park you care about most, and whether this is a short Orlando stop or a full vacation. I will send options with After Hours included where it saves you time or money.
After Hours is a separately priced ticket valid only on the event date and hours. Park closing times, attractions, and offerings can change. Included snacks and bottled drinks are available during event hours only.
