Disneyland has a long standing tradition of hosting After Dark Parties. What began as a way to bring couples and night owls into the parks on nights they wouldn’t normally be open, has morphed into a yearly tradition of themed “nites” for everyone to enjoy.
Disneyland After Dark was reintroduced in early 2018 and has held events ever since. These limited time, special ticketed events sell out quickly. 2024 dates are here and you don’t want to miss it!
Disneyland After Dark Party Tickets, Dates and Times
Party tickets sell out quickly and Disney has made a smart calendar move—for the past few years, After Dark events are held on the evenings of (or near) the two biggest events hosted at the Anaheim Convention Center. All current special event ticket offers can be found here.
- Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite January 23, 25, 30, February 1, 6, 8, 12 & 14, 2024 at Disneyland Park.
- NEW Disneyland After Dark: Disney Channel Nite March 5 & 7, 2024, at Disneyland Park.
- Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite April 16, 18, 23, 25, 30, May 2, 7 & 9, 2024 at Disneyland Park.
- Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite June 18 & 20, 2024 at Disneyland Park.
- Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite no dates for 2024.
- Disneyland After Dark: Throwback Nite no dates for 2024.
Regular park admission does not grant you access to after hours events. If you are visiting Disneyland Resort on a “Disneyland After Dark” parks will close at the following times:
- Sweetheart Nite Disneyland closes at 8:00 pm
- Disney Channel Nite Disneyland closes at 8:00 pm
- Star Wars Nite Disneyland closes at TBA (8:00 pm anticipated)
- Pride Nite Disneyland closes at TBA (8:00 pm anticipated)
Each Disneyland After Dark evening will feature a distinct theme and goes from 8:00 or 9:00 pm until 1:00 am and requires a special ticket beginning at about $150 per person, depending on the event and date. If you’re looking to enjoy Disneyland after the sun sets on other evenings, be sure to get your Disneyland tickets at a discounted price here.
What’s Included Disneyland After Dark Party
Each Disneyland After Dark evening features a specific theme and goes from 8:00 or 9:00pm (with earlier mix-in hours) until 1:00am and requires a special ticket. Regular park admission does not grant you access to this after hours event.
Your ticket to Disneyland After Dark includes:
- Access to Disneyland or California Adventure Park with limited admission tickets sold (i.e. smaller crowds)
- Most rides and attractions open for riding
- Admission to hosting park beginning 2-3 hours before official event start time
- Park at Mickey & Friends or Pixar Pals (additional fee)
- After-hours attractions (varies according to event date and schedule)
- Character meet and greets
- Live music and dancing at various locations
- Specialty themed food and drinks
- Tribute after dark shows like fireworks and World of Color (certain events only)
- Complimentary keepsake upon entry
- Free PhotoPass downloads during the event
Remember, event attire is encouraged to create an authentic themed vibe at Disneyland After Dark.
Disneyland After Dark Sweethearts’ Nite
Returning in 2024 with tons of nights to celebrate with your friends or sweetheart! Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite hosted on January 23, 25, 30, February 1, 6, 8, 12 & 14, 2024 at Disneyland Park. Ticket prices are $139-169 depending on the date.
I’ve already detailed how to make the perfect date night at Disneyland here, but if you’re attending this after-hours event, here’s what’s going down.
- Pre-party mix-in admission to Disneyland park starting at 6 p.m., no theme park reservation required.
- Sweethearts’ Nite Royal Cavalcade with Cinderella, Prince Charming, Disney friends and Royal Fanfare dancers in a “mini parade”—from Town Square to “it’s a small world” followed by a Royal Ball!
- Projections during the entire event so you don’t have to carve out a specific time for these sights. View projections on Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle and “it’s a small world.”
- Darling Disney Couples pose for meet and greet photos or wave hello as you pass by.
- Sweetheart Photo Ops with romantic scenes from Disney films, including Lady and the Tramp, Tangled, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin and more. Unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads from the party, be sure to scan your wristband into the app to link the photos.
Disneyland After Dark: Disney Channel Nite
NEW in 2024 an after dark event celebrating iconic Disney Channel TV shows and characters hosted on March 5 and 7 at Disneyland Park. Ticket prices are $139 per guest ages 3 and up.
I love me a good Disney Channel original, I even hosted a Halloween Party at the actual East High with some friends. If you’re attending this after-hours event, here’s what you can expect:
- Pre-party mix-in admission to Disneyland park starting at 6 p.m., no theme park reservation required.
- Descendants at the Rivers of America cruising along the Sailing Ship Columbia on a musical journey through Descendants 1, 2 and 3.
- High School Musical Pep Rally in a “mini parade” format, through the streets of Disneyland celebrating your favorite songs from the High School Musical franchise.
- Camp Rock Karaoke & the Ultimate Disney Channel Trivia Challenge in the Golden Horseshoe Saloon, I bet this will be packed so get there early for this one!
- Phineas and Ferb Dance Party at Tomorrowland Terrace.
- Character Meet Ups where nostalgia comes to life with iconic Disney Characters.
- Photo Ops from favorite Disney Channel Original Movies and TV shows (Camp Rock, Teen Beach Movie, Lizzie McGuire, Halloweentown, Zenon). And a “glowing wand” photo opportunity. Step behind the glass, raise your own wand and appear to “paint” glowing colors in the air around you!
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Unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads from the party, be sure to scan your wristband into the app to link the photos.
Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite
Returning for more nights in 2024, Star Wars Nite will arrive April 16, 18, 23, 25, 30, May 2, 7 & 9, 2024 at Disneyland Park during Season of the Force!
This spring, Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite will grant Guests of all ages special after-hours access to Disneyland Park with the purchase of a separate event admission ticket. Here are just a few of the things you can expect:
- Admission to Disneyland Park beginning at 6:00 pm; no theme park reservation required.
- Star Wars Character sightings
- Event-themed menu selections
- Star Wars: Celebrate the Nite Fireworks Show above Sleeping Beauty Castle
- March of the First Order featuring Captain Phasma
- Galactic Dance Party in Tomorrowland
- Star Wars-themed photo opportunities, merchandise and more
Guests can also come dressed to match the event. Proclaim your allegiance to the light side or dark side of the Force! I can’t wait to see your photos from the event!
Disneyland After Dark Pride Nite
Back in 2024, during Pride Month Disneyland will host an after dark event—Pride Nite on June 18 and 20, 2024. Tickets go on sale April 11, 2024.
This June, Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and allies at a special after-hours party at Disneyland Park with the purchase of a separate event admission ticket. You can also celebrate PRIDE all month long at Disneyland with these special offerings.
Here are just a few of the things you can expect:
- Admission to Disneyland Park beginning at 6:00 pm; no theme park reservation required. Party ends at 1:00 am.
- Pride Nite Cavalcade featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Clarabelle, Donald, Daisy and Goofy dressed in special attire.
- Ohana Dance Party with Stitch at Tomorrowland Terrace, where a DJ will be spinning great tunes with joyful energy at a dance party that celebrates “ohana” – family!
- Pride Nite Dance Club along the Rivers of America, inviting everyone to dance and enjoy music under the stars.
- Country line dancing at the Golden Horseshoe
- Photo backdrops with inspirational messages or Disney characters and enjoy unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads.
- Access to iconic Disneyland attractions such as Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones Adventure and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, usually with shorter wait times.
Disneyland After Dark Past Events
Certain themes come up again and again, and others are added to the mix. Let’s take a look back at some previous After Dark events at Disneyland Resort.
- Disneyland After Dark: Grad Nite Reunion 2022
- Disneyland After Dark: Villains Nite 2022
- Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite
- Disneyland After Dark: Merriest Nites (2021)
- Disneyland After Dark: 80s Nite (2020)
- Disneyland After Dark: Pixar Nite (2020)
- Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite (2023)
- Disneyland After Dark: Heroes Assemble (2019)
- Disneyland After Dark: 90s Nite (2019)
- Disneyland After Dark: Throwback Nite (2018, 2023)
Disneyland After Dark Hotels
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Disneyland After Dark Unofficial Events
Experiencing Disneyland after sunset is simply magical! If you can’t make it to one of the official “Disneyland After Dark” events, choose to visit during extended park hours which usually fall on weekend, during holidays and school breaks.
Most nights in the summer Disneyland stays open until midnight, giving you ample time to explore the parks after dark. Some of my favorite attractions to ride after dark include:
- Space Mountain
- Astro Orbitor
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Mad Tea Party
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Looking for more ways to make a night of it at Disneyland in 2024? Check out our Date Night at Disneyland article for tips and ideas.
Hi. My family are coming to Disneyland from Australia in may next year and are interested in attending one of the star wars after dark nites. I can purchase park tickets now but not dates have been released for the after dark nites. Do you suggest I buy our park hopper tickets now and then try to get the after dark tickets when they become available? Cheers.
Hi Jacquie, get those theme park tickets and reservations first for sure! Then when these are confirmed closer to the date, you’ll grab those.
How will Disney actually know if your not supposed to be there for after dark? I know its a separate ticket, but will they have everyone out the park from the earlier day ? what if your a pass member and also have a ticket to After Dark ? would I have to re-enter?
Hi Celeste, Disney has been doing special ticket events for years. They are pros at weeding out who should be there and who should not. Every special event guest gets a wristband and at the cut off time, you can no longer enter stores or ride queues without it. They then sweep the park and don’t let anyone without one past a certain point. It’s pretty amazing how efficiently they do this. If you have a regular ticket or Magic Key for that day, there will be a station to get your wristband without exiting and entering. I’d ask around as the time approaches but at Disneyland it tends to be in Tomorrowland.
Any mention on when they’ll be doing a Disney after dark 90s nite.? I was so bummed to miss the first one and it looked like show much fun. I hope they do it again,
Please please let me if it’s something being considered and when. I’ll for sure be there , any info Willis help, thanks
Hey Michael, I mostly hear things as they’re released to the public. But if there are any rumblings of that event I will keep updating here and on my FB page (Disneyland Plan by The Happiest Blog on Earth).
If we are going to the park that will have a disney after dark event that evening will it be more full than usual. We are looking at going to DCA april 30. Or would it be better to wait until that Thursday. Thanks.
The opposite park tends to be the busier one. Most people stay away before after dark events because they feel like they will have to leave earlier than normal. It’s a great time to go, and also to people watch as guests come in ready for their event.
The After Dark looks so fun! It makes it look even more magical!
Disneyland after sunset is incredible! I love the ambient lighting everywhere and the glow of magic in the air!