After Hours MK ticket or Rivers of Dining Package

[RLynn17]

My husband and I will be going for a quick weekend trip in Jan (3 days, no hopper tix). However, we are now weighing other options since we realized we'll be there the Fri night with MK Magic Hours (8pm-11pm) and Rivers of Dining Package is offered the same night. We have not experienced either events. If we buy the Fri. night MKMH, we would switch to 2 day tix for Sat & Sun, no hopper. This is also the same weekend as Epcot Art Festival.

 

[Elle23]

I can’t imagine anyone would suggest you choose ROL over DAH! They aren’t even in the same league, experience-wise, in my opinion.

 

[HopperFan]

APPLES AND ORANGES

DAH is so much fun, you can do so much, ride good ones over and over, ice cream til you are sick. We LOVED it! Great night. We went with plan of no characters, no shows and we had a blast.

ROL ....... first off you can eat at those restaurants with and without a package if you wanted but they are nothing difficult to book (you can walk up to Tiffins) and nothing really special. ROL .......... I won't use a FP+ on that again unless it's a 4th FP+ ... we watched last couple times from Flame Tree BBQ and it's fine from there. I can't imagine picking ROL over DAH.

PS We enjoyed the arts festival last year, it's first year. I think it will be even better this year.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Agree with the PPs.

OP, not sure if you are asking for advice or have a specific question, but I would swing for DAH over ROL any day. You can do ROL any day of the year. DAH is a limited time, unique event and a great way to experience the MK on a short trip.

I vote passing on ROL.

Have fun!

 

[RLynn17]

Ok, I was hoping you'd say DAH was worth it, but we wanted to be sure since it looks like there are technically less hours in the park with check in at 7 and DAH being from 8-11pm. Thanks for the advice!! Looks like I better order my tix!

 

[Cirlonde]

Ok, I was hoping you'd say DAH was worth it, but we wanted to be sure since it looks like there are technically less hours in the park with check in at 7 and DAH being from 8-11pm. Thanks for the advice!! Looks like I better order my tix!

When we did DAH in April 2016, we were able to check in at 4pm with no problems which greatly increases the value of DAH even more (and we scheduled FP+ during the pre-event hours.)

Also, just one more strong vote for doing DAH and not the ROL package. We had an amazing time when we went and I'd do it again in a heartbeat if it ever worked out that we were there at a time they were offering it.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Ok, I was hoping you'd say DAH was worth it, but we wanted to be sure since it looks like there are technically less hours in the park with check in at 7 and DAH being from 8-11pm. Thanks for the advice!! Looks like I better order my tix!

Disney officially says check-in is at 7PM (regardless if it’s a 8-11 or 9-12 DAH night), however for both the 2016 and 2017 dates DAH ticket holders could get in at 4pm, so similar to a Halloween or Christmas party.

I think you need to be a little bit careful totally counting on the 4pm entry in case Disney were to change it for 2018, but I suspect it will be the same.

This thread may help if you haven’t see it already:
"Official" 2018 Disney After Hours (DAH) Thread

 

[RLynn17]

Great tips guys! If the earlier check-in is an issue, we can always take the monorail to Poly for drinks while we wait. Can't wait!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Great tips guys! If the earlier check-in is an issue, we can always take the monorail to Poly for drinks while we wait. Can't wait!

That is EXCELLENT thinking!