Disney After hours as an AP holder

[Cyberc1978]

Im consider buy tix for the after hours at Hollywood studios.
However since im already an AP holder, im thinking its a bad idea.

I know the waits are shorter during DAH but still paying $160 for 3 hours seems like a lot.

Am I wrong, is it still worth it even as an AP holder?

 

[RuntheMouse]

It’s not worth it for us. Easier to spend the money on LL.

 

[Cyberc1978]

Yeah that was my thinking too.

I know if I don’t attend I don’t get free snacks and no short wait time but I still save $160, and I still get to go to other parks just not DHS.

 

[Toolulu22]

Yeah that was my thinking too.

I know if I don’t attend I don’t get free snacks and no short wait time but I still save $160, and I still get to go to other parks just not DHS.

Depending on when you go, there might still be wait times. We always took advantage of the before or after hour events when offered to avoid lines. The last time we did After Hours at HS was during President’s week in 2022. We were disappointed and angry at having wasted money on it.

Slinky Dog had a 40 minute line the whole night. Rise of the Resistance had a one hour wait posted, and then it broke down while we were on the ride. We rode M&M, Star Tours, and did Toy Story 2 or 3 times then left. Haunted Mansion and/or R&R were out of service or not included that night too.

We don’t eat snacks for meals, so one ice cream bar and some popcorn is it. We decided we won’t spend the money on After Hours again, but would do the before hours if they ever bring those back. There would be no lines from the normal park day already waiting, and from experience less people partake in the early event.

 

[brockash]

Im consider buy tix for the after hours at Hollywood studios.
However since im already an AP holder, im thinking its a bad idea.

I know the waits are shorter during DAH but still paying $160 for 3 hours seems like a lot.

Am I wrong, is it still worth it even as an AP holder?

We did it once and definitely won't do it again. We did not find the waits that short (certainly shorter than middle of the day) but not as short or at least not any shorter as the first hr or 2 of rope drop. The shows/entertainment are also closed so especially at DHS it takes a lot away. We also aren't big ice cream bar/bottled soda ppl so that didn't really appeal to us.

I do think we may in the future consider a MK after hours in the summer. - MK has more to do/less lines (at least had been our experience with deluxe hrs) and getting out of the heat of summer is nice.

 

[Cyberc1978]

Thanks appreciate the feedback.

I’m gonna stick with my gut feeling and no buy into DAH.

 

[focusondisney]

Im consider buy tix for the after hours at Hollywood studios.
However since im already an AP holder, im thinking its a bad idea.

I know the waits are shorter during DAH but still paying $160 for 3 hours seems like a lot.

Am I wrong, is it still worth it even as an AP holder?

Everyone’s “worth it” is subjective. We’ve been out of state APs for probably 20 years. Not only do we think DAHs are worth it, we’ve planned trips specifically to attend. We absolutely love the atmosphere of fun, being able to hear the music, the uncrowded walkways, upbeat & excited guests & smiling CMs. It’s my absolute favorite time to be in a park.

 

[summerlvr]

I used to think it was worth it, but I doubt I will bother with it going forward. I can buy LLMP and a whole lot of popcorn, ice cream and bottled water/soda for $185.

 

[We’reAllMadHere]

With price increases, it becomes more questionable. It depends on your touring style and interests. For someone with an AP, AH would seem to have much less value. For someone who buys AH instead of a regular ticket, it probably has more.

 

[HopperFan]

I did it when it first started when the price was half that .... I think last time I did it was $125 but we did it because we wanted to go with friends who did not have any other ticket. Now at this price point, nope ... I can't eat that much ice cream.

 

[MonkeyKnifeFight]

I feel like if I had an AP I wouldn’t bother. However as a DVC member we are doing a couple trips with only after hours/parties this year. We get the same discount which is a decent $30 off a person for Hollywood studios or Epcot so it’s like $135 a person. And we get in 3 hours early too so a total of 6 hours for $135 seems solid.

 

[kylenne]

tbh as an out of state AP I would be much more inclined to do AH if we didn't stay at deluxe resorts. We really don't mind paying upcharges for things like that and generally prefer the parks at night anyway (we always midday nap on rope drop days so we can close out parks later), but the way the schedule works out they tend to pit the AH events against EEH elsewhere and I have a very hard time shelling out money for 1 extra hour and a bunch of snacks I probably won't eat when I could be using a resort benefit that's 95% as good, for "free". This is the reason we've never done HS AH specifically even though it's very much something we'd be interested in, during our trips they always have it the same night as MK EEH. I'm sure that's intentional lol.

 

[Cyberc1978]

tbh as an out of state AP I would be much more inclined to do AH if we didn't stay at deluxe resorts. We really don't mind paying upcharges for things like that and generally prefer the parks at night anyway (we always midday nap on rope drop days so we can close out parks later), but the way the schedule works out they tend to pit the AH events against EEH elsewhere and I have a very hard time shelling out money for 1 extra hour and a bunch of snacks I probably won't eat when I could be using a resort benefit that's 95% as good, for "free". This is the reason we've never done HS AH specifically even though it's very much something we'd be interested in, during our trips they always have it the same night as MK EEH. I'm sure that's intentional lol.

You are correct that the EEH are free and the DAH are not.

Does anyone have any insights into if more people are attending the DAH vs EEH?

One is free but only for deluxe resorts and the other is for everyone but costs $$

 

[We’reAllMadHere]

You are correct that the EEH are free and the DAH are not.

Does anyone have any insights into if more people are attending the DAH vs EEH?

One is free but only for deluxe resorts and the other is for everyone but costs $$

Reports I have seen indicated AH have less people. That has matched my limited observations but it’s tough to tell with weather and other conditions. It seems like MK is more popular than EP EEH.

I have not seen EEH for HS, and I would say HS AH has been worth it for us.

 

[Cyberc1978]

Reports I have seen indicated AH have less people. That has matched my limited observations but it’s tough to tell with weather and other conditions. It seems like MK is more popular than EP EEH.

I have not seen EEH for HS, and I would say HS AH has been worth it for us.

Thanks.

So far only Epcot and MK have EEH

 

[kylenne]

I have not seen EEH for HS, and I would say HS AH has been worth it for us.

So far only Epcot and MK have EEH

EEH usually happens at HS during the thick of party season when the party schedule ramps up at MK to several times a week. They move the Wednesday offering from MK to another park, usually HS though sometimes it's AK. Usually this starts happening in mid-September; we attended the final MK EEH last year on 9/18, the week after that it moved over to HS iirc. That's probably why you've not experienced it there, it's only a relatively small window where it happens.

RE: crowds, FWIW, they are pretty low at EEH. We've never felt like there were too many people there or high wait times once the day people who jumped in line at the end of regular hours cycle through. Some areas are downright deserted.

 

[SPINster]

I'm an out of state AP, doing HS AH next week. My sister and I did MK AH in January and had an amazing time, but it's definitely not "worth it" for everyone, it depends on how quickly you can move and what you value.

We had our own boat on Jungle Cruise and had the absolute best time with the skipper. We got our own solo spin on the tea cups and the cast members were cheering us on. We managed to eat 7 ice cream bars between us. And I think we did 15 rides in that 3 hours, longest wait was 12 minutes for 7DMT, plus met the 4 princesses.

I don't anticipate getting as much done at HS.

 

[Cyberc1978]

I'm an out of state AP, doing HS AH next week. My sister and I did MK AH in January and had an amazing time, but it's definitely not "worth it" for everyone, it depends on how quickly you can move and what you value.

We had our own boat on Jungle Cruise and had the absolute best time with the skipper. We got our own solo spin on the tea cups and the cast members were cheering us on. We managed to eat 7 ice cream bars between us. And I think we did 15 rides in that 3 hours, longest wait was 12 minutes for 7DMT, plus met the 4 princesses.

I don't anticipate getting as much done at HS.

That sounds like you had an awesome time

Curious to know how long the wait was for Tron?

 

[SPINster]

That sounds like you had an awesome time

Curious to know how long the wait was for Tron?

That was the one ride we didn't do, I think the posted wait time was 30 minutes. We looked at the queue from near the Speedway and could see people in the outside stanchions. Not a lot but our rule was "if the line is outside, we aren't going to bother." So probably at least 15-20 minutes at that time, which was about 1.5 hours into the party.