Disney After Hours for 2018?

[CarrieR]

I guess I'm the lone dissenter to "it's the most awesome event ever." I went in January; Magic Kingdom at night is basically my crack and so after lots of coveting, I broke down and got tix. I paid the AP price, so less than $100. I found it not nearly as empty as I'd expected, with short waits (but not no waits) for rides. I never got on 7D at all, as it was still a pretty decent wait within the first hour of the event and then down for the last hour of the night.

Don't misunderstand - I didn't have a "bad" time, but I also wouldn't spend the money again. (Honestly, the park was more empty this past Saturday than it was during DAH )

There's a DAH date during our trip. It would be over $500 for our family of four to attend. Just curious, those of you who've been before, why is this worth it? Are you walking on to every single ride? Is it still worth it for a family who isn't interested in character meets?

I went last year and did not find it worth it. I got far less done than I expected and no, not everything was a walkon. Often just 1-2 train waits, but I was surprised how much less I got done than expected.

That sounds amazing!

I think for me as a solo traveler it holds a lot of appeal and would only cost $119. I look at it this way though... park admission for 1/19, the day I intend to go is $99. I don't intend to go to the park earlier in the day. I am going to have a leisurely breakfast, then go spend the day at Disney Springs. I'll have a late lunch/early dinner. And go back to my room for a little bit to relax. I'll enter the park as early as is allowed (hopefully 7) and get to stay until 11. For those extra $20, I'll have an almost empty park and be able to walk on all rides. I can enjoy some popcorn, ice cream, or beverages if the mood strikes, and soak in the magic. That to me is worth it.

If you're looking at DAH vs a one-day ticket, it might be worth it. However, I will say that I question if part of my (unpopular) opinion is colored by the fact that I was solo. For reference, I'm an outgoing introvert - so I can handle being alone, but I wonder if DAH was a little too alone. Normally there are families to chat with here and there to break up the loneliness, but this was really floating about on my own island while everyone else was insular with their own groups. I don't know... something about it was different. I just know I left feeling that I had definitely not gotten my money's worth.

Just my opinion, and it seems no one else shares it - but thought it should be known that "best event ever" is not unanimous.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Is there any disadvantage to starting the event with the dessert party/HEA? We're big ride fans and love to loop our favourites. I'm just wondering if I should try to change my reservation.

Just thinking out loud on your question... no real disadvantage I can see, unless you wanted to do something more productive with your early park entry time. But aside from that, the advantage would be a secured viewing location for HEA and not having to otherwise stake out a spot if you're wanting to watch in front of the castle.

I guess that's a lot of desserts between the party and the unlimited ice cream bars at DAH, if you partake in each.

That being said, personally I probably wouldn't do both a dessert party and DAH on the same night. For one, that's a lot of upcharge $ in one spot. Also, these nights are - generally speaking - lower (note, not low) crowd times to begin with, so HEA crowds might be a bit more tolerable to tackle.

But, if it fits with your plan/group, I could see it being a valid plan if you so choose.

Have fun!

 

[Disney_Princess83]

We are considering going this for one night in February. We will be on property at WDW for 10 days and then a 7 day Disney Cruise. When we come back, we won't be on property but staying for another two weeks. Since we won't have access to EMH for the second half of the trip, we might do this one evening. We are AP holders so we can get the discounted price. Between the snacks and access to the Coasters including the Mine Train I think it would be worth it for us.

 

[999_Happy_Haunts]

What happens if it rains?

You get to enter at 7:00 and stay until three hours after regular park closing, and you get to walk on to virtually every ride that is open...and you get wet.

 

[BK2014]

Since DW did not look at me like I was crazy when I suggested it, we are now doing this after the dessert party on our last night in January.

 

[Pdollar88]

Rearranged my schedule a little to maximize the time I get into the parks on the DAH ticket. Will likely enter around 4:30, do things that close early like the railroad and Liberty riverboat, pop over to Ohana for a 6:20 res, and return for lots of after hours fun! Can't wait!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Rearranged my schedule a little to maximize the time I get into the parks on the DAH ticket. Will likely enter around 4:30, do things that close early like the railroad and Liberty riverboat, pop over to Ohana for a 6:20 res, and return for lots of after hours fun! Can't wait!

Just curious, is DAH at 8PM or 9PM on your night? Forgive me for dissecting your plan here (I know that's not why you posted) but are you committed to that 6:20 Ohana reservation? Ohana runs notoriously behind... between that, the meal, and travel, I'd estimate you'd probably be back at the MK around 8ish at best. That may be exactly what you're aiming for, but just want to be sure.

 

[Pdollar88]

Just curious, is DAH at 8PM or 9PM on your night? Forgive me for dissecting your plan here (I know that's not why you posted) but are you committed to that 6:20 Ohana reservation? Ohana runs notoriously behind... between that, the meal, and travel, I'd estimate you'd probably be back at the MK around 8ish at best. That may be exactly what you're aiming for, but just want to be sure.

Please, dissect away! I like the feedback.

I'm not terribly committed to my Ohana reservation. It was just an improvement over the later 8:20 reservation I had before. DAH appears to start at 9 on the night I'm going (3/8). So 8ish is an acceptable return time to MK, I suppose. But like I said, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for an earlier Ohana reservation (that isn't at 4 pm).

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Please, dissect away! I like the feedback.

I'm not terribly committed to my Ohana reservation. It was just an improvement over the later 8:20 reservation I had before. DAH appears to start at 9 on the night I'm going (3/8). So 8ish is an acceptable return time to MK, I suppose. But like I said, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for an earlier Ohana reservation (that isn't at 4 pm).

Ahh, got it!

For me, that'd be too much back and forth (MK - Poly - MK) in a short amount of time, but I've done crazier things so I'm not one to talk!

Your plan probably isn't a bad way to go if you're OK getting back to MK in that 8-9PM window and not using that for any park time.

I will say, a proper dinner is the one thing I didn't plan particularly well when we did it last year. We did it on our arrival day and really had only snacked for dinner, not a full meal. This year I'm going to make it a point to eat a better dinner before.

 

[Pdollar88]

For me, that'd be too much back and forth (MK - Poly - MK) in a short amount of time, but I've done crazier things so I'm not one to talk!

I feel sure this is a crazy plan and I'll change my mind about bouncing around. But for now, I'm feeling it. Running on pure Disney excitement.

 

[DaisyNY]

Any chance of additional March dates...last one I see is March 8th and we arrive on the 11th???

 

[lexmelinda]

March 1st regular closing is at 8pm. You can enter at 7pm with DAH ticket. 4 hours at MK for $120? Doesn't seem worth it. Maybe if you could enter at 4pm like regular party tickets but I just don't see it for 4 hours.

 

[redkop1969]

March 1st regular closing is at 8pm. You can enter at 7pm with DAH ticket. 4 hours at MK for $120? Doesn't seem worth it. Maybe if you could enter at 4pm like regular party tickets but I just don't see it for 4 hours.

we entered at 5pm in Feb this year with the DAH ticket, I had booked Fast Passes as well from 5pm onwards with it. People were getting in from 4pm

 

[CarrieR]

Please, dissect away! I like the feedback.

I'm not terribly committed to my Ohana reservation. It was just an improvement over the later 8:20 reservation I had before. DAH appears to start at 9 on the night I'm going (3/8). So 8ish is an acceptable return time to MK, I suppose. But like I said, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for an earlier Ohana reservation (that isn't at 4 pm).

I think 8PM is optimistic. Ohana is a long meal, and an expensive AYCTE that you won't want to rush. Travel to the Poly can vary widely from lickety-split to an eternity. It sounds like you'll keep trying to move Ohana - 5P would probably work - but if you're not able to, I might consider putting it on a different day. (We had a reservation around 8P our last trip and were seated pretty promptly - it was still after 10P when we made it to the MK for busses.)

 

[Pdollar88]

I think 8PM is optimistic. Ohana is a long meal, and an expensive AYCTE that you won't want to rush. Travel to the Poly can vary widely from lickety-split to an eternity. It sounds like you'll keep trying to move Ohana - 5P would probably work - but if you're not able to, I might consider putting it on a different day. (We had a reservation around 8P our last trip and were seated pretty promptly - it was still after 10P when we made it to the MK for busses.)

Hmm. Maybe I will end up eating at 4.

 

[d96j97]

Is it just me or is it crazy that they are even offering this? I mean....you are already paying a small fortune for tickets and although the wait times may be less, is it really worth another $119 per person? I LOVE Disney like no other, but some of the things they are doing just keeps adding to the cost making it harder and harder to go.

 

[redkop1969]

Is it just me or is it crazy that they are even offering this? I mean....you are already paying a small fortune for tickets and although the wait times may be less, is it really worth another $119 per person? I LOVE Disney like no other, but some of the things they are doing just keeps adding to the cost making it harder and harder to go.

When we booked Feb we actually planned on not going to Disney as we only flew in for a week, we have Universal AP's so our plan was to do there and go to Busch, but when the DAH was announced we gave Busch a miss and did this instead, so it was our only Disney Park on our visit, so worked out great for us. If we had normal Disney tickets as we do for our 2 week trip coming up, we wouldn't pay out extra but as a one off, well worth it.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Is it just me or is it crazy that they are even offering this? I mean....you are already paying a small fortune for tickets and although the wait times may be less, is it really worth another $119 per person? I LOVE Disney like no other, but some of the things they are doing just keeps adding to the cost making it harder and harder to go.

The wait times weren't just less for us, there was NO wait. The only thing we ever waited for at all was loading rides, with the exception of having to wait through one ride cycle at 7DMT. There were times we we couldn't see another soul. We were the ONLY people on HM when we got on. We did everything we care to ride in those 3 hours, riding favorites multiple times, and got popcorn, ice cream, and soda. It was WELL worth the money spent IMO.

 

[999_Happy_Haunts]

Is it just me or is it crazy that they are even offering this? I mean....you are already paying a small fortune for tickets and although the wait times may be less, is it really worth another $119 per person? I LOVE Disney like no other, but some of the things they are doing just keeps adding to the cost making it harder and harder to go.

At some level I think there may be a disconnect between the people to whom this is being marketed versus the people who are actually considering buying these. At $119, if my brother called me up and said "Let's do this", and I met him at the MK gate and we enjoyed the park until 2:00 a.m., I wouldn't blink. Same holds true if my wife and I decided to make a night of it. Cheaper than most nice restaurants we would go to on a Saturday night. I think this was the original intent that Disney was shooting for. A group of friends going out for a night or a couple going on a "date night". But lo and behold, families of five are all of a sudden trying to figure this into their budget and the numbers are eye-popping. Disney will certainly sell tickets to these folks but I question whether they were ever the target audience.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Hey guys - don't mean to interfere with this discussion but I went ahead and posted a new 2018 DAH thread so we could have a one-stop-shop thread for updated 2018 info, news, opinions, planning, etc. Here's a link: "Official" 2018 Disney After Hours (DAH) Thread

Thanks!