**Disney After Hours - Magic Kingdom** FAQ & Discussion Thread

[sjberg79]

I'm thinking about doing this at the end of January when we are there but my 5 year old is not going to make it to 11pm, even with a nap (that night the event starts at 8). We'll be lucky to make it to 10pm, which is fine, I'd be find paying for that and knowing that going in. This is kinda like EMM, right? Less crowded? Like, what do they do with the line for the 7dmt so it's ready for people who have the wrist band at 8pm? Do they shut it down early or does everyone who has a regular ticket still get to get in line up until 8pm and then do all the after hours people have to wait until all that line filters through and then get a shorter line? I'm just curious how Disney deals with the regular day lines in anticipation for the after hours crowd that is expecting shorter lines. Thanks!

 

[focusondisney]

That’s without bags and seat selections unfortunately. Still a good price but adds up. We are using 3 weeks vacation for Japan and possibly another week in April for my brother’s winging. So if we go to Disney Dh won’t have like any vacation left for the rest of the year for sick days or Christmas.

None of my business, but seems like you both might need an intervention. We all love WDW, but you have to live the rest of your life. DW isn’t going anywhere. And by the looks of things, neither is DAHs. Ther’s always next year!

 

[Haley R]

None of my business, but seems like you both might need an intervention. We all love WDW, but you have to live the rest of your life. DW isn’t going anywhere. And by the looks of things, neither is DAHs. Ther’s always next year!

Lol yeah I know. If we find a good hotel deal then we may end up going, but we aren't going to force it.

 

[Lisa F]

Interesting. Can I pay for it while staying at the Beach Club and use it that night at the Contemporary?

I think it is per resort and not related to your stay (which is why you can use it while not staying there). You don't get a "valet park anywhere" tag if you valet park in one place and the nightly resort parking fee is charged per night if you have a car, I don't believe you can leave your car elsewhere for one night and avoid it for that night. I think it is all or nothing.

but obviously if you have some kind of need that makes iffy transportation an issue, it's an option and probably well worth the $30 or whatever it is considering what DAH costs to not have a miserable end to the night.

 

[Cramden]

I think it is per resort and not related to your stay (which is why you can use it while not staying there). You don't get a "valet park anywhere" tag if you valet park in one place and the nightly resort parking fee is charged per night if you have a car, I don't believe you can leave your car elsewhere for one night and avoid it for that night. I think it is all or nothing.

but obviously if you have some kind of need that makes iffy transportation an issue, it's an option and probably well worth the $30 or whatever it is considering what DAH costs to not have a miserable end to the night.

Thanks. So the pay for Valet Parking and use it anywhere no longer applies now that parking fees are mandatory at the Resorts? Think I'd rather put that extra $30 if that's the case toward a Minnie Van back to the Beach Club. Do you know if they'd still be available after a Midnight ending of DAH?

 

[jacobjennasmom]

Thanks for the info on the valet parking...I know nothing about this! So we could pay to valet park at the contemporary for that night? Would we just tell them at the check in area when you enter the Contemporary parking lot that we want to pay to valet park? Thanks so much for this info! It is extremely helpful!

 

[PolyRob]

Thanks. So the pay for Valet Parking and use it anywhere no longer applies now that parking fees are mandatory at the Resorts? Think I'd rather put that extra $30 if that's the case toward a Minnie Van back to the Beach Club. Do you know if they'd still be available after a Midnight ending of DAH?

Minnie Vans currently operate 6:30am - 12:30am. Hours are "subject to change." You may be ok depending on what night your DAH is and how late you plan on staying in the park.

 

[Lisa F]

Thanks for the info on the valet parking...I know nothing about this! So we could pay to valet park at the contemporary for that night? Would we just tell them at the check in area when you enter the Contemporary parking lot that we want to pay to valet park? Thanks so much for this info! It is extremely helpful!

When I was researching it I read that you can say at the guard booth "I am looking to valet park" and they will wave you through. I have not verified this myself and am not renting a car this time.

Valet parking is pretty pricey so I don't think this is a capacity issue as most people are not going to pay to valet at the contemporary to avoid TTC but it does seem like for a nighttime premium event it would be worth it. I would consider it certainly.

Thanks. So the pay for Valet Parking and use it anywhere no longer applies now that parking fees are mandatory at the Resorts? Think I'd rather put that extra $30 if that's the case toward a Minnie Van back to the Beach Club. Do you know if they'd still be available after a Midnight ending of DAH?

I don't know for sure but I think that went away years ago. I remember doing that when I was at BWV (I am a long time DVC member) back in the day, we could get free valet parking for staying there? (was it free? I think so because I don't think I would have paid a premium for it... or it was a very small premium) and then you get the tag and can valet park ANYWHERE for free with the tag. so we'd basically valet park the entire week and valet park everywhere. But that was back in the early 2000's. I haven't valet parked since they started charging for it. I don't see anything saying that you CAN'T but I also don't see anything saying that you can, ie it is a feature of the program.

So not sure if you could move your car from CR to BC after paying for 24 hours of valet parking but in either case I also don't think that they would refund you one day of self parking at the resort for doing so. Unless you are DVC and not paying for it at all.

It looks like valet is up to $33 + tip so depending what you tip (aren't you supposed to tip at drop off and pick up?) you're talking close to $40. But again if I had some kind of issue that would make the uncertainty of late night disney transport unbearable I'd pay it in a heartbeat. I will just wait for the ferry back to TTC with my child, we can hopefully find somewhere to sit on that thing.

 

[Lisa F]

Minnie Vans currently operate 6:30am - 12:30am. Hours are "subject to change." You may be ok depending on what night your DAH is and how late you plan on staying in the park.

I think the upcoming ones for January are all 8-11 so should be ok.

 

[JJsmama]

Are they still offering the extra early before park opens event? I would love to do one of these limited events but we are much more morning people than late night people.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Are they still offering the extra early before park opens event? I would love to do one of these limited events but we are much more morning people than late night people.

Do you mean Early Morning Magic? Two threads that may be helpful below:

MK/Fantasyland Early Morning Magic (EMM) FAQ & Discussion Thread

DHS/Toy Story Land "Early Morning Magic" (EMM) FAQ & Discussion

 

[mtrib]

Two quick questions:

1 - Has anyone mapped out where the open food carts are during the event? Saw a TP video and they were having a hard time finding an open cart.

2- DAH is 8-11pm our night. HEA is scheduled for 8:00. DS17 and DD14 really want to see OUAT but felt HEA was ok to miss. Anyone have experience watching OUAT from the hub then trying to squeeze out of the crowd before the fireworks? Though we could boogie over to 7D while everyone watched the fireworks. Have even heard of people enjoying the fireworks while riding 7D. And hate to miss 30 minutes of low crowd ride time during such an expensive event.

3- Sorry. Sneaking in a third one. Is entrance for PP through FPP line or SB line? I'd like to see the interactive queue but not enough to wait SB during regular park hours.

 

[iujen94]

Two quick questions:

1 - Has anyone mapped out where the open food carts are during the event? Saw a TP video and they were having a hard time finding an open cart.

2- DAH is 8-11pm our night. HEA is scheduled for 8:00. DS17 and DD14 really want to see OUAT but felt HEA was ok to miss. Anyone have experience watching OUAT from the hub then trying to squeeze out of the crowd before the fireworks? Though we could boogie over to 7D while everyone watched the fireworks. Have even heard of people enjoying the fireworks while riding 7D. And hate to miss 30 minutes of low crowd ride time during such an expensive event.

3- Sorry. Sneaking in a third one. Is entrance for PP through FPP line or SB line? I'd like to see the interactive queue but not enough to wait SB during regular park hours.

I’d love to know the answer to #1 as well!

On #2, I can tell you that we’ve had great luck riding 7DMT during fireworks. Even during a busy week (Presidents’ Week), we were able to ride 2-3 times in a row with maybe a 5-10 minute wait each time. Ignore the wait time sign out front - they don’t really adjust it for the low crowds during fireworks.

 

[jerseyjersey]

Do we think there's any chance of DAH being added for late April (week after Easter)? Published park hours aren't crazy late, so I'm holding out a tiny ray of hope that they'll be announced before we finalize all our plans!

 

[Dentam]

We'll be at DAH in ten days! Bummed to see that they've changed the entry time to 7pm instead of 6 now but oh well. We won't be going to a park that day so will just enter at 7, have dinner and then enjoy the event. Although I'm questioning the dinner decision since we need to save room for ice cream and popcorn! lol

 

[Haley R]

Two quick questions:

1 - Has anyone mapped out where the open food carts are during the event? Saw a TP video and they were having a hard time finding an open cart.

2- DAH is 8-11pm our night. HEA is scheduled for 8:00. DS17 and DD14 really want to see OUAT but felt HEA was ok to miss. Anyone have experience watching OUAT from the hub then trying to squeeze out of the crowd before the fireworks? Though we could boogie over to 7D while everyone watched the fireworks. Have even heard of people enjoying the fireworks while riding 7D. And hate to miss 30 minutes of low crowd ride time during such an expensive event.

3- Sorry. Sneaking in a third one. Is entrance for PP through FPP line or SB line? I'd like to see the interactive queue but not enough to wait SB during regular park hours.

We’ve waited 2 hours for 7dmt before during the fireworks. I think that’s a hard one to tell. You could always walk over and check what the line looks like

 

[Haley R]

We'll be at DAH in ten days! Bummed to see that they've changed the entry time to 7pm instead of 6 now but oh well. We won't be going to a park that day so will just enter at 7, have dinner and then enjoy the event. Although I'm questioning the dinner decision since we need to save room for ice cream and popcorn! lol

I would definitely plan a dinner before you go for dah so you can really take advantage of all the time you’re given. It also gives your stomach time to settle before eating snacks!

 

[Haley R]

I know you guys are all gonna hate me, but Dh and I can get flights to Orlando through Frontier for $28.....

Sooooo, we might be going January 28-February 4. It's super last minute, but really? $28 flights?! Even with baggage and seat selection that's super cheap!

 

[mcurrence]

I know you guys are all gonna hate me, but Dh and I can get flights to Orlando through Frontier for $28.....

Sooooo, we might be going January 28-February 4. It's super last minute, but really? $28 flights?! Even with baggage and seat selection that's super cheap!

Yes!!! What a deal !

 

[mcurrence]

Wishing everyone an awesome night tonight!