"Official" 2018 Disney After Hours (DAH) Thread (Now Closed, see New 2019 Thread)

[TheFloatingBear]

The list of open attractions is a little different than what I've seen - peoplemover is listed as open

Is it wrong that I'm most looking forward to the peoplemover and Astro Orbiter? I love looking down on the park at night!

I'm eagerly awaiting the reports from Friday night!

No, not wrong! That's so funny - I just posted something similar! Peoplemover was one of the things I was hoping to do the most - because it's one of my all-time favorites and I think it would be cool with an empty park and all the lights, and Astro Orbiter because it always seems like so much effort to get up there so we blow it off!

 

[TheFloatingBear]

I thought it was last year (despite not being on the "open list" last year either)... I will report back on Friday!

Thanks - I appreciate it! I know it sounds silly but for some reason I've always really loved it! Can't wait to hear how the night goes for people!

 

[anomamatt]

No, not wrong! That's so funny - I just posted something similar! Peoplemover was one of the things I was hoping to do the most - because it's one of my all-time favorites and I think it would be cool with an empty park and all the lights, and Astro Orbiter because it always seems like so much effort to get up there so we blow it off!

Astro Orbiter is a must-do on DAH, IMO!

Because (a) it's awesome to do at night and (b) the normal wait times are not worth it on a normal day (IMO).

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Astro Orbiter is a must-do on DAH, IMO!

Because (a) it's awesome to do at night and (b) the normal wait times are not worth it on a normal day (IMO).

Those were my thoughts exactly! It's going to be awesome!

 

[1st*toright]

No, not wrong! That's so funny - I just posted something similar! Peoplemover was one of the things I was hoping to do the most - because it's one of my all-time favorites and I think it would be cool with an empty park and all the lights, and Astro Orbiter because it always seems like so much effort to get up there so we blow it off!

What can I say - great minds think alike. I did Astro Orbiter for the first time because I headed to Space at rope drop, but it was down. I was right there, and there was no line for Astro. I really liked it! Yes, it just spins around, but the view is awesome. I've never done it at night - same reason you mentioned, just too long a process for the payoff! DD will be dragging me to Space (for a zillion rides, I'm sure) so we will be in the neighborhood.

 

[Megsmachine]

I'm not sure if any of this is actually new information to us, but this link was just posted over on the 2018 news thread:

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2018/01/disney-after-hours-event-returning-to.html

THAT stinks. The article says we won’t be let in until 7pm!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

If we believe that article (key statement), here's a year-over-year comparison. "New" attractions for 2018 are in red. 2016 & 2017 info is from the official event lanyard... I'm not sure if things like the PeopleMover were still open even though not listed.

Disney does market this event as "more than 25 popular attractions and character greetings." With Splash and PotC offline for some of the dates, the additions kind of make sense to me. BIG CAVEAT in case the article has inaccurate info!

 

[Megsmachine]

I thought it was last year (despite not being on the "open list" last year either)... I will report back on Friday!

Please let us know if they let you in earlier than the 7pm posted in that article. Thanks!

 

[TheFloatingBear]

What can I say - great minds think alike. I did Astro Orbiter for the first time because I headed to Space at rope drop, but it was down. I was right there, and there was no line for Astro. I really liked it! Yes, it just spins around, but the view is awesome. I've never done it at night - same reason you mentioned, just too long a process for the payoff! DD will be dragging me to Space (for a zillion rides, I'm sure) so we will be in the neighborhood.

Definitely! My DD is a big Space fan too - and DH and DS are not, so it's usually "our thing" anyway, so I have a feeling we'll be spending some quality time in Tomorrowland!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

THAT stinks. The article says we won’t be let in until 7pm!

I wouldn't worry too much about that. That's what it says on all Disney info about this event. That's also what is says about things like MNSSHP and MVMCP, but has never been accurate in practice.

I'd still 'probably' bet on folks being allowed in at 4PM like last year. But we'll know for sure on Friday.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Sweet chart, @GADisneyDad14! Can always rely on you to break it down for us!

I agree on your thoughts - Not sure how the refurbs are scheduled...I know there's no Splash for us and no PoTC for others, so it would be nice to have an addition to the line up in place of them. I'm just curious, are there any dates that have both Splash and PoTC offline?

Can't wait to hear reports on Friday night!

 

[mcurrence]

It always says 7 but now that Friday's is sold out, I think we're even more likely to get in at 4:00. I don't think they can logistically have everyone getting in at the same time (7:00). Fingers crossed!!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Sweet chart, @GADisneyDad14! Can always rely on you to break it down for us!

I agree on your thoughts - Not sure how the refurbs are scheduled...I know there's no Splash for us and no PoTC for others, so it would be nice to have an addition to the line up in place of them. I'm just curious, are there any dates that have both Splash and PoTC offline?

Can't wait to hear reports on Friday night!

Per the Dis...http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/rehab.htm

• Splash Mountain closed 1/8/2018- 2/1/2018 (so this impacts the 1/19, 1/26, & 1/30 DAHs)
• Pirates of the Caribbean- closed 2/26/2018- 3/18/2018 (so this impacts the 3/1 & 3/8 DAHs)

Hope that helps!

 

[rosysubmarine]

I am SO EXCITED about PeopleMover! Imagine getting a train all by yourself!

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Per the Dis...http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/rehab.htm

• Splash Mountain closed 1/8/2018- 2/1/2018 (so this impacts the 1/19, 1/26, & 1/30 DAHs)
• Pirates of the Caribbean- closed 2/26/2018- 3/18/2018 (so this impacts the 3/1 & 3/8 DAHs)

Hope that helps!

Ha! You didn't have to actually answer me but thanks! - I was just really musing aloud...I'm only going to make one DAH date - and I'm lucky to be able to do that, so I have adjusted my expectations accordingly for no empty Splash pictures! But now the possibility of Peoplemover would send me over the moon!

 

[GJ Marko]

Is this the only time of the year they are doing them? Any chance of a repeat in the middle of May?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Is this the only time of the year they are doing them? Any chance of a repeat in the middle of May?

The announced 2018 dates follow the 2017 pattern nearly exactly - only a few nights Jan-Early March. No inside info or anything, but I suspect this is all we'll see for 2018. I tend to think this event works better for Disney - from an operational and PR perspective - when it's during times of the year that naturally have 8PM or 9PM MK closings, as is the case right now. I could always be wrong, but that's my hunch.

 

[dolewhipdreams]

If we believe that article (key statement)

Agreed! I'm not familiar with the source at all so I have no idea where they get their info. But at this point the speculation is fun (and pretty harmless)!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Agreed! I'm not familiar with the source at all so I have no idea where they get their info. But at this point the speculation is fun (and pretty harmless)!

FWIW, I actually like Orlando Theme Park News and read their site often. Their articles tend to me more real news/facts, not really click bait. They post the weekly Times Guide, which for me is invaluable.

Since the sold out date is noted and the rehabs are actually accurately reflected for Splash and PotC, and some new things are added, that at least tells me it's not a cut/paste job from last year and someone put some kind of thought in it. But ultimately, who the heck knows!

 

[Haley R]

I love counting things in terms of Disney trips. I did some consulting earlier in the month and when my wife asked how much $$$ it was for, I replied with an answer in "Xx days at Disney". Haha. My wife was not amused, but I was.

And my wife has been saying she is tired of Disney World, so we're also thinking about venturing beyond WDW this summer (DL or one of the abroad Disney resorts).

DH says the same thing. He always says he's getting tired of DW, but then he gets there and doesn't want to leave. I think we might drive over to DL in the summer because neither of us has been on the west coast.