Disney After Hours Events Return January 2024 at Walt Disney World Resort

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Calling all night owls! Disney After Hours events are returning to Walt Disney World Resort with plenty of late-night delights starting Jan. 10 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Jan. 11 at Magic Kingdom and Feb. 2 at EPCOT.

Think of the happiest things one can do during a Walt Disney World visit. Bet extra time in the parks after closing would be at the top of the list… when they can explore one of our theme parks like never before – with lower wait times for attractions. That’s what guests will get at Disney After Hours events!

The popular separately ticketed events mean tons of Walt Disney World theme park fun. Guests get three hours – after hours – to ride their favorite attractions, see beloved characters and refuel on unlimited, complimentary snacks!

There’s something about Walt Disney World Resort at night that just hits differently. Disney’s theme parks transform into dreamy adventures. From the sparkle of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park to the colorful spectacle of Spaceship Earth at EPCOT, nighttime can be the best time to experience magical Disney fun.

Disney After Hours events allow a limited number of guests to enjoy Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT after they officially close for the day, offering shorter wait times to select attractions and character experiences. To cure late-night cravings, guests can indulge in ice cream novelties, popcorn and select beverages at a variety of locations throughout the park each event night – all included in the cost of the ticket.

Disney After Hours Event Times

Event times at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Event times at Magic Kingdom Park and at EPCOT are from 10 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Guests can get a head start on making happy memories by entering the park beginning at 7 p.m. to squeeze even more joy out of midnight merriment with family and friends.

After Hours Event Dates at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

These special nights will take place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Jan. 10 through April 10, 2024. Guests can play in Andy’s backyard in Toy Story Land, join the resistance with Chewbacca in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and embark on a whimsical adventure aboard Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, among other favorites.

After Hours Event Dates at Magic Kingdom Park

Throughout Magic Kingdom, guests can enjoy more than 20 attractions and experiences including the thrilling new TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Jungle Cruise on select nights starting Jan. 11 through April 8, 2024. A standby queue is planned for TRON Lightcycle / Run only during these events.

The nighttime fireworks spectacular, Enchantment will return exclusively to Disney After Hours events at Magic Kingdom – meaning on event nights, early arrivals will have the opportunity to see both Happily Ever After and Enchantment!

After Hours Event Dates at EPCOT

Welcomed by the colorful glow of Spaceship Earth, guests can delight in EPCOT at night with favorite attractions including Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Test Track, Soarin’ and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Events at EPCOT will take place on select nights starting Feb. 2 through April 4, 2024.

Disney After Hours Event Tickets Information

Booked guests of Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green can purchase tickets starting Nov. 7, 2023, by calling 407-W-Disney. Event tickets can be purchased online by all guests starting Nov. 14.

Disney After Hours ticket prices range from $155 to $175 (plus tax) for Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. EPCOT After Hours ticket pricing ranges from $149 to $159 (plus tax). Specially priced tickets are available for Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members.

All guests have to do is pick a night, pick a park and enjoy an after-hours adventure. To learn more about Disney After Hours events, visit DisneyWorld.com/AfterHours. And check back for even more Disney After Hours updates in early 2024.

Theme Park closing times vary. Admission to this event requires a separately priced ticket valid only for a specific event date and select hours. Attractions and offerings are subject to change without notice.

Disney Releases Tons of Details on Upcoming Holiday Festivities at Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Preparation for the holidays is already in high gear at Walt Disney World as The Most Magical Place On Earth gets ready to celebrate “the most wonderful time of year.” While planning and preliminaries culminate in the fall, many Cast Members spend months – sometimes a full year – getting ready to spread seasonal cheer. Here is a first look at what guests can expect as they celebrate the 2023 holiday season, which begins at Walt Disney World on November 11, 2023.

Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The long anticipated, glam holiday party Disney Jollywood Nights is almost here. This new separately ticketed event is a swanky Hollywood bash filled with merriment, music, and spirited good times. It will take place on select nights beginning November 11 to December 20. 

Sunset Seasons Greetings at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will also once again present Sunset Seasons Greetings nightly throughout the season. Each evening The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is magically transformed into an array of holiday scenes as snow falls along Sunset Boulevard.

(The Twilight Zone® is a registered trademark of CBS, Inc. and used with permission pursuant to a license with CBS, Inc.)

Fractal Frenzy: NEW Frozen Holiday Surprise at Magic Kingdom Park

At Magic Kingdom Park, “Frozen” friends from Arendelle are conjuring up something remarkable for the holidays. The new Frozen Holiday Surprise brings together Olaf and more than 100 of his Snowgie siblings who attempt to add festive decor to Cinderella Castle. With Anna and Kristoff at her side, Queen Elsa adds sparkling finishing touches, transforming the castle into a shimmering crystallized palace – a look that will remain throughout each evening.

Bringing this new spectacle to life is no small feat, as lighting designers, video technicians, composers, and a full orchestra worked together to create this enchanting new entertainment experience.

Debuting November 7, “Frozen Holiday Surprise” will occur nightly during the holiday season.

Families and kids of all ages can also enjoy Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Now in its 40th year, this specially ticketed event has become a holiday tradition for many. Featuring a dazzling parade, fireworks, complimentary sweet treats and so much more, it’s warm-hearted, family-friendly fun at Magic Kingdom on 25 select nights November 9-Dec. 22.

Delicious Doings: EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

For an international holiday flavor, EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, presented by AdventHealth is the place to be. The stage is set with spectacular decor around every corner, and entertainment fills the air, from celebrity narrators reciting the Christmas story each night to time-honored traditions from countries around the world.

And no holiday celebration would be complete without tasty treats. The festival culinary team has been hard at work for nearly a year, dreaming up the menu and testing new recipes. More than 15 Holiday Kitchens will celebrate the diversity of holiday traditions with comfort foods that inspire warm memories.

Because ensuring a delicious encounter with every bite is top of mind for the team, thorough testing is imperative before massive production begins. How massive? The culinary team has historically baked more than 250,000 cookies in just five weeks for the event’s signature Holiday Cookie Stroll.

This year will bring several “firsts” to the festival. Luminous the Symphony of Us is an all-new fireworks-and-laser spectacular that will debut on December 5, 2023. And, with EPCOT being home to The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary celebration, guests will find beautiful holiday decor at the park entrance commemorating the Disney100 celebration.

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays begins November 24.

Happy Holidays! Disney World Receiving ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ Attraction!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

As The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) celebrates its 30th anniversary, the Walt Disney Company makes a super exciting announcement: Walt Disney World Resort is finally receiving an attraction straight out of Halloween Town.

When it first debuted, The Nightmare Before Christmas wasn’t just a film, it was revolutionary. The full-length stop-motion animated film brought attention to the medium as an art form and helped begin a trend of similarly animated movies.

The film was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and was the first animated movie to receive this nomination. While it understandably lost the Academy Award to Jurassic Park (1993), the nomination was still historical.

The Nightmare Before Christmas was also praised for its whimsically dark art style, its iconic soundtrack (thanks to the genius of Danny Elfman), and its memorable characters.

Despite these praises, the Walt Disney Pictures film was only considered a humble success at the box office. Since then, however, the movie has earned a huge cult following, and the film is still as culturally relevant as ever, even 30 years later.

Although the spooky movie may be considered an unusual choice for Walt Disney Pictures, the Walt Disney Company has recognized the popularity of the film, and The Nightmare Before Christmas‘s presence in Disneyland and Walt Disney World is especially noticeable around the holidays.

In Disneyland Resort, specifically, The Nightmare Before Christmas is so beloved that it receives its own attraction. Once a year since 2001, the Haunted Mansion attraction is transformed into Haunted Mansion Holiday.

Haunted Mansion Holiday

Instead of touring the Haunted Mansion in an iconic doom buggy, guests rewatch the story of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, as he takes over for Santa Claus in this Christmas overlay.

This attraction is incredibly popular, and Walt Disney World locals have been begging the Walt Disney Company for something similar for over 20 years now. Finally, it seems that the Walt Disney Company has finally heard fans’ prayers.

Over in Hollywood Studios, Disney World is offering a brand new separately ticketed event for the holidays: Disney Jollywood Nights, which will run on select nights from November 11 to December 20.

During this special event, the theme park will offer new attractions, entertainment, and rare character sightings. The “What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along” attraction will offer all three.

jack skellington

Disney writes:

Enter a dreamlike adventure in The Hyperion Theater where Jack Skellington takes us on an ethereal exploration of “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Sing along to beloved songs from the iconic film and discover peculiar magic in unexpected places. Along the way, you’ll conquer Oogie Boogie and be encouraged to follow your curiosity.

This sing-along experience can be found in Hollywood Studios’ Hyperion Theater during Disney Jollywood Nights.  Finally, guests visiting Walt Disney World can experience a Nightmare Before Christmas attraction!

Disney World Announces Extended Hours in November

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

The Walt Disney World Resort official website has just unveiled its updated operating hours calendar, and the most updated version of the parks calendar reveals an extension of park hours for the earliest part of the month of November.

Disney World has just announced its extended hours for the beginning of November, and we have all the details. Read on to see the extended hours below. The most updated version of the calendar gives the park operating hours for all four theme parks at the Central Florida Disney resort, including Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Park hours are now available through the latter part of the merriest month of the year around the country and around the Disney World Resort–December!

In the most recent update of the Walt Disney World Resort calendar, dates and hours of operation are available through the twenty-third day of December at each of the four Florida theme parks.

But the newest update to the calendar doesn’t read like a run-of-the-mill Disney World calendar, and it includes several changes that have been made to the parks’ operating hours in the month of November 2023, and in most of those changes, the operating hours in one or more Disney theme park at Disney World have been extended by at least one or two hours, meaning there will be more time for magic and memories in November!

You can see the changes to the calendar’s operating hours below. The extended hours for Magic Kingdom are shown with the previous hours included in the parentheses. When making your plans to visit any of the Central Florida Disney theme parks, it’s a good idea to double-check the official calendar on the Walt Disney World Resort website.

The changes are shown by Disney theme park, by date, beginning with Magic Kingdom Park.*

Extended Hours at Magic Kingdom Park 

October 28th: 8 am-11 pm (9 am-10 pm)
November 4th: 8 am-11 pm (9 am-10 pm)
November 5th: 9 am-10 pm (9 am-9 pm)
November 6th: 9 am-11 pm (9 am-9 pm)
November 7th: 8 am-11 pm (9 am-9 pm)
November 8th: 9 am-10 pm (9 am-9 pm)
November 9th and 10th: 8 am-6 pm (9 am-6 pm)
November 3rd and 11th: 9 am-12 am (9 am-9 pm)

bridge to adventureland in magic kingdom

Extended Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park

November 10th and 11th: opening at 8:30 a.m., as opposed to the usual opening time of 9:00 a.m.

Extended Hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

November 5th through 9th: opening at 8:00 a.m., as opposed to the usual opening time of 9:00 a.m.
November 10th and 11th: open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., as opposed to the usual operating times of 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Again, when Guests are planning their visits to the Walt Disney World Resort, it is important to double-check the calendar to confirm operating hours.

*There are no changes noted for the operating hours at EPCOT, as of the time of this publication.

Disney Reveals New Food Offerings for Jollywood Nights

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will host a brand new nighttime party, Disney Jollywood Nights, on ten select evenings from Nov 11-Dec. 20, 2023, this festive season. The separately ticketed event, which takes place 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., invites guests to experience a glamorous evening full of merry mashups, delicious tastes and sips, iconic throwback characters, and a holiday vibe full of glitz and sparkle. Disney has released the foodie guide for items that will be available for purchase during the party.

From a Disney Cast Member;

Grab your best Hollywood glam and appetite because Disney Jollywood Nights is less than a month away from kicking off its first night! This brand-new holiday extravaganza is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World on 10 select nights Nov. 11 through Dec. 20 and is filled with plenty of festive fun.

This new nighttime soiree will feature plenty of swanky spots for you to enjoy like the Holiday Fiesta en la Calle over in Commissary Lane. The streets will be filled with Latin holiday tunes, colorful décor, and plenty of eats and sips inspired by Latin holiday traditions for a vibrant and lively party. Or experience Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby as the restaurant transforms into a smooth jazz joint, playing holiday tunes amidst sparkling décor. Here, you can sip craft cocktails and indulge in an exclusive menu of light bites while enjoying the music and ambiance of this classy establishment. You can even drop by the dazzling Twilight Soirée at The Tip-Top Club, a swingin’ soiree in the courtyard of The Hollywood Tower Hotel. A live band will be bringing the fun with holiday tunes in jukebox style as you sip on fancy cocktails.

While you’re at all of these locations and the others scattered throughout the park, you’ll be able to indulge in tasty delights that will light up your taste buds with holiday spirit (and flavor). From the delicious Holiday Turkey Popover at Fairfax Fare to the lovely Tiramisù Puff at PizzeRizzo, and even sweet sips like the Sandy Claws Hot Cocoa from Dockside Diner, this new event has something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season!

And don’t forget about the thrilling entertainment going on too! Be sure to check out the can’t-miss musical variety show featuring some of your favorites, like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, and the seasonal nighttime spectacular “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” To make the night even more festive, we’d suggest wearing your holiday best with an old Hollywood flair.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see all the tasty eats and sips coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this holiday season. I’m pleased to present to you the official Foodie Guide to the first-ever Disney Jollywood Nights!

Holiday Fiesta en la Calle at ABC Commissary

  • Chicken Empanadas with Street Corn: Chicken empanadas served with a side of street corn salad topped with chili peppers, lime, and cotija cheese
  • Yuca con Chicharrón: Fried pork belly, yuca, red pickled onions, and chili pepper-lime seasoning with a yellow pepper aïoli
  • Mushroom Taco: Chili-roasted Mixed mushrooms, avocado crema, baby gem lettuce, and garnished with sliced radish (Plant-based Item)
  • Birria Taco: Shredded short rib and Monterey jack served with beef consommé for dipping
  • Tembleque: Coconut rice pudding with caramel rum sauce and cinnamon
  • Mexican Hot Cocoa Cheesecake: Spiced chocolate cheesecake on a chocolate cookie base topped with vanilla whipped cream and cocoa powder with a chocolate handle
  • Mangonada: Frozen mango beverage with mango-chili pepper-lime sauce and chili pepper-lime seasoning on top (Non-alcoholic)
  • Zero-Proof Piña Colada: Lyre’s Spiced Cane Spirit, coconut, pineapple, and lime
  • Oaxaca Old Fashioned: Casa Dragones Blanco Tequila, Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, agave nectar, Mexican chocolate, and orange bitters served over ice garnished with an orange

Baseline Taphouse

  • Tuna Ceviche: Marinated ahi tuna, pico de gallo, and avocado cream topped with cilantro
  • Charcuterie Cup: Manchego, chorizo, serrano ham, pickled vegetables, olives, and toasted focaccia bread
  • Beer Margarita: Blend of Patrón Silver Tequila, Cointreau Liqueur, and lime juice topped with Scrimshaw Pilsner over Ice

Dockside Diner

  • Spicy Pimento-Kimchi Dip topped with chives and served with fresh house-made wonton chips
  • Roasted Eggplant Dip topped with chives and served with warm pita bread (Plant-based Item)
  • Poutine Tots: Potato barrels topped with gravy, brisket, mozzarella curds, and chives
  • Christmas Tree Cookie Stack: Vanilla cookie stack filled with pistachio buttercream, cranberry, and raspberry jam topped with sprinkles and a yellow candy star
  • Sandy Claws Hot Cocoa: “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas”-inspired dark chocolate hot cocoa topped with cherry whipped cream (Non-alcoholic)
  • Naughty or Nice: Crown Royal Whisky and ginger mixed with orange, cranberry, and grapefruit juices topped with fresh cranberries

Epic Eats

  • Spicy Korean Chicken Funnel Cake: Spicy fried Korean chicken with pickled vegetables served on a mini funnel cake
  • Brisket Reuben Funnel Cake: Beef brisket and sauerkraut slaw topped with thousand island dressing served on a mini funnel cake
  • S’mores Funnel Cake: Giant roasted marshmallow with chocolate and marshmallow sauce, topped with chocolate curls and cinnamon cereal served on a mini funnel cake
  • Samuel Adams Winter Lager: Spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and orange peel for a deep flavor and malty finish

Fairfax Fare

  • Holiday Turkey Popover: Roasted turkey and creamy mashed potatoes topped with gravy, cranberry chutney, and chives in a house-made popover
  • ‘Just the Sides’ Popover: Macaroni & cheese and savory collard greens with ham topped with cornbread crumbs in a house-made popover
  • PB&J Doughnut: Glazed doughnut with creamy peanut butter and grape jelly dipped in dark chocolate topped with crushed house-made salt and vinegar chips
  • Kermit’s Frozen Banana Bliss: Frozen banana and white chocolate with caramel swirls topped with matcha whipped cream and sprinkle (Non-alcoholic)
  • Mistletoe Martini: Tito’s Handmade Vodka and St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur mixed with cranberry juice and topped with fresh cranberries and mint leaves

Gertie’s Ice Cream of Extinction

  • Christmas Gertie Cookie: Sugar cookie with mint icing (Also available with mint soft-serve)

Market

  • Buffalo Chicken Spring Rolls: Fried spring rolls served with a jalapeño-ranch dipping sauce and fried rice noodles
  • Frozone’s Snowball Macaroons: Coconut macaroons drizzled with blue vanilla frosting and topped with white snowflake sprinkles
  • Spiced Apple Cider: Apple cider and cinnamon with an apple chip garnish (Non-alcoholic)
  • Zero-Proof Apple Cider: Lyre’s Spiced Cane Spirit, apple cider, Angostura Bitters, and cinnamon topped with an apple chip and cinnamon rim
  • In Holiday Fashion: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon, rosemary syrup, cranberry and lime juices, and cinnamon

PizzeRizzo

  • Meatball and Polenta: Giant meatball with marinara and creamy cheese polenta
  • Olive and Goat Cheese Flatbread: Olive oil-toasted flatbread, creamy goat cheese, rustic olive and tomato spread, balsamic glaze, and lemon watercress
  • Antipasto Flatbread: Fresh mozzarella, salami, peperoni, country ham, olives, peppers, onions, pepperoncini, and marinara
  • Tiramisù Puff: Sweet-and-savory with flavors of espresso, chocolate, and a coffee-infused custard and mascarpone cream
  • Benvolio Pinot Grigio
  • Banfi Chianti Superiore
  • Peroni Nastro Azzuro Lager Draft
  • Heineken 0.0 Non-Alcoholic Lager

Twilight Soirée at The Tip-Top Club

  • The 5th Dimension Royale: Teremana Blanco Tequila, Cointreau Liqueur, desert pear, agave nectar, and lime juice topped with Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut and garnished with a dehydrated blood orange wheel
  • Twilight Daiquiri: Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, ube, lime juice, and a splash of shimmer
  • Sparkling Pomegranate-Apple Cider: Pomegranate-green tea topped with sparkling apple cider and pomegranate seeds
  • Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut

The Trolley Car Café

  • Ornament Mousse: Dark chocolate-cherry mousse

Outdoor Vending Locations

  • Gingerbread Bites (Plant-based Item)

Bar Locations

  • Zero-Proof Gingerbread Spritzer: Lyre’s Spiced Cane Spirit, gingerbread syrup, and club soda garnished with a gingerbread bite
  • Sugar Cookie Martini: Stoli Vanil Vodka, Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur, and DISARONNO Originale Liqueur mixed with milk and sugar in a sprinkle-rimmed glass with a sugar cookie garnish

Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby

  • Oyster Rockefeller: Spinach foam, shaved parmesan, rocoto pepper relish, and salmon caviar
  • Crispy Duck Drumettes: Spicy orange glaze, carrots, and kumquats
  • Charcuterie: House-made cured meats and accompaniments, blue cheese mousse, and toasted sourdough
  • Shrimp Cocktail: Classic cocktail sauce, citrus pearls, avocado mousse
  • Derby Slider: Bison and pork belly blend, taleggio cheese sauce, and fig stout jam
  • Tuna Carpaccio: Mezcal pickled vegetables, salsa macha, and avocado crema
  • Pork Belly Bao: Korean BBQ, cucumber slaw, and soy vinaigrette
  • Tofu Bao: Seared tofu, cucumber slaw, and soy vinaigrette
  • An assortment of classic cocktails, zero-proof and non-alcoholic beverages, wine, and beer

To experience the festive fun of Jazzy Holidays at The Holiday Brown Derby, you can request to join the walk-up waitlist on the My Disney Experience app. Learn more here!

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

  • Tinseltown Tini: Toast to holiday cheer with this cold brew coffee topped with Kahlúa, Grey Goose Vodka, a hint of light cream, and a dash of whipped cream with cocoa (Available at the location near The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror)
  • Round ‘Em Up Latte: A merry blend of espresso, cookie butter syrup, dulce de leche sauce, and milk topped with fluffy whipped cream, playful animal crackers, and festive sprinkles; available hot or iced (Non-alcoholic Beverage) (Available at the location in Toy Story Land)

Wow! What a tasty line-up coming to this brand-new event. I sure am hungry (and excited). You can purchase tickets to Disney Jollywood Nights here and try all of these delicious items for yourself.