Hello there, Kate, and welcome back to planDisney!
One thing about my Happy Place, Disney World, is that it has a little bit of everything for everyone. While a “morning person” would enjoy a fresh pressed pot coffee and a rope drop strategy for the theme parks, that doesn’t work for a person who’d rather sleep in and take it easy in the early hours. Personally, as a local to the parks, I love hitting up the theme parks, stores, hotels, and restaurants after dark. Let’s dive right in!
It seems like you already know all about the fun
After Hours events and parties (like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party), but those are fantastic ways to live your best night owl lives! With both of those events, you can have a late start to your day
and still enter the theme parks earlier than when the event begins to maximize your time. Many rides feel completely different at night, like TRON Lightcycle / Run, so you’ll have unique experiences.
Because you’re willing to be at the theme parks for as long as you can, I highly recommend that you watch the second Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party parade (or the
Disney Starlight Parade during a regular Magic Kingdom day) because families with younger children tend to start trickling out of the park by then. When the parade ends, you can try to go on as many rides as possible. You can get into an attraction’s queue up until the last few minutes of operating hours.
AN EXTRA GEM: If you’re staying at a Deluxe hotel, there are certain nights that your room’s Guests receive
Extended Evening Hours. For example, right now, EPCOT’s latest Monday’s hours are exclusively for those Guests. Don’t forget that all Disney World hotel Guests get Early Theme Park Entry—but I totally understand wanting to hit the snooze button in the mornings.
For some late-night eating, check out the Resort hotel lounges (most of them your teen can accompany you—at least up until a certain time, in the case of Trader Sam’s at the Polynesian hotel). I love Resort hopping because it gives you a taste of all that Disney World has to offer and it gives you ideas for where to stay on your next vacation. You can also head over to
Disney Springs or
Disney’s BoardWalk to visit places like the Coca-Cola Store rooftop and Cake Bake Shop or just to walk around the shops or to soak up the lively atmosphere.
There are miscellaneous late-night activities, too.
Starlight Safari at Animal Kingdom Lodge is a paid, nighttime adventure where you’ll spot many wild animals on a savanna. Although not as late in the evening, every Disney hotel offers Movies Under the Stars to their Guests on select nights. My kiddos really look forward to the movie selections and cozying up al fresco.
Kate, I hope that this helps your family make the most out of your nights at The Most Magical Place on Earth! If you have additional questions or need more tips and tricks,
revisit us here at planDisney.
Magic always,
LeAndra