Greetings, Taylor! I'm so glad you came to us, here at planDisney, with your question!
I just returned from my first
Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts' Nite event, and let me tell you - you're in for a treat! From the specially-curated menu items, to unique photo opportunities, to the live entertainment and nighttime spectaculars, Sweethearts' Nite is truly swoon-worthy!
As you may already know, your special event ticket grants you entrance to Disneyland Park at 6:00 p.m. on the night of the event for mix-in hours before the park's regular closing hours of 8:00 p.m. At that time, only Guests who have checked in using their Sweethearts' Nite tickets will be permitted to stay in Disneyland Park for the event. With this in mind,
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway - the newest attraction to open in Mickey's Toontown - is also listed to close for the evening at 8:00 p.m.
However, I have good news, Taylor! It is still possible to enjoy Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway on the day of the Sweethearts' Nite event! Once you scan your special event ticket at the park entrance, you will be eligible to purchase an I
ndividual Lightning Lane for the attraction and aim for a return window between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. To locate this, you'll need to open your
Disneyland mobile app and tap the '≡' in the bottom-right hand corner of your app home screen. Then select 'Tip Board' to show all the standby and Lightning Lane return times. Scroll down to Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway and follow the prompts to complete your purchase, then you'll be off on your own 'Perfect Picnic' adventure at the El CapiTOON Theater! Of course, Individual Lightning Lanes are subject to availability, so if this is a high priority for your visit, I suggest making that purchase as soon as you are eligible to do so, once you've entered Disneyland Park. This is the plan I followed and was successfully able to experience the attraction about 45 minutes after I arrived in the park.
Extra Tip: If you can secure your Individual Lightning Lane and enjoy the attraction before 7:30 p.m. on the night of your specially-ticketed event, I suggest walking over to the "it's a small world" promenade to catch
Wondrous Journeys with Projections, which will show at that time on most event nights (subject to change). You'll be able to see all the same projections on the
"it's a small world" facade that you would typically see on Sleeping Beauty Castle without contending with the larger crowds. My daughter and I were able to find a perfect viewing spot just a few minutes before showtime! While you won't see some of the newest characters take flight over the castle from that spot, the rest of the show will still be displayed and the "it's a small world" facade is extra whimsical!
I hope this advice is helpful to you as you plan your time at Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts' Nite, Taylor! Please don't hesitate to
come back if we can offer any other recommendations for any of your Disneyland Resort planning questions!
Wishing you Wondrous Journeys,
Tishra