Hi there, Tiffany!
Thanks for stopping by planDisney with your question. I'm glad to hear you are planning ahead, especially if you are visiting on a day when Disneyland is also hosting an
After Dark Event. A few years back, I headed into the parks after work without checking the calendar or noticing that it was also Sweethearts Nite and only had an hour or so to enjoy the magic before the event began! Let's take a look and make a plan!
Disneyland After Dark Events are special-ticketed events that begin once the park is closed to standard theme park ticket holders. So, how do they close the parks for some Guests and not others? When
Pride Nite ticket holders arrive, they receive special credentials, usually a wristband or lanyard. Once the park officially closes, any Guests without this credential are gently nudged toward the Main Entrance Gates, and only those with the credentials are allowed on attractions. It's actually quite a seamless process! For Pride Nite in particular, I checked the
Park Hours, and Disneyland Park will close at 8:00 PM to standard theme park Guests. One thing to note is that Pride Nite attendees are allowed to arrive as early as 6:00 PM, even though the event does not begin until 9:00 PM, so you may feel the crowd level swell a little bit at that time.
Pride Nite only takes place at Disneyland Park, so if you happen to have Park Hopper tickets, you can bounce over to California Adventure, which is currently scheduled to close that evening at 10:00 PM. If it were me, I would plan to catch one of the two showings of the new
World of Color Happiness! show in honor of the
70th Anniversary and try to hop in the Single Rider lane for a spin on
Radiator Springs Racers, which I always find is most exciting once the sun sets!
If you don't happen to have Park Hoppers, not to worry. There is still so much of the resort that will be open to explore. I'd recommend making a dining reservation for a spot in Downtown Disney. My planDisney pals and I got to try
Din Tai Fung on our last visit, and it was delicious! Highly recommend the Spicy Wontons and String Beans! Another option would be to head to one of the hotels on property. Make a reservation for
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar for an out-of-this-world experience themed to the Jungle Cruise at the Disneyland Hotel, or if you're looking for something a bit more elegant, head to
Hearthstone Lounge for craft cocktails, elevated bites, and enjoy the Arts and Crafts era architecture at the Grand Californian.
Tiffany, I hope this has been helpful! If you have any more questions, we are always here for you at
planDisney.
Magic awaits!
Tara