Hello, Lisa and welcome to planDisney. Thanks for dropping by with your question!
Lisa, I love autumn at the Walt Disney World Resort. With cooler evenings and festive fall decor lining Main Street, U.S.A. I feel certain you'll be ready to welcome the Halloween season as soon as you see that first pumpkin with Mickey ears!
Now, Lisa, while there was a separately ticketed event earlier this year titled
Disney After Hours that officially ran from 10:00 PM- 1:00 AM (or in some parks 9:00 PM- midnight), I believe what you're referring to is the late afternoon arrival tickets that were sold a number of years back. Those tickets are no longer available and I don't have any information that they will be making a comeback. My best guess is that like some previous attractions that have been reimagined, those tickets have retired.
You are certainly welcome to
purchase a standard theme park ticket and arrive when your schedule allows. To enjoy the most amount of time in the park, I would advise checking park hours before you decide where to visit if you aren't arriving until 5:00 PM. For example,
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park typically is the first to close, and often at 7:00 PM (of course the animals on the savanna need their beauty sleep). If you aren't arriving until 5:00 PM, I would advise against this park because your time will be extremely limited.
Lisa, depending on your schedule the last week of October, you may be interested in
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. While there are a few dates that have sold out, I would encourage you to check out the available parties. This separately ticketed event offers entry to Magic Kingdom Park as early as 4:00 PM but gets frighteningly more fun after 7:00 PM when the party starts! With lower crowds and
amazing Halloween-themed entertainment, this is one of my favorite events and may be worth your consideration if it fits into your existing plans.
Lisa, while likely not the news you wish to hear, I do hope that it's helpful as you consider how to spend your time on your next visit. Please come on back to planDisney with any additional questions.
Happy planning,
Lauren