From spooky soirées to festive celebrations and beyond, special "ticketed events" offer you the opportunity to enjoy Disney theme parks in a whole new light. But how do these events work, and which ones are the best? Let's take a closer look:
What's a Ticketed Event?
Ticketed events are special experiences held inside a Disney park, which don't require you to separately purchase regular park admission. (This differentiates them from some of the regular "add-on" experiences like dessert parties, or special seating for fireworks -- those events definitely require a park ticket for use!) Ticketed events either take place after regular park hours, or the park closes early to standard guests and is only available to those with event tickets. From themed parties to holiday celebrations, ticketed events offer guests exclusive access to parks and attractions with limited crowds, special offerings, and usually shorter lines.
How Do They Work?
Each type of ticketed event has its own unique format and offerings, but they generally follow a similar structure. Guests with event tickets are granted admission to the park during a specified time frame either in the evening, or late at night after regular park hours. Once inside, guests can enjoy exclusive entertainment, character meet-and-greets, themed attractions, special dining options, and more. Some events may also include complimentary snacks and beverages, or unique merchandise offerings as part of the experience.
One important thing to reiterate is that these events do not require separate park admission. If you're planning a lazy day of enjoying the pool at your resort, you do not have to buy a park ticket for the day in addition to a ticket to the event; the special hours get you in. However, because event ticketholders don't enter the park until shortly before the event, you will need a separate park ticket if you're planning to spend time in the parks earlier in the day.
A great way to take advantage of a ticketed event is to book tickets to one on your arrival day. You can take your time getting settled into your resort, unpack, maybe go for a swim -- and then have a great event lined up for after dinner!
Event Options
So what kind of events are we really talking about here? Ticketed events may be seasonal or holiday-related, and some may just be celebrations of a specific park. Let's get into a few examples -- these are just a few!
Halloween
Disney's Halloween ticketed events are nighttime parties filled with family-friendly fun and, in contrast to some more grown-up Halloween offerings, they keep the scare levels at "spooktastic laughs" rather than "blood-curdling screams." Walt Disney World hosts Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom, and Disneyland Resort features the Oogie Boogie Bash. These events usually run each year on select evenings from August through October. Guests can dress in costume and enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the parks, while also picking up some exclusive snacks -- think pumpkin cheesecake, candy corn milkshakes, themed cupcakes, and zombie-finger cookies. Disney villains feature heavily, and may show up in entertainment like the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show, or the immersive and dreamy Villain's Grove, where you can interact with your favorite Disney bad guys. Classic rides often get spooky-themed overlays for extra fun, and special parades and fireworks are a great way to end the night.
Holidays
Similarly, from November to December Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World comes alive with with festive decorations, holiday-themed shows, and an enchanting parade, this time with a special appearance by Santa Claus! Cookies and hot cocoa are available throughout the park, and are included with your ticket, and like the Halloween party, some rides get a special holiday-themed overlay, like the "Jingle Cruise,"where ships are covered in holiday lights and packed full of holiday-themed puns. The showstopper may be the fireworks, and the snow falling all along Main Street, U.S.A.!
After Hours
Walt Disney World offers a series of "After Hours" events that are primarily opportunities to explore individual parks with lower crowds and shorter lines. For example, H2O Glow Nights at one of the Disney water parks offer a chance to take over the park after closing, riding night-time waterslides and maybe joining some Disney characters in a beachside DJ dance party! Other After Hours events open up EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, or Magic Kingdom for late night fun. The dates for these may change from year to year, but when they're offered it's always a fun treat.
After Dark
Disneyland Resort takes a different approach; their After Dark nighttime events are planned around specific themes, rather than specific parks. Dressing up is still encouraged, and these events feature the specially-themed food, photo-ops, and character meet-and-greets related to their theme. Recent offerings have included:
- Sweethearts' Nite, celebrating Valentine's Day, and all the iconic duos and romantic couples in Disney entertainment;
- Disney Channel Nite, with some amazing photo ops and dance parties with characters from classic Disney Channel shows and movies;
- Star Wars Nite, with galactic DJs, a lightsaber meetup, tons of themed food, and lots of opportunities to dress up and create your own Star Wars story;
- Pride Nite, celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, with a Pride cavalcade, an Ohana dance party, and more rainbow-colored treats, decor, and costumes than you can imagine.
How Do I Choose?
The "best" hard ticketed event ultimately depends on your interests, preferences, and timing. For families with little kids, a Halloween or holiday party might be the best option because so much of the fun -- trick-or-treating, costumes, snowfall, or cookies with Santa -- is accessible to younger guests, and you don't have to stay until the small hours of the night to feel like you've gotten your money's worth. Meanwhile, thrill-seekers may prefer Disney After Hours for its low wait times and exclusive access to popular attractions. For guests looking for a unique experience that goes beyond rides, themed events like Pride Nite or Star Wars Nite provide an opportunity to celebrate their favorite stories, and themselves!
When considering attending a hard ticketed event, it's essential to plan ahead and purchase tickets in advance, as these events often sell out quickly. Be sure to check the event's schedule, offerings, and any special guidelines or restrictions before attending. Additionally, factors such as crowd levels, weather conditions, and park logistics can be solid considerations when planning your visit. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have, or offer suggestions on what events might be right for you! Feel free to drop me a line at chris@secondstaradventure.com, or book a free consultation and we can chat! Let's plan a great night at a fun and unique event!
