Disney After Hours events are exclusive, ticketed experiences held on select dates at various parks. With limited capacity, you can enjoy minimal crowd levels and remarkably short wait times—so short that you can practically walk onto most rides! After experiencing the magic of Disney After Hours at EPCOT in 2023, I was eager to bring the whole family along for our summer vacation in 2024.

Our Adventure Begins

My family and I attended Disney After Hours at EPCOT on July 18, 2024. The event kicked off at 10 PM and continued until 1 AM. Although we could enter the park with our Disney After Hours tickets starting at 7 PM, we arrived around 8:30 PM. Upon arrival, we were directed to a special line where we presented our event tickets or Magic Bands. After admission, we received wristbands and an event map to guide our adventure.

Making the Most of Our Time

Initially, we planned to squeeze in a quick meet-and-greet with Mickey Mouse for my daughter since we were able to enter the park during normal hours. However, she changed her mind, so we decided to enjoy some rides with minimal wait times instead. We headed to World Nature and walked right onto The Seas with Nemo & Friends. It’s always so much fun to spot Nemo during that ride! Next, we ventured over to The Land Pavilion, where my husband and son took a flight on Soarin’ Around the World, while my daughter and I relaxed nearby.

At last, it was 10 PM—the official start of Disney After Hours!

A Night of Fun Rides

As I had missed out on Soarin’ Around the World earlier, I was thrilled to experience it during the event. The wait time was virtually nonexistent, and we easily passed through the queue with our wristbands. Experiencing a hang gliding adventure around the world and ending in EPCOT was the perfect beginning to Disney After Hours at EPCOT!

Next, we made our way to the classic Journey Into Imagination With Figment where we were brought on an whimiscal adventure through the Imagination Institute. By this point, many day guests had left, making it an ideal time to visit the French Pavilion for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, which boasted a mere 5-minute wait—essentially a walk-on! Our family had an absolute blast joining Chef Remy on his culinary quest!

Delicious Snacks and Meet-and-Greets

During Disney After Hours, some areas of the World Showcase are closed. Only the pavilions of France, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Norway are accessible. We enjoyed the upbeat atmosphere, complete with a DJ spinning fun tunes throughout the park, although we didn’t partake in the dance party.

While making our way over to Norway, we stumbled upon a meet-and-greet with Pluto in France—how could we resist a photo op? We also passed a popcorn station in the United Kingdom. One of the perks of Disney After Hours is the complimentary snacks! We indulged in delicious popcorn while making our way to the Mexican Pavilion. Here, we walked right onto Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros and took a leisurely boat ride while helping Panchito and José Carioca find Donald Duck.

Sweet Treats and Thrilling Rides

Just as the kids were ready for another snack, we found a cart serving complimentary ice cream novelties between Mexico and Norway—perfect timing for a Mickey bar!

After our ice cream break, we made our way to Frozen Ever After. Like all rides during the event, there was no wait! My son, the thrill-seeker, wanted to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, so my husband and I split up. I stayed with my daughter on Frozen Ever After, where we rode an impressive six times in a row, often with an entire boat practically to ourselves!

A Perfect End to the Night

We regrouped at Spaceship Earth for a relaxing ride on our way out. The line was short, allowing us to enjoy the ride without any wait. As we walked over, I spotted a fantastic photo op with a Disney PhotoPass+ photographer—my daughter and I had to stop!

After our Spaceship Earth ride, my daughter and I headed back to our resort, while my husband and son squeezed in one last ride on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. It was the perfect ending to an already perfect night!

We achieved more in three hours during Disney After Hours at EPCOT than we could in a full day. Here’s a quick rundown of our rides:

Frozen Ever After – 6 times
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – 2 times
Spaceship Earth
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Soarin’ Around the World
Journey Into Imagination With Figment

We even enjoyed snacks and photo ops multiple times! We experienced almost everything in the park, missing only Mission: SPACE, Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, and Living with the Land—and that was purely by choice.

Final Thoughts

Initially, I was concerned about staying out late, especially for my youngest, so I even rented a stroller just in case. But to our surprise, we didn’t need it at all! My family had an amazing time during Disney After Hours at EPCOT. With no crowds and minimal wait times, it was a stress-free evening. Best of all, because the event occurs at night, there were no complaints about the sun or heat. Disney After Hours at EPCOT is a fantastic experience we’ll certainly enjoy again in the future!

Are you ready to plan your Walt Disney World Resort vacation? Royal Treatment Travel® help! Reach out to your Travel Advisor or complete the form below to get started.

QUOTE REQUEST