Recently my son and I attended the Disney Villains After Hours party at Magic Kingdom. If you do not want to read this whole post, the gist of it is, GO! I would highly recommend this event to nearly anyone traveling to Walt Disney World this summer, and here’s why:
The Crowd (or lack thereof)
One of the biggest benefits of going to any of the after hours events or parties that Disney puts on is the lower crowd level. We did Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in December, 2018 and although the crowds there were less than a normal day, the crowds at the Villains After Hours event were even smaller. The only wait I saw above 5 minutes was (of course) Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, but even that attraction wait time hovered around 25 minutes for most of the night. If you were strategic, you could easily ride every ride during the party, some multiple times.
The Snacks
Included with your admission is unlimited popcorn, ice cream novelties, and bottled drinks (Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and water). We took advantage of all three multiple times. There are also themed snacks available for purchase throughout the park. Take note that if you want other food, most of the dining locations close once the party starts. So if you want nachos from Pecos Bills or a lobster roll from Columbia Harbour House, make sure to get them before 10 PM. The only restaurant serving food besides the special party items is Casey’s Corner.
The Entertainment
The two biggest entertainment draws for the night are the Villains Unite the Night show and Maleficent at Night. My son and I both enjoyed the show which clocked in around 20 minutes. It featured Hades, Meg, Jafar, The Queen, Dr. Facilier (my favorite villain!), and Maleficent. It also included dancers, fire twirlers, knife jugglers and more. Maleficent at Night was my favorite part of the event. There was something really special about seeing her spit fire at night. She comes out at three different points throughout the night on a similar route as the other parades in Magic Kingdom though she only goes down Main Street on her very last trip (1:20 AM).
Everything Else
There are other things that differentiate a Villains After Hours night from a normal night in Magic Kingdom. Two rides had special features: Space Mountain was completely in the dark and had a different soundtrack and Pirates of the Caribbean included live actors in the queue and on the ride. There were unique options for face painting as well as special PhotoPass stations with various magic shots. And, of course, there was event specific merchandise for purchase. Annual Passholders can pick up a complementary event ornament at Mickey’s Star Traders in Tomorrowland.
Important Event Information
The event runs from 10 PM – 1 AM but your ticket allows you to get into Magic Kingdom at 7 PM. We entered at the main gate just before 7 but there were also armband distribution points in Magic Kingdom for those who were already in the park. The cost of the event is $139 for tickets purchased more than 24 hours in advance and $144 for tickets purchased the day of the event. Annual Passholders enjoy a discounted rate of $109 per person. Guests are allowed to costume but must follow the dress code and costume guidelines. The event takes place on select nights through Thursday, August 8, 2019.
