Disney After Dark! 7 Tips For Night Owls to See the Most at Disneyland

For night owls, there's truly nothing better than spending time at the Disneyland parks at night! Disneyland Park is usually open between 8 AM and 12 AM, while Disney California Adventure Park is typically open between 8 AM and 10 PM. Not only do the parks look absolutely breathtaking at night, but there are many fun things to do, including the amazing firework displays. Disney California Adventure Park is home to one of my favorite Disney nighttime shows, World of Color, which features dozens of Disney characters and songs in a colorful water display in front of Pixar Pier. The infamous Fantasmic! show at Disneyland is also a must-do, which takes place at 9 PM and 10:30 PM each night along the Rivers of America in Frontierland. Even if you aren't watching the fireworks or one of the nighttime spectaculars, there are many things to do at the Disneyland Resort at night. This could include taking advantage of popular attraction's short wait times during the fireworks or just before park closing, or hanging out at Downtown Disney after the park closes. Although many guests think the best way to experience Disneyland is to wake up early and hit the ground running, they will likely be exhausted by the end of the day and want to go back to their hotel before the park closes. When this happens they might be missing out on some amazing Disneyland memories at night. We take advantage of late nights at Disneyland frequently and have gathered some of the best tips to truly get the most out of your night at Disneyland. Below you can find our top 7 tips to enjoy Disneyland at night!

1. Get in Line for a Popular Attraction

If you're planning on staying at Disneyland until closing, I always recommend getting in line for a popular attraction right before the park closes! You can enter any queue seconds before the clock strikes midnight (or park closing time). These lines typically move faster because there are less people in the parks as they head back to their car or resort. More importantly, the line moves faster because there won't be any other individuals entering the Lightning Lane queue that would bypass you in line! I have used this method frequently, and while it doesn't always guarantee what the wait time will actually be, it's often much easier than trying to wait in line during the day. This trick is the next best option to rope dropping at Disneyland, however that strategy would require you to wake up very early! Therefore, for night owls looking to experience a popular attraction with a short wait time, we recommend jumping in the queue just before park closing. Popular attractions at Disneyland with short wait times later at night could include Space Mountain, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Smuggler's Run, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, and Soarin'. If you are at Disney California Adventure at night, we recommend trying this trick at Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, Web Slingers, or Radiator Springs Racers.

2. Experience a Disneyland After Dark Event

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to hang out at Disneyland after hours, you should definitely consider a Disneyland After Dark event! These events are seperately ticketed and are not included with the purchase of a regular ticket to Disneyland. However, these events allow guests to meet rare characters, experience low wait times on popular attractions, snack on limited edition food and drinks, take special photos, and much more! These events range in various themes which in the past have included Star Wars Nite, Sweethearts' Nite, Pride Nite, Villains Nite, and Disney Channel Nite. Each of these events are truly one of a kind experiences and give guests a different view of the park. The events take place either at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure and usually run somewhere between 9 PM and 1 AM. Guests with tickets to these events can enter the park three hours early and take advantage of seeing the fireworks or riding attractions before the event begins! Although the After Dark event dates have passed for 2024, we expect Disneyland will be sharing information on next year's Disneyland After Dark events very soon! It is one of the best ways to experience Disneyland at night.

3. Enjoy Downtown Disney After Park Closing

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4. Skip Rope Drop and Sleep In Instead

Although we often “rope drop” the Disneyland or Disney California Adventure parks to get in line for the most popular attractions, it can be frustrating for those who are not morning people. A trip to Disneyland is a vacation after all, and you should spend it how you want. Many guests opt to sleep in, enjoy a breakfast at their resort, or maybe stop by the pool or gift shops before heading to the parks. This can be a very enjoyable way to start your day instead of rushing out the door to get to the parks to fight the large crowds. Especially for night owls, you can get more out of your Disneyland trip by staying late at the parks rather than getting there early in the morning. You can also alleviate stressful mornings by planning your day accordingly with Lightning Lane or dining reservations. Sleeping in is a great option for those who aren't focused on getting on all the attractions and mainly want to explore the parks, entertainment, and characters throughout the day. There's no point in fighting the morning crowds if you intend on staying at Disneyland late at night and have a plan in place for your evening.

5. Grab a Late Night Meal

You may be surprised to find out that there are several Disneyland restaurants that are open until park closing. Dining at these restaurants can be a fun way to spend your evening at the parks with very little crowds. One of our favorite spots at Disneyland to grab a bite to eat before heading home is the Jolly Holiday Bakery Café which is open until 12:15 AM. This Mary Poppins themed eatery has everything from savory turkey, beef, or cheese sandwiches as well as sweet treats including macaroons, cinnamon rolls, and cookies! If you're over at Disney California Adventure, you can visit Pym Test Kitchen until 10 PM, which is when the park closes. This quick service restaurant serves “experimental” food items including sandwiches, chimichangas, pasta, as well as several desserts. Grabbing a late night bite in the parks before you head out for the night is another great way to spend an evening at the Disneyland parks. Make sure to download the Disneyland mobile app before your trip to see when restaurants are open and to make reservations as well as view wait times and parade schedules.

6. Peruse the Gift Shops

After you finish your late night meal or final ride on an attraction, another way to extend your late night at Disneyland is to check out the many gift shops that typically stay open at least 30 minutes after park closing. I often walk around the gift shops on my way out from the parks especially if I had my eye on something earlier in the day. This way, I don't have to carry a bulky merchandise bag while I walk around the park! Although the shops are typically pretty crowded at the end of the night, I often use the time after the ride queues close to grab any last minute items I may want to purchase. I have also grabbed some delicious snacks or drinks from the gift shops to enjoy when I arrive back at my resort.

7. Take Advantage of Unique Photo Opportunities

Last but not least, guests who stay at Disneyland well into the evenings have the opportunities for some incredible photo ops! No trip to Disneyland is complete without nighttime shots of Disney California Adventure Park's Pixar Pier. Not only will you get some beautiful pictures, but there will be little to no crowds once everyone leaves after the fireworks. I always recommend taking photos at night for beautiful backdrops as well as smaller crowds in front of the castle and Pixar Pier. Guests can also take some amazing photos throughout the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge land at night! For those looking to build a light saber at Savi's Workshop, definitely stay in the parks until close to closing to take some amazing photos throughout the area with smaller crowds! These photos will last a lifetime, so be sure to enjoy the parks late at night with some amazing photos next time you visit Disneyland.

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