Avoid the Long Lines and Celebrate at a Disney After Hours Party!
Summer break is here and if Disney is on your bucket list, we've got a great way to avoid the crowds and heat…Disney's After Hours parties!
Yes, this is a Parenting site and yes, we also have young kids, but we've actually come to love the Disney After Hours events for two reasons: the lines are shorter and it's a lot less hot outside since you're not sweltering in the blazing hot Florida sun.
While late nights with kids can be tough, we do like that you can arrive a couple hours early beginning at a designated time prior to the party so you can squeeze in some extra time at the park –and not stay so late at the After Hours Party if the kids aren't up for it. This is usually our game plan since our kids tend to lose steam at about 10 p.m. during these events.
There are different Disney After Hours events on schedule for the rest of 2026:
- H2O Glow at Typhoon Lagoon After Hours: select evenings now though September 5, 2026
- Disney After Hours at EPCOT: select evenings from January 14 through September 12, 2026
- Disney's Hollywood Studios After Hours: select evenings from January 22through September 24, 2026
2026 After Hours Dates:
- Hollywood Studios: January 14 and 28, February 4, 11, 21 and 25, April 29, May 6, 14 and 30, June 3, 10, 17 and 24, July 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, August 5, 12, 19 and 26, September 2 and 12. NOTE: May 30 hours will be from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. and September 12 hours will be from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
- H2O Glow at Typhoon Lagoon: July 17, 24, 31, August 9, 22, 29, and September 5
- EPCOT: January 22 and 29, February 19, March 5 and 12, April 2, 9, 15, 23 and 30, May 21, June 11 and 18, July 9 and 23, August 6 and 13, September 16 and 24
There are a few other perks that come with a Disney After Hours ticket—you can often arrive at the park early before the event starts beginning at a designated time, and they include some snacks like ice cream and select drinks.
Another perk—you don't have to worry about overheating in the blisteringly high heat index and constantly reapplying sunscreen on squirmy kids.
Don't forget about the holiday-exclusive after-hours events: Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, and Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios.
How much are Disney After Hours tickets?
Since it's not a full-day ticket, they are a bit less than the normal day tickets and Disney pass holders get a discount.
- H2O Glow at Typhoon Lagoon ticket prices: $85-89 for ages 10 and older depending on the date, and $20 for ages 3-9
- EPCOT After Hours ticket prices: $155-179 depending on the date
- Disney's Hollywood Studios After Hours ticket prices: Tickets range from $155-185 depending on the date
While this may sound like a lot for a 3-hour party, keep in mind you do have the option to arrive a couple hours early, and you won't be waiting in long lines like during the day, so there's always the possibility you'll get to experience more attractions, plus, who doesn't like free snacks?
It all really depends on what your game plan is!
You can purchase your tickets for H2O Glow here or EPCOT After Hours here and Disney's Hollywood Studios After Hours here.
What are the Disney After Hours event times?
- H2O Glow at Typhoon Lagoon After Hours: 8 p.m.-11 p.m., arrive as early as 6 p.m.
- EPCOT After Hours: 9:30 p.m. to 12: 30 a.m., arrive as early as 7 p.m.
- Disney's Hollywood Studios After Hours 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., arrive as early as 7 p.m.
What it's like to attend a Disney After Hours event at the Water Park: Typhoon Lagoon H2O Glow After Hours
Disney invited us to experience H2O Glow After Hours on opening night and our kids were stoked. We truly believe Disney water parks are a hidden gem at the Walt Disney World Resort, had H2O Glow night is unmatched!
As we've mentioned, there are some big perks that come with the After Hours ticket—shorter lines and you can arrive a couple of hours before the party starts.
This year, there is also an inflatable screen showing throwback 90s Disney Movies all night, and a spot to get cool H2O Glow temporary tattoos nearby!
“With this ticket, you can come here two hours before the event. You can come at 6 p.m., experience the day a little bit, grab your favorite seat, and then at 8 pm when the event starts you’re kind of already set to go. So I wouldn’t wait til 8 o’clock, I’d definitely come at 6,” Liliana Lorenzo with Disney Water Parks told us. “My kids love that there are lower wait times, so they can go on the attractions over and over again. That’s their favorite part.”
The longest wait we saw on the night we attended was 5 minutes, and most of that time was spent walking up to the water slide.
We also loved the all-night dance party and getting to boogie with our Disney favorites like Scrooge McDuck, Chip ‘n' Dale in their Rescue Rangers outfits, and the ICONIC figurehead for this year, Powerline Max!
More H2O Glow After Hours perks
FREE ice cream, popcorn, and select drinks
Your H2O Glow After Hours ticket also comes with all you can enjoy: Popcorn, Mickey ice-cream bars, and Mickey ice-cream sandwiches! There are also stations for free fountain drinks.
Our kids pretty much thought this was the best thing ever, just look out for the sugar high!
Pro-Tip: Be sure to look out for the neon wave signs that will tell you there's a free snack stand nearby! You can find free snacks at Leaning Palms, Snack Shack, Surf Doggies, and Tropical Amity Outpost.
Event-exclusive character meet-and-greets
This year's theme takes us all the way back to the 90s with Powerline Max! It was super fun to get to meet this rare character, and there was practically no line at his section near Landing Palms. We got to spend a little extra time with him since there wasn't anyone waiting behind us. Talk about cool!
You'll also be able to jam out at the Clocktower Stage (near the giant wave pool) and party with characters like Scrooge McDuck, Launchpad McQuack, Chip ‘n' Dale, Daisy, Donald, and more. Scrooge and Launchpad were absolutely iconic, showing off their best dance moves in the sand!
The Food at H2O Glow After Hours
Disney has a way of immersing you in their special events and attractions, and H2O Glow is no different! You'll find several event-exclusive menu options that have undergone a bit of a “glow-up” to match this year's 90s Powerline Max theming.
We caught up with Disney Waterpark Chef Drew as he walked us through this year's wide range of snack options, even some for picky eaters! “We wanted to take a look at foods that resonated with us when we were children,” said Chef Drew.
Chef Drew's Favorite Item: Sloppy Max Sliders (and trust us, his suggestion does not miss!)
This year's exclusive food offerings include Mini Pretzels, a Turkey Calzone (a nod to that iconic microwave handheld pocket), Sloppy Max Sliders (think of the iconic childhood sloppy joe), a Pork Tamale, Pizza Egg Rolls, Neon Mini Churros, a Snack Box, and an absolutely DELICIOUS Frozen Hot Honey Lemonade.
There is something for every palate, so don't worry if you don't have time to grab dinner before the party.
Pro-Tip: Not all stands will be open to serve food during the event. Purchasable munchies can be found at Leaning Palms and Typhoon Tilly's until 10 p.m., and at High ‘N Dr and Let's Go Slurpin'.
What rides are open during Typhoon Lagoon's H2O Glow event?
- Bay Slides
- Castaway Creek
- Crush ‘n’ Gusher
- Gangplank Falls
- Humunga Kowabunga
- Mayday Falls
- Miss Adventure Falls
- Storm Slides
- Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool
We probably spent most of our night in the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool with a few stops for trips down the water slides. Crush ‘n' Gusher was a family favorite!
As we mentioned a bit earlier, we didn't wait long to get on the water slides, and overall, the park felt less crowded than a normal day.
We also love a good lazy river and we love how Castaway Creek ‘glows' during the event, and has added specialty rafts just for the party! We saw someone snag the cutest Wall-E floatie.
During our Orlando team's visit, their little guy could not be pulled around from Ketchakiddee Creek. This precious kids' area is quiet and away from the nighttime party crowds.
As a note, the restroom in this area is a bit of a walk, but we gladly grabbed another ice cream bar and popcorn each time we made a trip.
Overall thoughts on H2O Glow at Typhoon Lagoon
Members of our team have attended H2O Glow at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon multiple times over the years. We're not ‘spend all day at the theme park' kind of people, so we don't mind a shorter event, especially during the summer months.
The shorter wait times alone make the ticket worth it, especially with the sun being down. We've attended several Disney After Hours events on our own dime for this very reason.
Of course, the ice cream bars, popcorn, and soft drinks being included in your admission add to the fun too! Lines for these complimentary snacks are long at the beginning of the night, but move quickly.
Keep in mind, it can get a tad chilly at the end of the night after you've spent so much time splashing around without the sun to warm you back up and dry you off. Bring a change of clothes or a cover-up to help warm up after the fun is over.
Pro Tip: If you're staying overnight on Disney property, some hotels don't have transportation directly to Typhoon Lagoon, so you'll have to take a bus to Disney Springs and transfer to the Typhoon Lagoon bus from there.
Now, if your kids go to bed early, you may just want to stick with going during the day. It can be a late night, and you want to ensure you get the value out of your ticket purchase.