"Official" 2018 Disney After Hours (DAH) Thread (Now Closed, see New 2019 Thread)

[FastPass Dad]

January 26th will be our last day in the parks to end a 7 day vacation. It is my wife and I and our kids (7 and 9). We are considering hitting MK in the morning to bang out a few FP+ rides and then hanging at the resort the rest of the day to let the kids chill out and recharge (we are staying at the Poly so it's an easy commute) before heading over after dinner. I think ending our trip this way would be an amazing memory. My only concern with purchasing tickets so early is that if the weather doesn't co-operate, it could be miserable with young kids. If it were just my wife and I, we could see past it if it were cold or rainy but with kids that age, that late at night, things have to be smooth or it could go sideways.

Do these usually sell out? I'd be fine with paying extra to buy them the day of or sometime the week of once we have a little more confidence in the forecast.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

January 26th will be our last day in the parks to end a 7 day vacation. It is my wife and I and our kids (7 and 9). We are considering hitting MK in the morning to bang out a few FP+ rides and then hanging at the resort the rest of the day to let the kids chill out and recharge (we are staying at the Poly so it's an easy commute) before heading over after dinner. I think ending our trip this way would be an amazing memory. My only concern with purchasing tickets so early is that if the weather doesn't co-operate, it could be miserable with young kids. If it were just my wife and I, we could see past it if it were cold or rainy but with kids that age, that late at night, things have to be smooth or it could go sideways.

Do these usually sell out? I'd be fine with paying extra to buy them the day of or sometime the week of once we have a little more confidence in the forecast.

“Easy commute” -

I don’t ‘think’ any of them sold out this year, or at least there weren’t reports of any. If any did, it was right at the last minute and not widely reported around here. The most common sentiment was that the Jan/early Feb DAHs were less crowded than the late Feb/early March DAHs, which tends to make sense given typical crowd patterns that time of year.

Disney did start marketing/selling tickets to 2018 DAH dates several months earlier this year... hard to tell if that will have any impact on potential sell-outs.

Having gone to one of the colder DAH nights this year, I can guaranty you I was way more bothered by the cold than my DS (6 at the time)!!! He could have cared less!

PS: If you do go, remember that your ‘easy commute’ back to Poly will likely be via a shared bus with the rest of the MK resorts. I was at Poly during our DAH date this year and it took a decent amount of time to get back. DS fell asleep. But, we had had so much fun that night it was all good.

Let us know what you decide!

 

[kmc8826]

January 26th will be our last day in the parks to end a 7 day vacation. It is my wife and I and our kids (7 and 9). We are considering hitting MK in the morning to bang out a few FP+ rides and then hanging at the resort the rest of the day to let the kids chill out and recharge (we are staying at the Poly so it's an easy commute) before heading over after dinner. I think ending our trip this way would be an amazing memory. My only concern with purchasing tickets so early is that if the weather doesn't co-operate, it could be miserable with young kids. If it were just my wife and I, we could see past it if it were cold or rainy but with kids that age, that late at night, things have to be smooth or it could go sideways.

Do these usually sell out? I'd be fine with paying extra to buy them the day of or sometime the week of once we have a little more confidence in the forecast.

If you can handle it financially I do think it is worth it. I have done it twice; first time it was offered in May 2016 and then last early February 2017. As you say both trips were an "amazing memory." My first time was just with my oldest who was 9 at the time. It was so awesome and unique that I kept texting my husband the whole time wishing he was there. We are an AP family so used to MK but DAH is just such a different experience. We went last year when they unexpectedly opened it up just because I had to have the rest of my family go to it. This year it is our Christmas present surprise and I ended up renewing our AP's when I initially wasn't going too just because I wanted to DAH so bad again. Our last trip the girls (who are now 11, 9, 7 so close to your kids ages) were still talking about DAH and the "free ice cream and popcorn."

As far as weather, if you are dressed for it and prepared you will be fine. On my May trip I didn't have a jacket that night and was cold the whole time. For February we had jackets and hats and gloves and were great. Just be prepared and then it won't matter. If weather is bad there will probably be less people and it will be even more magical!

 

[Haley R]

Really debating if we want to do this for date night on January 26th. It seems so expensive (we're on a tight budget) but it sounds like so much fun! We're already doing MK Tuesday, Friday, and the following Tuesday. But no lines.... HMMMMMM....

Can you do DAH and switch one of your MK days to a different park?

 

[lark]

Sorry if already asked, but is anyone thinking about doing the fireworks desert and the DAH? The fireworks desert says it opens at 6:45. I know many are speculating that DAH will get in as early as 4:00, but let's say it really is 7:00. If we show up for the desert at 7:15 with a 6:45 reservation, will they let us in?

 

[Haley R]

Sorry if already asked, but is anyone thinking about doing the fireworks desert and the DAH? The fireworks desert says it opens at 6:45. I know many are speculating that DAH will get in as early as 4:00, but let's say it really is 7:00. If we show up for the desert at 7:15 with a 6:45 reservation, will they let us in?

I wouldn't plan on the time being 7 pm because people have already been able to make FPs before 7 pm.

 

[Lesley Wake]

Sorry if already asked, but is anyone thinking about doing the fireworks desert and the DAH? The fireworks desert says it opens at 6:45. I know many are speculating that DAH will get in as early as 4:00, but let's say it really is 7:00. If we show up for the desert at 7:15 with a 6:45 reservation, will they let us in?

I think they will definitely let you in, but you may be stuck with a table further away from the desserts, and some of the desserts may be more picked over (they say they refill constantly, but we ran out of strawberries and chocolate macarons at our party).

I actually do plan on doing the party, but have an AP so the timing isn't as much of an issue. I ended up having a lot of fun doing it back in September and loved HEA, so it was great being able to walk into the garden 5 minutes before the show and have an awesome view!

 

[lark]

I think they will definitely let you in, but you may be stuck with a table further away from the desserts, and some of the desserts may be more picked over (they say they refill constantly, but we ran out of strawberries and chocolate macarons at our party).

I actually do plan on doing the party, but have an AP so the timing isn't as much of an issue. I ended up having a lot of fun doing it back in September and loved HEA, so it was great being able to walk into the garden 5 minutes before the show and have an awesome view!

Thanks!

So, one more question if anyone knows. If you load the tickets on to an account with magicbands that already has another ticket linked, and you enter the park at 4:00, how will the system know that you're using your DAH ticket instead of your regular ticket? Is it coded to take the DAH first or something? I don't want to go early and end up using a park entitlement. (Maybe this is just something I need to wait until January to ask, though, it occurs to me.)

 

[Lesley Wake]

Thanks!

So, one more question if anyone knows. If you load the tickets on to an account with magicbands that already has another ticket linked, and you enter the park at 4:00, how will the system know that you're using your DAH ticket instead of your regular ticket? Is it coded to take the DAH first or something? I don't want to go early and end up using a park entitlement. (Maybe this is just something I need to wait until January to ask, though, it occurs to me.)

Similar to parties, they will have you enter through a different turnstile and have special scanners. Make sure you go to someone giving out DAH lanyards!

 

[Haley R]

Thanks!

So, one more question if anyone knows. If you load the tickets on to an account with magicbands that already has another ticket linked, and you enter the park at 4:00, how will the system know that you're using your DAH ticket instead of your regular ticket? Is it coded to take the DAH first or something? I don't want to go early and end up using a park entitlement. (Maybe this is just something I need to wait until January to ask, though, it occurs to me.)

It should be linked on your account as a separate ticket. Mine says we each have a DAH ticket and we also each have a 2-day park ticket. We also were sent actual cards for DAH that you could use instead.

 

[mcurrence]

I think they will definitely let you in, but you may be stuck with a table further away from the desserts, and some of the desserts may be more picked over (they say they refill constantly, but we ran out of strawberries and chocolate macarons at our party).

I actually do plan on doing the party, but have an AP so the timing isn't as much of an issue. I ended up having a lot of fun doing it back in September and loved HEA, so it was great being able to walk into the garden 5 minutes before the show and have an awesome view!

I just bought tickets for the desert party too for the 30th. We've never done it..super excited to see HEA for the first time. I'm not a crazy desert person and will have the free ice cream later but figured not having to hassle for a space will be worth it! Is the view nice? We're doing the Garden Plaza view.. can you recommend a spot or is the whole area pretty good to view the projections? Thanks!!

 

[Lesley Wake]

I just bought tickets for the desert party too for the 30th. We've never done it..super excited to see HEA for the first time. I'm not a crazy desert person and will have the free ice cream later but figured not having to hassle for a space will be worth it! Is the view nice? We're doing the Garden Plaza view.. can you recommend a spot or is the whole area pretty good to view the projections? Thanks!!

My favorite spot is actually at the back against the railing. You can lean against it, helping to rest your feet! A lot of people will try to crowd at the front railing, so it ends up leaving a sizable gap between the front people and people in the back, so you end up with no one in front of you and a great view!

On our night we had Once Upon a Time at 8:30 and HEA at 9, with EMH from 9-11. Most of the dessert party left for Once Upon a Time, so by the end it was just my sister and I relaxing at the tables. We were the last ones to walk into the garden (escorted by a CM with a light up wand) and still got the back railing, great view.

 

[mcurrence]

My favorite spot is actually at the back against the railing. You can lean against it, helping to rest your feet! A lot of people will try to crowd at the front railing, so it ends up leaving a sizable gap between the front people and people in the back, so you end up with no one in front of you and a great view!

On our night we had Once Upon a Time at 8:30 and HEA at 9, with EMH from 9-11. Most of the dessert party left for Once Upon a Time, so by the end it was just my sister and I relaxing at the tables. We were the last ones to walk into the garden (escorted by a CM with a light up wand) and still got the back railing, great view.

This sounds awesome! We have a 6:30-7:30 FP for 7d so thinking we'll head over there around 7:15 sit for a minute and have deserts and then head over to the viewing area before it starts..so excited! Now, once it's over will we have to fight the madness to go back past the castle into the park? Any recommendations?

 

[Rmurphy005]

Just found this thread! I will be going to DAH on Jan 19th solo while my wife and daughter are sleeping. My wife is not into disney have as much as i am and really doesn't have any interest in something like this but gave me the go ahead to do it solo, which works perfect for me. Anyone else going solo?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Sorry if already asked, but is anyone thinking about doing the fireworks desert and the DAH? The fireworks desert says it opens at 6:45. I know many are speculating that DAH will get in as early as 4:00, but let's say it really is 7:00. If we show up for the desert at 7:15 with a 6:45 reservation, will they let us in?

Which dessert party are you doing, Plaza Garden Viewing or the Tomorrowland Terrace viewing?

For Plaza Garden, I personally don't think there's any advantage to being on time or being early. Lots of people get there way in advance and line up, but that seems overkill to me. I actually LIKE being late - more like 7-7:30. You'll have no problem checking in. I have read reports of some desserts running out later on, but I've never experienced that personally.

For the Tomorrowland Terrace seated version, they do assign tables as you arrive. There are some tables that are better than others in terms of HEA viewing (although all are relatively inferior views given the off centered angle). If you arrive late, you'll probably be seated all the way to the right. YMMV though.

I just bought tickets for the desert party too for the 30th. We've never done it..super excited to see HEA for the first time. I'm not a crazy desert person and will have the free ice cream later but figured not having to hassle for a space will be worth it! Is the view nice? We're doing the Garden Plaza view.. can you recommend a spot or is the whole area pretty good to view the projections? Thanks!!

I agree with @Lesley Wake 's advice above.

If you haven't seen it, I did a review of the Plaza Garden experience in this thread: Review: Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing

The pics might be helpful. My preferred area in the garden is back, and to the left - with left being if you are facing the castle. I prefer the left side because you're a bit more "head on" to the castle. But there's not really a bad view in the garden so it's not a huge concern. There are various speaker and light poles that can interfear with your line of sight, but it's usually easy enough to shift a step or two to fix. The light poles you see in my pics look worse in the pictures than they do IRL. IRL, there's so much going on visually that your eye is moving all over the place between fireworks, projections, etc.

This sounds awesome! We have a 6:30-7:30 FP for 7d so thinking we'll head over there around 7:15 sit for a minute and have deserts and then head over to the viewing area before it starts..so excited! Now, once it's over will we have to fight the madness to go back past the castle into the park? Any recommendations?

Most folks will be leaving after HEA, so Main Street and the Hub will be crowded. I prefer to book it through the Tomorrowland restaurant over into Tomorrowland and go ride something like People Mover - it'll be a walk on and a good ride to eat some minutes while the crowds clear. Even if you don't ride PM, heading into Tomorrowland to get to other parts of the park is a good bet to avoid Hub crowds. Hope that helps!

 

[mcurrence]

Which dessert party are you doing, Plaza Garden Viewing or the Tomorrowland Terrace viewing?

For Plaza Garden, I personally don't think there's any advantage to being on time or being early. Lots of people get there way in advance and line up, but that seems overkill to me. I actually LIKE being late - more like 7-7:30. You'll have no problem checking in. I have read reports of some desserts running out later on, but I've never experienced that personally.

For the Tomorrowland Terrace seated version, they do assign tables as you arrive. There are some tables that are better than others in terms of HEA viewing (although all are relatively inferior views given the off centered angle). If you arrive late, you'll probably be seated all the way to the right. YMMV though.



I agree with @Lesley Wake 's advice above.

If you haven't seen it, I did a review of the Plaza Garden experience in this thread: Review: Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing

The pics might be helpful. My preferred area in the garden is back, and to the left - with left being if you are facing the castle. I prefer the left side because you're a bit more "head on" to the castle. But there's not really a bad view in the garden so it's not a huge concern. There are various speaker and light poles that can interfear with your line of sight, but it's usually easy enough to shift a step or two to fix. The light poles you see in my pics look worse in the pictures than they do IRL. IRL, there's so much going on visually that your eye is moving all over the place between fireworks, projections, etc.



Most folks will be leaving after HEA, so Main Street and the Hub will be crowded. I prefer to book it through the Tomorrowland restaurant over into Tomorrowland and go ride something like People Mover - it'll be a walk on and a good ride to eat some minutes while the crowds clear. Even if you don't ride PM, heading into Tomorrowland to get to other parts of the park is a good bet to avoid Hub crowds. Hope that helps!

I ended up getting the Plaza Viewing Thank you so much for the suggestions and I'm going to check out your review! Didn't mean to hijack the thread but love that so many of you have done it and thought it was worth it!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I ended up getting the Plaza Viewing Thank you so much for the suggestions and I'm going to check out your review! Didn't mean to hijack the thread but love that so many of you have done it and thought it was worth it!

Hijack away!

Plaza Garden is my personal favorite... good choice.

 

[mcurrence]

Hijack away!

Plaza Garden is my personal favorite... good choice.

Your HEA Thread is crazy amazing! Thank you!!

 

[MommaBerd]

We’re giving DS11 a DAH ticket (and, well, me too!) for Christmas! He and I will come down just for the event on Feb. 8. He has really been wanting to go for a quick Disney trip, and I’ve been wanting to do the DAH event. I’ve asked him would he be “satisfied” if we hypothetically did an event like this, and he said “yes.” I’m super excited!!!

 

[georgina]

PS: If you do go, remember that your ‘easy commute’ back to Poly will likely be via a shared bus with the rest of the MK resorts. I was at Poly during our DAH date this year and it took a decent amount of time to get back. DS fell asleep. But, we had had so much fun that night it was all good.

So no monorail running? What will be an option to get to the TTC, will the ferry be running?