In July, my family had the opportunity to take part in Epcot After Hours event! While Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios had offered such events in the past, and holiday parties after hours events are common, Epcot’s After Hours event is one we will definitely do again! You can read more about different After Hours events in our previous BLOG
Epcot After Hours dates seemingly filled the gaps between festivals - Flower and Garden had ended, and Food and Wine had not yet started. Pricing for this event is similar to a party night, and discounts for DVC and AP holders were available - these tickets must be purchased separately from your package and are non-refundable/non-transferable once purchased. Every major attraction is included, and free snacks too! Crowds were extremely low for this event, so lines during the actual event time were very quick!
Like all after hours events, guests may arrive earlier than the scheduled event time. Epcot After Hours is from 10pm - 1am, with guests able to arrive as early as 7pm. We arrived a little after 7pm and was shown to a special event turnstile - with Cast Members holding signs. Upon entry, we were given event wristbands to ensure we could remain in the park after hours!
We began by heading straight to World Showcase and splitting our party to enjoy food, drink, and attractions! With about an hour and a half to spare before the event began, we were able to ride the Gran Fiesta Tour starring Three Caballeros, grab a Bavarian Pretzel, and head to France to ride Ratatouille. We opted to skip Frozen for now, as the line was still over an hour long. Guests stuck around to watch the nighttime show, Epcot Forever, in the Epcot lagoon. Cast Members were diligent in checking our wristbands for attraction entrances from 9pm and on!
We were able to experience Ratatouille twice! As we were exiting France, we caught Mickey Mouse himself as he took his spot for meet and greets! Special photo opportunities were available throughout the park as well. World Showcase was closed from France to Norway, so we had to trek around through the UK and back through Mexico to Norway to ride Frozen Ever After with minimal wait.
As we were walking, party snack carts were now out, and party music piping all over the park! Snack carts were STOCKED with grab and go Dasani water, Coke products - and depending on the cart - Mickey Bars and Mickey Ice Cream Sandwiches, or Popcorn! While there was not an over-abundance of snack carts, there were enough, and moved quickly enough, to get your drink and snack and move on!
We then headed to World Nature for The Land to hit Soarin’ and The Seas with Nemo and Friends. Then headed to World Discovery to ride Test Track and Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind! Chip and Dale were hosting a dance party, complete with DJ, in the walkway between Connections Cafe and Creations Shop, and was a great way to wind up our evening.
Honestly, if you do Epcot After Hours, utilize that extra time from 7pm to 9pm to ride the attractions with the lowest wait times. And, take in Living with the Land during this time as well. We decided to skip this attraction during the event hours, as it’s a long attraction, and we needed time for Guardians. Take advantage of every snack cart you can. AND HAVE FUN!
Contact your Me and The Mouse Travel Specialist when you’re ready to experience one of these After Hours events!
