Disney Villains After Hours is a fun luxury

in Disney, Entertainment, Theme Parks

Maleficent

Credit: Preston Mack, photographer

Walt Disney World has introduced its newest nighttime event, Disney Villains After Hours at Magic Kingdom, which allows guests to “take a walk on the vile side” and party with Disney’s most nefarious fiends. The experience allows guests 3 hours in the park with an exclusive castle show, short wait times, two attraction overlays and treats for $139 per person. However, this new offering begs the question that comes with all of the Disney Parks after-hours events: Is it worth it?

When you purchase admission to the event, guests can technically enter the park as early as 7 p.m. Although, all of the celebrations from the event don’t actually begin until 10 p.m., the official start time of the event.

Villains after hours
Credit: ITM Reporter/Sean Sposato

Attractions

Like the other After Hours events, this experience offers guests short wait times for the park’s major attractions, due to the limited quantity of visitors in attendance. These include over 20 of the park’s attractions, in addition to two special ride overlays on Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain.

Haunted Mansion at Villains after Hours
Credit: ITM Reporter/Sean Sposato

The Space Mountain overlay is most comparable to the overlay the attraction got during last year’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which included the lights being turned off in the ride and a special soundtrack playing in the background.

Similar to Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean also offers a similar overlay from Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. With the overlay, live pirates can be found in both the queue and the attraction.

Pirates of the Caribbean at Villains after Hours
Credit: ITM Reporter/Sean Sposato

 

Pirates of the Caribbean at Villains afte Hours
Credit: ITM Reporter/Sean Sposato

Maleficent

A special and new experience that’s never been done before in the park that this event offers is the special appearance of Maleficent throughout the park during the night.

Maleficent
Credit: ITM Reporter/Sean Sposato

 

Maleficent during Villains after Hours
Credit: ITM Reporter/Sean Sposato

The fire-breathing dragon moves along the park’s parade route during the three hours of the event and is joined by a team of dancers who clear her path.

Dress Up

For this event, guests are allowed to dress up in their “diabolical best” to pay homage to their favorite Disney villain, which is exciting as this has never been allowed at past After Hours events, only at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

When selecting your outfit, be sure to follow the park’s dress code and costume guidelines.

Included Snacks & Beverages

Just like some of the other After Hours events, Disney Villains After Hours does include select snacks and beverages with the price of admission. These include ice cream, popcorn and popular Coca-Cola products, which can be found all throughout the park at snack carts.

Villains after Hour snacks
Credit: ITM Reporter/Sean Sposato

 

Coke
Credit: ITM Reporter/Sean Sposato

Photo ops

For guests who enjoy Disney’s Magical PhotoPass experiences, you may want to look out for the fun offerings that are exclusive to this event! We posed with Maleficent, the fire-breathing dragon and Tinker Bell. However, the experience offers even more photo ops to take advantage of around the park.

Photopass ops
Credit: Disney PhotoPass

 

Villains after Hours photopass spots
Credit: Disney PhotoPass

Villains Unite the Night

Never done before at any After Hours event, Disney Villains After Hours offers an exclusive nighttime stage show, which features all of Disney’s most famous villains! Some of the hilarious hoodlums found in the show include Hades, Meg, The Queen, Maleficent, Jafar and many more!

 

Cinderella's castle lite up for villains after hours
Credit: ITM Reporter/Sean Sposato

Nothing can compete with the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular from Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. But, Villains Unite the Night was still a very enjoyable show as it featured fireworks, everyone’s favorite villains, lighting effects, music and much more. Take a look at the show in the video above!

Food & Beverage

The event offers villain-themed food and beverage offerings for purchase, these include brand-new items and returning favorites like Evil Emperor Zurg’s Noodles and Not-So-Poison Apple Cupcakes.

villains themed food
Credit: Disney

For an in-depth look at all the food & beverage offerings available at the event, be sure to refer to our previous coverage.

Merchandise

The event also features limited-edition merchandise, plus a curated collection of Villains must-haves, all available for purchase. Below is a look at our favorite.

villain themed merchandise
Credit: Disney

For an in-depth look at all of the merchandise available at the event, be sure to check out our previous coverage.

Review

What Disney Parks fan doesn’t love walking around Magic Kingdom after hours with shorter ride wait times, exclusive entertainment, and included snacks and beverages? However, this luxury comes at a price.

Compared to a single day ticket at the Magic Kingdom, which ranges in cost between $109 – $159, the $139 cost of Villains After Hours is as much or more as a full day at the park. And if you purchased a regular ticket, you would have access to the park from opening to close. Although, Villains After Hours offers food and entertainment not found during a normal day’s visit to the park, which is something to consider when deciding if this experience is right for you. Additionally, you can fit in many more rides each hour you spend in the park with this experience, if that is how you choose to spend your time.

Disney Villains After Hours
Credit: ITM Reporter/Sean Sposato

In comparison to the regular After Hours events at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom, this event is priced a little higher. Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom’s regular After Hours events run for only $125. The $14 upcharge for the additional theming and entertainment makes sense given the exclusive nighttime show, and other exclusive experiences found only at Disney Villains After Hours.

Villains after Hours entertainment
Credit: ITM Reporter/Sean Sposato

 

Villains after Hours entertainment
Credit: ITM Reporter/Sean Sposato

When it comes down to deciding if this experience is right for you, it’s important to think about what you want. If you want an exclusive nighttime experience themed to your favorite Disney Villains and you are willing to pay for the benefits that come with small crowds, this may be your ticket. The event does only run for 3 hours plus 3 additional hours of regular park access. However, this is the same event duration found at the other After Hours events at the other parks. Therefore, this experience makes sense for fans of Disney Villains who will enjoy the additional entertainment.

Interested in taking part in this experience? It will be offered select nights June 6 through August 8, 2019. 

Admission to Disney Villains After Hours can be purchased in advance for $139 per adult or child (plus tax) or on the day of the event for $144 per adult or child (plus tax). Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can take advantage of specially priced advance purchase tickets for just $109 per adult or child (plus tax). Alternatively, you can purchase your ticket from Undercover Tourist an authorized discount ticket broker for $137.24 (including tax) which is $16 off.

Disney Villains After Hours takes place from 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM on the following dates:

  • Thursday, June 6, 2019
  • Thursday, June 13, 2019
  • Thursday, June 20, 2019
  • Thursday, June 27, 2019
  • Monday, July 1, 2019
  • Thursday, July 11, 2019
  • Thursday, July 18, 2019
  • Thursday, July 25, 2019
  • Thursday, August 1, 2019
  • Thursday, August 8, 2019

Planning on adding Villains After Hours to a larger Disney vacation? Be sure to get the best prices and advice for that perfect trip. We recommend you contact our preferred travel agent partner Academy Travel. Academy Travel provides their services at no extra cost to you and you can click here to get a no-obligation quote and discuss your vacation with a Vacation Planners at Academy Travel.

Will you be attending Disney Villains After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park? Let us know in the comments below!

Walt Disney World did provide Inside the Magic with complimentary tickets to experience this event first-hand to review it.

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