Star Wars Nite is the Disneyland After Darkish particular occasion throughout Season of the Pressure that includes galactic leisure, uncommon characters, themed snacks, and distinctive picture ops. This overview covers what to anticipate throughout the get together, whether or not the laborious ticket get together is value your time & cash, and who ought to (and will not) attend.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the occasions, Disneyland After Darkish events are limited-time events that happen after common park hours and have distinctive themes, festivities, character meet & greets, particular nighttime leisure, entry to sights with diminished wait instances, and extra. It’s the Disneyland equal of After Hours at Walt Disney World, albeit sometimes with extra on the thematic entrance. On this case, which means Star Wars stuff.
With every separately-ticketed Disneyland After Darkish get together, attendees get 4 hours of get together time after the parks near day friends. Plus, the Star Wars Nite ticket additionally consists of admission to Disneyland as early as 6:00 PM—that’s 3 hours earlier than the get together begins—on the legitimate date of your ticket. That quantities to a complete of seven hours park time earlier than and through Star Wars Nite.
Along with all of the Star Wars themed enjoyable delivered to life only for the get together, admission additionally consists of commemorative keepsakes corresponding to a memento credential and an occasion information map, plus limitless digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass images taken all through Disneyland After Darkish, which is a pleasant since loads about these occasions revolves round images and enjoyable.
Listed here are Disneyland After Darkish: Star Wars Nite get together dates:
- April 8, 2025
- April 10, 2025
- April 22, 2025
- April 24, 2025
- April 29, 2025
- Might 1, 2025
- Might 4, 2025
- Might 6, 2025
Tickets to Star Wars Nite value $169 or $179 per visitor (ages 3+), relying on the date. Might the Fourth is $189.
Company with a ticket to this occasion don’t have to make a theme park reservation to enter Disneyland at 6:00 PM or later. Parking charges aren’t included within the ticket value. Lightning Lane Multi Go isn’t out there throughout the occasion.
Throughout Disneyland After Darkish: Star Wars Nite, get able to dive into an expanded array of themed meals and expertise out-of-this-world leisure choices with new plot twists and enhanced pleasure. Right here’s a rundown of the varied choices throughout Star Wars Nites:
Star Wars Nites Leisure
- A Gathering of the Resistance with Rey – Carry your lightsaber to the Millennium Falcon and take part in a strong present of unity!
- Lightsaber Educational – Attend an indication of lightsaber expertise at Fantasyland Theatre and discover ways to wield a lightsaber from elite instructors.
- Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes – Contemporary off their gig at Mos Eisley, the well-known Cantina Band will take a fast journey across the Rivers of America, taking part in their most iconic piece of music.
- Followers of the Pressure Costume Cavalcade – A Star Wars Nite Costume Showcase – Costume as your favourite Star Wars character and take part in a sensational celebration of your fandom on Primary Road, U.S.A. To take part, meet in City Sq. 10 minutes previous to the present.
- Shadows of Reminiscence: A Skywalker Saga – Watch gorgeous projection results rework the spires of Batuu right into a canvas for the legendary story of the Skywalkers.
- Galactic DJ Social gathering Zone – Dance the evening away when a DJ kicks off a galactic celebration on Primary Road.
- Select Your Path – Declare your allegiance to the sunshine or darkish aspect of the Pressure throughout an interactive duel of the fates on Primary Road.
- Fond Farewell – Because the galactic festivities come to a detailed, bid a fond farewell to your Disney friends Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse—wearing costumes impressed by their favourite droids—as you go by the Primary Road, U.S.A. practice station.
Star Wars Nites Sights
Journey a number of the park’s Star Wars-themed sights—together with Star Excursions – The Adventures Proceed, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (topic to availability, which can range and isn’t assured) all through the occasion, normally with shorter wait instances.
Along with the Star Wars sights, nearly each excessive profile journey in Disneyland is open, except for these which might be closed for refurbishment (clearly).
Star Wars Nites Picture Ops
Let Disney PhotoPass photographers seize photographs towards event-themed backdrops, together with:
- Gentle Facet Picture Location
- Darkish Facet Picture Location
- Star Wars Nite Lightsaber Picture Op
- Scarif Postcard
- Speeder Bikes
- Endor Postcard
- Mythosaur
- Mustafar Postcard
- Tatooine Postcard
- Jabba the Hutt
- Hoth Postcard
- Boba Fett’s Throne
- Emperor Palpatine’s Throne
- Bo-Katan’s Throne
For essentially the most half, these had quick traces. That was very true with the postcard backdrops, all of which appeared like they had been 5 minutes or much less.
Star Wars Nites Characters
There are a selection of character meet & greets round Disneyland, in addition to character encounters. The distinction is that the previous is one thing with a line with a posed picture, whereas the latter is one you see from a distance.
For instance, Padme Amidala was beforehand probably the most in style character meet & greets at Star Wars Nites, commanding a 2+ hour wait. For 2025, she has a selfie station (with a personality attendant) permitting for images of friends on benches. It’s a lot increased capability, and took me solely ~5 minutes. To every their very own, however I’ll take this over a prolonged line.
One other extra excessive instance is Darth Maul. He was up on the highest stage of the Star Wars Launch Bay constructing, twirling round his lightsabers, placing on somewhat present and interacting with friends. I assume a selfie would’ve been attainable, however it will’ve seemed simply as very similar to Puddy in Devils face paint as Darth Maul.
Different characters you could spot throughout Star Wars Nites embrace Anakin Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine, Ewoks, BB-8, Boba Fett, Jawas, Mandalorian with Child Yoda, Ahsoka Tano, R2-D2, and lots of others. The Ewoks and Jawas had been each meet & greets, they usually had actually lengthy traces.
Star Wars Nite Technique
Should you’re into assembly characters, it is best to begin your evening by lining up in your highest precedence one a minimum of half-hour prematurely. You possibly can line up earlier, however there’s diminishing returns–particularly when you’re not an Annual Passholder and would in any other case be having fun with Disneyland. Character traces can get lengthy throughout the occasion, so ready now means not having to attend later.
Should you’re not into characters or they’re low-priority, it is best to begin with the 1-2 punch of “Shadows of Reminiscence: A Skywalker Saga” and “A Gathering of the Resistance with Rey,” each of that are held within the courtyard in entrance of the Millennium Falcon. Shadows of Reminiscence is incredible, nevertheless it’s not party-exclusive. You additionally need to arrive half-hour early for this, because the courtyard does replenish prematurely of showtime.
You can even do both of these items on the tail finish of Star Wars Nites. There’s one other “Shadows of Reminiscence: A Skywalker Saga” and “A Gathering of the Resistance with Rey” showtime on the finish of the evening, so you’ll be able to end with that when you begin with characters. Or you’ll be able to end with characters when you begin with the exhibits.
If Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is one thing you need to expertise, think about doing it round official park closing. It’s technically open throughout Star Wars Nite, however incessantly closes midway into the occasion. It additionally continues to be breakdown inclined. Once I handed Rise of the Resistance at round 8:30 p.m., it had a posted 30 minute wait and I noticed no line open air–so it in all probability wasn’t even that lengthy.
Nothing else actually requires technique, a minimum of from what I skilled. I’ve heard individuals point out Cellular Order time slots, however there was no meals that was must-eat for me. I ended up ready ~5 minutes in line at Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree for a “Porg” Stomach Sandwich. It was completely incredible. I’ve lower than zero curiosity in merchandise, so I can’t converse to that in any respect.
Is Star Wars Nite Price It?
Within the curiosity of transparency, I ought to disclose a few issues. The primary is that we had been invited friends of Disneyland, and thus didn’t pay for these tickets. You may need to weigh our opinions accordingly or take this overview with a grain of salt. I’d prefer to suppose the overview is truthful and wouldn’t differ had we paid out of pocket, however you could be the choose of that.
Maybe the extra damning disclosure is that we aren’t diehard Star Wars followers and, as such, realistically wouldn’t have paid to attend this explicit Disneyland After Darkish within the first place. To be clear, we don’t dislike Star Wars–we’re simply informal. We’ve watched the unique trilogy greater than as soon as, and the Disney motion pictures 1-2 instances every, in addition to all seasons of The Mandalorian.
However after that, we fell off. Not for the explanations some indignant followers cite–I’m not on some ethical campaign towards Star Wars or no matter. We simply really feel that the standard has been scattershot within the Disney+ period. (I really feel the very same manner about Marvel.) I do sort of marvel how Kathleen Kennedy continues to be employed given the latest output and cancelled tasks, so maybe that does make me a diehard fan in any case!
Anyway, Star Wars Nites may be very clearly aimed on the most hardcore followers. I’d take {that a} step additional and say that it’s geared toward a selected kind of essentially the most hardcore followers: cosplayers.
This isn’t to say that you simply couldn’t have enjoyable when you’re not a Star Wars cosplayer. You possibly can. I’d really take {that a} step additional and say that even informal friends can have a incredible time at Star Wars Nites. However the goal demographic is sort of clearly and undeniably cosplayers. Everybody else gained’t get as a lot out of Star Wars Nites.
To get essentially the most mileage out of the Star Wars Nites, you’ll completely need to gown in costume. And most friends did! I felt somewhat misplaced carrying my ’84 Los Angeles Olympics sweatshirt, though I shouldn’t have; it’s a rad sweatshirt. Past dressing for the event, you actually ought to have a lightsaber. That’s nearly necessary. Fortunately, we did have considered one of these due to our previous expertise doing Savi’s Workshop for Handbuilt Lightsabers (which we extremely advocate).
Star Wars Nites is sort of a park-wide model of the ‘Dwell Your Personal Star Wars Journey’ slogan for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Which is to say that this occasion is oriented round friends, and supplying you with the possibility to be an lively participant in Star Wars enjoyable, festivities, and fandom.
For these friends, Star Wars Nites is sure to be a ton of enjoyable, because it affords the chance to immerse themselves in all issues Star Wars with fellow followers, take a ton of images with cool backdrops and characters.
The occasion additionally has a palpable power, and there’s pleasure amongst the viewers. There’s one thing to be mentioned for communal experiences like this, and Star Wars Nites jogs my memory of the D23 Expo–which I completely adore as a hardcore Disney fan–from that perspective. At the least, that’s the charitable framing.
Much less charitably, Star Wars Nites is a guest-centric occasion as a result of nearly not one of the leisure can stand by itself from a passive perspective. That means that when you’re simply hoping to sit down again and revel in leisure, you’re going to be disenchanted. Virtually none of it really works except you’re an lively participant.
Actually, I’m not even certain it really works from that angle except you’re a child (or child at coronary heart?). The Lightsaber Educational, for instance, isn’t even pretty much as good as Jedi Coaching Academy (RIP) and seems like its goal demo is elementary faculty aged children, regardless of attendees and members skewing my age. Then there’s the costume cavalcade, which is in regards to the saddest cavalcade ever. It’s mainly only a bunch of friends strolling to Sleeping Magnificence Citadel whereas being led by a automobile with Minnie & Mickey. Nobody will take pleasure in watching this–it’s all in regards to the group picture on the finish.
It is a sharp distinction to Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Social gathering, which is the gold commonplace of occasions at Disneyland Resort. As somebody who’s each an informal Star Wars fanatic and an informal Halloween fanatic (which means we don’t beautify and didn’t put on costumes when it was simply the 2 of us), I view Oogie Boogie Bash as head-and-shoulders superior to Star Wars Nites. Now that is a robust occasion, and one we have now paid to attend each single 12 months it’s been provided.
The one good piece of leisure that’s distinctive to Star Wars Nites is “A Gathering of the Resistance with Rey.” It is a comparatively easy and easy Resistance vs. First Order scene, the sort of transient story second initially deliberate to happen evening in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
It culminates within the many friends with lightsabers activating them to assist defeat the First Order. The friends are what actually make this punch above its weight and switch it into one thing particular. In any other case, at every other laborious ticket occasion, it’d be a minor leisure providing.
My largest frustration with Star Wars Nite, as a complete, is that there’s next-to-nothing that couldn’t be taking place nightly in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge or every day throughout Season of the Pressure. Apart from the costume cavalcade and probability to cosplay within the park with tons of different friends, there’s nothing right here that feels prefer it necessitated a tough ticket occasion. And even the participatory angle was already performed higher a decade in the past throughout the (free) Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Nevertheless, I don’t suppose it’s totally truthful to dismiss Star Wars Nites as an providing just for hardcore followers who need a night oriented round them and immersing themselves within the fandom.
Star Wars Nites can be a very good occasion for informal friends who couldn’t care much less about Star Wars and simply desire a low crowds evening within the park. Mainly, when considered as Disneyland After Darkish with a light-weight layer of Star Wars stuff on high, that’s finest loved in passing or at arm’s size.
From my perspective, what made Star Wars Nite cool was seeing all the different friends and the power they gave off–not taking part in any of that, myself. It was a possibility to experiencing Disneyland with very low crowds (minus Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge) and extremely quick traces (minus the Star Wars rides).
Just about each journey was a walk-on throughout the date we did Star Wars Nites, from Matterhorn to Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad. Star Wars Nites makes a whole lot of sense from this angle, and you might simply get extra performed throughout the 7 hours of ticket validity than throughout common working hours on the identical day throughout Star Wars Nites.
With occasion tickets costing lower than $30 greater than 1-day tickets, I’d completely advocate this Disneyland After Darkish occasion over a daily day within the park (particularly since Lightning Lane Multi-Go isn’t provided–the dearth of that bridges the hole).
That is actually the place all the Disneyland After Darkish (or After Hours at Walt Disney World) occasions are winners from my perspective. They’re all superior to a daily day within the park, and provide a quasi-VIP expertise with quick wait instances and no have to problem with Lightning Lanes. In actual fact, the argument may very well be made that this occasion is sort of akin to Lightning Lane Premier Go, which is far more costly.
In the end, Star Wars Nites strikes me as a worthwhile laborious ticket occasion for hardcore followers who’ve disposable earnings and need to ‘dwell their very own Star Wars journey,’ be immersed in a fandom-centric expertise, and are available house with tons of cool images. The get together has an amazing vibe, and the power alone in all probability makes it extremely interesting to followers who need to actively have interaction.
It’s not a very good occasion–in any respect–for individuals who aren’t into participatory choices and need to take pleasure in passive leisure. The perfect factor on that entrance is “A Gathering of the Resistance with Rey,” and even that isn’t that good. Different choices are cute, just like the Cantina Band floating across the Rivers of America, however they’re so fleeting (lower than 5 minutes for a set) that they’re barely a blip on the radar.
As locals and Annual Passholders, distinctive leisure and different worthwhile choices distinct from day-to-day Disneyland experiences is generally what we wished out of Star Wars Nite. Actually, I walked away extremely underwhelmed. However I acknowledge that not everyone seems to be us, and this Disneyland After Darkish occasion will maintain much more attraction for vacationers, rare guests, and others.
On the different finish of the spectrum, Star Wars Nites could be nice as a Disneyland After Darkish occasion for informal friends who need low congestion & crowds, quick traces & wait instances. Company who may like seeing the Star Wars stuff from afar, however aren’t there for it.
Fairly, they’re there for the rides, firstly. So whether or not you’re a Star Wars diehard or an informal visitor who doesn’t know a Wookie from a Wampa, this occasion may very well be value your money and time. Positively not when you’re into having fun with leisure, although. Keep on with Oogie Boogie Bash for that.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you excited for Disneyland After Darkish: Star Wars Nite ? Excited or disenchanted in regards to the leisure and different choices? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
