When the kids are little, you get used to starting your Disney vacation days at dawn and heading home from the parks well before bedtime. Then they get older, and you start to wonder: What is there to do after dark? Luckily for your whole family, there is an abundance of activities everyone can enjoy, whether you want adventure, education, eye candy, thrill rides—or a little bit of each. Here is just a taste of what Disney has to offer once the sun sets!
Pandora – The World of Avatar
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Leave the planet you’ve grown up on and step onto a moon filled with magical plants, colorful creatures, and adventures you have to experience to believe. Take a flight on a banshee to take in the sights, hike the Valley of Mo’ara, tour a bioluminescent rainforest via the Na’vi River and more, all while gaining a better appreciation for all that nature gives us.
Discovery Island Carnivale
Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Discovery Kingdom
The drumming in the distance will pull you close. The friendly faces of costumed dancers making their way around the island to ensure everyone knows they are welcome will keep you at this party all night long!
Kilimanjaro Safari at Night
Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Africa
Hop onto safari vehicles for a nighttime tour of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. Cooler temperatures and the cover of night encourage nocturnal animals to come out for a whole different experience. Learn about the many creatures of Africa from your friendly tour guide as you explore the savannah together.
Tree of Life Awakenings
Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Discovery Island
During the day, visitors can appreciate detailed carvings of various animals in the trunk of this glorious tree. At night, their spirits come alive, flickering and flowing in an incredible show for all to see.
Swiss Family Treehouse
Magic Kingdom – Adventureland
This treehouse to beat all treehouses sits more than six stories high, offering a 360-degree vista that blows the mind whether the candy colors of sunset are stretching across the park, or nighttime has already settled and a myriad of lights sparkle below.
Rivers of Light
Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Multiple Locations
When the fireflies begin to rise, you’re going to want to cast your eyes to the rivers around you. Water, sound, and light combine in a sky-high celebration of the past and present, the spirit that joins us all. Both enlivening and calming, this show is a must-see.
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth
World Showcase Lagoon – Epcot
Marvel at a fireworks extravaganza that tells the story of the origins our planet and pays tribute to the human spirit. The whole family will be dazzled as fireballs shoot 60 feet into the air, lights twinkle in the sky, and a glowing globe floats across the lagoon—all while the comforting voice of Jim Cummings (whose vocal talents have brought to life Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and a number of other beloved Disney characters) narrates the spectacle.
Haunted Mansion
Magic Kingdom Park – Liberty Square
Up the spooky factor by paying the Haunted Mansion a visit after the sun goes down. The estate grounds feature a musical crypt, a secret library, and a graveyard that are a must-see after dark. Once you’ve explored the grounds, step into the aptly-named “doom buggy” to explore the countless terrors of this ghost-addled home. Scares, surprises and screams are the norm on this chillingly slow ride through the dark.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Sunset Boulevard
The Hollywood Tower Hotel sounds like a beautiful place to visit, right? Let’s see what you think once you pop onto the elevator after dark, only to discover it plummets thirteen stories down—including one floor that’s missing a wall, exposing you to the entire park in a breathless rush.
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
A galaxy far, far away comes to earth, thanks to this spectacular nighttime show. Lasers, pyrotechnics, projection effects, and John Williams’ iconic score bring scenes from Star Wars to life, immersing you in a world you’ve loved since you were a kid yourself.
Happily Ever After
Magic Kingdom – Cinderella Castle
Lasers! Music! Lights! Projections! Fireworks! All the stories that made your family fans of Disney over the years are creatively combined into one final spectacle, ending your day on the perfect note.
