Star Wars Nite is the Disneyland After Darkish particular occasion throughout Season of the Drive that includes galactic leisure, uncommon characters, themed snacks, and distinctive photograph ops. This assessment covers what to anticipate through the celebration, whether or not the arduous ticket celebration is price your time & cash, and who ought to (and may 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 points of interest with lowered 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, meaning Star Wars stuff.
With every separately-ticketed Disneyland After Darkish celebration, attendees get 4 hours of celebration time after the parks near day friends. Plus, the Star Wars Nite ticket additionally contains admission to Disneyland as early as 6:00 PM—that’s 3 hours earlier than the celebration 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 celebration, admission additionally contains commemorative keepsakes akin to a memento credential and an occasion information map, plus limitless digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photographs taken all through Disneyland After Darkish, which is a pleasant since so much about these occasions revolves round photographs and enjoyable.
Listed below are Disneyland After Darkish: Star Wars Nite celebration 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 price $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 must make a theme park reservation to enter Disneyland at 6:00 PM or later. Parking charges should not included within the ticket worth. Lightning Lane Multi Go will not be out there through 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 assorted 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 Tutorial – 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 Drive 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 Predominant 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 Celebration Zone – Dance the night time away when a DJ kicks off a galactic celebration on Predominant Road.
- Select Your Path – Declare your allegiance to the sunshine or darkish facet of the Drive throughout an interactive duel of the fates on Predominant Road.
- Fond Farewell – Because the galactic festivities come to an in depth, 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 Predominant Road, U.S.A. practice station.
Star Wars Nites Sights
Trip a number of the park’s Star Wars-themed points of interest—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 points of interest, nearly each excessive profile journey in Disneyland is open, except for these which might be closed for refurbishment (clearly).
Star Wars Nites Photograph Ops
Let Disney PhotoPass photographers seize photographs in opposition to event-themed backdrops, together with:
- Mild Aspect Photograph Location
- Darkish Aspect Photograph Location
- Star Wars Nite Lightsaber Photograph 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 brief 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 photograph, whereas the latter is one you see from a distance.
For instance, Padme Amidala was beforehand one of the crucial common 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 photographs of friends on benches. It’s a lot larger 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 degree of the Star Wars Launch Bay constructing, twirling round his lightsabers, placing on somewhat present and interacting with friends. I suppose a selfie would’ve been attainable, however it will’ve regarded simply as very like Puddy in Devils face paint as Darth Maul.
Different characters you might spot throughout Star Wars Nites embody Anakin Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine, Ewoks, BB-8, Boba Fett, Jawas, Mandalorian with Child Yoda, Ahsoka Tano, R2-D2, and plenty of others. The Ewoks and Jawas had been each meet & greets, and so they had actually lengthy traces.
Star Wars Nite Technique
In the event you’re into assembly characters, it is best to begin your night time by lining up on your highest precedence one no less than half-hour upfront. You’ll be able to line up earlier, however there’s diminishing returns–particularly in the event you’re not an Annual Passholder and would in any other case be having fun with Disneyland. Character traces can get lengthy through the occasion, so ready now means not having to attend later.
In the event 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 wish to arrive half-hour early for this, because the courtyard does refill upfront of showtime.
It’s also possible to 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 night time, so you possibly can end with that in the event you begin with characters. Or you possibly can end with characters in the event you begin with the exhibits.
If Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is one thing you wish to expertise, contemplate 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 outdoor–so it most likely wasn’t even that lengthy.
Nothing else actually requires technique, no less than from what I skilled. I’ve heard individuals point out Cell 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 communicate to that in any respect.
Is Star Wars Nite Value 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 would possibly wish to weigh our opinions accordingly or take this assessment with a grain of salt. I’d prefer to assume the assessment is honest and wouldn’t differ had we paid out of pocket, however you may be the decide of that.
Maybe the extra damning disclosure is that we’re not diehard Star Wars followers and, as such, realistically wouldn’t have paid to attend this specific 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 offended followers cite–I’m not on some ethical campaign in opposition to 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 means about Marvel.) I do type of surprise how Kathleen Kennedy continues to be employed given the latest output and cancelled initiatives, so maybe that does make me a diehard fan in spite of everything!
Anyway, Star Wars Nites may be very clearly aimed on the most hardcore followers. I might take {that a} step additional and say that it’s geared toward a particular sort of essentially the most hardcore followers: cosplayers.
This isn’t to say that you simply couldn’t have enjoyable in the event you’re not a Star Wars cosplayer. You’ll be able to. I’d truly 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 wish to gown in costume. And most friends did! I felt somewhat misplaced carrying my ’84 Los Angeles Olympics sweatshirt, regardless that I shouldn’t have; it’s a rad sweatshirt. Past dressing for the event, you actually ought to have a lightsaber. That’s virtually necessary. Fortunately, we did have considered one of these because of our previous expertise doing Savi’s Workshop for Handbuilt Lightsabers (which we extremely suggest).
Star Wars Nites is sort of a park-wide model of the ‘Stay 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 energetic participant in Star Wars enjoyable, festivities, and fandom.
For these friends, Star Wars Nites is sure to be a ton of enjoyable, because it gives the chance to immerse themselves in all issues Star Wars with fellow followers, take a ton of photographs with cool backdrops and characters.
The occasion additionally has a palpable vitality, 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 very least, that’s the charitable framing.
Much less charitably, Star Wars Nites is a guest-centric occasion as a result of virtually not one of the leisure can stand by itself from a passive perspective. Which means that in the event you’re simply hoping to take a seat again and revel in leisure, you’re going to be disenchanted. Nearly none of it really works until you’re an energetic participant.
Truthfully, I’m not even positive it really works from that angle until you’re a child (or child at coronary heart?). The Lightsaber Tutorial, for instance, isn’t even nearly as good as Jedi Coaching Academy (RIP) and seems like its goal demo is elementary college aged children, regardless of attendees and individuals skewing my age. Then there’s the costume cavalcade, which is concerning the saddest cavalcade ever. It’s mainly only a bunch of friends strolling to Sleeping Magnificence Citadel whereas being led by a automotive with Minnie & Mickey. Nobody will take pleasure in watching this–it’s all concerning the group photograph on the finish.
It is a sharp distinction to Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Celebration, which is the gold customary of occasions at Disneyland Resort. As somebody who’s each an off-the-cuff Star Wars fanatic and an off-the-cuff Halloween fanatic (which means we don’t adorn 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 powerful occasion, and one we’ve got paid to attend each single 12 months it’s been supplied.
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 simple and easy Resistance vs. First Order scene, the type of temporary story second initially deliberate to happen night time 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 another arduous ticket occasion, it’d be a minor leisure providing.
My largest frustration with Star Wars Nite, as an entire, 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 Drive. Apart from the costume cavalcade and likelihood 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 accomplished higher a decade in the past through the (free) Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Nevertheless, I don’t assume it’s completely honest 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 great occasion for informal friends who couldn’t care much less about Star Wars and simply desire a low crowds night time within the park. Principally, when considered as Disneyland After Darkish with a lightweight layer of Star Wars stuff on prime, that’s greatest loved in passing or at arm’s size.
From my perspective, what made Star Wars Nite cool was seeing the entire different friends and the vitality they gave off–not taking part in any of that, myself. It was a chance to experiencing Disneyland with very low crowds (minus Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge) and extremely brief traces (minus the Star Wars rides).
Just about each journey was a walk-on through the date we did Star Wars Nites, from Matterhorn to Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad. Star Wars Nites makes numerous sense from this angle, and you possibly can simply get extra accomplished through 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 might completely suggest this Disneyland After Darkish occasion over an everyday day within the park (particularly since Lightning Lane Multi-Go isn’t supplied–the dearth of that bridges the hole).
That is actually the place the entire Disneyland After Darkish (or After Hours at Walt Disney World) occasions are winners from my perspective. They’re all superior to an everyday day within the park, and provide a quasi-VIP expertise with brief wait instances and no must problem with Lightning Lanes. In truth, the argument may very well be made that this occasion is nearly akin to Lightning Lane Premier Go, which is far more costly.
Finally, Star Wars Nites strikes me as a worthwhile arduous ticket occasion for hardcore followers who’ve disposable earnings and wish to ‘reside their very own Star Wars journey,’ be immersed in a fandom-centric expertise, and are available house with tons of cool photographs. The celebration has an ideal vibe, and the vitality alone most likely makes it extremely interesting to followers who wish to actively interact.
It’s not a great occasion–in any respect–for individuals who aren’t into participatory choices and wish to take pleasure in passive leisure. One of the best 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 needed out of Star Wars Nite. Truthfully, 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 may be nice as a Disneyland After Darkish occasion for informal friends who need low congestion & crowds, brief traces & wait instances. Company who would possibly like seeing the Star Wars stuff from afar, however aren’t there for it.
Reasonably, they’re there for the rides, at the beginning. So whether or not you’re a Star Wars diehard or an off-the-cuff visitor who doesn’t know a Wookie from a Wampa, this occasion may very well be price your money and time. Positively not in the event you’re into having fun with leisure, although. Follow Oogie Boogie Bash for that.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you excited for Disneyland After Darkish: Star Wars Nite ? Excited or disenchanted concerning the leisure and different choices? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
