All About Disney After Dark Princess Nite
If you’re a fan of Disney princesses and want to experience the magic of the Disneyland Resort after hours, then Disney After Dark Princess Nite is the event for you. This special after-hours event offers exclusive access to popular attractions, meet-and-greets with your favorite princesses, themed photo opportunities, unique food and drink offerings, and much more. Read on for a detailed overview of what to expect at Disney After Dark Princess Nite, including the activities, entertainment, food and drinks, and tips for attending.
This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission for items purchased.
What is Disney After Dark?
Disney After Dark is a series of specially ticketed events that take place at Disneyland park after regular park hours. These events offer guests unique and exclusive experiences, such as access to popular attractions with shorter wait times, special entertainment offerings, themed photo opportunities, and exclusive merchandise.
Each Disney After Dark event has a different theme, such as Villains Nite, Throwback Nite, Star Wars Nite, and of course, Princess Nite. These events allow guests to experience the magic of Disneyland in a new and exciting way, with fewer crowds and a more intimate atmosphere.
What to Expect at the Princess Nite Event?
Disney After Dark Princess Nite is a special event that celebrates the magic and wonder of Disney princesses. This event was held at Disneyland park and features exclusive photo opportunities, entertainment, food, and merchandise that are themed around all of your favorite Disney princesses.
During Princess Nite, guests can enjoy special meet-and-greets with some of their favorite princesses, such as Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Princess Leia, Sofia the First and more. The event also features themed photo opportunities, unique food and beverage offerings, and exclusive merchandise that can only be purchased during the event.
If you’re planning to attend Disney After Dark Princess Nite, there are a few things you can expect. It’s important to purchase your tickets ahead of time, as they typically sell out fast! Also, keep in mind that this event is typically held on a weekday, and the park may close early to regular guests in preparation for the event.
During the event, you can expect shorter wait times for popular attractions, as well as special entertainment offerings that are only available during Princess Nite. You can also expect to see some of your favorite Disney princesses in their royal best and to have the opportunity to take photos with them
Overview of Princess-Themed Activities and Attractions
During Princess Nite, you will have the opportunity to enjoy exclusive attractions and activities that are themed around Disney princesses. This may include:
- Shorter wait times for popular attractions like “Space Mountain” and “Peter Pan’s Flight”
- Special princess-themed shows and entertainment offerings, such as the “Giselle from Enchanted Processional” or the “Fantasy Faire Royal Theatre”
- Access to special character encounters, like meeting Princess Leia near Space Mountain, Vanellope von Schweetz who hosts a dance party or Tiana in New Orleans Square
- Themed photo opportunities like a scene in Agrabah or a velvet throne to take a photo on
- Special princess-themed merchandise that is only available during the event (the Princess popcorn bucket kept selling out.)
Princess Nite Food and Drinks
Disney After Dark Princess Nite also offers a variety of food and drink options that are themed around the Disney princesses and that cannot be purchased during regular Park hours.
Food and Drink Offerings
During the event, guests can enjoy a variety of food and drink options that are available only during Princess Nite. Some of my favorite foods were the Pineapple Shrimp Skewer that was being served at Bengal BBQ. The skewer includes island-inspired grilled shrimp, spicy sausage, and sweet pineapple. It was delicious!
Another stand-out item was the Mushroom Flatbread at Red Rose Tavern. We didn’t try the Escargot Flatbread but it was another dish that seemed to be popular at the event.
Themed Treats and Desserts
For those with a sweet tooth, Princess Nite also offers a variety of themed treats and desserts that are sure to satisfy your cravings. The friendship churro was interesting with a citrus twist and the caramel apple decorated in a princess carriage was adorable!
My Experience at Disney After Dark Princess Nite
While I had a fantastic time at Princess Nite there are several things for visitors to keep in mind. We spotted really long wait times and got incorrect information from cast members.
The Wait Times for Character Meet and Greets
I wasn’t prepared for how long the wait times were in the Park. For example, the Princess meet and greet near the Fantasy Faire Royal Theatre was over a 2-hour wait. Princess Leia was also a 2-hour wait. The shortest wait we found was the Minnie and Daisy meet and greet which was about 40 minutes. Each of the individual photo opportunities without a character was 30-40 minutes. It makes sense because the majority of people either had on costumes or parents were standing in line with their children.
Since the event itself is only about 4 hours, it’s literally impossible to hit more than 3 of the character meet and greets.
Ride Availability and Times
We were told that “Rise of the Resistance” would be available so we made our way over to Galaxy’s Edge only to find that it was closed. Only “Smuggler’s Run” and Oga’s Cantina were open. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad was not available to ride either.
There were several rides that we took advantage of the lower crowd to go on. “Space Mountain“, “Peter Pan” and “Matterhorn” was between 25-30 minutes. Since we didn’t want to stand in line for hours, we roamed around the park trying the snacks and riding rides that were short times.
Other Thoughts on Disney After Dark Princess Nite
There were a few things that made Princess Nite unique and one was that the cast members were outside Bibbity Bobbity Boutique sprinkling pixie dust on attendees. I also loved that Main Street and the Castle both had colorful overlays on them.
Tips for Attending Disney After Dark Princess Nite
Best Ways to Get Tickets
Disney After Dark events are popular and can sell out quickly, so it’s best to purchase your tickets as soon as possible. You can buy tickets online at the Disneyland Resort website, or by calling the Disney Reservation Center. Keep in mind that tickets are limited and have to be purchased in advance – they are;t available at the park on the day of the event.
What to Wear to Princess Nite
Attire for Disney After Dark Princess Nite is casual, but many guests choose to dress up in princess-themed attire to get in the spirit of the event. You can wear a Disney princess t-shirt or dress, or create your own costume that celebrates your favorite princess.
Comfortable shoes are a must for walking around the park, and it’s a good idea to bring a light jacket or sweater in case it gets chilly at night.
DISCOUNT DISNEY TICKETS
My favorite Disney-approved re-seller, Get Away Today, offers the best Disney discount tickets around. In addition to great discount prices, their customer service is top-notch. They have an entire department dedicated to making sure every order has a wonderful experience and they are on-call to help you during your vacation if you need them.
Buying tickets from Get Away Today is easy and convenient since all their tickets are sent electronically. You can take their vouchers and head straight to the gate without waiting in ticket booth lines. They also offer layaway plans so you can pay off your vacation over time. Don’t forget to mention THIS BLISS LIFE for your discount!
Planning Ahead for Popular Attractions and Meet-and-Greets
Disney After Dark Princess Nite offers exclusive access to popular attractions and meet-and-greets with Disney princesses, but lines can still get long. To make the most of your time at the event, it’s a good idea to prioritize which attractions and meet-and-greets you want to experience and plan accordingly.
Tips for Navigating the Park During the Event
Disney After Dark Princess Nite takes place after regular park hours, so the park will be less crowded than during the day. However, there will still be a lot of guests in attendance, so it’s important to plan your route and navigate the park strategically. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your experience:
- Start at the back of the park and work your way forward, as many guests tend to start at the front of the park.
- Use the Disneyland app to check wait times, make dining reservations, and find your way around the park.
- Take advantage of shorter lines during parades and shows.
- Be prepared for the weather – bring a light jacket or sweater, as Anaheim can get really cold at night.
- Stay hydrated and take breaks when needed.