If you’re a night owl, you might do some WEIRD things on your Disney World vacation.

Most of the excitement in Disney World happens during the day, so if you prefer to stay up late, you may be hatching some pretty strange plans to take full advantage of those late hours. These are the things that night owls do in Disney World that are a little bit…bizarre.

Pay Extra to Stay in the Park

First of all, night owls might be doling out just a bit more cash to the mouse. Why? Because they want to party late! Some of the best ways to stay up late while still hanging in the parks involve spending extra money. Hard-ticketed events like After Hours events and holiday parties are great examples of this!

With those events, you get extra hours of park time after the parks have closed to regular day guests, during which you can ride attractions, meet characters, enjoy special entertainment, or grab some snacks. Another great option for staying late is Extended Evening Hours (EEH). EEH is a perk available only to guests of Deluxe Disney Resorts, so you’ll pay more for your hotel, but you can get two bonus hours in select parks twice a week.

Learn More About Extended Evening Hours Here!

Hop in Line at the Literal Last Minute

If you’re hoping to make the absolute most of your time in the parks, then you probably know the age-old trick of hopping in line for a ride right before park close. You can get in line for many attractions right up until park closing time, and it often means that you’ll be waiting a shorter amount of time than if you rode midday.

Any ride that often has a long wait is a good choice for this; that way, you won’t have to wait in the long lines earlier in the day. Then, by the time you wait in the queue, ride the ride, and exit, you’ll be walking through a park that is closed for the night and likely much less crowded. We’ve gotten some of the best “empty park” pictures this way (a great trick if you want a Cinderella Castle pic with no one in the background).

7 Things to Do While Waiting in Line in Disney World That Will Save You Time Later

Save Their Shopping Until the End of the Day

If you’re going for that “empty park after dark” vibe, then this is a great hack to stay in the park a little bit longer. For each of the four theme parks, the main gift shop typically stays open later than the park hours. This means you can do some basic souvenir shopping after hours. 

This doesn’t really apply to the specialty shops located throughout the park, but for places like The Emporium and Creations Shop, Disney knows they can squeeze some more bucks out of guests at the end of the day. If you do the ride trick and then go shopping afterward, you’ll be sure to be one of the last folks in the park that day.

I’ve Been to Every Store in Disney World, and I’m Sharing My Souvenir Hacks

Hit Up a Second Location

Of course, at some point you’ll actually have to leave the park. However, the party doesn’t have to stop! Many night owls choose to take their adventure to a second location. Two of Disney World’s best spots for late-night partying are Disney Springs and Disney’s BoardWalk.

Disney Springs is often open a couple of hours after most of the parks, offering dining and shopping, as well as some musical entertainment. There, you could see a movie or go bowling at Splitsville to occupy your time. But if you prefer, you could head to Disney’s BoardWalk and do some dancing at Atlantic Dance Hall or visit one of the BoardWalk’s interesting bars. This resort area also offers some great live performers in the evenings.

The BoardWalk Bar You Don’t Want to Miss!

Visit a Gas Station

Of course, if you’re staying up late, you’re probably going to want some food. Unfortunately, there aren’t many places on Disney World property that are open past 11PM for dining. This means that as a night owl, you might find yourself desperately searching for snacks at one of the Speedway gas stations on Disney property.

If you’re not keen on gas station food, the good news is that the McDonald’s on Disney World property, located near the All-Star Resorts, is open 24 hours a day. Yep, you can satisfy your midnight cravings with some chicken nuggets and a crispy Diet Coke.

Our One Complaint About the Disney World McDonald’s

Skip Rope Drop

It goes without saying that one thing night owls do frequently in Disney World is skip rope drop! If you’re partying until the wee hours of the morning, you likely won’t want to be up and at ’em at 7AM to rope drop Animal Kingdom. But as we’ve shared above, you don’t necessarily have to rope drop to have a good time!

Purchasing Lightning Lanes for the parks can save you a lot of time that you can buy back by sleeping in in the mornings, and you can often cram in a few extra rides if you’re willing to stay until the end of the day or skip fireworks shows in the evening. There are plenty of ways to enjoy Disney World without being a morning person.

Even though it’s a family destination, Disney World still has a LOT to offer night owls! You don’t have to be an early bird to have a great trip.

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What do you do after dark in Disney World? Tell us in the comments!