Disney News: Disney After Hours Dates, More Marvel at Sea, Festival of the Arts 2018 & More

Here’s a round-up of some of the latest news to come from the various Disney Destinations.

DISNEY AFTER HOURS DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2018 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT

Last year, the Disney After Hours ticketed event nights debuted at Magic Kingdom® Park and delighted Guests with quick access to some of the park’s most popular attractions and character greetings. We’re happy to report that Disney After Hours events will return for select dates in January, February and March 2018.

If you’re new to Disney After Hours, an event night is limited to a small number of Guests, allowing you to maximize your time in the park with little to no wait at 25 attractions and experiences, like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid, Space Mountain and many more. The Disney After Hours ticket allows park entry as early as 7 p.m., which gives you time to enjoy the park’s nightly “Happily Ever After” fireworks, and then remain in the park until 11 p.m. and some nights to 12 a.m.

Disney After Hours event nights are currently set for Jan. 19, 26, and 30, Feb. 8 and 15, March 1 and 8, 2018. (Please note that Disney After Hours does not replace Extra Magic Hours (EMH) for our resort Guests and are instead held on non-EMH dates.)

Only a limited number of tickets are available for each night, so be sure to purchase tickets today. The advance ticket price is $119 per adult or child (tax not included).

DATES ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2018 EPCOT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT

The Epcot® International Festival of the Arts, Disney’s most all-inclusive celebration of the arts, returns for its second sensational year at Walt Disney World® Resort Jan. 12- Feb. 19, 2018. During this event, you can experience an exciting extravaganza replete with phenomenal artists, gourmet fare, musical performances, stage productions and other amazing acts.

New for 2018, the Festival will remain open 7 days a week, with various entertainment offerings planned each weekend. Stay tuned for more updates about this event!

POWERFUL NEW DOCTOR STRANGE SHOW REVEALED FOR MARVEL DAY AT SEA ON DISNEY CRUISE LINE

Here are some more details about the epic events of Marvel Day at Sea! The day’s entertainment will include a brand-new interactive show with Doctor Strange that invites you to join sorcerer supreme Doctor Strange on a journey of discovery into the world of the Mystic Arts.

Through the power of special effects and projections, you will be transported from the Walt Disney Theatre to the New York Sanctum Santorum, the residence of Doctor Strange. As apprentices, you’ll learn how to master the Mystic Arts, create portals to other worlds and cast spells.

Children play a special role in the experience, as Doctor Strange calls upon the young apprentices to learn the fundamentals of the Mystic Arts, and his Master Students lead the kids in training exercises. Each new student of Doctor Strange is awarded a certificate after completion of their mystic arts training.

But this powerful experience isn’t over yet! The students will need to put their new skills to the test when suddenly an epic battle against the Dark Dimension ensues. Doctor Strange calls upon his young apprentices to join forces and summon their practiced powers…

Marvel Day at Sea premieres on select 7- and 8-night Disney Cruise Line sailings from New York this fall, and returns on select 5-night Western Caribbean cruises from Miami in early 2018. Stay tuned for even more Marvel Day at Sea details!

THE VOID’S NEW HYPER-REALITY EXPERIENCE STAR WARS: SECRETS OF THE EMPIRE COMING TO DOWNTOWN DISNEY, DISNEY SPRINGS

Exciting news for Star Wars fans: The VOID’s new, groundbreaking hyper-reality experience, Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire is coming to Downtown Disney at the Disneyland® Resort and Disney Springs® at Walt Disney World® Resort.

Beginning this holiday season, Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire will transport you to a galaxy far, far away where you’ll be able to engage with friends, family and Star Wars characters through sight, sound, touch, smell, and motion. It’ll even allow environmental effects to be felt using Haptic feedback – melding the physical and digital worlds together. So, you don’t just see the Star Wars universe, you’re part of it at Disney Parks.

Plans for this first-of-its-kind experience were just unveiled by THE VOID, an entertainment company that combines the magic of illusions and advanced technology to create immersive social experiences that take visitors to new worlds. Lucasfilm and ILMxLab are collaborating to help develop this one-of-a-kind experience at Downtown Disney and Disney Springs.

We’ll have many more details to share in the future. Stay tuned for more details as work begins on Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire.

DETAILS ON GRAND AVENUE, OPEN NOW AT DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Muppets Courtyard, along with a portion of the former Streets of America, has been re-imagined by Walt Disney Imagineering to become a new area called Grand Avenue. Inspired by the revitalization and the vibrant culture of present-day downtown Los Angeles, Grand Avenue is where vintage office buildings and warehouses are being converted to exciting new uses. You’ll see facades for “merchants” in this area for a music shop, loft apartments, a tailor and more, with each window on the street featuring charming displays.

A highlight of Grand Avenue is BaseLine Tap House, which takes over a former F&B location. This new corner pub features California beers and wines along with a selection of small bites.

The Muppets Courtyard has become Grand Park, an urban square off Grand Avenue surrounded by shops and restaurants like PizzeRizzo and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. The Muppets theater has been renamed “Grand Arts Theatre” and boasts a brand-new marquee. But, not to worry – Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang continue to star in their hilarious and irreverent “Muppet*Vision 3D” show.

Grand Avenue is now open to all guests.

For information on the various Disney vacation options, please visit our Disney Destinations page.