As a gamer who grew up with Disney Channel as my lifeline to fantasy and fun, I can’t help but feel disheartened by the absence of Disney Channel Nite from next year’s After Dark event lineup at Disneyland. The 2024 edition was an absolute dream come true for anyone still under the spell of High School Musical or Hannah Montana, and it was a night I will remember fondly until the end of my days (or at least until the next major gaming release).
As the year 2024 draws to a close, the Disneyland Resort has already started planning for an action-packed 2025 filled with celebrations and development projects. The highlight of this year will undoubtedly be the celebration of Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary, which kicks off on May 16th. This milestone event will see the revival of the beloved Paint the Night Parade. However, despite my eagerness for the significant anniversary, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment as Disney Channel Nite is not part of the After Dark event schedule for next year.
For people who aren’t aware, After Dark events at the theme park are unique events that require a separate ticket for entry, usually occur between 9 pm and 1 am, and revolve around a specific theme. These special events feature special appearances by select characters, photo opportunities, exclusive merchandise, food, and entertainment options not available during regular hours. Popular events like Sweethearts and Star Wars Nites take place multiple times each month, while others, such as June’s Pride Nite, only happen twice a month.
Typically, we see a fresh After Dark event each year, and Disney Channel Nite was scheduled for Disneyland in 2024. This two-night extravaganza celebrated everything related to the Disney Channel, making it the must-attend event of the year for those of us who are still passionate about all things connected with High School Musical and Hannah Montana. Unfortunately, it seems that this event will not return next year.
Disney Channel Nite Was Perfect For Fans Who Grew Up Watching The Cable Channel
On the second night, I had the good fortune to be at Disney Channel Night, and it genuinely felt as though I was relishing my most nostalgic moments.
Despite having one of the longest queues, a standout part of the experience was the interactive wand ID station on Main Street. This allowed me to fulfill my dream by saying, “My name is Danielle, and you’re watching Disney Channel.” Moreover, the event featured several uncommon characters like Stitch and his Experiment kin, and numerous iconic photo opportunities from beloved Disney Channel original movies and programs.
Truthfully, there was an overwhelming amount of tasks to handle and only a limited duration to do so, resulting in some tough decisions and omitted activities. Initially, I didn’t feel too regretful about it, believing that the event would recur in 2025, allowing me to catch up on the photo opportunities missed during the initial visit. Regrettably, this won’t happen as planned, since Disneyland has confirmed that Disney Channel Nite will not be resurfacing – at least, not in the near future.
The Event Deserved To Come Back For Another Year
It’s disappointing to see Disneyland Resort abandon this event so swiftly, considering there were minor problems that could have been addressed in subsequent events. These annual events are delightful not just because of their initial state, but also due to the excitement of witnessing their continuous enhancement over time.
Additionally, since Disney Channel isn’t extensively featured in the parks, the After Dark event stood out as something extraordinary, and it’s bound to leave a void in the hearts of Disney Channel enthusiasts.
A more disheartening aspect of this announcement is that Disney Channel Night didn’t get replaced by a fresh event. Instead, March After Dark will bring back the ’90s Nite, initially introduced in 2019, which highlights popular ’90s movies and shows from Disney.
As a gamer, it’s awesome to hear that there’s a bit of crossover between the ’90s and Disney Channel Night, because some classic animated characters from The Disney Afternoon are showing up at both! But I’ve got to admit, I’m not holding my breath for this year’s highlights to show up at the ’90s-themed event.
2025 marks the debut of an all-repeating lineup for the After Dark calendar, which means it’ll be intriguing to observe the number of attendees who choose not to attend this year, as there won’t be any fresh events to experience.
For those who are keen on joining either Sweethearts Nite or ’90s Nite, ticket sales begin at 9 a.m. Pacific Time on December 12th, and they will only be available starting that date and time for the general public.
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2024-12-06 00:37