Sweethearts' Nite is the ultimate date night event of the year! Sweethearts' Nite is a Disneyland After Dark event that takes place in Disneyland Park after it closes to the public for the night. This separately ticketed event first began around Valentine's Day in 2019 and has grown in popularity each year since. Sweethearts' Nite is here for eight sold-out romantic nights during January and February 2024! Love is in the air, with romantic projection effects on Sleeping Beauty Castle and Main Street, U.S.A., as well as "it's a small world." Let's hop into everything you need to know about attending Disneyland Sweethearts' Nite 2024 — from tickets and pricing to special entertainment, dining options, attire and more!
Overview of Disneyland Sweethearts Nite 2024
Sweethearts' Nite is a themed, four-hour party that offers swoon-worthy entertainment. The party can be so much fun with music, special character meet-and-greets, photo-ops, themed dance parties and sometimes even a cavalcade. It's one of many romantic things to do at Disneyland this time of year. We'll review everything we know and what we've discovered from attending in previous years and in 2024. (Keep in mind some of our photos are from previous years.)
All party guests gain access to the park as of 6 p.m. for this after-dark event. The park closes to the public at 8 p.m. The party kicks off at 9 p.m. and ends at 1 a.m. Ticket holders have a credential and dated wristband that allows them to stay in the park after 8 p.m.
While the event takes place near Valentine's Day and the majority of the attendees are couples, you do not need a date for this party. You can go with your besties or your kids or other family members. Don't tell Leap, but my tadpoles are some of my favorite Valentines! But it's a late night and the froglets have early bedtimes, so I tend to make it a romantic date night with Leap or a "Galentine's" night out with a bestie! But keep in mind there may still be children at the event.
Demand is much higher for Disneyland events these days than in the past, so you should always plan to purchase early. A theme park reservation is NOT required for party tickets.
Disneyland Sweethearts' Nite 2024 Tickets and Dates
Disneyland Sweethearts' Nite 2024 tickets went on sale Dec. 14 at 9 a.m. PT (and Dec. 12 for Magic Key holders). You'll want to purchase Sweethearts' Nite tickets as early as you can because all dates will sell out. All 2024 dates sold out by Dec. 18, 2023.
When buying Disneyland Sweetheart's Nite 2024 tickets, go to Disneyland.com and go to "Parks & Tickets." Under Tickets & Passes," select "Special Event Tickets." Be sure to purchase early as Sweethearts' Nite tickets almost always sell out well in advance.
Even if you're not attending Sweethearts' Nite this year, you will want to know when it's taking place, since the park closes early at 8 p.m. to daytime guests:
- Tuesday, Jan. 23
- Thursday, Jan. 25
- Tuesday, Jan. 30
- Thursday, Feb. 1
- Tuesday, Feb. 6
- Thursday, Feb. 8
- Monday, Feb. 12
- Wednesday, Feb. 14
Guests 2 and under are free and do not need a ticket. Little ones may prefer to stay with a babysitter or family member than stay out that late. (We leave Lily with Grandma when we attend.) Tickets sell out in advance, and parking is not included in the ticket price. The parking shuttles and buses for the structures and Toy Story lots are extended until one hour after the party's end time (on party nights). You do not need to make a separate theme park reservation with dated Disneyland After Dark tickets.
Characters and Photo-Ops
There are so many rare Disney couples to meet and view in the park on Sweethearts' Nite.
The event guide is now available in the app! Usually, it appears a few days before the first event, plus you get a paper copy when you collect your credentials upon entering the party. It lists all the locations of darling Disney couples, so you know exactly where to find them — but keep an eye out for surprises!
The 2024 couples and other characters include:
- Royal Ball: Cinderella and Prince Charming; Jasmine and Aladdin; Aurora and Prince Phillip; Rapunzel and Flynn; Drizella, Anastasia and Lady Tremaine; Grand Duke; Fairy Godmother
- Main Street, U.S.A.: Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse; Daisy Duck and Donald Duck; Mary Poppins and Bert
- Critter Country: Big Al; Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde
- Fantasyland: Ariel and Prince Eric; Belle, Beast and Gaston; Esmeralda and Phoebus; Flik and Atta; Mulan and Shang; Peter Pan and Wendy; Snow White and Prince Florian
- New Orleans Square: Clarabelle Cow and Horace; Horsecollar; Tiana and Prince Naveen
- Tomorrowland: Space Couple; Stitch and Angel at the dance party
- Mickey's Toontown: Chip, Dale and Clarice
- Adventureland: Indiana Jones and Marion
- Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Chewbacca and Rey; Stormtroopers and Kylo Ren
One of the most exciting aspects of Disneyland After Dark is getting to rub elbows with very rare or never-before-seen characters. The hardest part about meeting these rare characters is that the lines can get prohibitively long, and the party time flies by so quickly! We advise staking out a couple must-see characters and hopping in their line before the party starts.
If you are in line to meet a character when the event ends, you can remain in line to meet them. But don't necessarily wait until the very end to jump in line as some lines may close early. Ask a cast member if you aren't sure.
In addition to meeting characters, you and your main squeeze can also pose together in front of romantic backdrops. Look for fun photo opportunities featuring romantic scenes from iconic Disney films such as "Lady and the Tramp," "Tangled," "Aladdin" and "Sleeping Beauty."
Here's the full list of photo-op themes and locations:
- "Up" House in Town Square
- Lady and the Tramp at Plaza Inn
- Mary Poppins Penguins near Jolly Holiday Cafe
- Sleeping Beauty Throne at Royal Theatre
- Luca near the Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Aladdin at "it's a small world"
- Tangled at Fantasyland Theatre
- Mickey's Toontown Picnic near Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
- Love Bug at Autopia
- The Little Mermaid near Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
- "Together Forever" Tombstone at Tiana's Palace
- Princess and the Frog Storybook at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Turning Red
As with all Disneyland After Dark parties, you'll get unlimited PhotoPass downloads. Your event wristband has a PhotoPass QR code on it. Link it to your Disneyland app, and present your wrist to any PhotoPass photographers. The photos will appear in your app.
You'll have 45 days to download the images. The cast members are so helpful at holding your stuff and using your camera and phone as well as the PhotoPass photographer's camera to take pics while you focus on not geeking out over your favorite character. As Tad would tell us, “Stay cool!”
Entertainment at Sweethearts' Nite
One of the best parts of After Dark parties is the special entertainment you cannot experience any other night of the year. This year, we welcome a new cavalcade! The Sweethearts’ Nite Royal Cavalcade has Cinderella, Prince Charming, Disney friends and Royal Fanfare dancers making their way through the park. It runs from Town Square to the "it’s a small world" mall.
Disney couples will gather for the glitzy Royal Ball. Dance with your partner or friends while the characters dance with their partners. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes that don't slip off. (That's a tip directly from Cinderella!)
As you wander the park you can enjoy hearts and romantic projection effects on Sleeping Beauty Castle, Main Street, U.S.A. and "it's a small world." Stop to enjoy live music at the Tropical Hideaway. Also keep an eye out for Mariachi Divas Amor, a roaming group performing traditional Mexican love songs and Mariachi music. At Tomorrow Land Terrace, Stitch and Angel host the "Our Love Is Out of This World" dance party. You can also try swing dancing and enjoy jazz music at The Lou-Ray Jazz Club. The park also has a themed playlist throughout the night. Hop into Golden Horseshoe to hear the piano player playing Disney love songs.
Attire at Sweethearts' Nite
One of the reasons many guests love the Disneyland After Dark events is that adults can wear costumes or dress in themed outfits. You’ll see many people dressing in themed outfits and DisneyBounding as their favorite couples at these events. The costume guidelines are similar to the Halloween Party guidelines. Be creative, but use good common sense. If dressing up is not your thing, no pressure. Many couples wear their regular clothes too!
Here are the costume guidelines for Disneyland After Dark:
- Costumes must be family-friendly and may not be obstructive, offensive, objectionable or violent.
- All guests may dress as their favorite character, but they may not pose for pictures or sign autographs for other guests.
- Costumes may not contain any items that resemble (or could easily be mistaken for) an actual weapon.
- Costumes may not contain sharp/pointed objects or materials that may accidentally strike another guest.
- Layered costumes or props surrounding the entire body are strongly discouraged and may be subject to additional security screening.
- Costumes may not reach or drag on the ground (e.g., full-length princess dresses).
For Guests Ages 13 and Under
- Costumes may be worn, as well as some masks, as long as the entire face isn’t covered and the eyes are visible.
For Guests Ages 14 and Older
- Capes cannot go below the waist.
- Themed T-shirts, blouses, sweatshirts and hats are permitted.
- Acceptable accessories include transparent wings, plastic light sabers, toy swords and tutus.
- Headwear may not cover the face.
- No masks of any kind, except for medical purposes.
The above rules apply only during event hours (and mix-in time when you're allowed to enter the park a little early for the event) — standard theme park attire rules apply during all other times. All rules, regulations and guidelines are subject to change without notice. If you don't adhere to the guidelines, Disney may remove you from the event, unless you can modify the costume to meet the above standards.
Some of the classic Disney characters may also wear special costumes or outfits for the event. Be sure to hop by to compliment them on their party clothes! For instance, Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy were all decked out in the '80s attire at '80s Nite.
Dining at Disneyland Sweethearts' Nite 2024
During the event, you can enjoy specially-themed food and drinks meant for two! These special — often heart-shaped — items become available an hour before the party starts. Be sure to allow time to go shopping or dining before or during the actual event hours. You don’t want to miss those limited-edition beverages and treats! And everything closes once the clock strikes 1 a.m. Use mobile order to skip the lines. But keep in mind that on party nights it may take a while for food to get ready, so do not go to pick it up until the app tells you it's ready.
You can pick up Valentine's treats at Candy Palace which are there during the day and for the party.
Here are some sweet and savory quick-service options available just for Sweetheart's Nite:
- Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor — Chocolate Strawberry Sundae
- Mint Julep Bar — Me & U-Bae Beignets
- Hungry Bear Restaurant — Burning Love Beignets, Strawberry Tea Slush and Bear-ia Fries
- Café Daisy — Fried Heart-shaped Ravioli, Tunnel of Love Strawberry Donuts and Strawberry-Pistachio Cold Brew
- Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante — Amordita Tacos
- Jolly Holiday Bakery Café — Croque Monsieur, Chocolate-Salted Carmel Tart, Chocolate Strawberry Stuffed Croissant
- Galactic Grill — Sweetheart's Surf 'n' Turf Fries and Adorable Pink Heart Slush
- Red Rose Taverne — French Toast Sandwich, Love Stuff and Adorable Pink Heart Slush
- Stage Door Café — Raspberries & Cream Funnel Cake
Look up the menu for any restaurant in Disneyland Park online or in the Disneyland app. Across the top, you'll see a tab that says "Special." Tap or click that to see the special Sweethearts' Nite offerings.
Party Guests can make advance reservations for table-service meals. There are four Sweethearts Nite dining options in 2024. Dining packages are available at:
- Carnation Café — À la carte selections
- Plaza Inn — Prix-fixe spaghetti and meatballs for two
- River Belle Terrace — À la carte selections
- Cafe Orleans — 3-course prix-fixe meal
You can view menus, prices and reserve online or in the Disneyland app. Read more about these offerings in our Disneyland Dining Packages post. If you want to do a dining package, we recommend reserving for 8 p.m. so you can maximize your party time.
Around the park, you can also find Valentine's Day-inspired décor, beverages and merchandise offerings.
Attractions at Sweethearts' Nite
Most attractions are open, with very short lines. A few attractions are not available for this event. That may include:
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- Critter Country (and Splash Mountain)
- Haunted Mansion
- Sailing Ship Columbia
- "it's a small world" (on early nights if it is transitioning back to its normal state after the holidays)
You can access many rides and areas that will be closed for the party during mix-in time if they are on your must-do list. And remember, the rides will always be there for another visit. The rare characters, photo-ops and exclusive party merchandise will not. That being said, ride wait times are usually short. When else can you hop on the Matterhorn Bobsleds, Dumbo or Space Mountain without a wait? This is a major plus for people who want to ride a lot of rides without any kind of wait, like Leap. Even Disney Genie+ isn't available. Why? Because you don't need it during the party!
Merchandise at Sweethearts' Nite
If you know of any limited must-have merchandise, hop on that and purchase ASAP. Do your research ahead of time and identify any must-have items to purchase right away.
Disneyland Sweethearts' Nite 2024 Tips
Here are a few tips for attending Sweethearts' Nite 2024 and managing your time.
- Arrive early to avoid long lines at parking and the park gate.
- If you meet either Daisy and Donald or Mickey and Minnie, hop back in line to meet the other couple when they swap.
- Food service stops before the park closes to day guests at 8 p.m. but reopens pretty quickly with the After Dark menus. We suggest eating before party time.
- Dress for the weather. It gets cold at night!
- Identify your must-do photo-ops or must-see characters and get in line early before the lines close (some may close early).
- Don't miss the ball! When we hopped back after 12:30 a.m. one year, it was over!
- Make advance reservations. Aim for an 8 p.m. reservation so you do not waste your limited party time on dining.
- Visit attractions that will be closed for the party between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
- Have realistic expectations about what you can accomplish. We feel a little like Cinderella at the ball, getting caught up in the fun and frogetting to watch the clock. (Thank goodness we leave the park with both of our shoes!)
If you have a favorite rare character you’d love to meet, then expect long waits.
Arriving at a Disneyland Sweetheart's Nite
The Special Event Tickets turnstiles lead into a roped area to pick up a wristband and credentials. The wristband may be color-coded and include the event name and date. The credentials are essential for staying in the park after the park closes. You'll want to pick up a program with a park map. If you're already in the park during the day, ask about in-park check-in so you don't have to exit and reenter.
The program points you in the right direction to find characters around the park (who might be in very different areas than they normally are during regular park hours). It also highlights themed foods, entertainment and any can’t-miss moments. It's very helpful, so don’t froget to read it, especially since there are not always many specific details released before you arrive.
If you arrive before the party is underway, you can go on rides, take pictures while the lighting (and maybe hair and makeup) is usually better, and jump in line early to meet your favorite character. You can scout out the lines to purchase limited-edition merchandise you must have in your life and must-try foods, but none of the special menu items will be available until the party officially starts. But go ahead and mobile order food a few hours early because, by party time, there may not be very many pick-up windows left.
Plan your meals and shopping into your party itinerary. On normal nights, the shops on Buena Vista Street or Main Street, U.S.A. are still open after the parks close so you can get some souvenirs or a caramel apple and other yummy treats. But at Disneyland After Dark events, the shops close up as soon as the event ends. We have learned this the hard way.
Be aware that the mix-in time will be more crowded than the actual party until the daytime guests leave the park. Cast members will do sweeps and have checkpoints to look for bracelets and credentials throughout the night to make sure only party guests are partaking in the fun. Guests without wristbands will be escorted to the exit and not allowed to participate or purchase event foods.
Is Sweethearts' Nite for You?
This is always a complex question to answer. The tickets are only good for four hours (plus three hours of mix-in time). The party offers unique experiences, but the hours fly by so quickly that it's challenging to do it all. It may be a good choice for you if any of the following apply:
- You really love dressing up in costume, themed outfits or DisneyBound attire.
- You're toadally excited about the party theme.
- You want a fun date night with your partner.
- Seeing one particular rare character would make your night.
- You love all things Disney and just want to be part of the magic.
- The main reason to go is to experience rides without wait times.
- You want a new or different experience in a Disney park.
- You're OK with long lines for photo-ops and character greetings.
- You love dancing in a Disney park.
- You like staying up late.
Are you ready to experience Disneyland After Dark Sweethearts' Nite? Let us know which Disney couple is your favorite in the comments below.
Related: Full Schedule of Disneyland Events
Related: All the Otherworldly Details About Star Wars Nite at Disneyland Park
Hoppy planning!
