This is an entry for “hard ticket event” in our Disneyland 101 Glossary: Disneyland Resort definitions in under 101 words, from Mouse Brief. For frequently asked questions about hard ticket events (aka separately ticketed events, after hours parties) at Disneyland Resort, keep reading after the glossary entry.
You may hear other guests use the phrase “hard ticket” to refer to events at Disneyland Resort which are not included in general admission and require a date and event-specific ticket. These events typically occur after regular park hours. Oogie Boogie Bash—A Disney Halloween Party and the Disneyland After Dark series are two examples. Guests wishing to attend these events will need to purchase an event-specific ticket even if they have valid general park admission for the same day. The name does not derive from the tickets being “hard to get,” but, coincidentally, they often do sell-out quickly.
Thanks for reading this post from our Disneyland 101 Glossary For general advice on tickets to Disneyland, see How to Choose Your Best Disneyland Ticket and for more information on hard ticket events, keep reading.
Disneyland Hard Ticket Events, FAQs
What are other names for hard ticket events at Disneyland Resort?
”Hard ticket event” is not an official Disney term. Generally Disney refers to this kind of event by the individual names of the events themselves (see the next FAQ for examples). Other terms you may hear used to describe hard ticket parties include “separately ticketed events” or “after-hours parties.”
What are some examples of hard ticket events at Disneyland Resort?
Probably the most popular hard ticket event at Disneyland Resort is Oogie Boogie Bash—A Disney Halloween Party which takes place at Disney California Adventure Park throughout Halloween Time. For 2026, Oogie Boogie Bash is running 33 nights during August, September and October. Other examples of hard ticket events from the 2026 calendar are the Disneyland After Dark parties at Disneyland Park. The themes for these nights include: Sweethearts Nite, 70 Years of Favorites, Disney Channel Nite, Star Wars Nite and Pride Nites.
Can I experience special seasonal offerings without a special ticket!
Yes. Many seasonal offerings at Disneyland Resort are NOT part of separately ticketed events and are instead included with general admission. For example, Disneyland Resort does not have a hard ticket Christmas party. Holiday Time offerings are included with general admission. Festivals like Lunar New Year or Disneyland Resort’s 70th celebration are also part of the parks’ general offerings during special times of year.
While Disney California Adventure Park does have a hard ticket Halloween party with Oogie Boogie Bash—A Disney Halloween Party, you do not need to attend that event just to experience Halloween seasonal offerings at Disneyland Resort. The Halloween decor is up for general guests to enjoy and there are Halloween ride overlays for several attractions. The most notable of these is probably Haunted Mansion Holiday. All of this is included with general admission.
Additionally, there are special experiences you can purchase during regular operating hours at Disneyland Resort. Examples of these would be dining packages or guided tours like the Disneyland Resort VIP Tours. You pay for these experiences, but you will also still need valid admission to the park where it is taking place.
If I have a ticket to visit the Disneyland Resort parks, can I use it to stay for a special event that night?
No. Regular admission for regular operating hours in the park is not valid for after-hours parties.
For example, let’s look at a day when a Disneyland After Dark Sweethearts Nite is happening at Disneyland Park. You may enter the park with a general ticket or a Magic Key during the regular operating hours that day. For our example, those regular hours are going to be from 8am to 8pm, and the party hours are going to be from 9pm until 1am.
As the party approaches, there will be a time when guests holding tickets to the party will be able to enter the park and mix-in with general guests during regular operating hours. Usually this mix-in time is about three hours before the party start time. In our example, party guests will be able to enter Disneyland Park starting at 6pm, three hours before their party’s start time of 9pm. When the regular hours end (8pm in our example), general guests will be directed to the exit. Party guests may stay, and other party guests may continue to enter the park. General guests will not be re-admitted to Disneyland Park that day, but they may visit Disney California Adventure Park with a Magic Key or Park Hopper ticket and stay until it closes. In our example, that is at 9pm.
You may hold general admission and a party ticket for the same day, but there is not one ticket or admission type that includes both at the same time.
If I have ticket for an after-hours event, can I use it to get into the Disneyland Resort parks during the day?
You can use your party ticket to enter the host park for some of the operating hours on the day of your party. Typically, Disneyland Resort has allowed after-hours party guests to enter the park up to three hours before the start of their party.
In the example above, Sweethearts Nite is starting at 9pm at Disneyland Park. Guests holding tickets to that party are able to enter Disneyland Park starting at 6pm on the day of their party. They are not able to enter Disneyland Park before 6pm that day or to enter Disney California Adventure Park unless they also hold a Magic Key or valid general admission tickets for the parks that day.
How do I get tickets for special events at Disneyland Resort?
As the name suggests, you will need special tickets to get into separately ticketed events. These tickets are specific to the event and to the date: there is no general ticket for hard ticket events. In general, you will need to purchase the tickets online in advance of the event.
We suggest that you visit the Disneyland website or the Disney Parks Blog to find-out when tickets will go on-sale for upcoming hard ticket events. If you wish to attend these events, make note of the date when tickets will become available and buy your tickets as early as is practical for you. You can purchase your tickets through the Disneyland website. When demand is high, Disney uses a virtual queue system on the website.
If you are looking for general admission tickets for redraft park operating hours, you can find our guide to buying those here: How to Choose Your Best Disneyland Ticket
Do I need a park reservation to go along with my event ticket?
No. When you purchase a ticket to an after-hours party or hard ticket event a Disneyland Resort, you are purchasing a ticket for a specific party on a specific day. You do not need a park reservation for the party, because your spot at that party is essentially already reserved when you buy your event ticket.
If you visit a park with a general admission ticket or a Magic Key that same day, you will still need a park reservation. (What are park reservations and how do you get them? You can read about that here: Guide to Park Reservations for Disneyland & Why You Need Them.