How Many Rides Can You Actually Ride at a Disney After-Hours Party?

Can you really ride a ton of rides at a Disney party and see the shows? I put it to the test on our last Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party night of the season with a challenge: 10 rides before midnight. If we did it, we'd treat ourselves to the new exclusive popcorn bucket.

The rules

1. No repeats. Every ride has to be different.
2. No skipping the big stuff. We had to stop for a parade and the fireworks.
3. Party hours only. All 10 rides had to happen between 7 p.m. and midnight. That's 5 hours.

How the night went

| # | Ride | Notes | |---|------|-------| | 1 | Pirates of the Caribbean | Posted 15 minutes, line was really short | | 2 | Big Thunder Mountain | Ran straight over to keep momentum | | | Boo-to-You Parade | Required stop in Frontierland (and the Headless Horseman!) | | 3 | Peter Pan's Flight | Usually brutal, so getting it done at the party is huge | | 4 | Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid | Right next door | | 5 | Mad Tea Party | Halfway there, but already 2½ hours in | | 6 | Space Mountain | Sprinted across the park to Tomorrowland | | | Fireworks | Required stop, and worth it | | 7 | TRON Lightcycle / Run | The fastest ride in the park | | 8 | PeopleMover | Our feet really needed this one | | 9 | Buzz Lightyear | About 10 minutes left on the clock |

So... did we win?

No. We got nine rides, plus two parades, the fireworks, party food and a few treat trails. One ride short!

With one ride left, my little one fell asleep during the second parade. We had a choice: wake her up and sprint for ride number 10, or let her sleep and catch the Villains Spooktacular with the Sanderson sisters. We chose the show, and it was the right call. They brought the house down. Honestly, we'd make that trade every single time.

And yes, I still got the exclusive Hatbox Ghost popcorn bucket.

The answer: about 8 to 10 rides

If you also want to see a parade, the fireworks and a show, plan on roughly 8 to 10 rides in the 7 p.m. to midnight window on a night like ours. Want more? Skip a show or go for repeats. Want more entertainment? Plan on fewer rides.

Tips to ride more at a party

• Start at 7 p.m. sharp. Party crowds are lower, so lines that are usually long (like Peter Pan) can move fast.
• Group rides by land. Peter Pan, Little Mermaid and the teacups are close together in Fantasyland. Space Mountain, TRON, PeopleMover and Buzz cluster in Tomorrowland.
• Watch the first parade from Frontierland, then ride nearby Big Thunder and Pirates before or after.
• Use the parade and fireworks windows wisely. Once you've seen a show, lines often drop while everyone else is watching.
• Save low-key rides for late. The PeopleMover is a great sit-down when your feet are done.
• Know your crew. Kids fade. Prioritize what they care about early (for us, the Headless Horseman).

What Disney ride challenge should we try next? Tell me in the comments on the video!

Party dates, hours and wait times vary by night. Check Disney's current party details before you go.