Has Star Wars Nite at Disneyland lost its appeal?

The fifth of eight Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite events took place last night and of the five event nights that have taken place so far this year, not one of them was sold out. That is why I decided to ask the question, has Star Wars Nite at Disneyland lost its appeal? Of the three remaining Star Wars Nite events coming up this year, only the May the 4th event has sold out. While it is possible that the upcoming events on May 1st and May 6th could also sell out, it is very unlikely based on the fact that the first five events did not.

So does that alone mean that Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite events have lost their appeal? No, it doesn’t but it is clear that either the event has lost its appeal or there is another reason the event does not sell out every night.

Disneyland After Dark Star Wars Nite Dates & Tickets — Event calendar with ticket prices and sold out nights

Comparison to other Disneyland After Dark events

Of the other Disneyland After Dark events, all eight Sweethearts’ Nite events sold out and both Disneyland After Dark: 90s Nite events also sold out. In addition, the previous Disneyland After Dark events sold out several weeks before the event nights. Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite event tickets only recently went on sale and haven’t sold out yet, but based on past years, both nights will sell out before the events take place.

So, why doesn’t Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite events sell out? Has Star Wars Nite lost its appeal? Are the after-hours events too over-priced? Is Star Wars Nite offered on more nights than what there is demand for? Or is there another reason?

What is wrong with Star Wars Nite?

I think it is a combination of reasons why Star Wars Nite does not sell out on every event night. First, the after-hours events are very expensive but with all of the other Disneyland After Dark events priced the same as Star Wars Nite, I don’t think that the price alone is the reason all eight of the after-hours events have not sold out this year.

The number of event nights

Second, Disneyland After Dark: 90s Nite and Pride Nite are only offered on two nights each. So if Star Wars Nite was also only offered on two nights, chances are that both nights would sell out. I feel like the event is offered on more nights than what the event has demand for. But I don’t think that the over saturated nights the event is offered is the only problem with Star Wars Nite.

Mickey & Minnie Mouse at Star Wars Nite Fond Farewell

Entertainment & Characters during Star Wars Nite

I think the characters and entertainment offered during Star Wars Nite is the main reason all eight nights of the event does not sell out. Compared to the other Disneyland After Dark events, Star Wars Nite offers much less entertainment and character experiences. All of the other after-hours events at Disneyland offer a cavalcade and Disney characters in themed costumes. However, Star Wars Nite only offers a “Fans of the Force Costume Cavalcade” where fans participate in a celebratory march down Main Street, U.S.A. concluding with a group photo in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle with Mickey & Minnie Mouse. Besides this march down Main Street, U.S.A. and a “Fond Farewell” from Main Street, U.S.A. train station, this is the only time guests will see Mickey & Minnie Mouse throughout the after-hours event.

Character Experiences

Guests are able to meet several different Star Wars characters throughout the after-hours event but no classic Disney characters dressed in Star Wars-themed costumes. And the majority of the Star Wars characters that are available during the event can only be seen from a distance and not up close and personal for meet and greets. In 2024, Darth Vader and Darth Maul were both on the Tomorrowland Terrace Stage but you could not get a one-on-one meet and greet or photo with either of the characters. There was no PhotoPass Cast Member on-hand to take your picture with the two famous Star Wars villains. You could briefly stop for a selfie if you ignored the Cast Members yelling to keep the line moving, but overall I think the experience just wasn’t worth it.

My experience

I’ve attended Stars Wars Nite for the last few years with less and less being offered each year. During the 2024 event, I was honestly bored throughout most of the night. I tried to make the best of the evening but found myself looking for things to do until the end of the event so I could get a few pictures of Mickey & Minnie Mouse from a distance at the Main Street, U.S.A. train station during the “Fond Farewell”.

I’m sure that for many die-hard Star Wars fans, the event is a magical experience. But for a casual Star Wars fan who likes the movies, likes some of the characters (especially the Dark-Side characters like Darth Vader), the event is disappointing. I thought I was going to be able to get a one-on-one picture with Darth Vader and Darth Maul, but no. That is not the case. I remember seeing pictures of classic Disney characters dressed as different Star Wars universe characters when Disney’s Hollywood Studios used to offer a Star Wars event. If Disneyland wants a sell out event, I would bet money that if Disney classic characters crossed over into the Star Wars universe and wore themed costumes, every Star Wars Nite event would sell out within hours.

During most Disneyland After Dark events, I am constantly going from one character experience to another, while working in entertainment experiences like cavalcades in between. And this fills my night without having any time to spare to experience event night food or to ride an attraction. But on Star Wars Nite last year, I sat down and ate a late night snack, rode a few attractions, saw every Star Wars character that was offered, watched the “Fans of the Force Costume Cavalcade” and still had time to spare. I had time to experience every available Star Wars character as well as time to experience what little entertainment that offered during the event. But when you are only able to actually able to meet a hand-full of characters in a one-on-one meet and greet and the entertainment that is offered is very limited, the four hour after-hours event can drag on.

Why I’m not attending the event this year

Don’t get me wrong, I love Disney and especially the Disneyland Resort. I surround myself daily with Disney whether I am at the resort or at home. I love attending special events and after-hours events and always try to get tickets to these events—sometimes on multiple nights. But when it comes to Star Wars Nite, I have lost interest. After attending Star Wars Nite in 2024, I told my husband that unless something changed, I had no interest of going to Star Wars Nite again. Then, when the event was announced this year, I slightly got excited until I looked at the characters and entertainment being offered and saw that nothing had changed. And while a part of me wants to go again just to experience the event with hopes that I might see Mickey Mouse dressed as a Jedi or Goofy dressed as Darth Vader, I know that is not how the event is going to be and I would be disappointed yet again.

And I don’t think I am alone. If I was, I think that all eight event nights would sell out, and sell out fast. But that has not been the case.

Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite General Public Tickets On Sale Now

What can be done to fix Star Wars Nite?

So what should Disneyland plan for 2026. Unless the The Mandalorian & Grogu movie stirs up some major interest in the Star Wars franchise and unless Disneyland changes the entertainment and character experiences for the after-hours event, I feel like the demand for Star Wars Nite will not be any higher in 2026 than it is this year. Maybe if Disneyland reduced the number of event nights for Star Wars Nite in 2026, the event might sell out.

But should Disneyland reduce the amount of nights Star Wars Nite is offered. Again, unless they change the event to offer more entertainment, more character experiences and more, then yes they should reduce the amount of nights Star Wars Nite is offered. Honestly, I think they should reduce the event to only four nights in 2026 if they are going to keep the event offerings the same as what was offered over the past few years.

Can you imagine a cavalcade with Darth Goofy and Darth Donald Maul riding on a float holding lightsabers? And Jedi Mickey and Princess Minnie Leia riding on a starship float with Ewok Chip ‘n Dale walking behind. Put that in an ad for Star Wars Nite and I bet that every available night would sell out quickly. Have Darth Vader or even Kylo Ren walking down Main Street, U.S.A. with an entourage of Stormtroopers walking behind. That is something I would be willing to pay extra to experience.

Conclusion

So to conclude, I believe that Star Wars Nite has an appeal for a select audience, but not for eight event nights with the current characters and entertainment offered. While it would be nice if Disneyland offered a discount to Magic Key Holders for after-hours event (Walt Disney World offers annual passholders discounts on special event tickets), I doubt they will even though it might help the event sell out. But I think the biggest change that Disneyland needs to make when it comes to Star Wars Nite is to offer more entertainment, more Star Wars characters and Disney characters crossing over into the Star Wars universe. Unfortunately I feel like nothing will change in 2026, but at least I have hope.

Am I alone on my thoughts about Star Wars Nite? Or are there others who have some of the same feelings about the after-hours event that I do? I would love to hear your thoughts on what you like or dislike about Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite as well as what you would or would not change. Send me a message with your ideas and feedback about the event.