Hard Ticket Events
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Night of Joy is a hard ticket event, meaning that it requires a separate ticket to gain admission into a theme park other than the standard day pass.  There are several other hard ticket events that take place in Orlando's theme parks and below is a description of some of the most popular.

Disney's Grad Nites (Magic Kingdom)
Grad Nites are the granddaddy of all of Disney's hard ticket events.  Originally held at Disneyland during the 1960s for graduating high school seniors, the event was so popular it also started being held at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in 1972.  The event takes place after hours in the Magic Kingdom.  Guests must arrive by sanctioned school buses with chaperones, and must be in proper dress (shirt, tie, parts for men, dresses for women).  There are usually a few bands during each event.  Grad Nites take place during may of every year.  Starting in 2009, just like Night of Joy this event was moved to Disney's Hollywood Studios.  Unfortunately, after a one year move back to the Magic Kingdom, Disney has decided to cancel this long standing tradition with 2011 being the last year.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (Magic Kingdom)
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas is held after hours at Disney's Magic Kingdom during late November through the end of January.  Exact dates very every year but it is usually held for a few day each week of the Christmas season.  There are special Christmas stage shows, character greetings with characters in their winter finest, a Christmas parade, and even snow on Main Street.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (Magic Kingdom)
Mickey's not so scary Halloween party is an after hours event that is based on a child's idea of Halloween.  There are special stage shows such as a villains gathering on Cinderella's Castle, character meet and greets with both characters dressed up for Halloween as well as some of the more unusual characters from Disney's lineup, a very special fireworks show called HalloWishes, and a street parade that starts with the ride of the headless horseman.  All guests are given a bag to go Trick or Treating around the Magic Kingdom.  The event is held in both September and October of each year (This event was one of the reasons Night of Joy was moved to Disney's Hollywood Studios).

Halloween Horror Nights (Universal Studios)
This is the most popular Halloween event in Orlando.  Usually taking place at Universal Studios Florida (though it has been held at Islands of Adventure) this event is one of the scariest of any theme park.  During the event all of the theme park is transformed into different scare zones with actors walking around the park scaring guests.  There are also stage shows, sideshow acts, and during some years a parade.  The biggest draw for this event however is the haunted mazes.  These mazes are walk through haunted houses, each with a different theme.  Themes for 2009 include characters taken from the silver screen including Jigsaw from the Saw movie franchise, Chucky for the Child's Play franchise, and the classic Universal monster the Wolfman.  This event is not for all ages, and no costumes are allowed during the event.