Overview

• Guests reported that the Monsters After Dark overlay activated after 3 p.m. on August 15, a week before its official August 22 debut.
• Social media posts supplied photos and videos showcasing the darker, heavy-metal seasonal effects and confirmed all six ride vehicles were running.
• The Disneyland app and website briefly listed operating hours and a Lightning Lane option, but booking attempts failed and onsite operations ran standby-only.
• Visitors noted shorter wait times during the surprise appearance, with some guests immediately reboarding for additional rides.
• With no comment from Disney, it remains unclear whether the early activation was a deliberate soft opening, a technical test or a scheduling error.