Best exit plan for Magic Kingdom?

[Farro]

We are staying at Polynesian.

What's the best way to get home after MK close? Resort Monorail, boat to Poly, ferry to TTC and walk to poly?

Anything else, besides patience?

 

[DLgal]

I'd say Resort Monorail is probably fastest, knowing you can also take the express monorail and walk from the TTC.

The boats are the slowest option unless there is NO line.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

We are staying at Polynesian.

What's the best way to get home after MK close? Resort Monorail, boat to Poly, ferry to TTC and walk to poly?

Anything else, besides patience?

What time of year and what time is park closing?

 

[Farro]

@GADisneyDad14 Late October - not sure about hours. Still says 9 on non-party nights, but would hope it's 11.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

@GADisneyDad14 Late October - not sure about hours. Still says 9 on non-party nights, but would hope it's 11.

Ahh, ok - was on my phone before and couldn't see signatures. Duh, sorry.

So I just did a MK 10PM close back to Poly on 7/2. First time other than a party night we had actually been in the park at closing. First time I've seen A Kiss Goodnight, (or whatever it is called) so that was cool!

Ok, your question....

Obviously crowds can vary but the Resort Monorail or the Poly/GF boat are usually your best bets. On our particular night, both the Resort Monorail and Poly/GF boat lines were pretty long. This was roughly 10:20 for a 10PM close.

At first we got in the Resort Monorail line, which was about 2/3rds down the ramp. I made a really bad decission and opted to bail on that line to take the Poly/GF boat instead, which I 'thought' would be quicker. Unfortunately it took forever for a boat to come, and we missed being let on that one by 4 people so had to wait for the next one. Grrrr.

We finally walked in the room around 11PM if I'm not mistaken.

Ultimately the Resort Monorail would have been the better way to go on this night. The ramp crowd was intimidating, but it moved quickly. The boat just took forever for whatever reason. Each monorail that came/went just mocked me as I sat there in the boat line!

I have always had great experiences getting back to Poly at the end of a MK day...this was the first time I dealt with it taking much longer than expected. But like I said, it was my first true MK closing time.

One alternative if the above options are looking bad is to take the Ferry to the TTC and walk over to Poly.

Sorry this was long, but hope it helps!

 

[Farro]

@GADisneyDad14 Totally helps and exactly what I was looking for! I always make the wrong decision too - get out of one line and then end up in the longer one!

Thanks!

 

[mamamelody2]

Who's in your party? Dh and I are going in November. I am planning on being near the back of the park at closing, then slowly making our way out. That way lines aren't so bad for the various transportation options once we get out of the park.

 

[Farro]

Who's in your party? Dh and I are going in November. I am planning on being near the back of the park at closing, then slowly making our way out. That way lines aren't so bad for the various transportation options once we get out of the park.

Either just the two of us, or later in the trip there will be 5 of us give or take, all adults!

 

[mamamelody2]

Well, if it's just adults, I would be doing the whole "slow meander from the park" thing! Then when you get out of the park, eyeball the lines for transporation and make your choice!

 

[Jpmoore]

On this upcoming trip, our kids will finally be able to hang long enough to see the fireworks at MK. In your experience, how long does it take to exit the park after the fireworks are over and then get back to your resort? We are staying at AKL, if that makes a difference.

 

[robl45]

Have done it two trips going back to poly from MK at close. There really is no great option. Boats take forever and the line is usually stupid long. Monorail is stupid long too. We usually would take the express to transportation and ticket and just walk over. Express has longer line usually but more mono rails seem to come. But it still takes awhile. Monorail is the best option though to get to Poly. Boat also goes to grand floridian first.

 

[DaisyJ]

Take the resort bus to AKL. It will be the easiest.

 

[avic77]

On this upcoming trip, our kids will finally be able to hang long enough to see the fireworks at MK. In your experience, how long does it take to exit the park after the fireworks are over and then get back to your resort? We are staying at AKL, if that makes a difference.

Take the bus and plan on an hour. But they know everyone is wanting to get back to the resorts so they have more buses going.

 

[CarolMN]

When we stayed at the Poly, we opted for the Ferry to the TTC. The ferries can hold a LOT of people and we never had to wait for too long for one to get to the dock. Never had to watch a full ferry leave without us either. (We may have just been lucky, though). Nice walk back to the resort. We were in Moorea Building which is closer to the TTC than to the Ceremonial House.

 

[robl45]

I'm thinking you were lucky, I know they hold a lot, but when I was there, we didn't do that option because the amount of people waiting for the ferry was practically to the entrance scanners. I can't imagine they got that many people on a single boat.

 

[dreiwhit]

Our exit plan is to find out when MK closes, and when the evening shows are, and then plan a time to exit that won't have the largest crowd leaving.

 

[Meg1031]

Since its all adults, if you're not in a hurry to get back you could always walk to the contemporary from MK, grab a drink, then take the monorail from there back to the poly. Walking to the contemporary and then getting on the monorail right away may work as well, but if it were me I'd enjoy a drink first. They also tend to keep the shops on main street open a little after the official close time, so you could meander around and browse a little until the crowds thin out.

 

[ucfknight]

Walking to the contemporary and then getting on the monorail right away may work as well, but if it were me I'd enjoy a drink first.

I would highly recommend against this particular strategy. Every resort monorail leaving MK will be full packed, and very few people will be getting off at the Contemporary. It would possibly take many trains before you got on one.

 

[Smittolis]

Best Exit strategy? Stay at the contemporary or BLT so you can walk lol

We are at the Poly next week so will have to check out all the options, we usually get the boat as others have suggested but depending on the time you leave the monorail can be the best option. You didn't say if you have a stroller or kids etc.. which would potentially change some of the best options too.

 

[robl45]

I would highly recommend against this particular strategy. Every resort monorail leaving MK will be full packed, and very few people will be getting off at the Contemporary. It would possibly take many trains before you got on one.

For a couple of adults it would be doable, you just shove in to whatever car. Pick the one where people don't have a stroller. I used to fold my stroller on the monorail, but since no one else does I don't bother anymore.