Closing time anxiety

[cancersucks]

Ok, here is my concern- any input is greatly appreciated.
We usually do not stay for evening entertainment, as my non-Disney loving DH gets really tense during the mass exits/bus lines following the shows. We don't mind being up late and waiting for crowds to clear out, as long as we aren't just herding with everyone else.

My DS(7&11) REALLY want to eat at Sci-Fi. I have every other ADR booked (luckily) but this close to our trip, I can only get a 9:10 pm reservation.
Fantasmic is at 9:00, StarWars fireworks at 9:30. This is our first trip with any table service reservations so I have no way to judge how long we might be at dinner. I am concerned we will be finishing up right as the fireworks are done. About how long do you all take for table service meals? Where is Sci Fi in conjunction with the viewing of the fireworks? With all the construction at HS, are there any shops to browse while the crowds thin out if need be? We will have a car, (1st for this also) will it be quicker and less stressful for those in our group with "closing time anxiety" to get back to the Poly if we drive our own car?
Thanks for helping save my sanity

 

[FCDub]

There are plenty of shops to hang out in and browse merchandise. No need to rush out!

 

[caliope]

If you have a car, then there's no need to worry about bus lines. You could take your time exiting after dinner (I'd plan 60 minutes for the meal) and then drive back to your resort.

 

[Robo]

My DS(7&11) REALLY want to eat at Sci-Fi. I have every other ADR booked (luckily) but this close to our trip, I can only get a 9:10 pm reservation.
Fantasmic is at 9:00, StarWars fireworks at 9:30.
This is our first trip with any table service reservations so I have no way to judge how long we might be at dinner.
1. I am concerned we will be finishing up right as the fireworks are done.
2. About how long do you all take for table service meals?
3. Where is Sci Fi in conjunction with the viewing of the fireworks?
4. With all the construction at HS, are there any shops to browse while the crowds thin out if need be?
5. We will have a car, (1st for this also) will it be quicker and less stressful for those in our group with "closing time anxiety" to get back to the Poly if we drive our own car?

1. At Sci-Fi Dine-in, your meal may very well be finishing up as the fireworks are done.
2. Sci-Fi can be different than many TS meals. It's much closer to Counter Service dining.
(Except that a waiter takes your order and brings your food.)
4. "All the construction at DHS" is a VAST overstatement. Most guests simply will not notice ANY construction,
nor see anything that is "closed."
5. Car is fine. Or, the bus, if you delay your departure a bit, will work, too.

Yes, you CAN linger in the shops on Hollywood Blvd. (Many/most will be open late.)
And, you can just find an empty bench and sit and let the crowds dwindle.
The buses will run until every last guest has left the park. Nobody is ever left stranded
at a Disney park.

3. Not close together. Star Wars fireworks are viewed from the central plaza in
front of the Great Movie Ride/Chinese Theater.

If you exit around towards Indiana Jones Stunt Show/Echo Lake, you won't
be passing by the central fireworks viewing area.

 

[Marthasor]

The Star Wars fireworks will be over by about 9:45 pm. If you finish up eating around 10 pm or after, you should be fine. Follow the path Robo posted to avoid most of the crowds.

 

[kwdw]

Yes, your dinner timing could (most likely) put you done about the time the SW fireworks are clearing out - but I wouldn't let that stop you. First - maybe plan the meal to be a longer one - meaning order either an appetizer or dessert. With the movies and the car experience - unless your kids are really tired - I think that will help entertain them. And don't feel rushed by the waitress.

Then - as Robo said - go RIGHT out of Sci-Fi - towards Indiana Jones as you exit the restaurant so you are walking towards Hollywood Blvd on that side of Echo Lake. Foot traffic will be light until you merge up with the folks exiting the fireworks.

Yes - you can stop at the shops on Hollywood Blvd if you want to lessen the chaos at the bus stops/parking lots - but the shops are going to be busy, too. But - if you just hold hands and move with the crowd - you'll be okay getting down the street. We did this recently with my 7 yo niece - and as long as you move with the crowds pace - it doesn't feel too pushy. Once you get close to tapstiles to exit - the crowd thins out as they all head different directions.

If I take a car to DHS - I always walk to it instead of waiting for the tram because I don't think that parking lot is that big and I think by the time you wait for the tram and they load it - the timing feels about the same as walking. The walking path won't be too busy - but I think its best if you walk IN to the park (vs. tram), too, so you understand how to get to your car in the evening.

If you opt for the bus instead - just be sure to note which stop is yours in the morning headed to the park - you don't always get dropped off at where you will depart. Knowing where you are going at the end of the night, to me, makes the crowd feel less hectic. And Disney does a good job at trying to get folks back to their resorts at park closing - so normally waiting for the bus isn't that bad. Once you are at your stop - you are in line - so again - the crowd is just chillin' at that point because everyone is in the same boat - wait for the bus to arrive mode.

 

[Klayfish]

I can't help you with the dining part, as we don't eat in the restaurants. I do agree with Robo that the construction thing is way overblown. The only things closed were the things in the back of the park that weren't used much anyway, so you may hardly notice it.

My one word of caution is trying to exit the parking lot when fireworks let out. We stay off site, so we always drive. HS is the only park where we've actually been "stuck" in the lot waiting for traffic to clear so we can leave. The exit is only two lanes and comes to a traffic light, so it backs up big time. We waited about 15-20 minutes last year. We've never had that issue in Epcot, MK or AK, ever. Park close to the exit if you can.

 

[GillianP1301]

You will likely be finishing up your meal a little after 10:00 and the fireworks will have been over since 9:45 so you should not have too much of a much crush exiting. If it's still looking pretty backlogged, then there are shops to browse that stay open past park closing. Having your own car eliminates having to worry about a long bus line/wait and if the tram line is long, you can always just walk. Even in some of the furthest parts of the DHS parking lot, you won't have to walk much more than 5 minutes or so.

 

[cancersucks]

Thank you all for the info. It certainly helps ease my anxiety about my husbands anxiety lol! I think we will just take the bus, and follow all your great advice. No matter what happens, we will still be on vacation at the happiest place on Earth!

 

[Hootch]

When are you going? We reserved Sci-Fi in July. We wanted 7:00 and got 8:35. A few days later I found 6:45. Then we changed our dates to June. I initially found 8:45. We now have a 7:00 PM ADR. Keep checking.

 

[bookbabe626]

Personally, I would eat slowly, or even get a slightly later ADR. On our last trip, we had a post-fireworks ADR at Sci-Fi, and the park was long closed by the time we finished. We walked through a virtually empty park, and boarded a 'private' bus back to BC (boats weren't running by that point). Everyone left was getting put on a more-or-less-private bus back to their hotels as they arrived at the front of the bus loading area. You just told the CM which hotel, and he assigned you to a bus, which all seemed to be leaving right away. Ours didn't even attempt to wait for more passengers, and we were the only two on it. If the park closing crush stresses some members of your party out, that's so the way to go. We've never had a smoother or easier exit and trip back to the hotel. (Do your final shopping before dinner, though. This was late enough that the stores were already closed/closing by that point.)

 

[CarrieR]

Maybe we just take weirdly long, but a 9:10 reservation would have us done long past the fireworks. Granted, we're allergy diners, so that adds some time. But a 9:10 res might not even have us seated until 9:20 or 9:30... and then a meal takes 60-90 minutes. YMMV of course. If by chance the fireworks have just finished, browse shops for 15-20 mins before heading for the bus. There's lots of shops!

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

Those shops can be very crowded for a bit after the fireworks and F! end. I would plan to take a little time in dinner, then a slow stroll to a bench that is out of the way for a bit. We often wait for the crowds to thin before heading out. It will make for a much more enjoyable way to end the evening.

 

[HopperFan]

We have eaten at Sci-Fi during park closing and love coming out to low crowds and quiet. It is one park that folks clear out quickly after the fireworks/Fantasmic.

Once seated, take your time ordering, take your time eating and treat yourself to a dessert, even if to share. They won't rush you since you are final seating. After, go to the bathroom and slowly head out.

NOTE: Since we have done this we have experienced CMs blocking us from going right around by Indiana Jones. Guess at closing they begin the sweep.

But it's really no big deal to go left and then enjoy the shops on the way out .... or just find a bench and wait a short time.