Dining After Park Close?

[aseyrick]

The day we are planning on visiting Hollywood Studios in Oct, it closes at 6 pm. Can we still have dinner at 1 of their restaurants at 6 pm? If so, how do we get out of the park afterwards?

TIA!

 

[eddiemcgarrigle]

I ate at Tusker House in 2010 with a 5.55pm reservation and Animal Kingdom closed at 6pm. The food was constantly replenished and we where not rushed in any way. After eating we enjoyed a slow walk through an almost deserted park and we liked it so much we are doing it again in four weeks. Same restaurant, same park and same closing time.

 

[OhThePain]

We love taking the last ADR of the night for a park restaurant, usually at EPCOT. We find that the service seems less stressed, the atmosphere more relaxing and the food as good as an earlier ADR. Plus, we love the walk out of the park after the meal, especially at EC since restaurants in the WS can be quite a nice, long, romantic yet a bit eerie to the main entrance. It makes for some great photos.

Buses basically still run up until the last guest leaves the park, no matter the time. If by some chance the buses do stop running, a CM will get you a taxi to take you where you need to go, at no cost to you. You will not be stranded, don't worry. Plus, DHS is in walking distance to BWI, YC/BC, Swan/Dolphin and EPCOT.

 

[aseyrick]

Awesome! Thanks!! Is the last reservation generally 5 minutes before closing?

Thanks again!

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

We've actually never considered dining at park closing.... Until Now!

I honestly can not think of a better way to end a day, especially at EPCOT. We, like the masses, usually leave right after Illiminations and it is insane. Not next time! Thanks so much for the magical idea!

 

[katieam1]

We LOVE booking the last dinner reservations at the parks you do not get the rush of people as you are exiting it is quiet if you are taking a bus it is way less packed and it is just such a nice way to wrap up the day! Always Always Always try for the last reservation only way we go!!

 

[OhThePain]

Awesome! Thanks!! Is the last reservation generally 5 minutes before closing?

Thanks again!

Generally, yes. Sometimes durring the busiest times of the year they will open up ADRs for a bit after the park closes. We have had times where the restaurant fell really far behind that we didn't sit until almost an hour after the park closed.

We've actually never considered dining at park closing.... Until Now!

I honestly can not think of a better way to end a day, especially at EPCOT. We, like the masses, usually leave right after Illiminations and it is insane. Not next time! Thanks so much for the magical idea!

It really is magical. Just the whole feeling of being alone in a park is pretty special. We have gotten some unbelievable pictures at night with no one pushing or shuving or getting into our shot. We kind of laugh about it because you almost get the feeling like you are walking through the park post-apocalypse and you are the only survivors (that's where the eerie feeling comes in). Also, we have had instances where we have checked in 15 minutes before our ADR (20 minutes before IllumiNations) and were told that the restaurant was behind and we could go watch IllumiNations and head back for dinner after (there are also some people who just show up after IllumiNations without checking in first and I have rarely seen the restaurant turn them away).

 

[aseyrick]

Good stuff.

Thanks!

 

[LilyWDW]

The only thing I question is that DHS doesn't normally close that early except for private events. That means the 6PM is a hard close and everyone must leave and they empty the park. I would wonder if there will be ADR's for 6 and, even if there were, you would not be able to linger afterwards. It would be like having an ADR during one of the MK parties. You will most likely be escorted out (again, if they even have an ADR that late on a hard close night).