Do crowds thin out in the later evening??

[francileb]

We will be in the parks this Saturday, 10/25, and DL is open until midnight. Our kids are getting to the age where they can stay up late (just not very often)--and I'm wondering whether to plan on staying until closing. Do crowds thin out a lot after the fireworks and Fantasmic are done? There are a few rides we would like to ride after dark--but I'm not into overwhelming crowds. We'll also be in the parks the following Monday through Thursday--so Saturday night certainly isn't our one and only opportunity (except for fireworks/fantasmic.)

Thanks for any insight

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

In my experience I have found that the crowds do clear out quite a bit after the evening shows. However, since it's a Saturday and the parks have closed early most of the month due to the Halloween parties, it may still be busy.

Even if you don't stay until midnight, I would suggest to still wait a little while after fireworks/Fantasmic to leave so you don't get stuck in the mass exit cattle drive.

 

[princesshalo22]

I was in the parks this past Saturday, the crowds did get significantly smaller, but the main attractions such as Haunted Mansion still had quite a long wait. I stayed in DCA until it's closing at 10. We got into DCA around 9pm and rode TOT and RSR (the 2 big attractions there) before closing, we got over to Disneyland around 10:30 and walked around for awhile, got something to drink, rode pirates and small world before park closing at 11. It's much more of a leisurely pace that time of night. I loved it

 

[GatorChris]

If it's your only chance to see fireworks, then definitely go. I can't even imagine a Disney trip without fireworks. It's why we've spent so much money to go to WDW - because they have fireworks/Fantasmic! every night at 3 out of 4 parks. And soon, all 4. Go!

 

[bcla]

Last time we visited we spread out over two weekends. We got there late on Saturday due to procrastination, and my wife didn't want to go until the next day. I had hoped to leave in the morning and get there in the afternoon. So we were there late and that meant I had to send her to the hotel room and that cost some time.

So we parked and it was just myself and our kid alone. After adding one day to my 4-day AAA ticket (only after using the included parking for the last time on my ticket) for $15, we both entered at about 10:30 PM with a midnight closing. Those were some of the shortest lines I'd ever seen at Disneyland. We managed to got on tons of rides with almost no wait. In less than 90 minutes we were on the Mad Tea Party, It's a Small World, Pirates, Mr Toad's, and then got in line for Peter Pan's Flight before midnight. We didn't get on until about 12:30, but they didn't kick anyone out who was already in line and everyone in line waited even when they had to cycle through the entire ride without passengers.

 

[Hojoanaheim]

The crowds do thin out at night, but Saturday and Sunday are the only nights this week that Disneyland is open past 9, so it will probably be crowded still. I say, plan to see the Fireworks and Fantasmic then see how it goes. If you feel like the crowds haven't died down, then you can leave. At least you were able to see the shows. And, it's starting to get dark a lot sooner, so you might get more chances to ride rides after dark during the week.

HTH,
Kriss