Do crowds thin out late?

[RavenclawMom]

We're going to be there Columbus Day weekend, starting on Sunday. DLR is open until midnight both Sunday and Monday. My question is: do the crowds thin out after Fireworks?

 

[MonocularVision]

Yes, considerably so. After fireworks are our favorite time in the park!

 

[IvyWinter]

Literally there the same days, sunday and monday! Sunday we wont actually get to the parks until 1ish, and then our plan to tackle monday at DL is early morning, mid day break with star wars VR and lunch outside of the park to avoid the busiest time, and then go back later when people are likely leaving because work in the morning.

 

[DLgal]

They usually do, yes, but the holiday weekend may make it more crowded late at night than a regular weekend.

 

[Congo Queen]

Yes it does thin out but in my experience the relief is not immediate. NOS will still be pretty busy w the second showing of F!, and Adventureland and Frontierland can have CMs restricting traffic flow. Fantasyland stays closed for awhile as the fire marshals inspect it to ensure that no embers have landed there. Toontown is closed and stays closed. So that means right after fireworks there is really only Tomorrowland and so that can be crowded as a result. But hang in there, once about 45 mins have passed it gets better and then better and better as you get closer to closing. And, as you may know, you can jump in line for any ride (even if it says 60 min wait) at 5 minutes before closing as CMS let all people in line ride no matter how long it takes.

 

[RavenclawMom]

Yes it does thin out but in my experience the relief is not immediate. NOS will still be pretty busy w the second showing of F!, and Adventureland and Frontierland can have CMs restricting traffic flow. Fantasyland stays closed for awhile as the fire marshals inspect it to ensure that no embers have landed there. Toontown is closed and stays closed. So that means right after fireworks there is really only Tomorrowland and so that can be crowded as a result. But hang in there, once about 45 mins have passed it gets better and then better and better as you get closer to closing. And, as you may know, you can jump in line for any ride (even if it says 60 min wait) at 5 minutes before closing as CMS let all people in line ride no matter how long it takes.

Are the NOS attractions open during F!?

 

[Pamela M]

Are the NOS attractions open during F!?

Yes- but it may be hard to get to because of crowd control due to Fantasmic.

 

[RavenclawMom]

So people hang out in NOS to watch Fantasmic? Interesting. At WDW, we like to ride rides during parades, because it's really crowded outside, but wait times are short. It's just hard to get around.

 

[Blue32]

IMO the crowds don’t thin near as much at DL as they do at WDW in the evening. This is based on our last few summer trips. A lot more locals at DL than the tourist base of WDW.

 

[gottalovepluto]

So people hang out in NOS to watch Fantasmic? Interesting. At WDW, we like to ride rides during parades, because it's really crowded outside, but wait times are short. It's just hard to get around.

Fantasmic is super different out here logistically. NOS is filled with people watching Fantasmic because that’s where you watch Fantasmic. It’s performed on the Rivers of America and people stand through NOS along the river to watch. It’s a great time to do POTC imho. Getting to/from HM can be a total pain if the crowds from Fantasmic start breaking before you get out.

Lines thin out some later in the night but your lightest crowds will always be first thing in the morning (unless you’re rope dropping the park that has early entry). The best night hour is 11pm-midnight, when I was watching for the crowd drop between 10pm-11pm it just didn’t happen trip before last. UNLESS the weather is crappy. If it’s raining and cold people will clear out early in the night.