Does Disney boot you out...

[Brer Brett]

...of the parks exactly at the stroke of when the park is supposed to close? For the first time, we are going during "off season", e.g., last of October, first part of November. While I'm excited about the potential for lower crowd levels, I'm not that crazy about the closing times currently listed for most of the parks on the days we will be there. AK is supposed to close at 5pm every day we're there, and HS and MK closes at 7pm on several days we're there. We are trying to plan to be at the park that is open the longest each day, but our ADR's are not allowing for that. I'm wondering what peoples' experiences are as far as staying at the parks till or past the "official" closing time. Do the parks gradually shut down at the stated closing time, e.g., you have some leeway and can stay a little longer, or is there a concerted effort by Disney to shoo you out of the park as fast as possible?

 

[ajleone]

The rides don't allow anyone in past closing time and most of the shops are the same, however they don't just kick you out. We've had some lovely strolls around the lake in EPCOT after closing, Very peaceful.

 

[Traveliz]

The lines to the attractions close at the park closing time so if you are in line for something you can still ride it. You can't walk further back into the park as CMs will be positioned in areas to keep you from going farther back into the park but they won't hurry you out the front either.

Stores closer to the front of the parks remain open for awhile (half hour to an hour) past park closing.

If you have an ADR for park closing that is fine too - you will leave after others have left.

Hope that helps.

Liz

 

[pwmitch237]

Nope. I've stayed after the official closing up to an hour, and I've known of people who've stayed longer.

Also, if that were the case, then no one would be able to stay for Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, Wishes or Fantasmic!

All people who are in a line for an attraction at the official park closing are allowed to ride the attraction, and most shops stay open, however, no one else is allowed to join the queue for an attraction.

 

[lpizzuro123]

Not sure what your dates are, but end of October in the MK the park is probably closing for a MNSSHP. On these nights the park closes at 7:00 and you can only stay if you have a ticket for the party.

Linda

 

[squirrel]

My niece and I stayed well past park close on an EMH. We really took our time.

We weren't going to the parks later that day, so I decided to take photos. The park was empty when we left. We saw a few CM's. We saw the goodnight kiss. We had a bus to ourselves back to the resort.

 

[Planogirl]

I've watched how the CM's usually handle clearing out MK. They gradually shepherd people from the back of the park to the front. You can get a few snacks on Main Street for a while and we have often shopped in the Emporium well past closing time. Shops towards the front of all of the parks tend to stay open later.

 

[POOHsie]

I agree you can't linger at MK if it is a party night, such as MNSSHP or MVMCP. That would be a reason MK would be closing at 7 pm. If you don't have a party wristband, you will be funneled to the front gate with no stopping for souvenirs on Main St.

I think DHS closing at 7 is regular, except Fantasmic! nights. AK closes at 5 because it gets dark and the animals retire for the night.

The parks have patrons at their sit-down restaurants at closing, and they are not hurried out the door. Others may be in line for a ride at park closing, and will be allowed to ride. Still others stop for an ice cream or souvenir after closing (in shops closer to the front gate) and this is certainly welcomed. So there are reasons why guests will be at parks after closing, with no particular push to get them out.

For AK and DHS early close hours, we use our Park Hoppers to go over to MK or Epcot and really fill out our day. Or we will use the spare evening for a trip to DTD or mini-golf.

 

[smitch425]

Not sure what your dates are, but end of October in the MK the park is probably closing for a MNSSHP. On these nights the park closes at 7:00 and you can only stay if you have a ticket for the party.

Linda

If you have a late ADR on a party night, but do not have a party ticket, you will be ESCORTED by a CM to the gate after you finish your meal (you will NOT be rushed through your meal, so no worries there).

Also, once 7pm hits on a party night, you cannot purchase ANY food or merchandise without a party ticket. CMs will be EVERYWHERE checking for wristbands, so if you are at MK on a party night be sure to get any and all souvenirs/treats BEFORE 7pm.

 

[snoope]

FYI the September hours for HS have been extended (not yet official) until 9pm. The lastest rumor is that the same may occur for October as well.

 

[sewingmolly]

One of the many things we like about Disney - a soft gentle closing, no announcements that the park is closing in x minutes. We enjoy shopping after the parks close. It allows us to maximize our time while the attractions are open and then avoid the transportation lines at closing.

 

[AndyFL]

I've watched how the CM's usually handle clearing out MK. They gradually shepherd people from the back of the park to the front. You can get a few snacks on Main Street for a while and we have often shopped in the Emporium well past closing time. Shops towards the front of all of the parks tend to stay open later.

The CMs ARE good at it aren't they Epcot tends to be just a little more "pushy" when the park closes but in a very gentle way. We decided to walk around the world showcase after Illuminations one night and took some pics along the way, about halfway around we encountered a couple CMs who asked where we were staying and we said the BC. They smiled and said "GREAT" they then "informed us" that the best route was to turn around and proceed to the Int Gateway......one of the CMs was even nice enough to walk with us to make sure we didn't "get lost"

 

[LBIJim]

One of the many things we like about Disney - a soft gentle closing, no announcements that the park is closing in x minutes. We enjoy shopping after the parks close. It allows us to maximize our time while the attractions are open and then avoid the transportation lines at closing.

It's not just Disney. I've never experienced ANY theme park having an announcement that the park will be closing in x minutes. Most parks allow entrance to attractions until the official closing time, although some do close the lines early for certain popluar attractions like roller coasters. And almost all leave some shops near the exit open for a while.

Jim

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

FYI the September hours for HS have been extended (not yet official) until 9pm. The lastest rumor is that the same may occur for October as well.

Its on Disney's calendar today.

 

[sashalovesyou]

Also if you are on the boardwalk at epcot closing, and you need to catch a bus back to your resort just tell the cm and they will look at your kttw cards and then let you through. FYI its really hard to walk against the crowd during closing.

 

[lpizzuro123]

If you have a late ADR on a party night, but do not have a party ticket, you will be ESCORTED by a CM to the gate after you finish your meal (you will NOT be rushed through your meal, so no worries there).

Also, once 7pm hits on a party night, you cannot purchase ANY food or merchandise without a party ticket. CMs will be EVERYWHERE checking for wristbands, so if you are at MK on a party night be sure to get any and all souvenirs/treats BEFORE 7pm.

It's been a few years since we made any ADR's on party nights but I remember a few years ago you could not make a late ADR on a party night unless you had already purchased a party ticket. I remember purchasing a ticket to MVMCP and wanted to make ADR's for the same night in the MK and I needed to purchase the tickets prior to making the ADR's. This was at least 8 years ago. When we go to parties now we just eat at CS locations - we don't want to take time up from the party.

Linda

 

[ransom]

It seems to depend. We've always strolled out of each park after closing...no rush. Enjoy the remaining sights and sounds. We've never been the last ones out of the park (or anything close to that), but we don't feel the need to rush to get in line for the buses.

However, the year we brought my elderly parents to WDW, we were pressured to get out of Epcot as quickly as possible. My parents needed to take a short break on a bench after standing for Illuminations, but the CMs would have none of it. We were told we needed to clear the area immediately or security would be called. Keep in mind this was immediately after Illuminations, and we were on the benches over near Test Track. Plenty of people were streaming out. Gently explaining to the CM that we just needed to rest for a few minutes did no good. My parents felt embarrassed, so we just left.

Otherwise, though, we've always been allowed to linger a bit after park closing at all four parks.

 

[AnthonyJPreston]

.

 

[pooch]

that, although you (and I) are on vacation, the CMs are working. I am not suggesting running out the exit but lets be kind to all the CMs who work so hard to make our time at WDW magical and, no, I'm not a CM. They have to stay til we all get out. Imagine if your business closed at 9PM. You've been there since noon, probably in the heat, catering to tens of thousands of people. Now they are all enjoying a lovely stroll, snack, people watching on a bench, while you just want to go home & rest your tired feet! So let's try to strike a reasonable balance here folks! IMHO staying "several hours" after closing is NOT very nice.

 

[Finiamh]

Basically they don't kick you right out. But the longer you hang around the more you will notice Manager type Cast Memebers with their trash grabber claws and Security guards giving you a vibe that gets stronger and stronger.

They never say anything, but you can just feel the "Get out please" coming from them especially after the stores empty out.

I hung around MK for a while to get empty Main Street pics at night once or twice.