Entering a park before closing?

[;-)]

Just curious because I’m toying around with the plans a little bit. This Sunday 8/12, we have dinner at 6pm in Epcot, then I was thinking if staying for illuminations at 9pm, then booking it to HS to check out Toy story land, to see it all lit up at night. HS closes at 10:30pm. How late up until closing do they let you in? Was thinking of walking? Thoughts?

 

[DavidNYC]

I've walked in almost right at closing. Never heard of anyone turned away at gates prior to official closing time.

 

[summerskye]

Just curious because I’m toying around with the plans a little bit. This Sunday 8/12, we have dinner at 6pm in Epcot, then I was thinking if staying for illuminations at 9pm, then booking it to HS to check out Toy story land, to see it all lit up at night. HS closes at 10:30pm. How late up until closing do they let you in? Was thinking of walking? Thoughts?

If you get there with enough time to walk back to TSL, you could still get in line for 1 of the rides before the official closing time. This way you could get to ride something as well. As long as you get in line by 10:29 you are good to go. The wait time seems to be inflated at the end of the night to discourage late night riders...

 

[;-)]

I've walked in almost right at closing. Never heard of anyone turned away at gates prior to official closing time.

Ok great. Just didn’t know if there was a cut off to letting people in when people are supposed to be leaving..thank u!!

 

[;-)]

If you get there with enough time to walk back to TSL, you could still get in line for 1 of the rides before the official closing time. This way you could get to ride something as well. As long as you get in line by 10:29 you are good to go. The wait time seems to be inflated at the end of the night to discourage late night riders...

Wow great to know, thanks!!

 

[BrianL]

I wouldn't try to cut it too close, like within 1 minute or so, just because clocks can be different, but generally, yeah, you can enter right up until close.

 

[summerskye]

I wouldn't try to cut it too close, like within 1 minute or so, just because clocks can be different, but generally, yeah, you can enter right up until close.

Good point. It seems my watch is always ahead of Disney time in the morning. But, it is always behind come the end of the night.

 

[;-)]

Oh I’m too neurotic to cut it within minutes—lol. If we watched illuminations near the international gateway entrance, then left out international gateway as soon as it ended, and either walk to HS or catch the friendship boat. I think illuminations goes for about 20mins or so...so I’m thinking I could get to HS by 10pm maybe?

 

[BrianL]

Oh I’m too neurotic to cut it within minutes—lol. If we watched illuminations near the international gateway entrance, then left out international gateway as soon as it ended, and either walk to HS or catch the friendship boat. I think illuminations goes for about 20mins or so...so I’m thinking I could get to HS by 10pm maybe?

Oh yeah, you'll be good. Walking will be faster than the boats. They have to stop at three resorts and they will be crowded just after Illuminations. Study the map and take the shortcut through Boardwalk to save more time. Also note tha tthe path through the HS parking lot has been rerouted due to Skyliner construction, so that adds a little bit of distance. If you are strong walkers, you'll be fine.

 

[Robo]

Good point. It seems my watch is always ahead of Disney time in the morning. But, it is always behind come the end of the night.

Disney's clocks are locked to exact "national time."
(You can simply log onto https://time.is (set the window to "Eastern Time") and you will be on the same time as Disney (and, really anyplace that needs accurate exact time.)

I lock my watch to this time and can count down, to the second, the start-times of
the evening spectaculars.

 

[;-)]

Oh yeah, you'll be good. Walking will be faster than the boats. They have to stop at three resorts and they will be crowded just after Illuminations. Study the map and take the shortcut through Boardwalk to save more time. Also note tha tthe path through the HS parking lot has been rerouted due to Skyliner construction, so that adds a little bit of distance. If you are strong walkers, you'll be fine.

Oh ok I didn’t take into account construction! Do you know where I’d find an updated map I could glance at to get us there in walking?

 

[Robo]

Oh ok I didn’t take into account construction! Do you know where I’d find an updated map I could glance at to get us there in walking?

Just walk along the path, you can't go astray.
There is only one way to go, and they direct you via that route.

I didn't make a new map yet, as it it not "different enough" to matter.
(They will soon be changing the new area, anyway.)

Here's the overall area.

 

[BrianL]

Oh ok I didn’t take into account construction! Do you know where I’d find an updated map I could glance at to get us there in walking?

Robo should take this one, but here's the link to his HS maps:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/maps-of-wdw-by-robo-65-maps-more.3545729/#post-56460953

You can see on the walkway one the location of the shortcut through Boardwalk (I believe you go up the stairs that are inset into the central area). The construction is just in the HS parking lot and I'm sure the route will be obvious. It just doesn't hug the lake anymore so it adds a few more steps.

EDIT: ^ And there's Robo of course. Check out his maps thread for lots of great info.

 

[Robo]

Robo should take this one, but here's the link to his HS maps:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/maps-of-wdw-by-robo-65-maps-more.3545729/#post-56460953

1. You can see on the walkway one the location of the shortcut through Boardwalk

2. (I believe you go up the stairs that are inset into the central area).

1. Epcot IG to DHS via Boardwalk Pool CU

2. Nope. No need to go up any stairs.

 

[Robo]

The construction is just in the HS parking lot and I'm sure the route will be obvious. It just doesn't hug the lake anymore so it adds a few more steps.

The image below is from another source (not mine.)
But, from this angle, it's difficult for someone not familiar with the DHS parking and bus lot to figure exactly WHERE it fits in. And, it's going to CHANGE again before, well, who knows when?

https://www.disboards.com/attachments/djep6grvaaazlsy-jpg.340615/

But, to it I just added my own overlay of the former original path (magenta) and the
current (and temporary) re-routed path (cyan) that goes via the new section of
bus terminals. (Again, this will change as the construction completes newer additions
for more buses.
(Top of map below faces SOUTH.)


And, again below, the overall pathway map.
(The photo of the rerouted section is located in the lowest area of the
magenta path on the map below, opposite side of the lake from the DHS boat dock.)

(Top of map below faces NORTH.)

 

[summerskye]

Oh I’m too neurotic to cut it within minutes—lol. If we watched illuminations near the international gateway entrance, then left out international gateway as soon as it ended, and either walk to HS or catch the friendship boat. I think illuminations goes for about 20mins or so...so I’m thinking I could get to HS by 10pm maybe?

I think your estimate looks good. You could make it back to TSL in plenty of time. Even if you just want to look around, you would be fine. It's not like they start shooting if you're not at the exit at 10:30. I have read many people start heading out within 30 minutes of closing.

 

[BrianL]

1. Epcot IG to DHS via Boardwalk Pool CU

2. Nope. No need to go up any stairs.

Ah, see, I tried this once, but I went up the stairs at the back of that courtyard and by the main building and walked toward the parking lot, turning right back toward the path. It worked, but I think your way looks easier.

 

[summerskye]

Disney's clocks are locked to exact "national time."
(You can simply log onto https://time.is (set the window to "Eastern Time") and you will be on the same time as Disney (and, really anyplace that needs accurate exact time.)

I lock my watch to this time and can count down, to the second, the start-times of
the evening spectaculars.

Well like I said, it "seems" ...

Time seems to fly by when I am on vacation...

 

[yulilin3]

Ah, see, I tried this once, but I went up the stairs at the back of that courtyard and by the main building and walked toward the parking lot, turning right back toward the path. It worked, but I think your way looks easier.

You cut through the boardwalk gym and art store, walk past the main pool and make a left towards dhs.

 

[WEDWDW]

If you watch ROE from the English Channel Bridge and,as soon as the last fireworks go off, SPEED WALK out the IG and to the Friendship Dock,you "should" make it on the first "Post-ROE Boat"(they have a Friendship waiting at the Dock at the end of ROE).

You have to be QUICK because the first Post ROE Boat doesn't "tarry".

If you do miss it,keep those feet moving and "enjoy" the "short,fun end-of-the-day I"m not tired walk" to DHS!lol