Getting in a queue line right before closing at a park.

[Number Six]

My first thought is to ask you what your "or what" would be if they don't tell you the time.

On the basis of a 7 day base ticket and assuming the park is open 8:00 am to 10:0pm. If they closed the line 10 minutes early the financial impact to you is $0.67, 67 cents. So what would you want for that 67 cents? They haven't ripped you off in any way cause you've had 13 hrs and 50 minutes to enjoy the park.

For me, if I'm cutting it that close its my problem for not planning better and I've had lots of opportunity to get to the rides. Besides, I still get all the enjoyment of walking out enjoying the sights and checking on the shops which is worth a lot more than 67 cents. And likely not all attractions have closed early so do something else.

Still trying to figure out what the "or else" is.

I would stop by customer relations on the way out and nicely ask why their stuff closed earlier then what they advertise. How much earlier makes no difference, so your math is nice but misses the point. And I'm a darn good planner by the way but thanks for the inference.

 

[nimbuscat]

Honest question...I saw someone above mention character meets as exceptions to the "rule" about getting in line just before closing. We have 7:05 Akershus dinner--I figure worst case scenario, we'll leave by 8:30. Epcot closes at 9 that night. Will we have trouble joining the queue to meet Anna and Elsa at that time? Judging by the recent wait times, I expect the line to be pretty short that time of night, but it's the only point in our schedule that it makes sense to meet them. Thoughts? Will we be ok if we are in line by say, 8:40?

 

[Number Six]

Honest question...I saw someone above mention character meets as exceptions to the "rule" about getting in line just before closing. We have 7:05 Akershus dinner--I figure worst case scenario, we'll leave by 8:30. Epcot closes at 9 that night. Will we have trouble joining the queue to meet Anna and Elsa at that time? Judging by the recent wait times, I expect the line to be pretty short that time of night, but it's the only point in our schedule that it makes sense to meet them. Thoughts? Will we be ok if we are in line by say, 8:40?

You are probably okay but there isn't any way to know until you get there. Good luck!!!

 

[glvsav37]

related, but off topic question.

What about transportation? Say you did get in that 45 minute line for Space Mtn right at park close. So you have the wait, plus the ride, then some slow meandering out of the park....how late past close does the transportation run? Buses, monorails and boats? Do you risk missing your ride home (back to the resort)?

 

[Disneylover99]

related, but off topic question.

What about transportation? Say you did get in that 45 minute line for Space Mtn right at park close. So you have the wait, plus the ride, then some slow meandering out of the park....how late past close does the transportation run? Buses, monorails and boats? Do you risk missing your ride home (back to the resort)?

A bus will always be dispatched to take you to your resort, even if you're the last person out of the park.

 

[whiporee]

Just because I'm trying to get my money's worth doesn't mean I'll complain about an employee's attitude. Get off your high horse chum.

My horse is pretty comfy, thanks. Makes it easier to wag my fingers at those of whose behavior I disapprove.

I know everyone has the right to do it, and Disney won't stop you. But as one is trying to find reasons to scheme, one might perhaps think of the consequences to other people. And for all the complaints people have here about CMs being less than glowing, of Disney nickel-and-diming them, or WDW not living up to Walt's dream, it never ceases to amaze how quick we are to find a way to take advantage, even if it's a little thing like getting in a line 5 minutes before the park's stated closing hours. Rudeness breeds rudeness, wanting to take advantage breed to wanting to take advantage. Maybe this is all the Golden Rule going both ways, and it may be acceptable, but you can't blame someone who finds it a little distasteful.

Or folks may be cool with it. That's fine, too, but there is another side.

 

[Number Six]

Disney tries to take advantage of its customers by squeezing out every last coin, customers try to take advantage of Disney by squeezing out every last minute. I got no problem with either, that's the business-customer relationship.

 

[Disneylover99]

My horse is pretty comfy, thanks. Makes it easier to wag my fingers at those of whose behavior I disapprove.

I know everyone has the right to do it, and Disney won't stop you. But as one is trying to find reasons to scheme, one might perhaps think of the consequences to other people. And for all the complaints people have here about CMs being less than glowing, of Disney nickel-and-diming them, or WDW not living up to Walt's dream, it never ceases to amaze how quick we are to find a way to take advantage, even if it's a little thing like getting in a line 5 minutes before the park's stated closing hours. Rudeness breeds rudeness, wanting to take advantage breed to wanting to take advantage. Maybe this is all the Golden Rule going both ways, and it may be acceptable, but you can't blame someone who finds it a little distasteful.

Or folks may be cool with it. That's fine, too, but there is another side.

I don't think there is anything wrong with getting into a line that's open, no matter what time it is. I've been at closing a few times. Most CM's I've encountered have even encouraged us to walk faster through a queue so that we could ride more then once.

 

[DWeav]

My horse is pretty comfy, thanks. Makes it easier to wag my fingers at those of whose behavior I disapprove.

I know everyone has the right to do it, and Disney won't stop you. But as one is trying to find reasons to scheme, one might perhaps think of the consequences to other people. And for all the complaints people have here about CMs being less than glowing, of Disney nickel-and-diming them, or WDW not living up to Walt's dream, it never ceases to amaze how quick we are to find a way to take advantage, even if it's a little thing like getting in a line 5 minutes before the park's stated closing hours. Rudeness breeds rudeness, wanting to take advantage breed to wanting to take advantage. Maybe this is all the Golden Rule going both ways, and it may be acceptable, but you can't blame someone who finds it a little distasteful.

Or folks may be cool with it. That's fine, too, but there is another side.

I'd read some of your other posts and you ALWAYS seem to show us the other side, Mr. Perfect. You also made it a point to belittle the person telling you to watch your step when exiting Peter Pan in another topic. So you don't seem to care about people that are doing less important jobs at Disney anyway, so why do you care if they work another 10 minutes. It's not like they don't already expect to be working after the park closes, right? And it's also not like they are not getting paid working after closing time, right? They know what the job entails, and me and whoever else gets in line should not affect their expectations for their closing time. But keep lecturing away...

 

[Delirium]

My horse is pretty comfy, thanks. Makes it easier to wag my fingers at those of whose behavior I disapprove.

I know everyone has the right to do it, and Disney won't stop you. But as one is trying to find reasons to scheme, one might perhaps think of the consequences to other people. And for all the complaints people have here about CMs being less than glowing, of Disney nickel-and-diming them, or WDW not living up to Walt's dream, it never ceases to amaze how quick we are to find a way to take advantage, even if it's a little thing like getting in a line 5 minutes before the park's stated closing hours. Rudeness breeds rudeness, wanting to take advantage breed to wanting to take advantage. Maybe this is all the Golden Rule going both ways, and it may be acceptable, but you can't blame someone who finds it a little distasteful.

Or folks may be cool with it. That's fine, too, but there is another side.

Do you approve me to stay 15 minutes past park closing to ride the Haunted Mansion if Disney seats me 15 minutes late for my ADR at my BOG dinner? After all, they took away 15 minutes from my day.

 

[whiporee]

I'd read some of your other posts and you ALWAYS seem to show us the other side, Mr. Perfect. You also made it a point to belittle the person telling you to watch your step when exiting Peter Pan in another topic. So you don't seem to care about people that are doing less important jobs at Disney anyway, so why do you care if they work another 10 minutes. It's not like they don't already expect to be working after the park closes, right? And it's also not like they are not getting paid working after closing time, right? They know what the job entails, and me and whoever else gets in line should not affect their expectations for their closing time. But keep lecturing away...

I don't think i belittled them, I just said I didn't think Disney was somehow immoral for not paying them more than minimum wage for that job. I still don't. I think the fact they aren't making more much than minimum wage should make people more considerate of their time, or keeping them late.

And, like I said, it's clearly acceptable and common practice. I just think it's the kind of thing that feels wrong to gloat about, or scheme for, or go out of one's way to do. So I'll ask you -- do you think it's the RIGHT thing to do? Knowing that someone else is having to stay late because you want to get in a line you know won't get through before the park closes, do you think that's the RIGHT thing to be doing? Even if you can, even if Disney doesn't stop you, even if you think Disney is ripping you off, do you think that's the way you'd want to be treated, that someone actively plans to disregard you in order to get what they want?

If you do, you're clearly not alone. It's a theme park and an expensive one and everyone wants to maximize their experience. I really do get it, just like I get line holders and multi-MB wearers and the people who climb over the seats instead of the walkway when leaving Fantasmic. It's something that's not going to change, no matter what I think. But I do think it's worth pointing out that any of those behaviors requires others to make sacrifices, or be inconvenienced, and I don't believe others should have to make sacrifices for me. That's where I'm coming from.

Mr. Perfect is a cool nickname, though. Thanks for giving it to me.

 

[whiporee]

Do you approve me to stay 15 minutes past park closing to ride the Haunted Mansion if Disney seats me 15 minutes late for my ADR at my BOG dinner? After all, they took away 15 minutes from my day.

I don't know. Do you think they intentionally didn't seat you, or they just didn't have seats? ADR delays suck, but they're more a function of people staying longer than Disney expected to turn the tables than actual malice. Maybe they should think people will eat longer than they do, but table-turning is a problem at any restaurant, and its magnified at places as large as WDW character venues.

But what does the BOG staff has to do with the Haunted Mansion CM? Disney doesn't suffer any of these things, the specific CMS do.

So to answer your question, do I think it's cool? No. Would I give you crap for it if you were my brother? Probably. Beyond that, we all let our consciences be our guides.

 

[DWeav]

I don't think i belittled them, I just said I didn't think Disney was somehow immoral for not paying them more than minimum wage for that job. I still don't. I think the fact they aren't making more much than minimum wage should make people more considerate of their time, or keeping them late.

And, like I said, it's clearly acceptable and common practice. I just think it's the kind of thing that feels wrong to gloat about, or scheme for, or go out of one's way to do. So I'll ask you -- do you think it's the RIGHT thing to do? Knowing that someone else is having to stay late because you want to get in a line you know won't get through before the park closes, do you think that's the RIGHT thing to be doing? Even if you can, even if Disney doesn't stop you, even if you think Disney is ripping you off, do you think that's the way you'd want to be treated, that someone actively plans to disregard you in order to get what they want?

If you do, you're clearly not alone. It's a theme park and an expensive one and everyone wants to maximize their experience. I really do get it, just like I get line holders and multi-MB wearers and the people who climb over the seats instead of the walkway when leaving Fantasmic. It's something that's not going to change, no matter what I think. But I do think it's worth pointing out that any of those behaviors requires others to make sacrifices, or be inconvenienced, and I don't believe others should have to make sacrifices for me. That's where I'm coming from.

Mr. Perfect is a cool nickname, though. Thanks for giving it to me.

Lol, you're welcome. Again, the park is open year round, the CMs for sure know which rides they will be spending a little more time working at after close time opposed to cleaning towards Main Street. This is an every night occurrence and expected. Do I think it's ok? Certainly do. The park is open, I get in an open line for an open ride. They get paid for their entire shift, which doesn't end at closing time. Disney already expects them to work after close, just like a clerk working at one of the stores in the park is expected to work well after a "closing time." The CMs already expect to work after closing.

People getting in a line doesn't create a longer shift for the employee when it's already expected.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Am I right that I've read that at no matter what park you are at, as long as you enter a queue line for a ride before official closing, you'll get to ride that ride?

For instance, if Magic Kingdom closes at 11 PM, and I get in line for Space Mountain or 7 Dwarfs at 10:50 PM, I'll be able to ride no matter what time I finally get to the front of the line? I'm guessing they just close the lines at closing time?

Thanks!

Yep, you can do that. I've walked into lines one minute before close before. As far as the Mine train goes, once the park gets closer to closing time the line moves much more quickly because of the lack of fast passes being used.

 

[StuckInKS]

For the most part, yes. We have gotten in lines at one-minute till close, especially 7 DMT. We always ask if we have time to get in if its 5 minutes or less till close and most say yes. We did see one instance as we were walking out of Epcot past Spaceship Earth where the CM closed the line off 5 minutes early, even though people were walking up. She waved a few people in and then closed it on everyone else. One guy tried to plead with her that it was his first trip, but she was having none of it.

 

[Jonas_Swe]

Am I right that I've read that at no matter what park you are at, as long as you enter a queue line for a ride before official closing, you'll get to ride that ride?

For instance, if Magic Kingdom closes at 11 PM, and I get in line for Space Mountain or 7 Dwarfs at 10:50 PM, I'll be able to ride no matter what time I finally get to the front of the line? I'm guessing they just close the lines at closing time?

Thanks!

The CM's close the entrance to the rides and attractions, either when they are told (from the central over radio) or according to the day's schedule for that ride or attraction. And to my experience they often place a CM at the entrance too, to politely point guests towards the walkway closest to getting out of the park (i.e from Big Thunder or Splash they'll point up towards Liberty Square and not to Adventure land, since there are closed attractions in that area too, just to avoid another "disappointment" for the guest)!

The exact closing time could vary according to the amount of crowds in the park.
For example, if it's a very slow evening and no one has gone on the ride for the last 10 - 15 minutes of operation, they might just close it.

But if it's crazy busy and staff are reporting congestion at the Hub and especially up Main Street, some rides may stay open just to let the crowds thin out up to final closing time (the last thing Disney wants is a crowd "panicking"-incident due to heavy congestion at the exits under the train station out to the open turnstiles!).

But then CM's will sweep guests out, I've even seen they doing it with a rope... and people walking up Main Street like cattle!

So what it comes down to is... You can't plan in your itinerary for taking the last go, at the exact closing time for a specific ride, since it can vary for different attractions.

 

[MelissaBee]

I worked at amusement parks in college as a ride op, though not at Disney. It was clearly in our job description and expectations that the queue is open more or less till closing time barring an excessively long line (which was never the case) or a ride being down for some reason. Generally, we expected to be there for guests about 30 minutes past close and then 30 minutes to do our closing responsibilities. And yes, we were paid for it.

I imagine at Disney a few E-ticket post-closing lines would regularly exceed 30 min, especially on nights when parks close early. But I can't fathom that Disney and their employees don't understand that and take it into account when planning closing times/employee quitting times. It's just the way it works at a theme park.

In essence, no one is taking advantage of anyone by getting in line right before a park closes. That's how it works.

Personally, I LOVE riding ToT on repeat the last hour. The time of year we go, it is usually a walk-on and sometimes you're the only ones in the movie room. The CMs play that up like crazy. I've even had the CM at the entrance enthusiastically waving (in character for ToT, so more like creepy beckoning?) us back in for more rides right at closing time. And that ride takes forever to clear even if it's a walk on.

 

[Boski]

I really do get it, just like I get line holders and multi-MB wearers and the people who climb over the seats instead of the walkway when leaving Fantasmic.

I don't normally agree with your posts but this one right here is such a huge bugger for me. I guess its anything with people cheating the FP system because I can't stand throwaway rooms either.

 

[Jennasis]

You can get in line right up to closing, but i suppose it depends on whose clock the CM is following?

FWIW im fine with riding rides right up to park close. However once the hour strikes, im out...no shopping or dawdling.

 

[dsdeleon]

The CMs have been nice enough to take a quick glance around as they place the ropes up so if they see us hustling they let us on. Being the last ones on feels super slick for some reason.