Getting on rides just before park closing

[krinicone]

Idk if this has been asked before, but I can’t find any info on it. So, what is the latest you can get on a ride before park closing? If the closing time is at 9:00pm, then can you get on the ride right up until 9:00pm? And is this true for all rides, like even FOP? Or does the standby line have to be less than an hour?

 

[szymcl]

I just heard a cast member at the Navi River Ride tell a person in December that they could get on FOP right before the closing time. I haven't done FOP right at closing, but I did do the Slinkey Dog Dash at 5 minutes til close...

 

[2manypets]

For the FOP ride we got in line 2 minutes before the park closed on two different nights. It was the only way to have less than an hour wait time!

 

[Klayfish]

Yes, to my knowledge you can get in line for any ride right up until actual park closing time. That's often the best way to get on rides. We often ride TSMM back to back to back from about 8:40pm until 9pm. There's literally no line.

 

[Turk February]

Yes, we get in line for a ride with a minute before closing all the time.

There are some instances when a ride is VERY popular and has a very long wait that they will close the line before park closing just so everyone isn’t there 2 hours after park closing but that’s not the norm.

 

[Disneypro1]

YES!! We almost always to to do Splash and Big Thunder right up art closing..to the minute. Love big thunder late at night and even splash is nice at night..(for the bit of time you are outside).
also, fun to be on splash during fireworks.

 

[AngiTN]

True for every ride at all the parks. Well, those operating at closing. There are a select few that may close prior to closing.
The lone exception I've seen for this was when Pandora first opened. The lines at FoP were so long they had to close the line ahead of park closing or they'd have not cleared out the queue before the park reopened the next morning. That was only an issue for a few weeks though.
Just don't cut it too close, in case your clock and their clock aren't synced up exactly. If the park closes at 9:00 and you try at 9:01, you'll be denied. If you go at 8:59, you are fine.

 

[AngiTN]

For the FOP ride we got in line 2 minutes before the park closed on two different nights. It was the only way to have less than an hour wait time!

One of the best benefits is the fact that there are no FP returnees during that time too, so the lines do move much faster

 

[mamamelody2]

Yep, we've done it with a few of the most popular rides: FoP, SDD, 7DMT. We got in line more like 10 minutes early, though, because my 12 year old was super nervous we wouldn't be let in if we waited. LOL. Works great, though!

Don't be scared off by the posted time, either. It's pretty much always inflated to discourage people from getting in line.

For instance, November 2017 when DH and I got in the 7DMT line just before closing: Guests in front of us asks CM if it's really going to be 60 minutes like the posted wait. CM looks back at line, says, "yes, it's definitely going to be the full 60 minutes." Guests turn away. We get in line because my Disboards knowledge indicates this will not be so. Wait was 20 minutes.

 

[AngiTN]

Yep, we've done it with a few of the most popular rides: FoP, SDD, 7DMT. We got in line more like 10 minutes early, though, because my 12 year old was super nervous we wouldn't be let in if we waited. LOL. Works great, though!

Don't be scared off by the posted time, either. It's pretty much always inflated to discourage people from getting in line.

For instance, November 2017 when DH and I got in the 7DMT line just before closing: Guests in front of us asks CM if it's really going to be 60 minutes like the posted wait. CM looks back at line, says, "yes, it's definitely going to be the full 60 minutes." Guests turn away. We get in line because my Disboards knowledge indicates this will not be so. Wait was 20 minutes.

Some that and some that they don't recalculate the wait to take into consideration there's no FP. That same length of line WITH FP guests, 60 min, without 20 min. I think the reason they don't recalculate it is to discourage guests from getting in line. Well, that and no one brings a red card through

 

[MainMom]

One of the best benefits is the fact that there are no FP returnees during that time too, so the lines do move much faster

What is the last available FP time?

 

[mesaboy2]

What is the last available FP time?

FPs are available during normal park hours. You may find the FP FAQ helpful.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Disney uses the same World Clock that I-Phones use, so you can plan accordingly if you have one of those. They do close the lines right on time, so you can get in line at 8:59:59 but not 9:00:00.

The lone exception that I've seen to this is Tower of Terror, where they will sometimes leave the gate open for an extra 10-15 minutes when Fantasmic is starting a half hour after closing time. We've got a couple of extra rides on several occasions before heading into the amphitheater.

Disney does have processes in place to make the lines appear longer than they really are. This plus intentionally inflated wait times are used to discourage guests from late night rides. Their preference is to get you into the gift shops before you head out to the parking lots.

Go ahead and get in line. It will be your shortest wait of the day.

 

[MainMom]

FPs are available during normal park hours. You may find the FP FAQ helpful.

Which would be why I asked what the last FP was since AngieTN said there were no FP returns during those last few minutes of regular park hours.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Which would be why I asked what the last FP was since AngieTN said there were no FP returns during those last few minutes of regular park hours.

The last FPs issued are for the final hour of operation up to closing time. Most guests like to use their passes early in the return window so there aren’t as many returnees during the latter part of the window.

Another factor working in your favor is that FPs during that final hour have the greatest likelihood of going unredeemed. A lot of guests book them then get tired and leave without using them. Even if they cancel, it’s too late for anyone else to pick them up once that final hour arrives.

That also helps make those late evening lines the shortest of the day.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

The last FPs issued are for the final hour of operation up to closing time. Most guests like to use their passes early in the return window so there aren’t as many returnees during the latter part of the window.

Another factor working in your favor is that FPs during that final hour have the greatest likelihood of going unredeemed. A lot of guests book them then get tired and leave without using them. Even if they cancel, it’s too late for anyone else to pick them up once that final hour arrives.

That also helps make those late evening lines the shortest of the day.

Have you tried picking up FPs in the final hour? Are you not able to? I know I have picked up Illuminations in the last hour but it has a return time of less than an hour. But I feel like I've gotten Soarin after 8 pm too (I could be wrong about that though).

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Have you tried picking up FPs in the final hour? Are you not able to? I know I have picked up Illuminations in the last hour but it has a return time of less than an hour. But I feel like I've gotten Soarin after 8 pm too (I could be wrong about that though).

I stop refreshing once I get to that final hour. I’ve seen FPs for the final half hour at Disneyland but not WDW.

Plus, the lines by then are generally short enough that a FP won’t add much value.

I did pick up a last minute FP for Rivers of Light this summer, but that was for a 2nd performance and the ampitheater was only about a third full.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Have you tried picking up FPs in the final hour? Are you not able to? I know I have picked up Illuminations in the last hour but it has a return time of less than an hour. But I feel like I've gotten Soarin after 8 pm too (I could be wrong about that though).

It's 8:12pm right now, Epcot closes at 9pm. I can get a FP for every open ride except Frozen and Test Track with times ranging from 8:15pm to 8:30pm. (Searched for one, for reference)

FWIW!

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

It's 8:12pm right now, Epcot closes at 9pm. I can get a FP for every ride except Frozen and Test Track with times ranging from 8:15pm to 8:30pm. (Searched for one, for reference)

Excellent. Thank you for checking.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

It's 8:12pm right now, Epcot closes at 9pm. I can get a FP for every open ride except Frozen and Test Track with times ranging from 8:15pm to 8:30pm. (Searched for one, for reference)

FWIW!

Well I learned something new today. It seems that WDW also has FPs in less than full hour increments at the end of the day.

Thanks for the heads up.