I always recommend people to go on an insanely popular ride right before closing during the times in which shows are happening. As most people will be either watching the shows, or have gone for the evening. That's personally what I do rather than going for EE, or "the rope drop". For example, FoP can still be a 2-3 hour wait at AK and I've done this twice. I always get in line before the park is officially closed and never denied. First time I was able to do it within 45 minutes, the second time a little over an hour. That's including wait time and two pre-shows.
While obviously AK and IoA are different parks all together. I do not see them closing the ride prior to the official closing. I never had that experience at USF/IoA. Unless someone can protest differently in a more recent event?