Hide out in the parks overnight

[Aardvarks]

Ok, I was wondering if guests ever tried to hide out in the parks overnight to get a second day?

With the parks being so big, how does Disney know that they have removed everyone at the end of park hours?

Just curious......I wondered if it has ever happened

 

[Disneyliscious]

If I were going to do it....I'd want stay in the Haunted Mansion....omg....that would be SO cool. I'd get hungry though,....lol

That is a good question. Im sure someone has HAD to have done it.....some college kid or something....just to see if they could.

 

[frisco]

 

[Feralpeg]

Security has some pretty big dogs. I don't think trying to hide would be a very good idea. I've seen the dogs several times. They use large German Shepherds. During the day, they are housed over where they service the train and monorails.

 

[Geeg]

In June 1973, 18-year-old Bogden Delaurot, of Brooklyn, New York, drowned while attempting to swim across the "Rivers of America". Delaurot and his 10-year-old brother stayed on the island past closing time by hiding in an area that is off-limits to guests. When they wanted to leave the island, they decided to swim across the river. Bogden carried his younger brother on his back, as the younger brother was unsure how to swim, but Bogden drowned halfway through the swim. His body was found the next morning. The younger brother was able to stay afloat by "dog paddling" until a ride operator rescued him

From Wikipedia

So it's been done in Disneyland at least - but not with very happy results.

 

[Floydian]

Well, it's not like the parks completely close at night. As mentioned, there's security, plus all kinds of CM's restocking shops, cleaning, ride maintenance, park maintenance (painting and such). So, it'd be tough, though not impossible...

And I seem to remember that story from Geeg. I'm thinking it wasn't worth it for them.

 

[Suellen]

Interesting thread.

I can't imagine you would want to .... wouldn't it kill the magic?!

 

[Alesia]

I can't imagine that it would be worth it. Surely, if you got caught, you'd be banned for life.

 

[Lynne M]

Risking arrest and a lifetime ban? To save a measly $50 bucks on a ticket? Uh, no.

 

[rosiejo]

There's a book about a group of kids who spend the night in the Magic Kingdom - I think it's called Kingom Keepers - check it out - it's a great read

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

The caves on TSI would be a fun place to camp out.

 

[nicwoodard]

This whole idea is a great "idea" for creative writing. Kind of like "Night at the Museum", but for Disney World...also like the book "From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler".

However, I TOTALLY agree that the "real life" implications of doing that wouldn't be so fun...a lifetime ban...how would you ever explain that to your kids that when you were young you did something really stupid and got a lifetime ban to Disney...

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I actually read the Kingdom Keepers book. It was EXCELLENT! It really made you feel as if you were at the park. It is definitely a must-read for that pre-teen age group......and for the "kids at heart."

 

[Traveliz]

This whole idea is a great "idea" for creative writing. Kind of like "Night at the Museum", but for Disney World...also like the book "From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler".

However, I TOTALLY agree that the "real life" implications of doing that wouldn't be so fun...a lifetime ban...how would you ever explain that to your kids that when you were young you did something really stupid and got a lifetime ban to Disney...

From the Mixed up files was my FAVORITE book when I was MUCH younger LOL - but wouldn't it be fun to imagine a night in the park!

Liz

 

[snow.white]

Oh my gosh how funny. I have always imagined what it would be like to stay overnight at the magic kingdom i didnt know there was a book about it, does anybody know where i can get these books are they available everywhere or just to purchase at Disney?

 

[nikinicoleme]

Oh my gosh how funny. I have always imagined what it would be like to stay overnight at the magic kingdom i didnt know there was a book about it, does anybody know where i can get these books are they available everywhere or just to purchase at Disney?

i just looked on Ebay for it.... They have it.

 

[disneymomofmyca]

Amazon also has the Kingdom Keepers books.

 

[DznyDreamz]

DH and I were joking about this in January.

We had got in line for Soarin just as the parks were closing. As you know, as long as you are in the queue before closing time you still ride. So it was probably 45 mins after the park officially closed. We were staying at BC so we exit through International Gateway.

We thought it would be cool to walk around World Showcase while the parks were deserted on our way back. There were security guards blocking the walkway so we couldn't get through.

That idea got us to wonder how they know when everyone is really gone from the parks. The security guards told us they man the front entrances 24/7 but I really wonder how long the guard the walkways and when they decide the park is all clear.

 

[WDWTigger72]

I would never attempt doing this not only the security with the dogs, but also they have camera's all over, including ones you don't always notice or see. How do I know this? A person I know who traveled in our large family decided they wanted a keychain out of the parks, and as soon as they exited the store security helped them along to the jail cells in the utilidors. They had to call the individuals parents because they where a teenager, and proceeded to show the family video footage to prove what happened. To say the least they where absolutley humiliated especially when they trusted this teenager to be on his own throughout the parks. Also, Security kindly informed them that they would have to not only leave the parks but the disney property they where staying at. Now as a $6.00 keychain really worth that?

There is another public incident some years ago where a security camera caught someone doing something completely illegal in an area you wouldn't expect to see a camera, won't go into details on this one but I remember reading the article some years ago on a reputable newspaper website (i.e. Boston Globe, New York Times, etc).

Also, As previously commented there is always someone in the parks whether its restocking, washing down the streets, whatever else they do over nights.

 

[goofygrl4]

Im going to share a really cool storie with you wonderful people~~!

One Magical night at MK at closing we were in the convectionary shop and my friend and I who were there for our graduation presents with our mothers, started to talk to two younger CP's. One happend to be from Wisc with family living 15 min from us. SO he walked out to main street and took pics with us and we talked for a good hour. WELL while we talked we witnessed Managers walking litterally hand in hand across ALL of main street doing the nightly "sweep" for guests and so on. The do this down every path and "road" and "street" they check EVERY bathroom and every place possible that a guest could be. It simply impossible to stay in a park once it is closed. There is so much going on after the parks are closed that you would be found. THey do all the major cleaning and refurbishing at night and thus it is lit up and CM's are all over the place!

We actually have a picture on Main st USA with it EMPTY just us and the castle THEN in like three more pictures later you can see the line of probably 35 managers hand in hand walking down main street doing the final sweep. It was really cool. THey were really nice to us. took pictures and escorted us to the front and waved us good bye as it was our last night there!

So yeah there is no staying in after hours!