How late at night do the parks become almost empty?

[back2disney]

like beginning of the day in the summertime if the parks close at 12am or 11pm.

For Fantasyland and the Fast pass rides

10pm or 9pm?

Thanks

 

[csjordan]

like beginning of the day in the summertime if the parks close at 12am or 11pm.

For Fantasyland and the Fast pass rides

10pm or 9pm?

Thanks

We just recently returned from Spring Break trip (3/31-4/6). We closed down Magic Kingdom on 4/2 at 1 am. There were still plenty of people there. At 11pm, there was still a 70 minute wait for Space Mountain, and a long line for Splash. Between 11 and 1 am, we were able to ride Dumbo, IASW, Pooh, Barnstormer, Splash Mountain (after 12 am was a walk on) and Big Thunder (although we had fast passed that one...was still a line at this one at 12:20 am).

 

[Stitch35]

In the summer, we've found after the firework the crowds dwindle a lot, so about 9:30pm-midnight, with 11pm-midnight being quite empty. Early mornings are also less crowded until about 10am, but not as empty as late night.

 

[lalasmama]

In my experience, it can still be quite busy up to closing time... and it's not uncommon to see people popping into lines 2 minutes before "closing" time to get on one last ride. I've seen Star Tours still have a long, long line at closing time. They then allow people to shop for another hour past closing time. So, this is all a long way of saying, "Don't count on being able to bust out a bunch of rides at the last hour of the day because of low crowds." Better bet to use early morning hours. People are usually willing to stay up past bed time at Disneyland, but much fewer people are willing to get up to an early alarm!

 

[disneychrista]

About 30 mins after closing is when it will become "almost empty."
Unless it is really bad (rainy) weather, there will be quite a lot of people up until closing.

 

[flightdave82]

We just recently returned from Spring Break trip (3/31-4/6). We closed down Magic Kingdom on 4/2 at 1 am. There were still plenty of people there. At 11pm, there was still a 70 minute wait for Space Mountain, and a long line for Splash. Between 11 and 1 am, we were able to ride Dumbo, IASW, Pooh, Barnstormer, Splash Mountain (after 12 am was a walk on) and Big Thunder (although we had fast passed that one...was still a line at this one at 12:20 am).

How were you able to ride Big thunder? Isn't under a long refurb?

 

[disneychrista]

How were you able to ride Big thunder? Isn't under a long refurb?

Because they were at the Magic Kingdom, in Florida/WDW. Barnstormer was the giveaway for me.

 

[Cinderpamela]

How were you able to ride Big thunder? Isn't under a long refurb?

If you note they said "Magic Kingdom"... so I would venture to guess it was a WDW poster not noticing they were on the DL board. It happens every once in a while when folks use the "most recent posts" options to browse the DIS... just my best guess...

 

[flightdave82]

good catch! I read right over that lol

 

[Pinup Mommy]

Last summer it was usually around 10:30 or 11:00....

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Because they were at the Magic Kingdom, in Florida/WDW. Barnstormer was the giveaway for me.

Even so, I'm thinking in my experience at least that applies to Disneyland, too. The parks stay open late during busy days/seasons, so they're usually crowded right up until closing. They are *less* crowded from the fireworks until closing, certainly, but they're still crowded. Getting in line for a headliner right before 10/11/midnight (whenever the park is closing that night) can still net you a wait of 30-45 minutes. (See: Peter Pan or Space!) When you get off that last, post-closing ride, though, there's your empty park!

 

[Congo Queen]

I was there second week of August last summer and was in the parks until closing time several nights. I would say that it was never "almost empty." Even at 11pm there were many visitors and lines were substantial for e-tickets like IJ and ST. BTMRR had shorter lines but still it was not a walk on. The shops on Main Street were nuts and plenty of people waiting in line at the Jolly Holiday Bakery.

 

[disneychrista]

Even so, I'm thinking in my experience at least that applies to Disneyland, too.

Yes it does. My response was solely in response to riding BTMRR, which is currently closed for an extended refirb at DL.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Yes it does. My response was solely in response to riding BTMRR, which is currently closed for an extended refirb at DL.

Oh, sorry!

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

We usually go in the fall, but I have to agree that the parks rarely do reach "almost empty". The thing to remember is that aside from vacationers, there are also quite a few locals who visit the parks at night. Things do tend to slow down, particularly after the fireworks, but I've never seen it empty out.

Wish it did!

 

[back2disney]

I was there second week of August last summer and was in the parks until closing time several nights. I would say that it was never "almost empty." Even at 11pm there were many visitors and lines were substantial for e-tickets like IJ and ST. BTMRR had shorter lines but still it was not a walk on. The shops on Main Street were nuts and plenty of people waiting in line at the Jolly Holiday Bakery.

So Congo Queen, would your strategy be then just go in the morning and stay until you can't handle the crowds and have done the fast load/no wait attractions and then not come back after dinner so that you could do the same open up the parks in the morning more refreshed?

I have seen people post leave and then come back, but I wasn't sure on the comeback time part, especially since that would mean less sleep overnight even if made up with daytime naps. Last time I was at Disneyland was off-season so I didn't have to plan.

 

[23bw]

We usually go during peak times when the park closes at 12:00am. On those days, I noticed the crowds really thin out after 11:30pm.

It's really a magical time when you stroll through the park. It's a quite time when to reflect on what you've accomplished during the day already. It's also the time to feel a little greedy by getting in a few last rides.

 

[Niebz]

We are mostly summer visitors so we come when the parks are open till 12. We are not morning people so we never make rope drop but we close out the parks every night and have a lot of experience doing so. While they aren't necessarily empty the lines do get shorter for many of the rides. We follow pretty much the same routine every night watching the second Fantasmic and hitting rides from 11 pm until closing. It's amazing how much you can get done in this time. We ride Pirates while the Fantasmic crowds clear out with little to no wait. Then we usually head over to Fantasyland for what we call our dark ride dash - cheesy I know LOL. We can hit most of the rides in Fantasyland at this time with very little wait. Every night at 11:55 we finish our day by getting in line Peter Pan which usually ends up being about a 15 minute wait. Then, just enough time to make it to Main Street for a late night snack (the food places on Main street usually close at 12:30). So yeah, that's our nighttime routine. Hope that helps.

 

[Eeee-va]

Sunday nights sometimes get close to empty as midnight draws near--many of those locals who visit the park that day (and some non-locals) have to be back to work on Monday.

If there are no fireworks but the park is open late (like 11 PM), Toontown seems to stay open--at least it did on Friday, 11/2/12--and is practically empty, except for Mickey's House. The house was also practically empty, but the meet had a line that was very slow to move.

Certain areas of the park can get close to empty, but the headliners will have a line...if you're lucky it may be a small line, but a line. After closing is really when the park is empty empty.

I've never been to DCA for a super-late closing (I think 10 PM was the latest). But of course the wrong side of Paradise Pier (and much of the park) is practically empty during a 10:15 World of Color. Last trip I hung out there a bit after the show, to wait for the crowds to vanish, then slowly made my way back to the front of the park. It was practically empty by the time I finally left.

Even Cars Land did get LESS crowded as the 10 PM close drew near, and I'll bet Grizzly River Run would've been nearly empty! But the park was pretty much going until official park close.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Sunday nights sometimes get close to empty as midnight draws near--many of those locals who visit the park that day (and some non-locals) have to be back to work on Monday.

...

I've never been to DCA for a super-late closing (I think 10 PM was the latest). But of course the wrong side of Paradise Pier (and much of the park) is practically empty during a 10:15 World of Color. Last trip I hung out there a bit after the show, to wait for the crowds to vanish, then slowly made my way back to the front of the park. It was practically empty by the time I finally left.

Even Cars Land did get LESS crowded as the 10 PM close drew near, and I'll bet Grizzly River Run would've been nearly empty! But the park was pretty much going until official park close.

I agree with the part about Sunday nights. So many people are ending their stay, whether to drive/fly back home or to rest up to catch an early Monday flight that Sunday nights are really nice in the parks.
For Vets Day Weekend in 2012 DCA was open until 11pm on Fri and Sat, 10pm on Sun. We spent more time in DCA than in DL, mainly because of CL, the only reason we came to DLR rather than the closer-to-us WDW. We shut CL and DCA down at least half a dozen times in our two-week stay, and it was always awesome. So many people do CL in the morning first thing, or even if they come at night, they come at dusk to see the lighting and then go. So, after 8pm, or whenever WOC starts showing, it was a breeze to get our food at Flo's or get on LFT or MJJ (or shop without bumping into other people in the tight little stores in CL). RSR still had plenty of line, though, even if a goodly bit shorter than during the day. It was also a great time to get PP shots with fewer strangers cluttering them up. Elsewhere in the park, things like the Beast's Library and Ursula's Grotto have no waiting and can be fun to explore.