How long do buses run after park closing?

[nkereina]

We will be at the Boardwalk ready to go back to CSR around 9:30pm. DHS has an 8pm close that night. Would we be able to walk over there and catch a bus back to CSR at that time? I know Uber/Lyft is an option, but trying to use the best Disney transportation option. Thanks!

 

[marcyleecorgan]

They don't stop running buses until there are no guests left behind. I've heard that buses can be out and about as late as 2 am...

 

[kaytieeldr]

That',s no guest left behind in the park. The OP should be prepared with alternative transportation options.

 

[nkereina]

That',s no guest left behind in the park. The OP should be prepared with alternative transportation options.

So are you saying its typical for buses to be done with their runs within 90 minutes after closing? Just trying to gauge how long it takes a park to empty out, and generally how long buses are still around. Be it an hour, four hours, etc.

 

[FCDub]

Personally, I would plan alternative transportation (so, take an Uber/Lyft)

 

[Alesia]

So are you saying its typical for buses to be done with their runs within 90 minutes after closing? Just trying to gauge how long it takes a park to empty out, and generally how long buses are still around. Be it an hour, four hours, etc.

There is transportation until every guest is cleared from the park. That might take an hour, 90 minutes, maybe 2 hours.

In your situation, I wouldn't plan on finding a bus there when you get there.

If you really want to take disney transportation, you can transfer at Disney springs. Personally, I would pay $6 for a Lyft and save myself an hour.

 

[joelkfla]

So are you saying its typical for buses to be done with their runs within 90 minutes after closing? Just trying to gauge how long it takes a park to empty out, and generally how long buses are still around. Be it an hour, four hours, etc.

Yes, 90 minutes is a pretty good average estimate, but on low attendance days they can shut down as soon as 1 hour after closing.

As soon as the last Guest leaves a park, the bus drivers are sent home or to a different park.

 

[nkereina]

Thanks all

 

[AngiTN]

When is it you are thinking about doing this? Realize park hours are changing about a month out now.
Odds are fairly high that HS will not close at 8:00 by the time your date rolls around.
So HS may well still be a viable option for transportation.

 

[nkereina]

When is it you are thinking about doing this? Realize park hours are changing about a month out now.
Odds are fairly high that HS will not close at 8:00 by the time your date rolls around.
So HS may well still be a viable option for transportation.

Thanks for that info. It would be October, so I'll keep an eye on park hours. Thanks!

 

[huskies90]

We will be at the Boardwalk ready to go back to CSR around 9:30pm. DHS has an 8pm close that night. Would we be able to walk over there and catch a bus back to CSR at that time? I know Uber/Lyft is an option, but trying to use the best Disney transportation option. Thanks!

I think I would do an Uber/Lyft or cab rather than walk all the way to DHS to get a bus back to CSR. If you are really against that idea, another option to DHS is to take a bus from the Boardwalk to Disney Springs and transfer there.

But the in general, Even though they say buses run an hour after park closes, I have read the buses won't ever leave anyone stranded. In other words, there is always a bus that will take you where you need to go even if it is beyond the regular hours. An example:

A few years ago we walked from EPCOT to Fantasia Gardens after Illuminations. All the parks closed early that night and EPCOT was the latest park open. After playing a round of mini golf, we walked to the Swan to take a cab back to our resort - The Polynesian. As we arrived at the Swan, there was a bus pulling up with Magic Kingdom on the marquee. It was well after 11PM and The Magic Kingdom had been closed for several hours. I walked up to the bus and asked the driver if he was heading to MK and he asked me "where do you want to go." I said we were heading to the Polynesian so the Transportation and Ticket Center would be great. He said "no problem", drove us to the TTC and we walked from there to the Poly.

 

[joelkfla]

I think I would do an Uber/Lyft or cab rather than walk all the way to DHS to get a bus back to CSR. If you are really against that idea, another option to DHS is to take a bus from the Boardwalk to Disney Springs and transfer there.

But the in general, Even though they say buses run an hour after park closes, I have read the buses won't ever leave anyone stranded. In other words, there is always a bus that will take you where you need to go even if it is beyond the regular hours. An example:

A few years ago we walked from EPCOT to Fantasia Gardens after Illuminations. All the parks closed early that night and EPCOT was the latest park open. After playing a round of mini golf, we walked to the Swan to take a cab back to our resort - The Polynesian. As we arrived at the Swan, there was a bus pulling up with Magic Kingdom on the marquee. It was well after 11PM and The Magic Kingdom had been closed for several hours. I walked up to the bus and asked the driver if he was heading to MK and he asked me "where do you want to go." I said we were heading to the Polynesian so the Transportation and Ticket Center would be great. He said "no problem", drove us to the TTC and we walked from there to the Poly.

The bus had MK on the marquee because there were still Guests leaving the MK. It may have been one of the last buses from the park. The driver was probably going to TTC to put the bus to bed, so he took you along for the ride.

It is true that as long as buses are still running from a park, there will be a bus to take you anywhere that's normally served from that park, or someplace normally served by another mode that has shut down. But if you walk to a park where the buses have shut down, there will be no bus to take you anywhere, and nobody to call for one.