In line for ride at park closing?

[mommyof2boys1girl]

This may seem a stupid question, but what happens if you are in a long line waiting for a ride when the park closes? Do they prevent people from lining up a while before closing?
We never really experienced this on our last trip, but our favorite thing was to watch the PPP over by the Fun Wheel, right at the end of the route, then hop on the Fun Wheel and have a nice, peaceful ride while watching the park empty. We got some great shots of a nearly deserted DCA from above that way.....

Could we perhaps use this same strategy to ride TSMM, or will we be turned away because it is so close to closing?

 

[DisneyMomma81]

You will not be turned away ~ as long as you're in line prior to park closing ~ 11:59pm when the park closes @ midnight for example ~ you'll ride the ride. DS and I did this for Nemo a couple years ago ~ so not worth it!

 

[aussietravellers]

We had been wanting to go on Toy Story Mania and the line was always 50+ minutes, so we thought, we will go on closing, it won't be that long then. OH how naive we were

So we went on closing time, or about a minute before and the line was still about 40 minutes long! People kept coming in after us too and I would think that was after closing. It was SO cool leaving the park, we walked back to GCH and it was like a ghost town, we did not see ANYBODY, we took photos along the way. So you can go to a ride on closing, once you are in the line they will keep the ride going until the last of the people go through the line.

 

[Raindown]

I wonder how long it takes to get everyone out of DL

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

I wonder how long it takes to get everyone out of DL

We got to do a special "after hours" event 2 years ago - we all went to Big Thunder Ranch at closing, and they kept us there for about 45 minutes while CM's swept the park to make sure it was empty.

So, my guess would be 45 mins, with encouragement. Otherwise, who knows? I love to loiter once everything empties out and see the park with no-one around!

The CM's probably curse people like me....

 

[PHXscuba]

We got in line for TSMM less than 5 minutes before closing. About 30-40 people made it into line behind us before they closed the line promptly at 6 p.m. When we got off Paradise Pier was very empty. We walked back to the Grizzly River area and exited through the GCH and ate dinner at Whitewater Snacks.

I had been careful to quiz the CMs near TSMM that we really could get in line that late so we could sneak in one more ride on Screamin'.

PHXscuba

 

[Disney Dreams]

My favorite time to ride the extremely popular rides are last thing at night. Why spend an hour in line when I could be doing other things if I can stand in line when the Park is closed? I love getting in line 5 minutes before Park closing.

I wonder how long it takes to get everyone out of DL

...So, my guess would be 45 mins, with encouragement. Otherwise, who knows?...

Nope.

Main Street stores are open one hour after DL closes. So... if the Park closes at midnight, (most of) the shops on Main Street remain open until 1am.

However, you can stand at the Hub and take photos of Main Street - but there is no changing direction.

There is security and possibly a few other CMs at the Hub making sure no one is going the other direction after you hit Main Street. Then, at 1am, they gentle usher you out... on to Main Street. At that point, security is around and it's pretty clear that exiting is the plan, but you can sort of saunter out slowly. I have exited the Park close to 2am - and not been the very last one out once or twice.

GREAT time to get amazing shots of Main Street.

- Dreams

 

[Dizneydaz]

Years ago they used to close the lines prior to park closing (I specifically remember walking up to Matterhorn 20 mins. or so before DL closed and they had a CM standing there telling you the line was closed. But as others have reported, not anymore.

 

[DisCookie]

Years ago they used to close the lines prior to park closing (I specifically remember walking up to Matterhorn 20 mins. or so before DL closed and they had a CM standing there telling you the line was closed. But as others have reported, not anymore.

wow, wish I knew this, could have taken some awesome pictures Maybe even a few decent ones of myself in front of the castle (went solo, the PP ones turned out horrible, and I had trouble getting a good picture by myself using tripod and camera's timer, lol)

 

[Albort]

it takes around 1.5 - 2 hours to close the entire park...

but it is possible to do it in 30 mins...

 

[Grim_Grinning_Girl]

it takes around 1.5 - 2 hours to close the entire park...

but it is possible to do it in 30 mins...

Albort, do you know how thoroughly the park searches for crazy guests trying to hide over night? Not that I want to try, plus I imagine there's workers there 24-7 .

 

[Disney Dreams]

... plus I imagine there's workers there 24-7 .

Yep.

Plus, what would someone do in there? The rides are closed, the shops are closed, if you wander around workers will see you. I've never understood this concept.

 

[wdi2b]

my family and i get ice cream and enjoy for a long-while. we usually talk to park security about anything because we're the ones that they usually wait for at the far side of main street

 

[Belle Ella]

GREAT time to get amazing shots of Main Street.

- Dreams

I'm really hoping to stick around to closing at least once on my next trip for this very reason!

 

[Albort]

Albort, do you know how thoroughly the park searches for crazy guests trying to hide over night? Not that I want to try, plus I imagine there's workers there 24-7 .

very very diligently. They will scan everywhere.

And yes, there are workers there 24/7. why? because someone needs to clean and maintain!!!