Late Night Tips

[Aloop]

Any of you managed rope drop (9 AM) to close (midnight)? These are the hours for our first day at Disney, and we have FP+ for Anna and Elsa from about 4-5 and SDMT from around 5:30-6:30. No times for rescheduling them earlier (we originally weren't going to arrive until 3 but now have a full day), and we CANNOT miss these two. I have a tentative break from about 5:45-8 scheduled because I really want to close the park down, but it's such a late break. It's just awkwardly timed to where I'm scared to take a break too close to noon-- what if we don't get back in time for our A&E FP? Ridiculous, I know, but I'm nervous about it. I have a 1:40 BOG FP now. I could have opted for 11 AM, and maybe still can. Part of me wonders if I should do so, head to the room for a break right after, and then leave the resort again at 3:30. Or can we make it all day?! I'm just thinking out loud here, obviously, but have any of you late nighters gone all day without a break?

Over winter break, my family park hopped constantly- no breaks from about 10am - midnight/1-ish one day over winter break, as we were staying offsite. Not to mention the fire alarm went off at 3 am at the hotel the night before. But as Florida Residents, we're used to that, and the youngest person was 13. We did all parks (HS twice), so it was A LOT of walking. If you want to make it all day, I would suggest doing the longer, sit-down attractions during those afternoon hours- CoP, HoP, CBJ, etc. your feet get a break, and the AC cools you down!

 

[over50visits]

I've seen too many families having a miserable time late at night because people were exhausted, especially young kids.

Late night can be a blast! My tip? Be well rested. Either start in the afternoon, or go back to your hotel for an afternoon nap/relaxation time. It will pay you back many times over if you are refreshed for the late night activities.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Tip #4 - Epcot is the one park that doesn't really work with a Late Night plan. The fact that it closes failry early (9 pm) plus has an oustanding show (Illuminations) after closing time keeps the crowds in place through the evening.

This is one time where everyone really does exit at once and it can be very crowded.

Test Track is the only attraction that may even warrant multiple re-rides but that's debatable. The lines do get short right before 9, but you run the risk of hopping in line to late and missing the laser light show.

Fortunately, you still have time to hop on the monorail and head over to the MK for a few more hours of prime time.

Well there you have it, Late Night Tips is complete. Thanks for reading and enjoy your upcoming trip to Disney World.

Next stop, MK on June 1 till 3 am. Who's with me?

 

[johde]

Tip #4 - Epcot is the one park that doesn't really work with a Late Night plan. The fact that it closes failry early (9 pm) plus has an oustanding show (Illuminations) after closing time keeps the crowds in place through the evening.

This is one time where everyone really does exit at once and it can be very crowded.

Test Track is the only attraction that may even warrant multiple re-rides but that's debatable. The lines do get short right before 9, but you run the risk of hopping in line to late and missing the laser light show.

Fortunately, you still have time to hop on the monorail and head over to the MK for a few more hours of prime time.

Well there you have it, Late Night Tips is complete. Thanks for reading and enjoy your upcoming trip to Disney World.

Next stop, MK on June 1 till 3 am. Who's with me?

Two small caveats with that. First, future world really does seem to clear out most evening by 6:00. So while it's still early, other than Soarin' and TT, Ride lines are short like like late evenings. If it's an EMH night, most of the rides that close early like Imagination and Living with the Land stay open after 7:00.

Second, during the busier times of the year, I'm seeing EPCOT stay open until 10:00 on select evening, although unfortunately Illuminations is also moved back to 10:00. Mainly I'm seeing it on the weekend of F&W and Holidays. Also, during Candlelight Processional season EPCOT stays open till 9:30.

 

[Albytaps]

So I'm just wondering... is the MK EMH's till 3am a thing of the past? I know a couple of years ago they switched the 3 evening hours to 2, leading to a 2am closing instead of 3am... is that still the case?

I see someone being excited for a 1am closing and makes me wonder if anything else has changed.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

So I'm just wondering... is the MK EMH's till 3am a thing of the past? I know a couple of years ago they switched the 3 evening hours to 2, leading to a 2am closing instead of 3am... is that still the case?

I see someone being excited for a 1am closing and makes me wonder if anything else has changed.

You are correct that evening EMH hours have been cut from 3 to 2.

When MK is open until 1 am, EMH will extend until 3 am. That's the case for Sunday, June 1.

 

[JennyMP03]

not since I was a kid, I had relatives from Germany that would visit in the late 80s/early 90s, well before FP, and they took park commando pretty seriously.

I'd suggest a break, especially if there's a kid involved. We like to arrive late morning/early afternoon, then leave after the 3pm parade. But your plan of 5:45-8 would work, you'll really be surprised how much you can do when the crowd heads out after wishes.

You'd think there would be a kid involved with our A&E FP+ but no! Just two silly twenty-somethings. I forgot that I MUST see the Festival of Fantasy parade at 3, though. It's the only parade all week that I really care about seeing (except maybe the Star Wars parade with Mark Hamill in it! if I dare to brave that inevitable madhouse). I think you're right and that that I'll stick with my late evening break. I really want those two hours after Wishes most of all.

When we went to WDW Thanksgiving 2012 we went to the MK for RD the Sunday after Thanksgiving and stayed all day. We had tickets for MVMCP that night and did not leave the MK until sometime between 11:00pm and midnight. We left because of the cold not because we were tired. We did not take any breaks. That year my kids were 6, 11, and 16. They are night owls and the hardest part was getting them up and at MK for RD that morning.

Wow! I'm impressed that even the little one lasted all day. Sounds like a fun day aside from the frosty temperatures. I prefer cold to hot, though. It must feel strange to be at WDW when it's actually cold there in FL!

Over winter break, my family park hopped constantly- no breaks from about 10am - midnight/1-ish one day over winter break, as we were staying offsite. Not to mention the fire alarm went off at 3 am at the hotel the night before. But as Florida Residents, we're used to that, and the youngest person was 13. We did all parks (HS twice), so it was A LOT of walking. If you want to make it all day, I would suggest doing the longer, sit-down attractions during those afternoon hours- CoP, HoP, CBJ, etc. your feet get a break, and the AC cools you down!

That's a very good idea. AC makes a world of difference. I'll keep these in mind if we don't end up having a proper break! Thanks, all!

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Two small caveats with that. First, future world really does seem to clear out most evening by 6:00. So while it's still early, other than Soarin' and TT, Ride lines are short like like late evenings. If it's an EMH night, most of the rides that close early like Imagination and Living with the Land stay open after 7:00.

Second, during the busier times of the year, I'm seeing EPCOT stay open until 10:00 on select evening, although unfortunately Illuminations is also moved back to 10:00. Mainly I'm seeing it on the weekend of F&W and Holidays. Also, during Candlelight Processional season EPCOT stays open till 9:30.

Thanks for the info. I wasn't aware that Epcot ever stayed open later than 9.

 

[crazymomof4]

subbing
our youngest is finally old enough to do late nights! There aren't many in Sept but one MK EMH is 10-12! We are psyched about doing that!

 

[pixidust princess]

Thanks for all the great ideas everyone. Definitely going to try late night touring on our next trip!

 

[mousefan73]

This thread got me excited to try and watch wishes from Splash or BMRR. My mom a non- rider will be with. Can you see wishes from that spot between splash and BMRR? You know right where you can out from the rail road stop. Isnt thre also some seating?

Or from barnstormer. I know there is seating outside that ride too can you see wishes from this ride and the grou d??

 

[shyjade]

This thread got me excited to try and watch wishes from Splash or BMRR. My mom a non- rider will be with. Can you see wishes from that spot between splash and BMRR? You know right where you can out from the rail road stop. Isnt thre also some seating?

Or from barnstormer. I know there is seating outside that ride too can you see wishes from this ride and the grou d??

Yes, we like to watch from the bridge back there. It's not the same view as watching on Main Street, but it's still neat and so much less crowded! Plus we enjoy the reflection of the fireworks off the water.

 

[alan_renfroe]

Tip #4 - Epcot is the one park that doesn't really work with a Late Night plan. The fact that it closes failry early (9 pm) plus has an oustanding show (Illuminations) after closing time keeps the crowds in place through the evening.

This is one time where everyone really does exit at once and it can be very crowded.

Test Track is the only attraction that may even warrant multiple re-rides but that's debatable. The lines do get short right before 9, but you run the risk of hopping in line to late and missing the laser light show.

Fortunately, you still have time to hop on the monorail and head over to the MK for a few more hours of prime time.

Well there you have it, Late Night Tips is complete. Thanks for reading and enjoy your upcoming trip to Disney World.

Next stop, MK on June 1 till 3 am. Who's with me?

I'm with you! I'll be there on June 1 until 3am also. We are sleeping in that day, arriving for lunch at Tony's at noon, FP+ in the early afternoon, back to the resort for a few hours to nap, dinner at Narcoossees at 7:45pm, then monorail back to MK to ride rides until 3am! Woohoo!

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Does anyone know how late Starbucks is open? We will be there June 1st (really the 2nd) for evening EMH from 1 - 3am! Super excited about it, but might need some caffeine to keep me going!

They close at 3am. We have been there for a few 3am closes and I grab a coffee at about 2:50am on my way out of the park.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Good to know! Even during the PM EMH? We asked some CM's where to find food but nobody mentioned Casey's. Of course, we never checked on Main Street for food. Will definitely keep that in mind in October.

Yes. Caseys was open until 3am when we were there during one EMH. One evening Caseys stayed open until 1:30am, despite the park closing at 1am. We actually stayed behind and ate. It was really busy and we wanted to hang back, eat and then walk straight on the bus, which we did.

 

[jenninaustin]

This thread is awesome and so helpful! We only have one MK day this trip ( ) .... but I feel good about the plan. We will do rope drop and will split up a bit b/c my youngest wants to do SOTMK. After our morning FP+s and our BOG lunch (have a FP for that too) then we'll take a long break. Probably leave the park by 1:30, rest up for a while before going to AKL for our BOMA dinner then back to the park hopefully by 8:30ish. We'll try to ride things like jungle cruise and BTMRR, etc at night - espec at fireworks! We'll catch the second MSEP and then go to Fantasyland for hopefully some walk ons at the end of the night! I'm picturing it now and so excited. But the nap will be critical! The next day is our last day and I scheduled a later first FP at EPCOT for that day so we can sleep.

Getting EXCITED..... June 7th is just around the corner!!!!

 

[Flamingeaux]

Ride Thunder mountain during the fireworks. We accidentally timed it perfectly for this on our last trip. My nieces were so excited to see the fireworks while on the ride.

DD and I "accidentally" rode Astro Orbiter during the fireworks. Way cool!!

 

[crazymomof4]

This is a great thread! As a rope dropper you guys are making me want to try the late nights at least a couple times during our upcoming trip in 4 days!

We are rope droppers too and I'm wondering if I can get my 50 yr old body to do both RD and pm EMH's?

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

I saw the pics that Josh at EasyWdw posted from a recent rope drop. No way I'm getting in the middle of that chaos. It's late night all the way for us.

I also see that A&E will be available until a half hour before close time starting Sunday. I'll bet the line is 10 mins or less after 11 pm.

 

[crazymomof4]

I saw the pics that Josh at EasyWdw posted from a recent rope drop. No way I'm getting in the middle of that chaos. It's late night all the way for us.

I also see that A&E will be available until a half hour before close time starting Sunday. I'll bet the line is 10 mins or less after 11 pm.

This thread has me rethinking RD at DHS (the whole stampede to TSMM to ride 1st thing, w/o FP+) During our 9 day stay in Sept DHS is open until 11 and 11:30 twice! And we are staying at BC, so it will be so easy to do the late EMH's. Do you think TSMM will be a short wait those hours? I'd love to leisurely stroll (or take boat) into DHS and have a nice breakfast at Starring Rolls around 10am rather that battling the crowds for an early ride on TSMM!!!