Leave during Wishes

[ohiokate]

Does anyone have experience leaving Magic Kingdom DURING Wishes?

DD is not interested in watching Electric Parade or Wishes so we are planning on spending that time on rides in Tomorrowland. I'm worried that we will be stuck in Tomorrowland until after the parade and fireworks even if we are ready to leave earlier than that. Is cutting through the shops an option? Any info would be helpful!

 

[vinotinto]

Plan to do rides during parade and fireworks is a good one. Note that Wishes is only 12 minutes long though, so it doesn't give you a lot of time to exit once it begins.

 

[CAS239]

If you're coming from Tomorrowland there's a good chance they'll have the extra backstage path open for easier access to the front of the park. Inbetween Tomorrowland terrace and the ice cream shop. If not, they'll have the pathways open so you can walk toward the exit. You can cut through some of the shops, but it really doesn't benefit too much from the Tomorrowland side. Cutting through the shops on the other side coming from Adventureland is a lot better as all the stores connect in a straight shot.

But be prepared for already a long wait to leave for the monorail or ferry. If you're taking a bus you'd make out a lot better. If you're leaving during wishes or right after, thousands of others will be doing the same. So that's when it's a pain.

If you're not interested in the parade or wishes. I'd either leave the park pretty decently before wishes, or stay in the park after wishes and let the crowd die down

 

[AshleyLovesDisney]

We have. It wasn't bad, really. It's pretty packed and tight until you get to Main Street, then it's pretty much a straight shot.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I would leave before Wishes starts, if you are leaving. They turn the lights way down, and it can be hard to see to get out.

 

[ohiokate]

Thanks for all the info everyone!

 

[ohiokate]

I'm hoping that she can make it through close, but wanted to avoid getting trapped if we decided we were ready to call it a night during the show.

 

[Shanti]

The show is short, and it would be a total cluster trying to get out while all those people were clogging the walkways to watch. The transportation to get back would already be crowded by that time. I don't recommend it.

 

[fbarker]

We left the park during Wishes in March. The other poster was correct they do a very good job of providing a pathway down the sidewalk along main street and the crowd moves very well. We were able to get out but at that time of night there is a big crowd for all the transportation. We were staying at POR and had to wait for two busses before we got on, but that was still faster than monorail or ferry and then getting to the car

 

[Parker Clan]

95% of the time we leave during Wishes - we cut thru the shops! Never been a problem!
We love to avoid the cluster of ppl waiting for the transportation after Wishes.
In fact, we like to leave right before Wishes and watch it from the ferry! They pipe in the music and you get a great view on the top deck