Leaving MK at closing time

[sablebomb]

First-timer here: If we are leaving MK at closing time (when I assume there are quite large crowds all leaving at the same time), how long does it actually take to make your way to your car (we are staying offsite), and out of the parking area?

 

[CAS239]

About an hour or so. Leaving MK when crowds are is brutal. Getting to and leaving MK is the only thing I hate about MK

Monorail and Ferry lines are massive

 

[GADisneyDad14]

First-timer here: If we are leaving MK at closing time (when I assume there are quite large crowds all leaving at the same time), how long does it actually take to make your way to your car (we are staying offsite), and out of the parking area?

IMO it depends on when closing time is.

If it's a date/time where HEA and closing are at or within an hour of closing - it's going to be crowded.

If it's a night with late hours well past fireworks, less so.

 

[Alesia]

Plan on an hour, but it could take longer if it's very busy

 

[sablebomb]

Thanks!
This helps with our planning.

 

[Haley R]

We always save shopping until the end and walk through the stores on main street to try and let the crowds thin out.

 

[Tomh]

I generally expect an hour, perhaps longer. If the wait to get back to your car is really a problem, valet parking at an MK resort, and then either walking (Contemporary) or using a water taxi will get you to your car a bit faster, and with far less standing on line.

I have also found, at least in my experience, that at closing time, although the Monorail line looks a lot worse than the ferry line, it seems to move faster.

 

[disneylover102]

One good way to avoid the mass exodus that sometimes works is getting in line at the last second for a ride that has a line that’s not too long, but by the time you get off the ride a lot of people have left. Otherwise, it takes a half hour minimum. That’s the only thing worse about MK. It’s so much more annoying to get there.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think it depends on where you are in the park. I typically watch the fireworks from the end of Main Street right by the flag pole. Then hustle like heck out of there! You either want to be at the front of the mob leaving, or wait it out and be at the very back.

 

[brave321]

I’ve never tried to see if this is true, but I’ve read that some of the stores on Main Street stay open after the park closes? If that’s true then that’d be a great way to wait out the crowds.

 

[Delirium]

We usually get in line to grab something to eat at Casey's 10 minutes before the park closes. By the time we eat and easily stroll down Main Street, the crowds are dispersed. We don't usually drive to the Magic Kingdom any longer (take bus), but when we did there were nights we were so late getting out that the monorail had stopped running. The Ferry was usually walk-on at that point, so the actual time from the gate to our car at the MK parking lot was only like 30 minutes. We try to avoid the mass exodus at any of the parks by finding something to keep us 'busy' for 20-30 minutes after the park closes.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I’ve never tried to see if this is true, but I’ve read that some of the stores on Main Street stay open after the park closes? If that’s true then that’d be a great way to wait out the crowds.

That is generally true. It didn’t happen last year after PM EMH though. We got ice cream and mozied out to find huge lines for our resort.

But most of the time, grabbing a snack or doing some shopping is a good strategy.

 

[michbaron]

The longest wait is usually for the trams so we just keep the kids in the strollers and keep on going with walking, my husband and I are usually about to collapse by the time we get to the car but it’s still easier than closing up two strollers holding sleeping kids etc
I don’t remember it ever taking us more than 30 minutes

 

[beccasmom]

We often make sure we’re at the end of Main Street so we can make a (relatively!) quick exit. It doesn’t always work out that way though. Depends who we’re traveling with and how “distracted” we get!

 

[sablebomb]

Thanks for all the great advice!
We are also those stick around and wait for the craziness to end kind of people but if there is nothing to do, I don't think I'd want to wait around.
But if we could grab something quick to eat or catch a last minute ride or browse a couple shops on our way out, this would help!

 

[tidegirl]

How long do the shops stay open after closing time? Would we be able to get in line for one last ride if we were unable to FP something and still be able to shop a little?

 

[bigbabyblues]

How long do the shops stay open after closing time? Would we be able to get in line for one last ride if we were unable to FP something and still be able to shop a little?

You can, but you have to be in the line before the park closes. If the park closes at 10:00, you have to be in line at 9:59.

 

[maxiesmom]

You can, but you have to be in the line before the park closes. If the park closes at 10:00, you have to be in line at 9:59.

I have not found that to be true. I've found them more than willing to let guests do a bit of shopping.

 

[tidegirl]

You can, but you have to be in the line before the park closes. If the park closes at 10:00, you have to be in line at 9:59.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant get in line to ride before park closes and shop a little on the way out after the ride.

 

[friedela]

This was one of the many times I was thankful we had strollers for our kids, even though they are older. They would always fall asleep on the way back to the car. It was nice to just push them along rather than having to carry a very heavy sleeping child, lol.