Leaving MK right before Wishes

[disprincess2213]

We are rarely in the MK during or after wishes but plan to be this coming trip. My question is, how difficult with it be ( with a stroller) to exit the MK right before Wishes? During Wishes? The nights that I am looking at, the MSEP is after Wishes. We don't plan on watching Wishes (we have seen them 100 times from surrounding beaches/hotels/etc) and will most likely be in Fantasy land. How hard will it be to leave around these times, and when is the best time to leave? Is there a time between Wishes and MSEP where there is "nothing" on main street and we can leave?

7:45 Celebrate the Magic
8:00 WIshes
9:00 MSEP

(staying at Poly btw so we will be taking monorail home)

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

If you are willing to go through the stores, you could easily leave around 7:15p - it might be tricker around 7:30p but you could do it.

Any later and it will be really crowded and hard to maneuver through them. This is only a guess though so it could be different than what I think since I've never left before Wishes.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

We left after MSEP and right before Wishes this last trip. Not a problem. The CMs keep a path clear at least on the Tomorrowland side (I can't speak to the frontierland side). It's pretty much one or two wide but definitely doable (we had a double stroller). One thing to keep in mind is that they turn off the lights but as you get to the hub, the CMs have lighted wands to guide you. Easier to leave just before or during than after IMHO.

Edited to add that if you're staying at Poly, take the launch back for your very own fireworks cruise. It's awesome.

 

[ParrotBill]

What happens just before and during Wishes is this: In the designated walkways, people mill about or stop in place trying to decide where to go. The CMs are busy trying to move them along. You move 50 feet and run into the next group doing the same. It's annoying and you will say "excuse me" a lot but it's doable. Going through the stores on the AdventureLand side is definitely a strategy that can work too. In any event, it's way better than exiting with a stroller once Wishes is done!

 

[CAS239]

If you want to leave before wishes then I'd leave an hour or more before Wishes start time.

Thousands of people leave right after wishes, but meanwhile hundreds are leaving right before wishes. So if you go to leave RIGHT before it starts, you'll be meeting a lot of other people doing the same. So if you want to leave before Wishes, then I'd leave as early as you can

 

[SarahWeasley]

We left during Celebrate the Magic on our last trip. As I recall, we didn't have a significant problem making our way down the sidewalk of Main Street on the Adventureland side.

Note that the castle area gets blocked off in advance of CTM, so you'll have to go around the side.

 

[DisneyFive]

The whole area is a mess from 7:30 on. Going through the stores on the Adventureland side is your best bet IMO.

Dan

 

[MariMama]

Parts of Fantasyland are blocked off for the fireworks, usually starting 20-30 minutes before they are due to start. The Hub will be completely dark for CTM and it is hard to maneuver in the dark, with the crowd, let alone a stroller. I would be on Main Street by 7:30 at the latest for the most hassle-free exit.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

I remember a few trips back my DW and SIL decided to head back about 20 minutes before Wishes started. She told me later that was the only time she has been frightened in WDW. The crowds were oppressive and she said it was a little scary. Definitely try going through the stores but even then expect crowded conditions.

 

[G719]

Look for the main street bypass between the plaza and tomorrow land terrace. It will take you behind and stores and quickly to the exit.

 

[mister morrow]

if it was me, i would leave before Celebrate the Magic (if i had no FP or ADR), go back to Poly and find a nice, comfortable spot where you can watch the fireworks. you will be away from the crowds and be right at your resort!

if you want to be in the park during it all, just go through the stores like others have mentioned.

 

[Klayfish]

Don't be afraid, it's doable without major issues. We've done it probably a dozen times, many times with both a double wide stroller and a single. It's certainly not as easy as doing it at other times of the day, but it's not all that bad. Plenty of CMs keeping traffic moving. A few polite "excuse me" will get you through anyone stopping. You can definitely use the stores, though sometimes they're really crowded and with a stroller it's just better to be on the sidewalk...in the stores you're dodging people AND display aisles. Only challenge we've ever run into is during the parade. If it's crossing Main Street near the train station end, you're likely going to be stuck until it finishes passing through as you can't always cross over.

 

[dreiwhit]

Main Street and the circle in front of the castle were PACKED prior to Wishes when we were there. The CMs were struggling to keep people moving on the sidewalks. Even so, there was a lot of "stop and go" people stopping in front of us on the sidewalks, so we had to do a lot of "bobbing and weaving" to get through. However, once we got to the town square in Main Street, the crowds thinned considerably.

I tried going through the shops one night, but there were a lot of people in there killing time before Wishes. It was no better than the sidewalk, so I just went back to the sidewalk. If the Main Street bypasses are open, that would be the way to go.

My kids just wanted to see the fireworks, so we watched them from either Main Street station, or the ferry dock at the TTC. Either way, we were able to get out of the park before the rest of the crowds.

 

[pluto377]

Look for the main street bypass between the plaza and tomorrow land terrace. It will take you behind and stores and quickly to the exit.

This. We've done it several times with a double stroller. I'm sure it depends on the time of year too, but we didn't find it too difficult, especially this past year when we discovered the above mentioned bypass.

 

[AshleeH]

Depending on the age of your child, park the stroller near the very front of the park (there's stroller parking next to the main entrance) earlier in the evening and take the train around to the front to avoid the Wishes crowd entirely. You can pick up your stroller and leave without ever encountering the madness. This is usually our plan of action and it's always worked like a charm - and this is during the seasonal party season when Wishes is more of a madhouse than normal because it's not every night of the week.

 

[TCRAIG]

Depending on the age of your child, park the stroller near the very front of the park (there's stroller parking next to the main entrance) earlier in the evening and take the train around to the front to avoid the Wishes crowd entirely. You can pick up your stroller and leave without ever encountering the madness. This is usually our plan of action and it's always worked like a charm - and this is during the seasonal party season when Wishes is more of a madhouse than normal because it's not every night of the week.

Brilliant!