Leaving the park after Wishes?

[KLK622]

Why did I think they weren't doing FP+ for the parades and fireworks anymore? It sounds like they must still be? I'm confused!

Wishes FastPass + ends on the 18th I think (or the 20th...I don't remember) but I have the FastPass for the 17th. I think they are keeping the MSEP FastPass +, but since I was able to get both of them for the same night and not have to forgo other Magic Kingdom FastPasses because we won't be at the parks until evening it is really hard to pass up,

 

[BethR9]

We're looking at going in late January, early February when Wishes is usually at 8pm. I know it will still be crowded leaving. How long is the show? If we hang around to let the crowds thin out afterwards, what time do you think we would be back to our resort, Pop Century, using the Disney busses? Any guesses? I'm trying to plan our next day and if it could be a rope drop day or if that's too much. Our child will be 9 so can do fairly later nights.

 

[BethR9]

I so wish they would keep the Wishes FP+!!!

 

[KLK622]

Just a quick suggestion, but we found that having our own umbrella stroller was much better than renting one from Disney. It can be somewhat of a hassle at times, but being able to put our kids in their stroller while walking out of the parks and also back to our rooms when we got to the resort was pretty nice. Being solo I can understand not wanting to take a large stroller, but you might find that having a small umbrella stroller is pretty handy.

Thanks...we own a great light weight umbrella (UppaBaby G luxe if you are familiar) so I could bring it. I just didn't know if it would be to much to keep up with an excited four year old while dealing with a potentially empty stroller. I know at certain times it would be great to have out of the parks. I actually switched our reservations to POFQ so we were at one of the smaller moderate resorts and hopefully won't have to do to much walking to and from the bus stops at the resort. So many decisions!!

 

[KLK622]

Check with the cab companies. I believe the one we used had a car seat for us. I found it. Here's a link http://www.orlandotaxiservice.com/

Thanks! I would like to take a cab back to the airport vs Magical Express, but didn't know how to make it work. This might work.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

In all honesty - it depends on when you go. We always leave after Wishes and never have a problem (Christmas week.) We've always stayed in POFQ, which is a smaller resort. As a result, the buses aren't AS packed - but I have had times where I've had to stand. The nice thing is that it's only one stop and you're not waiting for a bunch of people to get out as it circles the resort.

Are there EMH? Maybe stay a little while and walk around the park before heading out. I know you have a 4yo, so that wouldn't be the easiest thing to do.

 

[hoffman1]

We try to grab a rocking chair and wait for a while before heading out.
By that time of day, our feet are tired and it is much more pleasant to wait while seated as opposed to crowed bus lines.

 

[Peter Panic Attack]

Last year, we had pretty much your exact scenario. We were even staying at POFQ. Here’s what we did and it worked out reasonably well.

1. There are two Wishes Fastpass spots to choose from; the east area in front of the Plaza or the west area in front of Casey’s Corner. We chose the east area in front of the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor/Restaurant.
   
2. After Wishes, we exited the east side of our Fastpass viewing area and headed for the Mainstreet bypass that opens up to the left of the Plaza restaurant. It runs parallel to main street which is teeming with people and spits you out up by Tony’s Town Square restaurant.
   
3. We exited the park through the tunnel on the left side of the train station and made a bee-line for our bus.

In 2014, we tried the other option of staying in the park for an extra ride or two after Wishes. The problem with that option was that nasty clock just keeps on ticking. You’ve spent the time riding the rides. Plus, you still have to exit the park; you still have to walk to the bus (and you may have to wait for a bus depending on your timing) and you still have the 20 minute ride back to the resort. In our experience, we got back to our resort later than we had hoped and it seemed like we were paying for that misstep for the rest of the trip. Anyway, that was our experience.

 

[KLK622]

Last year, we had pretty much your exact scenario. We were even staying at POFQ. Here’s what we did and it worked out reasonably well.

1. There are two Wishes Fastpass spots to choose from; the east area in front of the Plaza or the west area in front of Casey’s Corner. We chose the east area in front of the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor/Restaurant.
   
2. After Wishes, we exited the east side of our Fastpass viewing area and headed for the Mainstreet bypass that opens up to the left of the Plaza restaurant. It runs parallel to main street which is teeming with people and spits you out up by Tony’s Town Square restaurant.
   
3. We exited the park through the tunnel on the left side of the train station and made a bee-line for our bus.

In 2014, we tried the other option of staying in the park for an extra ride or two after Wishes. The problem with that option was that nasty clock just keeps on ticking. You’ve spent the time riding the rides. Plus, you still have to exit the park; you still have to walk to the bus (and you may have to wait for a bus depending on your timing) and you still have the 20 minute ride back to the resort. In our experience, we got back to our resort later than we had hoped and it seemed like we were paying for that misstep for the rest of the trip. Anyway, that was our experience.

Thanks!! I like to have multiple "plans" in my head so this is great information.

 

[maryj11]

I'm confused...if the park hours are only scheduled until 10 PM, and Wishes is at 10 PM, how late are which rides running?

This is what I was thinking too. For our trip in June MK has it closing at 10:00. Im not sure they are going to stay open later with all the new changes going on.

 

[Sevey13]

How congested is it leaving the park after Wishes? I will have my four year old with me and we will be heading back to POFQ via the buses. Would we be better off to hit up a few rides and then try to leave the park or should we head right out? My goal is to minimize waiting and maximize fun, while still trying to get my four year old to bed at a reasonable hour (ha!).

We will be in the Wishes FastPass+ area and it will be our first time in the parks with the plan to come back to the Magic Kingdom the next morning.

Thanks!

I would stay and hit one or two more attractions. Not just because of the mass exodus, but because there is a special magic to the MK at night after the crowds have drained. Granted, your kid may dictate your schedule based her or his mood. If energy is low, consider a round on the Peoplemover over in Tomorrowland. It is a fairly lengthy, slow-moving ride with no rider participation that has minimal line in my experience. Or if she or he is awake enough Autopia might a good choice. Both are pretty low sensory input so they won't overwhelm a tired kid.

 

[Mousemommy1]

It's awful. Heavy, heavy crowds and it can get frustrating.

The only time it wasn't was when we stayed at the CR, and could just walk right by all of the people loading onto to the bus. That was our favorite thing about staying at CR.

 

[KLK622]

It's awful. Heavy, heavy crowds and it can get frustrating.

The only time it wasn't was when we stayed at the CR, and could just walk right by all of the people loading onto to the bus. That was our favorite thing about staying at CR.

On our last trip we were at the CR with a theme park view...we watched the fireworks from our balcony while our son slept...that was fantastic. I booked this trip pretty last minute (45 days out and couldn't get a room for less than $500 at the CR, Polynesian or Wilderness...)

 

[Ensusieasm]

For some reason I thought this area was reserved (or often reserved?). I don't know why I thought that . If we can watch from the train station I will definitely be doing that! How early do you usually show up for a good spot? I would assume MSEP is not good from that angle though?

I have heard that they are reserving for vip tours just recently, but I'm not sure if this happens at night. All I heard so far was it was a VIP spot for a daytime parade. So, that is a new feature and I hope it doesn't take some pixie dust away.

 

[horse11]

How crowded are the stores after wishes?

 

[tomatecerise]

Like They give free popcorn for every people in the store

 

[Jadyreen1282]

I'd say go watch and leave at a leisurely pace and don't stress over the crowds. You're going to have enough stress just with the regular daily crowds already.

 

[msdroz]

I always watch Wishes from atop the train station, just when the grand finale is about to occur I go down the stairs and watch the last bursts, then immediately power walk to the buses. I always get a seat on the first bus that pulls up.

As many times as we have been to Disney we have never been to the train station. How is the view for Wishes? I will have to find the steps up there!

 

[Ensusieasm]

As many times as we have been to Disney we have never been to the train station. How is the view for Wishes? I will have to find the steps up there!

The view is magnificent unless the Christmas tree is up. The stairs curve from the right and left.

 

[ricosuave]

We get ice cream and wait for the crowds to die down before we leave. It's turned into a tradition now and something we look fwd to. We left right after fireworks ONE time and I almost left Disney divorced and with one less kid lol!