Park closing times: What actually closes?

[UrsulaTime]

It sounds like guests are free to join most ride lines until the park's official close time.

What about restaurants and shops? Do they stay open for an hour after the official close time?

I'm especially curious about a) DHS park closing procedures - it would be great to find something to do/look at after Fantasmic instead of walking slowly out with the bulk of the crowd, and b) World Showcase closing procedures - can we still check out the countries to some degree after the official closing time at 9?

Thanks in advance for any insights rendered!

 

[CAS239]

Pretty much everything starts shutting down at park close. You can get in a ride line up until park close then no one else is allowed in after that. Shops will begin to shut down at park close. I wouldn't anticipate a shop being open an hour after park close. They won't force everyone to leave right at park close, but don't expect the shops to be open until every guest is out

As far as world showcase, some places will start closing even prior to the 9pm closing. I went to buy one last drink at a showcase stand and they said they had already closed and it was like 8:45pm

 

[pearljamin03]

I've been going to the shops since I was a little kid to wait out crazy transportation lines. It's one of my favorite parts of the day. I Get a Mickey cake pop on main st and the shops in Hollywood are fantastic in my humble opinion. the little stands close early but the big shops are normally open until they don't make money anymore lol

 

[UrsulaTime]

I've been going to the shops since I was a little kid to wait out crazy transportation lines. It's one of my favorite parts of the day. I Get a Mickey cake pop on main st and the shops in Hollywood are fantastic in my humble opinion. the little stands close early but the big shops are normally open until they don't make money anymore lol

Are any of those cool Hollywood Studios shops easily accessible to someone walking from Fantasmic?

 

[ewasilau]

This was 4 and 1/2 years ago, but my daughter and I got completely shut out trying to get a dessert or a treat on our way out of Hollywood Studios at park closing. We were on the last run of RnR, then started walking, but everything was closed - we couldn't get any snacks on the way out of the park! I think it was only moments past closing time too...

 

[joyjoy]

If you're at Epcot at closing, hit up MouseGear. I'm not sure that glorious store ever closes. Thanks be to God.

 

[Tk0021]

In September we stayed at Jambo house and to avoid just standing in another long line for the buses we hung out on Main Street for awhile. By an hour after close most stores were either closed or closing.

 

[Princess_Lisa]

If you're at Epcot at closing, hit up MouseGear. I'm not sure that glorious store ever closes. Thanks be to God.

I had an 8:30 PM FastPass for TT (Park closes at 9 PM). I did the design room, rode the ride, and then wandered around looking at the cars for a while and designed a second vehicle on the design station. The park had been closed for a little while by the time I left TT. Walked by MouseGear and they were still open and had lots of folks inside. I stopped in and took a look around. They weren't even trying to rush anyone or get folks out. It was operating as it would when the park is open.

 

[BrianL]

Pretty much everything starts shutting down at park close. You can get in a ride line up until park close then no one else is allowed in after that. Shops will begin to shut down at park close. I wouldn't anticipate a shop being open an hour after park close. They won't force everyone to leave right at park close, but don't expect the shops to be open until every guest is out

As far as world showcase, some places will start closing even prior to the 9pm closing. I went to buy one last drink at a showcase stand and they said they had already closed and it was like 8:45pm

They do tend to close the outlying shops and such, but the main ones near the entrance are always open for quite a bit after close. I'm talking about Emporium, Mouse Gear, etc., the ones where they can get you on the way out of the park. But yes, the smaller shops and most food venues do close down pretty quickly. The only food place I know of that is usually open a little after close is Casey's Corner, but again, they're trying to pick up on that last minute crowd. World Showcase definitely starts shutting down early.

 

[Miffy]

If you're at Epcot at closing, hit up MouseGear. I'm not sure that glorious store ever closes. Thanks be to God.

The above post reminded me of an experience I had several years ago. I was in MouseGear browsing after Illuminations and had totally lost awareness of the time. When I emerged from my reverie, I noticed that, other than CMs, there was no one else in the store! I asked if the store were closed, and the CM I spoke with said to take my time, that they stayed open until there were no customers left! By the time I exited Epcot, it was maybe an hour past park closing.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

The food places (for the most part) close once the park closes, but I think the big shops stay open for half an hour after the official closing time. I've seen the ice cream parlor on Main Street stay open after the park has closed, but not sure for how long after.

 

[FastPasser.]

I was in MouseGear browsing after Illuminations and had totally lost awareness of the time. When I emerged from my reverie, I noticed that, other than CMs, there was no one else in the store! I asked if the store were closed, and the CM I spoke with said to take my time, that they stayed open until there were no customers left! By the time I exited Epcot, it was maybe an hour past park closing.

The park had been closed for a little while by the time I left TT. Walked by MouseGear and they were still open and had lots of folks inside. I stopped in and took a look around. They weren't even trying to rush anyone or get folks out. It was operating as it would when the park is open.

Mouse Gear and World Traveler close an hour after Epcot closes.

 

[UrsulaTime]

I walked down Main Street after official park close once and was able to get a sundae (which I promptly dropped, don't even get me started) at the Plaza and go through a couple shops. I was hoping World Showcase might be like this, but thanks to everyone's responses, I know that it's NOT, and will plan accordingly!

They do tend to close the outlying shops and such, but the main ones near the entrance are always open for quite a bit after close. I'm talking about Emporium, Mouse Gear, etc., the ones where they can get you on the way out of the park. But yes, the smaller shops and most food venues do close down pretty quickly. The only food place I know of that is usually open a little after close is Casey's Corner, but again, they're trying to pick up on that last minute crowd. World Showcase definitely starts shutting down early.

The food places (for the most part) close once the park closes, but I think the big shops stay open for half an hour after the official closing time. I've seen the ice cream parlor on Main Street stay open after the park has closed, but not sure for how long after.

It all makes sense now! Thanks, everyone!

 

[BrianL]

I walked down Main Street after official park close once and was able to get a sundae (which I promptly dropped, don't even get me started) at the Plaza and go through a couple shops. I was hoping World Showcase might be like this, but thanks to everyone's responses, I know that it's NOT, and will plan accordingly!





It all makes sense now! Thanks, everyone!

Yes, you're right. The ice cream parlor stays open too. People need that late-night ice cream! Generally, the closer to the front something is, the more likely it will be open.

 

[WEDWDW]

Just an FYI-at the end of a PM EMH-EVERYTHING usually closes immediately.

 

[UrsulaTime]

Just an FYI-at the end of a PM EMH-EVERYTHING usually closes immediately.

OH! I should have thought to ask about EMH specifically - we might do EMH evening hours at MK and Epcot. Haha thank you for reading my mind!

 

[Robo]

Are any of those cool Hollywood Studios shops easily accessible to someone walking from Fantasmic?

Yes.
Some are.

(And, on many nights, Fantasmic! does not "close" DHS,
so on those nights, all of the shops are open as guests exit F!)

 

[fluffykalie]

I think it depends I have seen the shops stay open, But I have also saw the shops close right at close. I remember one trip early February where the shops where all closed by the time fantastic got out. People in the shops where still shopping but nobody new was allowed in. That trip was about 5 years ago though.

 

[goofyernmost]

I'd just like to add that just because you can doesn't mean you should. CM's are not going to throw you out, but, there is something that many people don't think about. CM's are working, you are on vacation (holiday). They have families that they would like to spend time with, you have yours with you usually. They have to be back in the next day, not to have a good time, but, to be on their feet all day following "guests" that are messing up the displays and they have to fix it. You are having a good time and do not HAVE to be back there at any set time other then the one you personally set. They do expect to have to stay for a while and the buses, etc. run for about an hour after the park closes, but, that doesn't mean that you have to stay right there until the last peddle has dropped off the flower. Have a little courtesy and do not stay any longer then necessary to do some additional shopping. You want to show your gratitude to the hard working CM's, let them go home and rest so they can be back the next day recharged and ready to help you. In the words of Forrest Gump... "that's all I have to say about that".

 

[WEDWDW]

Just to clarify,even though Disney doesn't 'advertise" it this way,buses will run until the last Guest is on the way back to their Resort-Disney won't "strand" you at a Park.