Park Closing ?

[Bluegrrl]

The animal trails and KS close up first. The last safari time is posted outside. The trails will have a cm outside them that tell people the trail is closed and there is also a sign that tells you when the trails close. Of course, if you are in the trail, they will let you finish, but won't let you walk "back", you can only go forward to finish.

Most parks have soft closings, and with regards to the AK, there is a general "vibe" of closure. You can see all the people exiting, the gift store and food places start looking empty, etc. Mainly they will "herd" people from the animal area to the dino area and then out. It's easy and you don't get a bum rush.

 

[tinka-belle]

Yes, we've had some pleasant chats with the CM's on the way out. Never felt like we were being escorted to the gates, but there are always a few CM's around to make sure the park clears. Might have met your daughter at one time too, you never know.

 

[MrKnight]

The general policy at all WDW parks is that the main gift shops closest to the park entrance remain open ONE HOUR after park closing to allow guests the opportunity to browse and make last minute purchases before leaving the park, just keep in mind that this ONLY applies to the main gift shops closest to the park entrance, other areas deeper in the park will close shop the moment the park officially closes in an effort to usher guests towards the front of the park. This same policy applies to WDW Transportation which will always run ONE HOUR after park closing allowing on-property guests ample time to get back to their resorts after park closing. So with all this said, technically you CAN remain inside the park in the areas closest to the park entrance after close for a maximum of ONE HOUR after park closing. Once that one hour after park closing hits then typically a formal PA announcement will be made and CMs/Security/Managers will more aggressively usher the few remaining guests towards the park exit as by this point there is no valid reason to still be in the park...

There are a few RARE exceptions to the one hour rule, this mostly applies at Epcot when it comes to late dining, in some instances Monsieur Paul at Epcot has allowed diners to stay inside the restaurant for almost two hours after park close to finish enjoying their gourmet meals.. I am sure this is frowned upon by park management but if the restaurant makes the call to let you stay then you are allowed to stay..

Hope this helps..

 

[Robo]

1. The general policy at all WDW parks is that the main gift shops closest to the park entrance remain open ONE HOUR after park closing to allow guests the opportunity to browse and make last minute purchases before leaving the park, just keep in mind that this ONLY applies to the main gift shops closest to the park entrance,

2. other areas deeper in the park will close shop the moment the park officially closes in an effort to usher guests towards the front of the park.

3. This same policy applies to WDW Transportation which will always run ONE HOUR after park closing

4. allowing on-property guests ample time to get back to their resorts after park closing.

5. So with all this said, technically you CAN remain inside the park in the areas closest to the park entrance after close for a maximum of ONE HOUR after park closing.

6. Once that one hour after park closing hits then typically a formal PA announcement will be made and CMs/Security/Managers will more aggressively usher the few remaining guests towards the park exit as by this point there is no valid reason to still be in the park...

7. There are a few RARE exceptions to the one hour rule, this mostly applies at Epcot when it comes to late dining,

8. in some instances Monsieur Paul at Epcot has allowed diners to stay inside the restaurant for almost two hours after park close to finish enjoying their gourmet meals..

9. I am sure this is frowned upon by park management but if the restaurant makes the call to let you stay then you are allowed to stay..

Hope this helps..

I have to step in because you posted these timing rules as such "absolutes"
and posted from the standpoint of authority as a former CM, that they need to be examined
more closely.

1. True.
2. True.
3. Not the case.
4. Guests are afforded ample time, but the buses run much later than "an hour after closing" (which is a much-repeated innaccuracy.)
5. "Close to a maximum of ONE HOUR after park closing" is simply not true.
6. Sorry, but no. Just no.
7. "RARE exceptions..." That's just not true.
8. & 9. I can't speak what to what management frowns on.

There are many here on this board who have been going to WDW for decades and know differently about the above "one hour rule" from personal experience and from reading the hundreds of posts of others.

 

[goodgodmrsmolly]

all the years Ive gone to Disney I've never seen AK have EMH in the evening - its usually A.M. - at least from my personal experience. (my guess its animal feeding time?)

There are often nights AK is open until 8. It is a beautiful park at night. The lighting is fantastic and really seems like a different place in the dark. The park really clears out after 5 even if they are open. All the animal areas are usually closed at 5 to feed and care for the animals. I like to walk over that way as I am leaving at night and it is almost like you are the only ones in the park. Its pretty cool.

I did the Everest challenge run last year and that was fun. Only Dinoland and Everest were open then and it was pretty crowded, but it was neat to be there taking rides at midnight. They just had the last run though, too bad, it was a fun event.

 

[MrKnight]

I have to step in because you posted these timing rules as such "absolutes"
and posted from the standpoint of authority as a former CM, that they need to be examined
more closely.

1. True.
2. True.
3. Not the case.
4. Guests are afforded ample time, but the buses run much later than "an hour after closing" (which is a much-repeated innaccuracy.)
5. "Close to a maximum of ONE HOUR after park closing" is simply not true.
6. Sorry, but no. Just no.
7. "RARE exceptions..." That's just not true.
8. & 9. I can't speak what to what management frowns on.

There are many here on this board who have been going to WDW for decades and know differently about the above "one hour rule" from personal experience and from reading the hundreds of posts of others.

Robo, I do speak from my experience as a former CM having worked in both WDW parks and resorts concierge for several years, however, I also stated that this is in fact a "general policy" which means that exceptions CAN be made and by no means is anything absolute as you stated, I apologize if I made it sound "absolute" as obviously there is no official publicly-released policy in regards to how late a guest is allowed to stay inside a park other than the fact that a park closes at X:XX time.. In response to some of your counter-points above:

4. The fact that WDW Transportation runs ONE HOUR after park closing is in fact repeated as this IS actually an official policy (<- click link) that is disclosed to guests, just as you see it on the official WDW website, CMs are trained to provide this answer when guests specifically inquire about how late WDW Transportation runs after park close. No guest will ever be left "stranded" at a park but may have difficulty finding a way to get back to their resort if they stay beyond that one hour mark, you may have to take a bus to another resort and/or park and transfer, and/or you may have to wait for a prolonged period of time until a bus or WDW van is dispatched for you by management..

7. I mention "rare" exceptions as this is most certainly not advertised and a WDW CM would NEVER advise a guest to stay inside a park for two hours after it has closed..