Park Exit Strategies

[DisneyJade]

Hello! I have an unusual problem to be solved for my upcoming trip.

I will be attending a convention in the "world." It's a fun event with stuff going on in the evenings. Specifically, events that start at 10:30 PM.

Now, my mom and I (2 able adults) plan to see Illuminations AND Fantasmic... and get back to CSR in time for our events. In fact, ideally, we'd like to aim to be back to the resort by 10 PM each night, to change, snack, etc..

So, with these parameters:
Illuminations & Fantasmic at 9pm
never during evening EMH
non-weekend, pre-diningplan, early August crowds

Is it possible to get back by 10? are there clever places to watch/EXIT from the shows that will get us ahead of the crowd? other park exit strategies??
Thanks in Advance !!! I'll be waiting up for your brilliant answers!!
DIS is the best

 

[mking624]

To be quite honest, you're either going to be cutting it REALLY closeor you're going to be late. At the end of a show, there's going to be a ton of people streaming out and heading to the buses. There will be lines for the buses and even if you make it to the bus first, the bus will wait for others to get on and then there's travel back to the resort itself. Your best option after leaving the park would be to take a cab or if you're driving at all, take the car.

 

[Rella Bella]

Well, Illuminations is about 30 minutes... Fantasmic is probably a little longer.
You didn't mention which resort you'll be staying at but I think 'mking' is right that to make your deadline you'll probably need to take a cab. You can call ahead and order one to stand ready at the gate.

However!! If by chance you are staying at the Swan/Dolphin, the Boardwalk or Yacht & Beach Club there is a back entrance/exit out of Epcot that is about a 20 minute walk (or 10 minute boat ride back)... plus it's in World Showcase so it's not as far as walking to the front gate of Epcot to catch a bus or taxi. The back gate is between Britain & France, so you'll want to find your spot at the edge of the lake as nearby as possible.

If you're staying at a monorail resort you can catch the Monorail from the front gate at Epcot, and you might be back by 10, or a little after. In this case you'll want to be at the farthest south end of the World Showcase Lake, closest to Future world and therefore closest to the front gate. It will take you atleast 15 minutes to get out of the park & up to the monorail station... or to the taxi area, so keep that in mind. If you're fast walkers you might be able to stay ahead of the hoards of people... but believe me they will be walking just as fast as you are!

The from the theater after Fantasmic to the parking area is only about a 10 minute walk, so if you had a taxi waiting you could probalby make it back close to 10. Be sure you sit on the far right side of the theater (as you face the stage), so you can be among the first out.

I like to think of these exit rushes as "the running of the bulls"! Everyone is in a HUGE hurry & everyone wants to be first! We usually just lag back and relax... but then we don't have a party to go to like you do!

It can be done... I just wanted you to know what you're up against!
Have a wonderful trip!

 

[mking624]

You didn't mention which resort you'll be staying at

Actually he mentioned that he needed to get back to CSR (Coronado Springs) for the events:

and get back to CSR in time for our events

 

[Rella Bella]

At least one of us is awake!!

 

[mking624]

That's only because when I saw it, it was an hour ago. No way would I have noticed that now.

 

[kkymmy]

i know its not ideal but hows about cutting the last couple of minutes of each off.....with fantasmic especially the story is actually over before the end of the show....theres the character boat and another line from mickey and it's done....this could maybe get you a bus ahead????

 

[pixistix]

Whatever you do, don't cut fantasmic short! My dh and I did this on our disneymoon a couple years ago in order to 'beat the crowd' and we've regretted it ever since because we found out that the finale is the best part.
I remember a cm saying to us as we were leaving, 'you're going to miss the best part' and I just didn't think much of it. After returning home and talking to people who saw the show, we found out we DID miss the best part.
DH now says we're not leaving anything early to beat the crowd because it sounds too much like something our parents would do!

 

[DisneyJade]

Thanks everyone! I was actually thinking of the "leave early" exit strategy, but I think that defeats the purpose of enjoying the show.. like it makes it a "must" do instead of a "want" to do, if that makes sense.

Well, here's what I've discovered. On the night we're seeing Illuminations, we can be a little late to our event... so I'm hoping if we park ourselves on the FW side of the lagoon, we'll at least be in the front part of the crush to the buses and hopefully only be a little late.

On the night we're seeing Fantasmic, however, it's really important to make our 10:30 event AT 10:30... so one poster mentioned the far right hand side of the theatre. is there a second exit over there? i only know of the one in the back. also, i remember being coralled by CMs last time i saw fantasmic. how can i be assured a seat near the exit? THANKS!

 

[JennyW]

Are you going for the Mensa World Gathering? If so, you're the first person I've found who is going on any of these boards other than me!

jenny

 

[DisneyJade]

JennyW.. I sure am going for the Mensa WG! You're the first person I've found from our crowd on the DISboards too!! I guess that means we'll have the best time, since we'll be the most prepared.

 

[JennyW]

I hope so. I also joined TourGuide Mike, so I'm over prepared. =) We're going to do the parks on August 6-8, then on August 14-18, with the WG in between.

jenny

 

[Rella Bella]

On the night we're seeing Fantasmic, however, it's really important to make our 10:30 event AT 10:30... so one poster mentioned the far right hand side of the theatre. is there a second exit over there? i only know of the one in the back. also, i remember being coralled by CMs last time i saw fantasmic. how can i be assured a seat near the exit? THANKS!

Yes, the top right (as you face the stage), it exits at the filling station right near the front gate. (It's where you enter when you have a dinner package coupon.)

Boy, you smart people like to stay up late!! Have a great trip!

 

[gigi1313]

another suggestion... if you don't mind spending a few bucks, stay 'til the end of each show, exit fantasmic as suggested (top right) and illuminations view from WS near canada, and from both parks head to the BOAT!! hop off at the first resort and walk thru that resort to the taxi stand... grab a cab to CSR and you're home free! (maybe even call the cab company to be sure one is waiting, but it's been our experience that 99% of the time there's a cab waiting at the deluxe resorts) you'll be pulling up to your resort while everyone else is still standing on a bus line! and you'll be comfy and airconditioned, not standing w/someone stroller jammed into your kneecap!

ENJOY!! (and tell me more about mensa world gathering)

 

[DisneyJade]

thanks again everyone! jenny, you're going to get to see a lot more of the world than me. what a nice long trip! rella bella, i'm definitely going to use the "top right" exit strategy at fantasmic. gigi, i'm going to check out the boat locations on my maps right now. and if you want to hear more about the mensa WG, check out my trip report when i get back!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Watch the shows from an near exit and hail a cab asap. The only way.

 

[erinch]

I'd like to hear more about the Mensa World Gathering too. We don't have a local mensa group anywhere near where I live.