Riding Space Mountain between HEA and closing

[closetmickey]

We have garden terrace viewing for HEA on a Saturday night- HEA is 9:15, park close is 10:00 (Disney's ticketed After Hours begin at 10:00).
Will we be able to make it to Space before they close the line to regular guests? With the cost of HEA Dessert party, I hate to feel rushed out of there, but if we can't grab Space as our 4th FP, wondering if this would be an option....hoping they don't close the line earlier for the ticketed event that night! Your expertise is appreciated!

 

[No.1000]

We have done it many times, but you have to be...aggressive to get through the crowds.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

HEA is 18ish minutes. Let’s round to 20 for convenience. So you’ll be done 9:35.

It’s pretty easy to get from the Plaza Garden to Tomorrowland (I’d cut through the Tomorrowland Terrace restaurant) but add in a few extra minutes just to deal with the crowds. Budget 5-10 minutes (shouldn’t take that long).

You’ll be at Space well before 10pm closing.

Have fun!

 

[closetmickey]

Thank you! And I figure it’s a good way to “extend” MK hours for us since there's no chance of a late close now with DAH scheduled.

 

[gharter]

Shouldn't be a problem. If you are in line when the park closes, you will get to ride the ride. Your only issue will be getting through the post HEA crowd and you're headed the wrong direction based on the crowd.
Agree with pp, go through Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant. We did last month and it was easy getting to Space Mountain.

 

[closetmickey]

What kind of wait can we expect at closing on a Saturday in July?

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

What kind of wait can we expect at closing on a Saturday in July?

Our last visit was in June. We arrived at Space Mountain 35 minutes before the park closed and the posted wait time was 50 minutes. However, the ride was actually a walkon and we were able to ride 4 times before they closed up. It did take a little bit of running to make the last 2 rides though. The difference is that closing time was midnight, not 10 pm.

 

[mom2rtk]

Just don't believe the posted wait time when you get there. They will likely inflate it to discourage guests from jumping in line.

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

We just did this very thing last week -- HEA garden view, then Space. It was a low-crowd day (TP rated it a 3 out of 10, I think). We had plenty of time to get in line. I don't remember the posted wait but we did wait 30 or 40 minutes. It was after park close when we exited. They were only operating one side for standby and FP+ guests were using the other side, at least until 10pm.