They WILL kick you out of the parks after hours

[Code]

Just listened to today's show, just wanted to make a quick comment about the segment with Andy from Discover Epcot.

I also really enjoy hanging around the parks after closing to get great night photos sans crowds, and I've been escorted out of all 4 parks. The Cast Members are very nice about it, usually they'll start by nicely suggesting that you move toward the exit and stop you from going deeper into the park, but eventually they sweep the park and they have to just flat tell you that it's time to leave - usually 1-2 hrs after everything is closed in my experience.

One of my favorite memories from my trip in January is being the last guest out of Epcot, hearing the gate CMs shout "We're good?" - "Yep!" and then with a loud CLICK, all the main gate lights went dark.

Nothing quite like being the last car in the giant parking lot!

 

[mainegal]

Wow!
That must have been some late night. I think I might like to be last out sometime, too.

I guess you are not at the park gates for rope drop?

 

[Code]

I guess you are not at the park gates for rope drop?

Actually I was the next morning I went hyper-commando on that solo trip (I lost 13 lbs in 6 days, yikes)

 

[mainegal]

Actually I was the next morning I went hyper-commando on that solo trip (I lost 13 lbs in 6 days, yikes)

Bet you were not on the Disney Dining Plan with a sit down meal every day.

 

[jessrose18]

Thanks for staying in the parks so late so we all can benefit, I love to see your pictures on the pic of the day thread! Great empty park pictures!

 

[916chipndale]

thats so cool we should stay in the parks late this trip and be the last one on the monorail back to the poly

 

[WaltD4Me]

In Feburary of 2008 we went to a Pirates and Princess party. It was our only day at Disney and none of us wanted to leave. We sat down on the lower patio in front of The Plaza for a long time, just talking and looking at the castle. We when finally went up to Main Street it was deserted. We were the only ones on the street. Not a guest, CM, nobody but us. It was pretty amazing and just a tad eerie. All the lights were still on, but everyone was gone. We took a ton of pictures. No one said anything to us, we eventually saw a couple CM's. When I realized they were going to close the monorail we
finally left. It was very cool.

 

[jeanigor]

Just listened to today's show, just wanted to make a quick comment about the segment with Andy from Discover Epcot.

I also really enjoy hanging around the parks after closing to get great night photos sans crowds, and I've been escorted out of all 4 parks. The Cast Members are very nice about it, usually they'll start by nicely suggesting that you move toward the exit and stop you from going deeper into the park, but eventually they sweep the park and they have to just flat tell you that it's time to leave - usually 1-2 hrs after everything is closed in my experience.

One of my favorite memories from my trip in January is being the last guest out of Epcot, hearing the gate CMs shout "We're good?" - "Yep!" and then with a loud CLICK, all the main gate lights went dark.

Nothing quite like being the last car in the giant parking lot!

That looks like our situation after MVMCP last year and after the TSMM DIS-A-Palooza event. Good times. Good times.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

That looks like our situation after MVMCP last year and after the TSMM DIS-A-Palooza event. Good times. Good times.

Yes, it does, doesn't it?

 

[disneygirl 17]

Actually I was the next morning I went hyper-commando on that solo trip (I lost 13 lbs in 6 days, yikes)

That is my kind of weight loss plan!

 

[Golf4food]

DW turns back into a peasant girl (I can't say she turns into a pumpkin or a mouse can I?) when it gets late, usually around 10:30 or 11:00 but she toughs it out at WDW until around midnight if she can, but after that I practically have to carry her. I'd love to stay in a park until after close and wander around with the camera (and tripod, of course). What can be better than staying in the MK until after 1 am on an EMH night?

 

[BriarRosie]

I don't think there's anything creepier than walking on the path from the Studios to the Epcot resorts like some of us did after the Toy Story meet. Although walking around the lake after Jellyrolls was just as creepy. Maybe I thought the scary clown pool would attack or something.

 

[Iceman10]

My wife and I do this when ever possible especially at Epcot. We'll watch fireworks at say Norway and then slowly sit in every court yard for 5 - 10 minutes along the way enjoying ourselves. It's really nice and very relaxing, plus you often will see "details" you never noticed before.

 

[mainegal]

What if you stay "too late" and don't have a car?
How late can you stay and not miss a bus to bring you back to your resort?

 

[tlcoke]

What if you stay "too late" and don't have a car?
How late can you stay and not miss a bus to bring you back to your resort?

Transportation usually runs 2 hours after the park closes.

 

[Iggipolka]

My favorite Disney memory of all time was several years ago when my wife and I walked around World Showcase about an hour after park closing. It was a beautifully warm summer evening and had rained earlier, so the ground was just a little wet and glistening. We were the only ones walking around the World Showcase with all the lights on and the music playing. It was beautiful, romantic and just plain wonderful.

We slowly walked around WS and then through the rose garden on the way out through Future World. We saw a couple CM's, but everyone pretty much ignored us.

We left the park about 90 minutes after closing and the buses were still running back to the resort.

That night still makes me smile when I think about it.

 

[cdotla]

Wow...all of these experiences sound pretty special. I will have to try that too at least once.

 

[jcb]

My favorite Disney memory of all time was several years ago when my wife and I walked around World Showcase about an hour after park closing. It was a beautifully warm summer evening and had rained earlier, so the ground was just a little wet and glistening. We were the only ones walking around the World Showcase with all the lights on and the music playing. It was beautiful, romantic and just plain wonderful.

We slowly walked around WS and then through the rose garden on the way out through Future World. We saw a couple CM's, but everyone pretty much ignored us.

We left the park about 90 minutes after closing and the buses were still running back to the resort.

That night still makes me smile when I think about it.

DW and I had a similar experience after TSM 1.0 We walked out of DHS by ourselves and then along the waterway back to the Dolphin. So often, it is the unexpected simple things that you value the most.

 

[kbelle8995]

I used to be a cast member a good ten years ago. But when I worked there we stayed until All of the guests left. I often saw Security guards following the remaining guest keeping an eye on the stragglers. I heard one time a group of guest who stayed until all were gone.

They yelled "We're the last ones in the park." I was still standing there waiting to be released going "Um Hello." The security guard came over to where I was and we had a good chuckle.

 

[jeanigor]

I used to be a cast member a good ten years ago. But when I worked there we stayed until All of the guests left. I saw Security guards following the remaining guest. I heard one time a group of guest who stayed until all were gone.

They yelled "We're the last ones in the park." I was still standing there waiting to be released going "Um Hello." The security guard came over to where I was and we had a good chuckle.

When I was a CM, I worked in Innoventions. When Illuminations started, we would turn the doors off clean out little expo area and go to Innoventions East for our nightly wrap meeting. We were clocked out by 9:30. Didn't have to deal with tourist traffic because we left before they did.