What can you do at Epcot around closing time?

[kbmartin]

Hi there! I'm just trying to figure out if an idea may work for my trip next year. Personally, my DH and I don't love Epcot, but there are a few things there that we would be sad to miss on our trip, so we are considering hopping over one night close to closing time. Our must-dos at Epcot on this next trip with my sister would include Spaceship Earth, Soarin', Living with the Land, Mission Space, the Mexican pavilion, Frozen Ever After, Via Napoli, and shopping in Japan at the Mitsukoshi building. I also might want to hit up Karamell Kuche. We do not care for Illuminations.

For reference, we will be there December 8-12, 2017.

Let's potentially say that we show up at Epcot at 6 pm on a night when it closes at 9:30. I think we could potentially get through the rides and the Mexican/Norwegian pavilion by 9 (maybe even sooner?). If we made a late reservation at Via Napoli (like, say 9:20-9:25), what would be open after park close? Would Mitsukoshi and Karamell Kuche be open when we left Via Napoli, or should we plan to get there earlier to make sure we get to those before a late ADR? I know at least in Magic Kingdom that the shops on Main Street are open late, so I was wondering if that might be similar in Epcot.

Also, what are restaurants like at Disney that late? Are the servers usually just as attentive as any other time of the day or do they seem annoyed that you are there so late? We wouldn't take our sweet, sweet time there, but if Disney allows us to make a reservation at 9:25, I would want to make sure that we will receive good service.

Thank you in advance for any information!

 

[Disneylover99]

I'm not 100% sure about Mitsukoshi, but I know that Karamel Kuche and other stores and counter service locations close in WS right at park closing. Maybe MouseGears will be open, but that's about it.

 

[kbmartin]

Thank you - that's really good to know. I would definitely try to pick up a snack at Kuche beforehand, then.

Can anyone tell me about Mitsukoshi and what the level of service at a table service restaurant like Via Napoli would be like at park closing? Thanks!

 

[mrbghd]

Most of the main stores are all open for a while after park closing. Definitely no dining reservations at park closing either. I definitely wouldn't do that late of a reservation even if it was allowed ( know plenty of servers and have heard the things they do to closing time guests.) if you are not a fan of illuminations and don't want to be in the mass exodus my advice is either take your time leaving WS or be in FW and heading for the exit during illuminations.

 

[hakepb]

I'm my experience, leaving a late ADR, (say an hour after Illuminations) CM's along world showcase won't let you stop and enjoy the empty WS

I can't imagine anything still open in WS.
If it's late enough, you won't even be able to get into Mouse Gears of dinner runs long enough.

I've never had rushed service at Via Napoli (they are kinda infamous about their leisurely service) Due to the open kitchen, it is very obvious they are closing for the night. I've seen them close the wood fired ovens, and tables are picked up ...

It's fun to casually walk out of the empty EPCOT, but there is not much to "do" besides observe.

 

[stephmarty]

I would exit the park at close and walk around the Boardwalk. Still lots to see and do.

 

[mountdew1]

Other than MouseGears, I wouldn't expect anything to be open past close. And even MouseGears will close it doors something like 30-60 minutes past park close. Basically giving someone who is back at say American Adventure time to walk around the lagoon and get in. If you dawdle, you won't get in. If you do a park close reservation, once you leave you will be slowly forced to the gates. They won't make you move, but CMs won't let you go past them back into other parts of the park.

Your plans might be a bit optimistic. Even if you use your FP for the day in Epcot, you won't be able to get all the headliners you have listed, so would need to wait in line for one of them, and that alone could take 1-2 hours of your time. You would most likely need to chop either Soarin' or FEA, and then you may be able to get the others done as long as you are in park at 6. It would require hustle on your part, and the theme park gods choosing to bless you with no 101s or long lines.

If they let you make the reservation, then you should still receive good service. Don't be a dink, and don't waste time just because you can. (Both good ideas for any time out at a restaurant) Tip accordingly to the service and it's all good.

 

[kbmartin]

Thank you all! I think maybe we'll plan to arrive around 4:30-5 pm instead of 6 pm just in case to be sure we can get to all of the rides and shops. I may still go ahead with a late reservation at Via Napoli, but I appreciate the advice and info - I know it may look like they are "closing up" while we eat.

 

[bbjunkie]

In fairness, I'm not looking it up, but you mention your planned hours of being in Epcot from 6-9:30. Is 9:30 really the closing time. I'm thinking (this is off the top of my head, again I have not looked it up) that Epcot closes at 9:00, with Illuminations starting at 9:00 as well. The last couple of times we were there, it was evening EMH so Karamel Kuche and other things were still open afterward...I can't help with whether or not they'd be open if the park's official closing time coincided with the start of Illuminations. I can also only base my opinions on experience, and we only go in the summer. All of those things aside, though, I think you have an ambitious set of things to do in a short period of time.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

The Dept. store in Japan closes at 9pm when the park closes at 9pm. And the Pick a Pearl area in the store was closed before that.

I was in there on my last trip just before park close and all the doors were locked right at 9pm - I finished my shopping quickly (I was only getting a couple of things and knew exactly what they were and where they were at) and paid and they opened the door for me to leave. They didn't want any lingering folks in the store - I was being followed as I went through each section and that was a bit uncomfortable. It was around 9:15p when I left I believe. Nothing else was still open in World Showcase.

Also - Mousegears was not open when I walked by, some people were in there finishing up their shopping but no new folks could enter. This was around 9:40p or so.

 

[Accident]

I've had this happen a few times.. If your at an ADR and it ends after the park closes, nothing is opened but you get a very "am I going to get arrested for trespassing" walk out. If it ends right as park closes everyone is still around but it doesn't take that long for everyone to just disappear. I think on average, maybe there was 1 or 2 other people we could see in the very far distance and 1 cast member walking the other direction.. We went pretty slow, never going into the pavilions but we took some nice "they forget we were here" photos..

now the 1 thing that might be opened is that last store before you leave the park (both exits).. So if you need a bottle or water or something you can get one.

Buses were also really great when this happens (and they do this in all parks) but once they don't really have enough to need all the different pick up stops, they go down to a single bus stop. without asking they just pull up buses for the resorts needed and get everyone going with little to no wait.

 

[Lynn57]

I think Living with the Land often closes earlier than the rest of the park, so you would want to make sure you know the hours for that ride or hit it early in your plan.

 

[writerguyfl]

In fairness, I'm not looking it up, but you mention your planned hours of being in Epcot from 6-9:30. Is 9:30 really the closing time. I'm thinking (this is off the top of my head, again I have not looked it up) that Epcot closes at 9:00, with Illuminations starting at 9:00 as well.

The Candlelight Processional is run between November 25th and December 30th this year. During that time, Illuminations (and normal park closing) always happens at 9:30pm.

 

[wilkeliza]

If your Via Napoli reservation is that late plan for nothing including Mouse Gears to be open. Also be prepared for the walk out of the park by a CM. Italy is the 2nd country checked at roughly 10:30 so if you aren't done eating by 10:35 you'all be asked to keep walking to the front exit (international gateway only with escort there) and you will not be allowed to stop and take photos etc. The hard clear of the park starts in World Showcase every night starting 1 hour after the posted close time so roughly 45 minutes after Illuminations.

 

[MolonLabe]

WS isn't like MK, they close up shop promptly.

Mouse gears isn't like Emporium either. You get 30 minutes, maybe 45 to get in after closing that's it.

Spaceship Earth, Mexico... all walk ons that time of night without question (3 C's always is, lol) but you are talking about 15 minutes for SE and then a 7 minute walk (decent pace) to Mexico and minimum 15 min for that pavilion. Now it's 37 minutes in, don't forget at least 5 minutes from bag check to SE so 42 minutes... you did arrive at bag check at 6 exactly... Time flies and it's exactly 1 mile to walk completely around WS. No boats running that time of night and even if they did, it's always quicker to walk than wait... if you are walking for time anyway.

Epcot is pretty at night but rushing will give you no time to admire anything. Let us now what you decide.

 

[DLM1980]

Do they still do Soarin an hour after park close? I remember being told by a CM a few years back to go to soarin after illuminations because they keep the line open for another hour but it's not advertised. We did it that time but the past few trips Illumination summoned bed time so we left

 

[hakepb]

Do they still do Soarin an hour after park close? I remember being told by a CM a few years back to go to soarin after illuminations because they keep the line open for another hour but it's not advertised. We did it that time but the past few trips Illumination summoned bed time so we left

I think that extended Soarin was only while Test Track was closed for refurb ?

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I can attest from experience, once illuminations starts, that everything closes in the WS. I usually watch the fireworks by Germany and everything is locked tight right after the first firework.

 

[vicb]

Another vote for strolling slowly through the WS after closing soaking up the atmosphere (lots of folks do that) and head for the International Gateway. You can stroll the Boardwalk there is usually things to see and do there. We sometimes shop in the gift shop at the BWI, you can get a drink at lots of places there or even a really late dinner on the BW or in the resorts there.

 

[DLM1980]

Another vote for strolling slowly through the WS after closing soaking up the atmosphere (lots of folks do that) and head for the International Gateway. You can stroll the Boardwalk there is usually things to see and do there. We sometimes shop in the gift shop at the BWI, you can get a drink at lots of places there or even a really late dinner on the BW or in the resorts there.

is there a walk from the IG to the Main Gate of Epcot that you can hit that goes on the outside of the park. Once one leaves through the IG after park close you can't get back in to get to the main parking lot if thats where you parked