What time does Epcot World Showcase actually close?

[Disney Pal]

Could someone tell me what time the stores in world showcase close if it says 9pm. They always seem to be open longer? Is there a little cushion time they give you?

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Usually right at 9pm. Sometimes they will be open until 9:30 or 10p but Disney will list that on their website and it only happens when it's really, really busy.

Everything closes up really fast - especially kiosks and such. The marguarita stand in Mexico even closed up before Illuminations started in April.
The stores will stay open if they have customers but then most of the doors are locked except one or two and they have people manning them to stop new folks from coming in saying they are closed.

Same thing happens on party nights at MK - at least that was my experience last year at MNSSHP and MVMCP - if you want to stay and shop, be in the Emporium before midnight otherwise you won't be able to get in.

Last year was the first year I noticed this happening - maybe it has all along and I was just oblivious until then.

 

[OKW Lover]

Yup, they close right at 9:00. If you are in line for an attraction before that time you'll get into the attraction but nobody else can join the line.

 

[hakepb]

Too early

It's almost embarrassing early.

Restaurants do take ADRs until closing, so I've walked through an empty world showcase after an 8:30pm ADR.

 

[figment_jii]

I think the only shop in World Showcase that stays open consistently past park closing is the shop at International Gateway. They have to remain open so folks with lockers can return their key after the park closes. Other than that, in my experience, the shops stop allowing new guests to enter at 9:00 pm (or whenever Epcot closes officially).

 

[Robo]

I think the only shop in World Showcase that stays open consistently past park closing is the shop at International Gateway. They have to remain open so folks with lockers can return their key after the park closes. Other than that, in my experience, the shops stop allowing new guests to enter at 9:00 pm (or whenever Epcot closes officially).

The "twin gift shops" at the bridge to Future World stay open after IllumiNations.

 

[mousefan73]

For us Bier in Germany at 9:01 was a big nein.

 

[WEDWDW]

I think the only shop in World Showcase that stays open consistently past park closing is the shop at International Gateway.

World Traveler

 

[disnut8]

For us Bier in Germany at 9:01 was a big nein.

That's why we always watch Illuminations from Germany and why we always have a beer in hands at 8:59 PM.

Just to caution everyone - there are no barriers set up and no one is rushed out of World Showcase at any time. You can easily stroll around, watch Illuminations, take your time exiting the area and never feel like you have to leave. We've watched Illuminations starting at 9 and finally made our way out of the park around 10ish or so. We were never hurried along or told to speed up. Epcot after Illuminations is one of the most relaxing times at Disney World.

 

[calismic]

When we were there in April they ushered us out the door at exactly 9PM!

 

[OKW Lover]

The "twin gift shops" at the bridge to Future World stay open after IllumiNations.

World Traveler

Back in the early days of EPCOT Center, we referred to those shops as "Hong Kong" and "Taiwan" because that's where most of the merchandise was made.

 

[WEDWDW]

Back in the early days of EPCOT Center, we referred to those shops as "Hong Kong" and "Taiwan" because that's where most of the merchandise was made.

LOL!!!!

Just to clarify,World Traveler is the shop by International Gateway and Disney Traders and Port of Entry are the shops at the World Showcase Plaza.

 

[Dan Murphy]

That's why we always watch Illuminations from Germany and why we always have a beer in hands at 8:59 PM.

Just to caution everyone - there are no barriers set up and no one is rushed out of World Showcase at any time. You can easily stroll around, watch Illuminations, take your time exiting the area and never feel like you have to leave. We've watched Illuminations starting at 9 and finally made our way out of the park around 10ish or so. We were never hurried along or told to speed up. Epcot after Illuminations is one of the most relaxing times at Disney World.

Just as a reminder to those taking a Friendship boat from International Gateway, the last boat leaves one hour after park closing (9 PM, or 9:30 during Christmas season), not one hour after Illuminations.

 

[disnut8]

Just as a reminder to those taking a Friendship boat from International Gateway, the last boat leaves one hour after park closing (9 PM, or 9:30 during Christmas season), not one hour after Illuminations.

Same for the buses. We just make sure we are out of the park by 10 PM.

 

[Robo]

Same for the buses. We just make sure we are out of the park by 10 PM.

Sorry, but that's incorrect.

The WDW resort buses will continue to operate from the park until all guests have been taken to their resorts.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Buses will run well beyond and hour after closing. They will be there for any guest still in the park. A good example would be when the Studios close, let's say at 8 PM, Fantasmic starting at 8:30. And after that, guests may head over to Osborne lights. Those guests may be leaving upwards of 2 hours after closing. I know I have taken a bus many times, an hour and a half to two hours after

 

[Boopuff]

Very true about the busses. They won't strand anyone at the parks. I've been on the monorail at 2am after the park had closed "officially" at midnight. Plenty of people milling about.

 

[Juliet25]

For the first time ever at EPCOT my DH and I were still eating at a WS restaurant after Illuminations and made our way out of the park without the crowds. We stopped at the photo area to pick up our Chase Disney card free photo and made it to the bus stop around 10. We did have to wait quite awhile for a bus (and I was afraid we'd be stranded as we were the only people there for like 20 minutes). But a bus did come. It was really nice to move out when the park was empty of the other guests. Very magical.

I'm sorry--you asked about WS shops. I don't recall those being open; just the shops like the photo center at the front of the park.