When do park restaurants actually close?

[frazzled one]

We're going the 1st week in November (somewhat limited hours), and we hope to lose as little time as possible in the parks. Can you get a PS at the park restaurants within 15 minutes of closing time, or do the restaurants try to close when the parks do? We'd like to go to Tony's Town Square on our MK day, when the parks will be closing at 6 PM, and to the Brown Derby at MGM when closing time is 7 PM. Can anyone tell me when the park restaurants stop serving? Thanks!

fraz

 

[Minniespal]

I know that the Rainforrest Cafe in AK closes later than the park because it has its own entrance but I'm sure the restaurants in the other parks close when the park closes.

 

[Harambe]

I think you can make PS's up until the park closes, then you can have your meal, and walk through the empty park to leave!

 

[BlueFairy]

I know I've heard that this is the policy at EPCOT (what Harambe described). But I read that before cutbacks. I would imagine that you can stick around unless they've changed the policy.
Best way to find out - call and make a PS as late as they will allow. I know some are having trouble doing this at MGM way in advance. It seems that they are filling early seatings before opening up the later ones in an attempt to save $$ by closing the restaurant as early as demand will allow.

 

[n2mm]

I have found in the past that each individual restraurant seems to have their own agenda when it comes to hours. I've been to the 50s Prime Time at 9:00 PM when the park closes at 9:00 PM. But have also been at the Plaza at 5:00 and was the last customer, even though MK closed at 9:00 PM that night. All you can do is call dining and ask what the latest seating is for where you want to eat. That is often what I do.

 

[frazzled one]

Thanks, all - I'll call WDW-DINE and see about getting the latest seating I can for the nights in question. It seems logical that the restaurants would continue seating until right around closing time, at least - otherwise they'd be cutting themselves out of a lot of business on early closing nights.

One of my fondest memories is the night we were leaving the MK, pretty much in the middle of the crowd, and the hostesses at Tony's were waving people in! Eating there made for a nice extension to our day, and the kids loved it. However, this was 10 years ago, so I presume lots has changed.

Having SO MUCH FUN planning our trip!

fraz