When does Disney stop letting you enter attraction lines?

[CJ2K2]

This is probably a dumb question that's been answered a million times, but I couldn't find an answer using a Google search.

When does Disney stop letting you enter a line queue? If a park closes at 9pm for example, do they close the line 30 mins before closing for example if the line is about 30 mins long, or as long as you are in line before 9pm you are good?

Thanks!

 

[IsThatYouTigger]

This is probably a dumb question that's been answered a million times, but I couldn't find an answer using a Google search.

When does Disney stop letting you enter a line queue? If a park closes at 9pm for example, do they close the line 30 mins before closing for example if the line is about 30 mins long, or as long as you are in line before 9pm you are good?

Thanks!

If the park closes at 9:00 they will let you into line until 8:59!

 

[wilkeliza]

They let you in until the clock strikes the closing hour. So for 9 pm close it is 8:59:59. Some rides the CMs will do a count down if they are feeling up to it.

 

[mrzrich]

Be aware of GROSSLY inflated wait times posted near closing. They'll post 45 minutes when the wait is actually 10 minutes as a tactic to discourage you from getting in the line

 

[scrapquitler]

This is probably a dumb question that's been answered a million times, but I couldn't find an answer using a Google search.

When does Disney stop letting you enter a line queue? If a park closes at 9pm for example, do they close the line 30 mins before closing for example if the line is about 30 mins long, or as long as you are in line before 9pm you are good?

Thanks!

8:59 As long as you are in line by 9:00, you can ride the ride. Be aware that sometimes near the end of the night, posted wait times might be over-inflated to discourage people from getting into line at the last minute (specifically: Space Mountain and 7DMT).

 

[adisneyaunt]

I never realized they did that at closing time. I guess that's a good tactic to get that ride in... plan to get on line shortly before closing n wait it out.
Thx for posting.

 

[bigmac5]

This is probably a dumb question that's been answered a million times, but I couldn't find an answer using a Google search.

Thanks!

not such a stupid question...thanks for asking it

sorry about the above post...I got distracted

 

[goofyernmost]

Yes, we as guest should be aware that even though we are on vacation, the CM's are not. They have been on their feet all day and many would like to get home to their families before they have to turn around and go back in to babysit us again. We need to show a little courtesy and clear out as quickly as we can at closing time. The rides are one thing but the lingerers at the stores are really a problem often staying up until 2 or more hours after closing. It is very inconsiderate and I always felt that when the park closed it was closed and left as quickly as I could. I would want the same courtesy if I were working there, so that is the courtesy that I try and give to them for making my trip fun.

 

[mrzrich]

Disney makes $$$$ every day in those after closing purchases. I believe the staff scheduled to work shops that are open after closing time are actually scheduled in a way that accounts for last minute purchases.

Most quick service, snack carts, etc do close their doors before actual closing time. Shops near the exit are designed to invite last minute shoppers

 

[AngiTN]

One other item to note, that helps those lines go fast, there are no, or few, guests with FP in the line so the stand by line moves fast, faster than when there are FP guests too.

Yes, we as guest should be aware that even though we are on vacation, the CM's are not. They have been on their feet all day and many would like to get home to their families before they have to turn around and go back in to babysit us again. We need to show a little courtesy and clear out as quickly as we can at closing time. The rides are one thing but the lingerers at the stores are really a problem often staying up until 2 or more hours after closing. It is very inconsiderate and I always felt that when the park closed it was closed and left as quickly as I could. I would want the same courtesy if I were working there, so that is the courtesy that I try and give to them for making my trip fun.

The CM aren't held past their scheduled shift just because you get in line. And the shops operating hours are 1 hour after closing. No one should feel guilty for 1 more ride or buying that one more stuffed Mickey

 

[Cinderella94]

The CM aren't held past their scheduled shift just because you get in line. And the shops operating hours are 1 hour after closing. No one should feel guilty for 1 more ride or buying that one more stuffed Mickey

I agree. It's not like they're not getting paid for that time and someone is holding them up.

 

[Number Six]

Yes, we as guest should be aware that even though we are on vacation, the CM's are not. They have been on their feet all day and many would like to get home to their families before they have to turn around and go back in to babysit us again. We need to show a little courtesy and clear out as quickly as we can at closing time. The rides are one thing but the lingerers at the stores are really a problem often staying up until 2 or more hours after closing. It is very inconsiderate and I always felt that when the park closed it was closed and left as quickly as I could. I would want the same courtesy if I were working there, so that is the courtesy that I try and give to them for making my trip fun.

Never understood this idea. Seems like nobody should show up before the park opens then either, because some CM's have to show up earlier to handle the early risers. Disney knows they have to figure in extra hours to staff before and after the park hours.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Yes, we as guest should be aware that even though we are on vacation, the CM's are not. They have been on their feet all day and many would like to get home to their families before they have to turn around and go back in to babysit us again. We need to show a little courtesy and clear out as quickly as we can at closing time. The rides are one thing but the lingerers at the stores are really a problem often staying up until 2 or more hours after closing. It is very inconsiderate and I always felt that when the park closed it was closed and left as quickly as I could. I would want the same courtesy if I were working there, so that is the courtesy that I try and give to them for making my trip fun.

Disney will close the doors when staff is scheduled to go off shift. People are not being discourteous in doing what Disney has planned and scheduled for.

 

[wilkeliza]

Yes, we as guest should be aware that even though we are on vacation, the CM's are not. They have been on their feet all day and many would like to get home to their families before they have to turn around and go back in to babysit us again. We need to show a little courtesy and clear out as quickly as we can at closing time. The rides are one thing but the lingerers at the stores are really a problem often staying up until 2 or more hours after closing. It is very inconsiderate and I always felt that when the park closed it was closed and left as quickly as I could. I would want the same courtesy if I were working there, so that is the courtesy that I try and give to them for making my trip fun.

Disney knows which shops stay busy (I.e. Mouse Gears and the emporium) and with that staff a team to stay 2+ hours after the official closing. Same with attractions. Attractions that are constantly still running through a line at closing have a schedule shift that mean the necessary CMs are scheduled to stay after closing and further to get through the line and do their closing tasks. No CM gets to pack it up at exactly 9pm if the park closes at 9. A closing crew would be scheduled to leave around 10-11 and some even later.

 

[mrzrich]

We once had a late ADR at Epcot. 8:55 on a 9PM close. It was after 10:30 by the time we ate, and made our way from World Showcase back to the front of the park. We NEVER FELT RUSHED. The restaurant did not rush us. The park staff waved as we made our way toward the exit. One offered to take our picture! When we got to the bus at nearly 11pm we apologized to our bus driver who was taking us on an empty bus back to our resort. He told us that he had just gotten off his lunch break and was scheduled to work until 230 AM!

 

[gap2368]

Yes, we as guest should be aware that even though we are on vacation, the CM's are not. They have been on their feet all day and many would like to get home to their families before they have to turn around and go back in to babysit us again. We need to show a little courtesy and clear out as quickly as we can at closing time. The rides are one thing but the lingerers at the stores are really a problem often staying up until 2 or more hours after closing. It is very inconsiderate and I always felt that when the park closed it was closed and left as quickly as I could. I would want the same courtesy if I were working there, so that is the courtesy that I try and give to them for making my trip fun.

I think you do have a point but I would say people that want to be the last ones out the people that will sit on a bench for an hour in the very back of the park then slowly make there way to the front go in a shop and shop and then slowly make they way out.

yes the CM are being paid ( like someone said the store near the exit are opened latter an hour) but if you know you want XYZ at the end great do that go in but do not go in an hour after the park closed and walk around for another hour and then take some pictures on you way out.

I think what I am saying is there is that happy medium in staying a late to get that extra ride in or the extra item or just because you do not want to wait 30-45 minutes for the buss monorail what ever to get beck to where your going. so do that extra thing and then leave.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Yes, we as guest should be aware that even though we are on vacation, the CM's are not. They have been on their feet all day and many would like to get home to their families before they have to turn around and go back in to babysit us again. We need to show a little courtesy and clear out as quickly as we can at closing time. The rides are one thing but the lingerers at the stores are really a problem often staying up until 2 or more hours after closing. It is very inconsiderate and I always felt that when the park closed it was closed and left as quickly as I could. I would want the same courtesy if I were working there, so that is the courtesy that I try and give to them for making my trip fun.

The thing is that you assumed that closing time for the public was also closing time for CMs, but that has never been the case. I feel kind of bad for you, because I imagine that you've deprived yourself unnecessarily of magical experiences you might have otherwise had in the parks. Especially at MK and Epcot. There is eventually a hard operational close at all the parks, and it's usually timed to when the buses stop running--that's the real "closing time" for CMs. It's about two hours after the "official" closing time. Until then, there is no problem at all shopping, dining, or waiting in a ride queue. When the parks are really closed, Disney will clear you out to make sure you make it to the final buses. But they don't stay open unnecessarily in the manner that you thought they did. It is all planned for, to make sure guests don't feel rushed in the very way that you have been rushing yourself.

 

[mrzrich]

The thing is that you assumed that closing time for the public was also closing time for CMs, but that has never been the case. I feel kind of bad for you, because I imagine that you've deprived yourself unnecessarily of magical experiences you might have otherwise had in the parks. Especially at MK and Epcot. There is eventually a hard operational close at all the parks, and it's usually timed to when the buses stop running--that's the real "closing time" for CMs. It's about two hours after the "official" closing time. Until then, there is no problem at all shopping, dining, or waiting in a ride queue. When the parks are really closed, Disney will clear you out to make sure you make it to the final buses. But they don't stay open unnecessarily in the manner that you thought they did. It is all planned for, to make sure guests don't feel rushed in the very way that you have been rushing yourself.

Exactly. If the employees were only scheduled until 9:00, they wouldn't make ADR's at 8:55

 

[Missyrose]

Yes, we as guest should be aware that even though we are on vacation, the CM's are not. They have been on their feet all day and many would like to get home to their families before they have to turn around and go back in to babysit us again. We need to show a little courtesy and clear out as quickly as we can at closing time. The rides are one thing but the lingerers at the stores are really a problem often staying up until 2 or more hours after closing. It is very inconsiderate and I always felt that when the park closed it was closed and left as quickly as I could. I would want the same courtesy if I were working there, so that is the courtesy that I try and give to them for making my trip fun.

The CMs shift includes the couple of hours or so it takes after park closing to clean/clear the park and sweep any remaining guests out. No one is being kept overtime because guests are riding after park close or watching the Kiss Goodnight. If Disney needed guests out sooner, they'd sweep guests out of the park sooner.

 

[disnut8]

Just to note on the subject of Cast Members and their scheduled "end shift time". It's not just Disney World that schedules employees to work after closing time. My son works in a very nice furniture store in Maryland and the doors close to people at 9:00 PM some nights. He does credit checks for customers after they have bought their furniture. His ending time is 9:30 PM, not 9:00 and he's basically guaranteed someone will decide on a major purchase at 8:55 and he has to process it for them before he can leave.