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Disney at night
- Thread starter DisneyfanMA
- Start date
Kramerica
Well-Known Member
We go almost exclusively at night. People talk nonstop about rope drop and beating the crowds, but truth is the parks are pretty empty the couple hours before closing. Couple that with the fact that it’s not nearly as hot and it’s prettier at night, it’s heavily preferred for us. I just wish Walt Disney World would stay open as late as Disneyland. It’s not uncommon for the California parks to stay open till midnight.
We love Edna Mode
Active Member
I love walking down Main Street at dusk, and Peter Pan at night, well it’s just magical over there!
Smiley/OCD
Well-Known Member
I’m not talking about FoP, I’m really talking about walking around the land of Pandora outside…THAT I heard is incredibleI know a lot of people say this, but I hated itI found it really disorienting. But I differ from migraines and I might be the problem.
Pepper's Ghost
Well-Known Member
You just can't beat these...
Smiley/OCD
Well-Known Member
Yes, I almost forgot about SSE since the new lighting effects were installed…incredible!
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
Even inside the dark rides look different when you enter at night as you are not entering the dark ride from the bright sun; your eye need to adjust less when you enter a dark ride at night.
HoustonHorn
Premium Member
I have a new tradition - I get an Oga's rezzie for right at park closing time. They officially stay open at least an hour later. As it starts winding down, I get a roadie and then walk through a nearly-empty park. It is truly magical.
DfromATX
Well-Known Member
I want to say in 2018 (or 2016?) it was actually open late, maybe midnight. I know it was as recent as Pandora being there because our last ride was FOP. We were one of the last ones to leave that evening and it was really nice! We had never stayed that late before and it was so peaceful and relaxing. Totally different vibe than during the daytime.
James.Green
Member
Walking into a restaurant in the daylight and walking out at dusk/ night with all the lights (or in the case of old Epcot; Tapestry of nations and the the torch towers) was about the coolest feelings ever. You felt reenergized after eating and walking out to the cooler air.
Its a great call. Friends just got back and one tip they gave us was making dinner reservations earlier than usual (we have young kids). Like don't make them for 7pm like adults only. Think 4, 430, 5. Plus they said they were all famished by then.
If sunset's at 530 for me, and I'm able to land some in that zone I'll experience what you described.
On top of that, if parks close at 7, 8 or even 9pm I want a couple hours post dinner to catch late rides and the closing night time shows.
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Texas84
Well-Known Member
Did you know that's a runDisney weekend? So nighttime might be best for you. The runners will all be asleep. Morning traffic could be bad.
Know nothing about it. Sounds counter productive to park visitors though. We're arriving Sat 5th, so for parks our first day is Sunday Nov 6 (epcot at moment)
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Just looked it's definitely happening that weekend. Runners race through the parks ? Does this mean ropes will be blocking main thoroughfares ? Sorry to be a curmudgeon but I find that incredibly irritating if so. Might jumble my days around if needed to avoid.
Kamikaze
Well-Known Member
Yes
Not 'blocking' but you may have to wait to cross or get re-routed around certain points.
Sorry avid runners and bicycle riders but UGH.....WHY????? It's a theme park!!!!! I know why, but whatever.....
So that's a no for me......It's hard to tell from the event details but looks like the race ("Wine and Dine half Marathon") from a past map I found online went through 3 of the 4 Disney parks.
I'm not starting the vacation at MK, we want to save that for mid week. I am either way over thinking this and should just leave it alone, or I could start off at US IoA but risk making Disney a let down after US. Or I could swap HS/AK and move Epcot to Mon or Wed to avoid dealing with the "After party" at Epcot..... which means bigger crowds plus traffic and could be earlier park closure for reg guests..... hmmmmm....
Current reservations:
Sun Nov 6: Epcot (might swap with either HS or AK and could move Epcot to Monday, or better yet Wed, and US IoA to Mon)
Mon Nov 7: HS
Tue Nov 8: OFF day
Wed Nov9: US IoA
Thurs Nov 10: MK
Fri Nov 11: OFF day
Sat Nov 12: AK
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Lots of park crows on rundisney weekends. Avoid if possible.
Karakasa
Well-Known Member
If I had a choice of going to the parks during the day or night, for 3 of the 4, it would be night, no question. Part of AK's draw is the animals and it's kind of hard to see animals on the trails in the dark unless you blare spotlights at them all night, which wouldn't be fair to them. Even the 'night safari' only had the lights on for an hour or two into the night. But if you were to just do the rest of AK at night and do the animal trails a bit before sunset, that'd be perfect.
Epcot especially is beautiful at night. I feel like one of my favorite consistent memories is the walk back to the front of the park from the far side of the World Showcase lagoon. Even better if it's extra magic hours, but there's still something nice about just walking through Epcot at night. Sadly that walk has been impeded by the redesign, but I'm sure it'll still be gorgeous.
If that DST bill passes, a longer time at the parks at night going to be something that I largely will miss.
Epcot especially is beautiful at night. I feel like one of my favorite consistent memories is the walk back to the front of the park from the far side of the World Showcase lagoon. Even better if it's extra magic hours, but there's still something nice about just walking through Epcot at night. Sadly that walk has been impeded by the redesign, but I'm sure it'll still be gorgeous.
If that DST bill passes, a longer time at the parks at night going to be something that I largely will miss.