open to close/almost close?

[CelticRose]

Hey, big shout out to all those who sleep in and come to the parks around noon.:wave: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. You are the reason I can get up at 6 AM and be on a bus at 7 AM and be in a park when the rope drops at 8 AM and have a lovely morning of almost zero crowds.

Ditto, Amen for thise who love to sleep in......I have the most wonderful pictures of MK with no crowds!!!!

When we go in May, I will probably have to adjust my schedule to accommodate my 4 yr old DGS. I have never been in the MK late, we always cut out before the crowds try to leave all at once, so next trip I am planning on a late night at MK for some beautiful evening shots. :sohappy:

 

[Slowjack]

In early...naptime...out at closing

I always want to be there just before opening. You can just get so much done before the crowds really hit, plus I love the sense of anticipation you get waiting for the rope to drop.

I've learned from experience that the trip goes better when we get back to the hotel after lunch. My wife takes a nap while I read and relax, or, last trip, watch the giraffes from the balcony (AKL! Woo!)

Then it's back to a park (usually not the same one), usually until closing, unless there's no reason to stay for closing (not a Fantasmic fan, for example). We're always there off-season, so staying until closing isn't a big deal, and we still get a full night's sleep. When I've been there in the summer, many years ago, my arrival would get later and later each morning, just couldn't keep going.

 

[bgraham34]

I usually arrive at the parks between 9:30 and 10AM. Some parks I stay to closing while others I just go out to dinner and back to the room. But I have never just stayed at one park for the whole day.

 

[sbkline]

I think it would be exhausting to spend an entire day from open to close at one park, especially if you're staying on-site. Park hopping for me has always been the way to go! But that's just me, other people can make it through the whole day and enjoy it.

It's exhausting for my wife, but not for me. :lol: We have never done MGM and AK from open to close, because AK only takes half a day or less and MGM takes a half a day or possibly a little more.

But I have always loved doing the other two from open to night-time, or right at close. To me, it's awesome to get to MK at open and experience it at all times of the day, watch as dusk and nightfall arrive, and as the lights come on and the castle changes color the rest of the night. Seeing the entire place lit up, hitting the shops toward close on the way out, and heading out to the parking lot thinking "that was a good day!" Remembering getting there bright and early when the sun was shining and leaving when the moon is shining. Doesn't get much better than that. :lol:

 

[iheartdisney91]

all day long well till dark

 

[KaliSplash]

We're usually there in the summer, when parks open early and close late.
We usually are there by opening and stay until just after lunch. Then it's back to the hotel for a break. We return to the parks 4 to 5 p-m and stay until close.
Of course, you can only do this about three days in a row before you have to sleep in one day.

 

[Yellow Shoes]

Hey, big shout out to all those who sleep in and come to the parks around noon.:wave: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. You are the reason I can get up at 6 AM and be on a bus at 7 AM and be in a park when the rope drops at 8 AM and have a lovely morning of almost zero crowds. .. It's all good.

I agree and I want to add my thanks to the sleepers.

There is something magical about Fantasyland when the sidewealks are still wet from the power washing and everything is a walk-on.

 

[yellowrocket]

Wow. I can't believe the amount of people who don't stay all day. I guess it was the way I was raised... starting out with just the Magic Kingdom and only a day or two at the resort. We would get there an hour before opening and stay until an hour after close. Nowadays, there are 4 parks. And, with park-hopping, things are different, but when I'm there now, I'm still at some park an hour before opening and I stay as long as I can after close... until they sweep me out. I know it's probably just me, but I couldn't imagine going back for a nap or a swim. Those are things I can do at home.