Staying at the Magic Kingdom until closing

[WDW FAN 4 LIFE]

On days when the Magic Kingdom does not do the Extra Magic Hour, what is it like trying to leave the park when it closes? I read in the Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World that trying to leave the Magic Kingdom on a Saturday night takes forever once it has officially closed. So for anyone who has stayed til the end what was it like trying to leave?

 

[MissM]

People leave en mass in several stages. For example, I'm heading there Saturday (Love's birthday) and MK is open until Midnight. Wishes will probably be at 10pm, so there will be a mad rush right after that. There will a smaller rush about 11:30pm as people try to leave before the park closes. Of course, there will be another rush at midnight itself.

The key is to stick around and shop a bit before leaving. No matter what time the park closes. The monorail and ferry lines will be massive and you just have to deal with a lot of people all trying to leave through not enough transport at the same time. (Some peak days like NYE/4th July/Christmas they will also have buses set up to drive you back to the TTA which helps but they don't do a good job telling you when they have them as a third option.)

No matter what, there will always be a crowd to get out. And another crowd to get on a tram to get to your car. It's just logistics and numbers.
-m

 

[tigsmom]

Just imagine thousands of people trying to fit thru the gates...its like opening, but in reverse.
What we do is take our time, wander around and do some window shopping...the stores are still open for awhile so we will get a snack. Another good reason to take your time is that all of those people are trying to get to the same transportation as you are.

 

[bluefaery]

Here's an idea to miss all the people. Make your way towards the back of the park (Mickey's Toontown). Stay there get last minute pics done w/ whoever is in the Toonton fair tent, you never know you might be able to get a great group shot of all the characters together. Talk to the CM and maybe he will let you get a pic w/ every character from each of the 3 rooms. You never know, it doesn't hurt to ask.

Shop for a little bit, then slowly make your way towards the front. Don't forget to stop alone and get pics of things you want. Adam (boyfriend) and i did that back in Dec and it worked like a charm. I turn into a big shutter bug when I go to disney so I'm happy to dottle around snaping pics. Like I said it's just an idea.

 

[Kwit35]

They do not close the stores until the last person leaves. Therefore, (when the parents are not with us) we stay and shop until the big crowds are gone. Then we take pictures as noted above. Then we take a nice walk right up the monorail ramp, with out waiting in line.

 

[Android-XS]

If you just keep shopping or walking around, do cast members come around and ask you to leave?

 

[Videoteck]

On days when the Magic Kingdom does not do the Extra Magic Hour, what is it like trying to leave the park when it closes? I read in the Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World that trying to leave the Magic Kingdom on a Saturday night takes forever once it has officially closed. So for anyone who has stayed til the end what was it like trying to leave?

Its not bad as the park even is during the day lots of people have already left to get out but...I remeber staying at closing everything was fine until! The Boat was done transporting so we had to take the monorail people were being jerks and seriously pushing into the monorail we had over the about per room on the monorail cuase of stupid people so we where packed and stuffed theres no doubt that was a safty hazard. Just because they werent running many monorails at this time. It sucked and it was pure torture sorta, I was just alittle disapointed.

 

[Sledge]

So for anyone who has stayed til the end what was it like trying to leave?

Itzazu

 

[Android-XS]

Itzazu

Kinda like AK :lookaroun