Staying Late at the Magic Kingdom

[ParentsOf4]

How late are guests allowed to stay in the Magic Kingdom after the official closing time?

We've tried exiting the Magic Kingdom immediately after the fireworks which, I'm sure everybody knows, is a slow and painful process. We've also left early and watched the fireworks from outside the Magic Kingdom.

For our next trip, we are considering simply hanging back, strolling around, eating some snacks, doing a bit of shopping, etc. Has anyone tried this strategy? In there an optimum time to leave? For example, what's it like 30 minutes after the fireworks end? 60 minutes? etc.

How long after the closing do the shops close?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mousermerf]

It depends on crowds, but typically an hour after they expect everything to be closed.

Food will close right on time, so buy snacks prior. Only shops on the main exit route will remain open - and eventually their doors will become exit only until they're cleared.

You can leisurely stroll out, but areas will begin to get blocked off. It's a whole big systematic process.

 

[WDWRLD]

We like to stick around for about 30 min after closing. Sometimes sooner and sometimes later. Usually by then the bus lines are very short. The lands all close at park close but you can generally roam around for a while as long as you act like you are heading toward the exit. There are usually cms trying to keep guests from going deeper into the park. The later you stay the better pictures you can get.

 

[LouDisney]

I don't like to rush out with the crowd, so I will hang around and go into the shops on Main Street. I agree about 30 minutes, maybe a little longer and the crowds at the bus stops and the ferry are lower. The crowds will depend on the time of year, like someone pointed out. A lot of people do this, so the shops can be crowded sometimes too.

 

[lamarvenoy]

My wife and I like to walk to the Contemporary (often we stay there) if we are parked in the TTC or staying at the GF or Poly we just hop on the monorail from there. It's a pretty short walk and very quiet and peaceful. We have stayed long after closing, they begin the "push" from the haunted mansion area so keep that in mind.Frontierland/adventureland seems to be the area where lingering is most permitted.

 

[shmmrname]

We usually just surf the closing shopping areas, though not too close to the end, as I don't want others that are buying to feel more pressure due to the extra people. Plus, I don't feel bad for the CM's if I'm making their last 15 minutes while the park is open that much more hectic.

 

[bgraham34]

I have been there an hour after the park closes. I was eating at Tony's. And I was still able to do some shopping.

 

[Master Yoda]

The best thing to do is hang around the castle and wait for "The Kiss Goodnight". It usually happens about 1/2 hour after the fireworks end. By that time the exiting crowds have died down and exiting the park will be much less stressful.

 

[dzlandSr]

The best thing to do is hang around the castle and wait for "The Kiss Goodnight". It usually happens about 1/2 hour after the fireworks end. By that time the exiting crowds have died down and exiting the park will be much less stressful.

What's "The Kiss Goodnight?"

 

[Master Yoda]

What's "The Kiss Goodnight?"

The castle gets lit up and there is a special message wishing everyone a good night. Nothing too spectacular but fun none the less. There is video on this site of it but it requires a membership to view it.

 

[crazycalf]

How late are guests allowed to stay in the Magic Kingdom after the official closing time?

We had a late dinner at tony's when the park was closing during mvmcp. After we were done eating we just walked around main street. All the stores were closed. Someone with a blue id came up to us and just asked us if we were having a good time. We thought we were going to be told to leave. It was probably over an hour after the park offically closed. I'm not sure how late but to get back to the hotel we had to go to Contempary,then DTD and finally our hotel because the direct bus was not running anymore. So you must have to be there really late before they make you leave.

 

[dploew]

My wife and I (and 1 other gentleman as well happened to be there) waited at MK until around 1AM (park "closed" at 11) to see the kiss goodnight on 10/8. The later parade didn't start until 11:15...later told they were having trouble overriding the main street audio.

In any case, we waited until 12:15 before asking...about 20 non-CMs in the park at that time. A CM told us 12:30 and then at around 12:45 another CM came around saying they couldn't get the audio to work (even tried calling over to Epcot to override the audio), but the kiss was unlikely to happen.

Around 1AM, the 3 of us gave up (no other non-CMs left as far as we could tell) and headed to the buses. I guess next time I won't leave the kiss for our last night.

 

[JimboJones123]

after the christmas party -- it was still snowing a full hour after close last year -- nobody was there -- we got the coolist pix of and empty snowy main street that a CM took

 

[robynchic]

The best time I had with it was when my (then) boyfriend and I (yes, I have lots of stories of exes and bringing them down to Disney...every time I'm down there, working, for at least 4 weeks, I bring them down for a mini-vacation for both of us. And even then, I get dumped. *mutters a word that begins with bas and ends with...you get the idea*) decided to linger by the Crystal Palace. We giggled at seeing the people go down Main Street like a herd of sheep (BAAAA!) and we got to relax a bit, sit on a bench, and it wasn't incredibly crowded by us. Once we saw the huge crowd of sheep/cattle/guests kind of dwindle down, we started making our way back. And by that time, the stores were still open, so we walked through the stores to get to the front of the park.
Stupid? Yes. Cheesy? Kinda. Romantic? ...Well, if your significant other was asking the title of each song after Wishes, and then waltzes with you when "So This Is Love" comes on, wouldn't you think it's romantic, too?

 

[Marijil]

Whatever u do....especially if u have kids....do not let the CMs escort you out of the park during the fireworks....they will send you behind the Plaza Rst and into a "backstage area" that ruins the entire illusion

 

[blackerbys17]

Yea, we got to see the "behind the scenes tour" when we came back to the park at about 9 PM on July the 4th this year. Main Street was SOOO packed that we had to walk behind Tony's all the way down to Tomorrowland. Actually, it was kind of cool getting to see what was back there but I can understand how it might ruin it for some.

 

[mandib]

Well this one time...(yes its story time) My sister and I were in line for Space Mountain. Last ride of the night sort of deal. Well we're the next to board and the lights come on. This mind you is the day when the park was open until 12. Well I'm not sure how long this usually takes but all I know is that we boarded the tram at 1:30am. That was the night our guide said Pluto to the right Goofy to the left OVER and OVER again. Something we always repeat. So point is I was there over an hour after the park closed. It was amazing seeing as we were one of the last ones to leave. Oh the good times. 64 days!!

 

[bgraham34]

Also the time I left Tony's late my wife and I got a picture of us on Main Street and the Castle in the back without a single person in sight. That is a sweet picture.