Is it true?

[missymouseworld]

My friend just came back from a trip to WDW and she told me that she found out some interesting things regarding the theme parks. One thing she mentioned was that at closing time, the CM's will never ask you to leave the park...they will make it inconvenient and close rides, put cones up, etc....but never ask you to leave....is this true?

[Disney Doll]

I hope nobody tests that theory. I would hope everyone would be courteous and get out before close. My guess is that this is an attempt to keep things friendly by discouraging outright requests to leave. However, if it comes down to it I bet the security personnel wouldn't have any problems telling guests that the park is closed.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

Eventually yes, they will "force" you to leave. 99.9% of people will leave as rides start to close down, stores close down, etc.

It is rather interesting, that at Disney closing time isn't really closing time. Stores often stay open at least a bit later, and if you're in line for a ride, you still get to ride.

But, if you're still in the park when they need you to be out, you are "escorted" to the exit. Of course, it is generally done in a very friendly way, but they won't let you stay in the park forevever!

[Daisy'sMom]

Do people really try and stay after closing? What would be the point?:mickey:

[JasonH]

From wanting to be a photographer on a more professional level rather than being the average joe photog, getting nighttime pics with no one to worry about getting in your way of taking pics and taking your time to get the right shot is why people would want to stay a while longer. :thumbsup:

[texas211]

Hmm, i'm bringing my ghillie suit and see how long I can stay in. :) Just kidding.

[missymouseworld]

I found the information to be a little strange, knowing that they do their park maintenance and other things after closing time. She was telling me when MK closed at 3am one night, people were still lingering..... I personally would have been done way before then.

[buzznwoodysmom]

Even though there have been times I really didn't want to leave (like a last night in WDW) I always think of those who are already working late hours. I'm sure they want to close up, tend to their work, and get home as quickly as they can. I would hope other guests think about those workers at the end of a long day.

[Mfarquar]

During the really busy times we've gone, it's been really convenient to go souvenir shopping when the parks were closing. Disney seemed MORE than happy to have the stores full of patrons and we didn't waste valuable ride time! Plus, we didn't have to wait in a long line for a bus - most of the crowd for the bus has dissipated.

I wonder how much money those gift shops make from closing time onward... ?

One time we felt bad, and a worker told us not to worry, she was scheduled to work well after closing. She said the store workers weren't scheduled like a normal retail store - accounting for people in the parks are part of her normal work hours. I don't know if she was telling the truth, but that was true for my friend who worked at Nordstrom. They have the same policy - if you are in the process of shopping, they will not ask you to leave. My friends pre-scheduled hours always extended beyond store closing.

[11290]

Attractions close lines at a time so as to accommodate guests still in line until park close. At the time of park close, a gradual "sweep" begins from the farthest most points of the park, back toward the hub area and "slowly" moves guests toward the Main St. area and closes the lands to entry.

The Hub area stays "open" for a period of time to allow photography and such but then is swept toward the north end of Main St.

Shops stay open and many guests choose to shop or just have some quiet time in the Town Sq. area.

Approximately 45 to 60 minutes after the official park close, Security begins moving the sweep toward Town Sq. and the closing duty manager begins sweeping the buildings (including restrooms) from the north to south and gradually moving guests to the turnstile areas.

No one is "escorted out" (you might get escorted out if you try to hide in the restrooms though) as one poster suggested but it is a gradual moving toward the exit area. Park maintenance and contractors have already begun their work in the "lands" while guests are still in the shops on Main St. and work their way to the turnstiles as soon as they are able.

It all happens quite efficiently and somewhat in the background and allows guests to savor a quiet, less crowed, moment looking at the Castle, taking in some of the Main St. building details or just taking some less congested time to shop.

I know that when I work a "closing" shift, one of my favorite things to do is to go the the front of the Castle on my way out and just look out over a virtually empty Main St. at night.

[Fastpasssteve]

I have never seen anyone doing routine maintenance while the parks are open. I can say this, I saw a lightbulb out on Main Street one night when I was exiting. I made a mental note of where it was...and the next day, when I re-entered the MK, the light bulb had been changed!

[Kathy Jetson]

We have been in MK at 3:00am emh and didn't exit the park until almost 4:00am and we were not alone. We always do whatever park has evening emh and stay usaully until 45min after park closing it is so nice and relaxing making our way to the front of the park.

[iceicebritney]

I can't imagine sticking around after 3 AM! @Kathy jetson, that's dedication:thumbsup:

Ive always wanted to hide somewhere and see what happens at night:mickey: I bet it's truly fabulous

[missymouseworld]

Ive always wanted to hide somewhere and see what happens at night I bet it's truly fabulous

I am sure some have tried....but security probably has dogs to sniff them out.

[MNDisney Dad]

Pluto will find 'em!

[ransam]

one night i was at epcot and it was scheduled to close at 9, i noticed that the american adventure last show was also at 9 so i went. when i got out of the show, the nation area was empty except for a few employees. i walked around a bit. not one employee asked me to leave, but were very nice. i walked to the entrance. it was the most peaceful moment i have ever had at WDW. it was still lit up, and the music was playing, and it was just me. when i got to the entrance/exit, there were still lots of people mingling around.

[texas211]

Even though there have been times I really didn't want to leave (like a last night in WDW) I always think of those who are already working late hours. I'm sure they want to close up, tend to their work, and get home as quickly as they can. I would hope other guests think about those workers at the end of a long day.


If that was true, people wouldn't go to the parks on holidays like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, July 4th, etc.

[Gregandmel]

We stayed to watch the Fireworks one night and accidently got behind the castle (my bearings were off on where we actually were...weren't planning on being on Main street - thought I was on the side of the castle but we were further behind it) - regardless - afterwards we sat down for 25 minutes and waited for the throng of people to leave. As we were slowly making our way back to the front, it seemed like POOF...everyone was GONE! We were walking towards Fantasyland and it was being roped off by the CM's, but they let us through. We were able to see the park from a different viewpoint and it was amazing with no one around. We loved it!!

[Brownie54]

one night i was at epcot and it was scheduled to close at 9, i noticed that the american adventure last show was also at 9 so i went. when i got out of the show, the nation area was empty except for a few employees. i walked around a bit. not one employee asked me to leave, but were very nice. i walked to the entrance. it was the most peaceful moment i have ever had at WDW. it was still lit up, and the music was playing, and it was just me. when i got to the entrance/exit, there were still lots of people mingling around.


I think we will try that on our next trip to EPCOT. Also, one of our traditions is to go to the bakery on Main Street when DW closes and take our sweet(no pun intended) time. Gives time for the crowds to thin out and a chance to enjoy Main St.

[disneykid@hrt]

MK is great after it "closes"... I have a picture of my daughter pretty far down Main Street with literally nobody between her and the castle. It's pretty much impossible to do that when it is open. It is the best time to do shopping in my opinion. Trams and monorails stop running an hour and a half after close though so don't get too carried away ;) :mickey: if you spend your last night at MK you have to stay as long as you can.

[Daddy Mouse]

The MK is always our last night at WDW. When the park closes we just hang around sitting and resting and taking in the night sights of the MK. There is a sense of peaceful melancholy in our hearts as we will be rejoining the real world. We have been asked by cast members to keep moving toward the exits. They are not pushy or demanding in anyway and are always considerate.

[magicofdisney]

The MK at night is my all time favorite. I love to linger after closing time. The magic draws me in and I don't won't to leave those feelings behind. It's so peaceful and beautiful. I love being one of the last to walk down main street towards the exit at a leisurely pace.

[Sylvia]

one night i was at epcot and it was scheduled to close at 9, i noticed that the american adventure last show was also at 9 so i went. when i got out of the show, the nation area was empty except for a few employees. i walked around a bit. not one employee asked me to leave, but were very nice. i walked to the entrance. it was the most peaceful moment i have ever had at WDW. it was still lit up, and the music was playing, and it was just me. when i got to the entrance/exit, there were still lots of people mingling around.

I have done the same thing. One time, when I attended the 9 PM show, there were only 6 of us in the theater, but the CM treated us as if we were a full audience and gave the same introductory talk before showtime. I've seen the show hundreds of times over the years, but seeing it at 9 PM is the best - the theater is quiet and you can actually hear all of the dialogue without people talking among themselves or cameras flashing, etc., etc. EPCOT after official closing time is a wonderful place to be.

I've also noticed over the years that, even when it's past official park closing, as long as guests are moving toward the exit, CMs will never try to rush you along. Even at the Castle Hub in the MK, some times I wander around the area, just enjoying the music and the atmosphere and I have never been politely directed to the exit by a CM.

This is in sharp contrast to the time we were at Universal Studios and were rudely told the park was closing and we had to leave. This was in spite of the fact that we explained we were waiting for the kids in our party, who were at the last "Men in Black" show of the day. We were not allowed to wait outside the theater for them to come out.

[Katzateer]

The only park I have ever felt "rushed" in leaving is the studios. They close areas at scheduled closing times and cast members have been irritated when you are slow in leaving. The Magic Kingdom does not rush you out - I love being one of the last to leave.

[disneykidsince1970]

I used to work at the Emporium on Main Street which stayed open at least an hour after MK closed. Generally what they did to encourage people to wrap it up was close the doors on one end and then sometimes they'd have a few of us make a gentle line in the middle and not let people pass. Of course, we were told to allow people to pass if they got irked but it did work to an extent. I remember that during the very busy season (4th of July-ish), there were guests in the store for hours after the park closed.

Nikki:mickey:

[ImLovinDisney]

One trip we were a grand gathering, we did the sunset safari in AK, followed by a dinner at Tusker House. All of these things took place after the park was closed for the day. During the dinner we found that African food did not "sit well" with my daughter. :sick: She went to the bathroom about 20min. before the dinner was scheduled to be wrapped up for all parties. An hour and a half later...she was still in the bathroom. Needless to say two security guards waited very calmly and patiently with me by the bathroom while the rest of our party went to purchase photos from the day, the tour guides we had were sitting in a circle with the other children singing songs from the jungle book and several other movies, and playing fun games. When we were finally done with the bathroom, we got to walk through the park with the animal sounds and water sounds, it was the most beautiful and peaceful walk I have had at WDW. The lights were mostly off and they took us to the front of the park where a bus was waiting, just for us! The driver was wonderful and told us tons of stories on the way back to the resort. That is still one of our favorite memories, well except for the sick daughter part :blush: :mickey:

[Mousemates]

We too love "lingering" as the park empties out...very peaceful, very relaxing...we espeically like catching a bench near the town square and watching the last of guests meander out, before finally joining them ourselves.

[Disney Hungarian]

I was one of the last guests to leave the MK. It was December 2005. My now ex-wife and I was lingering after a MVMCP. We were enjoying the atmospehere. It is sad to think about it now, because it was so special then. It was our last night at WDW and we had a long drive home the next day. We never felt rushed by the CM's. Quite the contrary. They seemed to know what a special moment it was for us and gave us peace and space. We stood on Main Street hugging and staring at the castle. We had a rare moment of solitude at MK.

[BigRedDad]

Many people stay after closing to take pictures so people can't ruin the shot. Many of the best pictures require a LONG shutter time to get the best picture. They put up the tripod, set the camera, and let the camera film for a minute or more.

This is not a lot of people. I don't know the people personally, but they are very courteous and they actually have long conversations with the CMs and clean up crew.