What to do when the parks close early

[Leah]

Just thought maybe the people who are going while the hours are redused could use some ideas. We went in Feb. of 2000 and MK closed every nite at 7:00. We used that time to do other things like explore the resort(we were at the poly) do a show like luau, go to downtown disney, it was cold then but you could use the pool. Anyway I thought I'd just get it started I know that there are some intercot disney vets that will have alot of ideas.

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[LottaLubes]

Well, with 3 children we were usually zonked by 9:00 anyway so we would hit the sack to get up for EE the next day. On days that we would stay up later, my kids thought it was so cool to be swimming at 10:00 at night. And it sure felt good after a long day of walking. (The All Star pool was heated to about 90 degrees last November...heaven!)

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We go on... to the joy and through the tears
We go on... to discover new frontiers
Moving on... with the courage of the years
We go on... moving forward now as one
We go on... with a spirit born to run
Moving on... with each rising sun to a new day...

[PolyGirl40]

We vacation in early March. The Magic Kingdom usually closed at 7, excluding weekends.

We always plan on a late dinner. We spend a lot of evenings at Epcot or Downtown Disney.

The Parks closing early have never hindered our trips.



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Carol, aka PolyGirl40
INTERCOT Staff Member
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* We Shall Overcome *

[Leah]

I agree Poly Girl. Some nites I thought it gave us the time to do something else because if the park would have been open then we would have been there. One nite we did the Illum. Cruise that was great.

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[PolyGirl40]

I actually enjoy the quiet evenings. It makes for some great family closeness. You can relax and reflect on the day. It seems more like a *vacation*.

Not to mention, WDW has some wonderful restaurants.



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Carol, aka PolyGirl40
INTERCOT Staff Member
[email protected]


Planning a trip to Central Florida? Let Ibex Towncar meet you at the airport!

Click Here for a Disney Vacation Quote.

WebDisney: "The Definitive Guide to Disney on the Internet"

Visit the INTERCOT Store.


* We Shall Overcome *

[Simba 1]

We always go off season, so the latest any park was open is Epcot until 9:00pm. Some things we have done include:

- Hop over to Epcot until it closes (I love Epcot at night). After Illuminations, everyone rushes out, while we sit and watch the fountain and then browse the shops. It's usually 10:30 or later before we actually leave.
- Spend the evening at Disney Marketplace exploring all the shops. Enjoy a hot fudge sundae from Ghirardelli's.
- Get tickets to Cirque Du Soleil. Great show and a definite must see, at least once.
- Visit DisneyQuest. It's usually open until midnight (interactive games, learn how to draw, etc)
- Visit the Boardwalk. This is one of my favorites. It's much less crowded than DD, but has shops, awesome restaurants, and entertainment. They also have those family style bikes to ride. We usually plan a couple nights with a later dinner here.
- Eat dinner at a resort, then explore that resort. We did that with Bomas at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Very cool.
- Fantasia minigolf. This is such a cool minigolf course. It's open pretty late (last I knew). I think we played around 10pm. It was quiet and relaxing.
- Swimming, of course!
- Pleasure Island. We're not big drinkers / dancers, but we love the Comedy Warehouse and Adventurers Club. It's good for one night of our trip.
- AMC movie theatre in DD. We've nver done this, but you have 24 movies to chose from!
- Lastly, I'd say save your shopping until the park closes. Take MK for example. Don't waste park time in the Emporium on Main Street. It will remain open well after the park closes.

Have a great trip!


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[OrlandoDisney]

What would I do?

I go to The COntemporary (chef Mickeys) and eat. Next I go to Pleasure Island...

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Disney Trips-12

3 Dixie Landings-Riverside
2-All Star Music
2-Caribbean Beach
4-Offsite
1-Wilderness Lodge

AIM-Monkey4648


GO GATORS!!!!!! UF #1

[Janmac]

I think the early park closings are one reason we started, years ago, going to Epcot every evening. That and we do like to eat supper in a different country every night.

We go as an extended family group of 3 generations so the week at WDW is as much to visit with everyone as to see the attractions. We usually get to the Studios, or MK (and now AK) as soon as the ropes drop and tour til lunch when we go back to our resort and lounge around and play and nap and visit. My sister and our daughter say this 'pampering' is why they go to WDW.

Late afternoon we head over to Epcot. Epcot especially World Showcase after Illuminations is pretty cool. But watching that fountain is something we don't drag ourselves away from very easily either.

I keep threatening to bring a folding chair but DH says he'd be too embarrassed.

But there is also the campfire thing at the campgrounds. I hear adults even like it alot - it's not just a kid program.

Jan



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[brownie]

Simba 1 has a good list!

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Steve
Sep 94 BC
Apr 00 ASMV
Oct 01 POFQ/ASMV

[TheInventor'sDaughter]

A few more:

- Boat rides on Bay Lake
- Walk on beach between Poly and GF
- Campfire and sing-along with Chip & Dale
- Hay Ride at FW
- Wilderness Lodge ... or any other deluxe resort, actually. But I'm partial to WL because the geyser is awesome in the evening and the boat rides are great.
- Hors d'euvres at California Grill.
- Hanging out at a beach. They are empty at night (why???) and so relaxing. Again, I'm partial to the one at WL, looking out at the island and hearing the birds and peacocks.

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1972, Orlando Campground; 1988-94, Orlando-area resident (frequent visits); 1992, PO; 1993, Dolphin; 1996, WL; 1996, D.Inst.; 1997, BW Inn; April 2001, Wild. Home; Nov. 2001, BWV & OKW; March 2002, Pop Century ???? NOT! ???

We go on...to the joy and through the tears
We go on...to discover new frontiers
Moving on...with the courage of the years
We go on...moving forward now as one
We go on...with a spirit born to run
Moving on...with each rising sun to a new day...