Attendance at Walt Disney World varies relying upon the day and season, with high and low wait instances for well-liked rides additionally being potential based mostly on time of day. In different phrases, crowds or “looks like” congestion is extremely variable–with one fairly massive exception. (Up to date August 8, 2024.)
For a lot of the previous few years, Magic Kingdom has been chaotic and congested earlier than, throughout, and after the nightly fireworks. This has been true for each the not-so-dearly departed Disney Enchantment and Fortunately Ever After fireworks. At the same time as attendance has slowed down with pent-up demand exhausting itself, that is nonetheless an issue throughout sure seasons.
Individuals Park Hopping from Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, the latter of which has nothing to supply at evening, means Magic Kingdom and EPCOT have seen an inflow of company every night for his or her nighttime spectaculars. This has resulted in bonkers crowds, particularly on and round Important Avenue–World Showcase is significantly better at absorbing company. Briefly, Magic Kingdom has been a madhouse earlier than and after the fireworks.
August 8, 2024 Replace: With the arrival of “Get together Season” at Magic Kingdom, the multi-month stretch of the yr when the park closes early a number of nights per week for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Get together and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Get together, there’s an ideal storm of circumstances making this post-fireworks exodus particularly unhealthy.
The primary issue is that Get together Season consolidates crowds into a couple of nights per week when fireworks might be seen with out paying additional for a particular occasions ticket. The results of that is (roughly) that a number of nights’ price of company cram onto Important Avenue (or try to take action) to see Fortunately Ever After. Even on a traditional evening, Important Avenue doesn’t have sufficient house for everybody.
That is even worse throughout Get together Season. It additionally typically catches individuals unexpectedly–particularly in the course of the fall season when the park isn’t that busy in the course of the day. Even when crowds are manageable, it may be pure chaos at evening as a consequence of Park Hopping and the straightforward incontrovertible fact that house is restricted on the entrance of the park. (See our Greatest & Worst Crowd Days at Magic Kingdom in 2024 for after we advocate visiting and avoiding Magic Kingdom.)
An equally important issue is the sundown time in the course of the first half of Get together Season, which dictates the time of the Fortunately Ever After fireworks. The showtime will get progressively earlier because the sundown time strikes ahead, however Fortunately Ever After be at or round 9 pm in the beginning of Get together Season. That is important as a result of the fireworks received’t end till nearly 9:30 pm, and if the park closes at 10 pm, many company will deem it isn’t “price it” to attempt to squeeze in a single final trip earlier than leaving. Meaning bigger crowds in the course of the exodus, whereas a fireworks time of (for instance) 8 pm and a park closing time of 11 pm means a adequate hole that areas out departure instances.
The underside line is that this post-Fortunately Ever After night exodus goes to be at its worst for August via October, and that coupled with the distinction between daytime and nighttime crowds can actually catch individuals unexpectedly. In all honesty, the aim of this submit is to scare you (with the very best of intentions, in fact). We’ll hopefully accomplish that feat by sharing images of the scene exterior Magic Kingdom proper after the fireworks finish…
The crowds are unhealthy not simply on Important Avenue throughout Fortunately Ever After, but additionally exterior Magic Kingdom on the monorail system and buses that service the mass exodus of company leaving the park instantly after the fireworks.
Whereas approaching the Important Avenue USA Practice Station, you’ll see Solid Members with indicators for the monorail, boats, buses, and parking. They’ll direct you to the appropriate or left aspect so you will have a better time of getting into the corrals for every transportation possibility.
Don’t let the above picture idiot you–this was taken in the direction of the tail finish of the exodus.
Getting via the tunnels is chaotic, as site visitors merges from a big mass into a couple of slim lanes.
Good luck if it is advisable to return a stroller or cease to marvel on the Nation Bear Jamboree attraction poster. It’s troublesome to navigate via right here. (We strongly advocate having your whole social gathering collectively earlier than going via this space.)
Outdoors the park, you may as soon as once more see the indicators for the monorail, ferry, buses, parking, and many others.
Whereas it would seem that there’s some “obtainable house” within the center, these are switchbacks for the monorail that’ll quickly refill as extra company move out of Magic Kingdom.
One other have a look at the group heading to the monorail.
Apologies for the images that mainly appear like a “discovered footage” horror film. (In a method, that’s very apt.) It’s troublesome/inconceivable to cease for good images amidst the chaos with out being mowed down by a double-wide stroller. Justifiably, I would add. No cause to cease and impede site visitors out right here! (I took these over the course of a number of months, and these are nonetheless the very best of the bunch.)
Turning the opposite course, we take a look at individuals hustling to beat the crowds to the bus stops. Shifting so rapidly they actually blur via the picture!
Regardless of the congestion, these individuals truly shouldn’t have a lot of a anticipate the buses. They’ll be on the entrance of the pack, and can arrive to possible discover “fully-stocked” bus stops ready to refill with the primary load of departing company.
To that time, right here’s a have a look at the bus stops in the beginning of the post-fireworks exodus from Magic Kingdom.
You may see the overfill switchbacks arrange, however not but in use. In case you’re in a position to beat the group out, you received’t have a lot of a wait. You will be packed elbow to armpit with different company, which isn’t at all times one of the simplest ways to finish of an extended day after everybody has slow-cooked within the Florida solar. (It may be an, ahem, olfactory overload.) However at the very least the bus will load rapidly and be on its method!
Again exterior Magic Kingdom, we will begin to see the overflow queues filling up for the ferry and monorail. It’s exhausting to inform what’s happening in these images…and in addition whenever you’re on this mass of humanity exterior the park.
To the credit score of Disney’s transportation community, these waits often aren’t too horrible–actually not as unhealthy because the traces would recommend–buses, monorails, and boats are deployed just about nonstop in an extremely environment friendly method.
To the immense credit score of Solid Members, they do a actually good job with crowd management.
A few of them have enjoyable with giving instructions over their audio system, and it’s about as organized as chaos can presumably be. However there’s solely a lot that may be executed. Persons are making an attempt to go all totally different instructions, and gridlock can ensue.
Our honest hope is that this scares you out of leaving Magic Kingdom instantly after the fireworks.
Whilst you can beat the crowds and keep away from the majority of the congestion exterior the park, that’s a chance. Even then, you nearly actually will be unable to keep away from a packed trip on the monorail or buses.
With that stated, for those who’re going to ignore our recommendation and go away proper after Fortunately Ever After, you actually need to watch the fireworks from close to the top of Important Avenue.
We typically like this location because it’s good for seeing the projections on the constructing facades and is much less crowded than spots nearer to Cinderella Fortress. With that stated, “much less crowded” continues to be very a lot a relative time period. Up within the Central Plaza, you’ll be packed like sardines. Again right here, you’ll be packed like, I dunno…salmon?
Our precise suggestion is to not go away any park proper at closing. In case you don’t get fortunate with leaving the park rapidly, you’ll have a number of monorail or busloads of different company in entrance of you.
You’re going to be ready 30+ minutes somehow, so spend that point on Important Avenue, absorbing the environment of World Showcase, and many others., reasonably than standing in an uncomfortable and irritating bus line.
Higher but, do well-liked points of interest!
Fortunately Ever After is at the moment being introduced nightly at 9 pm above Cinderella Fortress. Magic Kingdom is closing at 10 pm or 11 pm nightly. That provides you a while to benefit from the park after the fireworks. That may be sufficient to do well-liked rides (plural) throughout essentially the most pleasing time of day in Magic Kingdom.
What you may accomplish varies dramatically based mostly on crowd ranges, the place you watch the fireworks, park closing time, and the way rapidly you get away of the gridlock. Briefly, it’s inconceivable to supply technique that’s universally-applicable.
In case you don’t watch the fireworks from Important Avenue and as a substitute do straight behind Cinderella Fortress, we’d advocate leaping into line for Peter Pan’s Flight proper after Fortunately Ever After ends. Different choices embrace the Magic Kingdom Mountain Vary, Astro Orbiter, or something that’s higher at evening. It doesn’t save a ton of time, however we’re massive followers of doing a late evening spin aboard the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover.
No matter you do, our robust recommendation is to queue up for Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice about 1 minute earlier than park closing. Disregard the posted wait, because it’s typically inflated to discourage individuals from lining up final minute. There are occasions the posted time has been 90 minutes and we’ve waited (actually) 7 minutes. Our common right now of evening is about 10 minutes, with a traditional vary of about 5 to fifteen minutes.
The opposite upside to doing Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice on the finish of the evening versus earlier within the day is the environment. Not thematically, however in a literal sense. The overhead followers are often nonetheless on, and can hit you with a blast of cool air. Whereas that is refreshing within the night, it’s downright obligatory in the course of the day as this line can get scorching and uncomfortable. (Additionally no standing within the solar at evening!) Doing Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice is a lot simpler and extra nice on the finish of the evening, which is a giant cause we’re so vehemently against doing it throughout Early Entry or round regular park opening.
You’ll get off Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice about 20 minutes after park closing, however even then, there’s no rush to depart Magic Kingdom. Slowly make your method in the direction of Important Avenue, stopping to get memorable household images within the now-deserted Fantasyland. Cease to check your energy on the Sword within the Stone. Marvel at Cinderella Fortress from the bottom, which is arguably prettier than the entrance.
Even for those who take as a lot time as you may and it feels such as you’re the one individuals left in Magic Kingdom, there’s likelihood the Central Plaza and Important Avenue will nonetheless be busier when you arrive up there. Preserve going sluggish, absorbing the ambiance, taking extra images, and even purchasing.
Walt Disney World won’t strand you on the park. We’ve left (actually) 2 hours after park closing earlier than and there was a personal bus ready for us. Buses are idling on the cease till Magic Kingdom is cleared of all company. There’s completely no upside to speeding to depart with the intention to stand round and wait. You don’t want to depart a full hour or 90 minutes after park closing, however it’s actually a significantly better thought than leaving proper when the fireworks finish!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever skilled the post-Fortunately Ever After exodus at Magic Kingdom? How unhealthy had been the crowds on the night(s) you exited the park following the fireworks? Do you like leaving instantly, or ready out the crowds? What have you ever been in a position to accomplish within the final 90 minutes or so in Magic Kingdom? Transportation experiences upon leaving? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Different ideas or issues? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
