Attendance at Walt Disney World varies relying upon the day and season, with high and low wait instances for standard rides additionally being doable based mostly on time of day. In different phrases, crowds or “looks like” congestion is very variable–with one fairly large 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 night time, 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 Primary 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 “Social gathering Season” at Magic Kingdom, the multi-month stretch of the 12 months when the park closes early a number of nights per week for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering, there’s an ideal storm of circumstances making this post-fireworks exodus particularly dangerous.
The primary issue is that Social gathering Season consolidates crowds into a number of nights per week when fireworks might be seen with out paying further for a particular occasions ticket. The results of that is (roughly) that a number of nights’ value of company cram onto Primary Avenue (or try to take action) to see Fortunately Ever After. Even on a standard night time, Primary Avenue doesn’t have sufficient house for everybody.
That is even worse throughout Social gathering Season. It additionally usually catches folks abruptly–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 night time on account of Park Hopping and the easy indisputable fact that house is proscribed on the entrance of the park. (See our Finest & Worst Crowd Days at Magic Kingdom in 2024 for after we suggest visiting and avoiding Magic Kingdom.)
An equally important issue is the sundown time in the course of the first half of Social gathering 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 at the beginning of Social gathering Season. That is important as a result of the fireworks gained’t end till nearly 9:30 pm, and if the park closes at 10 pm, many company will deem it isn’t “value it” to attempt to squeeze in a single final journey earlier than leaving. Which means 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 enough 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 by October, and that coupled with the distinction between daytime and nighttime crowds can actually catch folks abruptly. In all honesty, the aim of this submit is to scare you (with one of the best of intentions, after all). We are going to hopefully accomplish that feat by sharing pictures of the scene outdoors Magic Kingdom proper after the fireworks finish…
The crowds are dangerous not simply on Primary Avenue throughout Fortunately Ever After, but additionally outdoors 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 Primary Avenue USA Prepare Station, you’ll see Solid Members with indicators for the monorail, boats, buses, and parking. They’ll direct you to the best or left facet so you’ve got a better time of getting into the corrals for every transportation choice.
Don’t let the above picture idiot you–this was taken in direction of the tail finish of the exodus.
Getting by the tunnels is chaotic, as visitors merges from a big mass into a number of slim lanes.
Good luck if you’ll want to return a stroller or cease to marvel on the Nation Bear Jamboree attraction poster. It’s tough to navigate by right here. (We strongly suggest having your entire celebration collectively earlier than going by this space.)
Exterior the park, you may as soon as once more see the indicators for the monorail, ferry, buses, parking, and so on.
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 stream out of Magic Kingdom.
One other take a look at the gang heading to the monorail.
Apologies for the pictures that mainly appear to be a “discovered footage” horror film. (In a manner, that’s very apt.) It’s tough/unimaginable to cease for good pictures amidst the chaos with out being mowed down by a double-wide stroller. Justifiably, I would add. No motive to cease and impede visitors out right here! (I took these over the course of a number of months, and these are nonetheless one of the best of the bunch.)
Turning the opposite route, we take a look at folks hustling to beat the crowds to the bus stops. Shifting so shortly they actually blur by the picture!
Regardless of the congestion, these folks truly shouldn’t have a lot of a look ahead to the buses. They’ll be on the entrance of the pack, and can arrive to seemingly discover “fully-stocked” bus stops ready to refill with the primary load of departing company.
To that time, right here’s a take a look at the bus stops at the beginning of the post-fireworks exodus from Magic Kingdom.
You may see the overfill switchbacks arrange, however not but in use. For those who’re capable of beat the gang out, you gained’t have a lot of a wait. You will be packed elbow to armpit with different company, which isn’t all the time one of the simplest ways to finish of a protracted day after everybody has slow-cooked within the Florida solar. (It may be an, ahem, olfactory overload.) However a minimum of the bus will load shortly and be on its manner!
Again outdoors Magic Kingdom, we will begin to see the overflow queues filling up for the ferry and monorail. It’s onerous to inform what’s occurring in these pictures…and likewise once you’re on this mass of humanity outdoors the park.
To the credit score of Disney’s transportation community, these waits normally aren’t too horrible–actually not as dangerous 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 performed. 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.
When you can beat the crowds and keep away from the majority of the congestion outdoors the park, that’s a bet. Even then, you nearly actually won’t be able to keep away from a packed journey on the monorail or buses.
With that mentioned, in case you’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 Primary Avenue.
We usually 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 Citadel. With that mentioned, “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 advice is to not go away any park proper at closing. For those who don’t get fortunate with leaving the park shortly, you’ll have a number of monorail or busloads of different company in entrance of you.
You’re going to be ready 30+ minutes someway, so spend that point on Primary Avenue, absorbing the ambiance of World Showcase, and so on., fairly than standing in an uncomfortable and irritating bus line.
Higher but, do standard sights!
Fortunately Ever After is at the moment being introduced nightly at 9 pm above Cinderella Citadel. 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 standard rides (plural) throughout probably the most pleasurable 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 shortly you escape of the gridlock. Briefly, it’s unimaginable to supply technique that’s universally-applicable.
For those who don’t watch the fireworks from Primary Avenue and as a substitute do immediately behind Cinderella Citadel, we’d suggest leaping into line for Peter Pan’s Flight proper after Fortunately Ever After ends. Different choices embody the Magic Kingdom Mountain Vary, Astro Orbiter, or something that’s higher at night time. It doesn’t save a ton of time, however we’re large followers of doing a late night time spin aboard the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover.
No matter you do, our robust recommendation is to queue up for Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare about 1 minute earlier than park closing. Disregard the posted wait, because it’s usually inflated to discourage folks 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 night time is about 10 minutes, with a standard vary of about 5 to fifteen minutes.
The opposite upside to doing Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare on the finish of the night time versus earlier within the day is the ambiance. Not thematically, however in a literal sense. The overhead followers are normally nonetheless on, and can hit you with a blast of cool air. Whereas that is refreshing within the night, it’s downright essential in the course of the day as this line can get sizzling and uncomfortable. (Additionally no standing within the solar at night time!) Doing Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare is a lot simpler and extra nice on the finish of the night time, which is a giant motive we’re so vehemently against doing it throughout Early Entry or round regular park opening.
You’ll get off Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare about 20 minutes after park closing, however even then, there’s no rush to depart Magic Kingdom. Slowly make your manner in direction of Primary Avenue, stopping to get memorable household pictures within the now-deserted Fantasyland. Cease to check your energy on the Sword within the Stone. Marvel at Cinderella Citadel from the bottom, which is arguably prettier than the entrance.
Even in case you take as a lot time as you may and it feels such as you’re the one folks left in Magic Kingdom, there’s a superb probability the Central Plaza and Primary Avenue will nonetheless be busier when you arrive up there. Hold going sluggish, absorbing the ambiance, taking extra pictures, and even purchasing.
Walt Disney World is not going to strand you on the park. We’ve left (actually) 2 hours after park closing earlier than and there was a non-public 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 concept 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 dangerous had been the crowds on the night(s) you exited the park following the fireworks? Do you favor leaving instantly, or ready out the crowds? What have you ever been capable of 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 considerations? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
