What a different video! So good to see your park close strategy, usually you guys have to leave earlier because of traffic or to spare the kids from being exhausted! Thank you for the video 😊
My first time going I made a big mistake. I didn't realize that DCA closes earlier than Disneyland. We stayed till park closing, but had a locker in DCA filled with souvenirs & gifts. I figured we'd be able to park hop to retrieve our stuff at the end of the night. To my surprise we were told we couldn't go back into DCA. That was our last night there and the next morning we were on a flight back home. I was so upset at my mistake. We had hundreds of dollars worth of gifts that we bought for our friends and family. Thankfully, two workers behind the DCA gates were able to go to our lockers and retrieve our items for us while we waited at the DCA gates. The night could've ended badly for us. We could've lost hundreds of dollars in gifts, but but those two cast members went out of their way and saved our vacation!!! I was singing their praises all night! Big lesson learned. Be aware of all park hours.
I don’t know why, but your crowd update during the Peter Pan ride cracked me up 😂 that ride is like 45 seconds long so I know you had to rush your words lol
I like both. I think its all in what day you pick. The weekend is busier. I have been during the week. That last hour. Is amazing. It could also be luck. Are last night, my sister and my niece closed the park riding Splash Mountain 3 times. We got to stay on. No line. It was awesome. Then finished with 2 mins to spare on Indiana. Glad see you vlogging at. Kinda cool. Glad you did this.
Great video! If you did the same video next Friday, it could be totally different. With your knowledge on physical queue times compared to the app wait times, is a big asset. You can make decisions for what's best for you and your family. I'm still learning with trial and error. Thanks for sharing your real experience with us which includes a tired wife and kid, not fully understanding a pre line for Peter Pan on the fly, making time for fireworks and trying to take in a few last attractions before the night is over. It was very relatable.
For sure. It was a super crowded day, too. So that contributes to the evening experience. I'm sure Fall Break was a huge contributing factor into this.
25:01 Nothing like Main Street at night! Mickey and Minnie saying goodnight was the BEST surprise to end our trip in May. We don’t get that type of magic at DW very often.
3:00 so me and my mom *have been* to disneyland like a zillion times and we *always* stayed until 1 am. the last time we we went was *2018* but maybe this strategy can still work? 1) skip the fireworks show, and instead go to *new orleans square* and ride pirates of the caribbean. it *should* be a 5 minute wait. 2) then try *rushing* over to space mountain and *see* if there’s a short wait. no time to *check* the app, you just have to almost run! when it’s late night, *the point* is to see how many rides you can ride while *lots of people* are distracted by parades, fantasmic, and the fireworks show. 3) you can also *try* to get into fantasyland if there’s time and see what has a short wait. just remember, *skip* the shows, and *run to rides* !!😂
Way to go, James, staying to closing! Thanks for making this closing strategy video. The info. about the Peter Pan pre-line after fireworks is helpful.
We were just there at the end of September and I made my husband close the park with me :D Honestly it was kind of amazing for us, but we were there on a Thursday night. We ate food, hit Runaway Railway, Peter Pan, Rise, Indiana Jones and finished up with Pirates. We had planned to do Big Thunder but it closed unfortunately so we ran to Pirates instead before official park close. There was NOBODY in the park at night past 11 pm and it was crazy. The pictures were great! The longest line was Peter Pan (45 min). Even Rise was only 30 minutes and it mostly took so long to walk through the line... but everything was basically a walk on.
I have only ever closed the park once or twice, so can’t really tell if this was a good strategy or not, but 3 rides per hour is pretty good. It’s probably better during the week. Thanks for doing this. Btw I’m kinda shocked they still have the Natives in the Peter Pan ride. All those changes to Pirates and Jungle Cruise, yet these stereotypes are still there.
When I visited, right after the projection show (was a thursday) I rushed over with my older daughter (my younger daughter went to hotel with her dad) to Peter pan and we waited 20 minutes in the line. After we got off the ride Peter pan was 45 minutes.
I'm assuming they don't close the area if there's only projections. As the reason Fantasyland closes is due to firework debris. This is why it doesn't open until 10 PM when the fireworks end at 9:45 PM. During that time, a lot more people gather than would be the case on a projection only night.
Galaxy’s Edge & Cars Land are both so so cool looking at night! 2:08 Would be cool to see you test the “exaggerated wait time theory” on Space MTN as your final ride of the night the next time you do one of these vids.
We went for two days open to close even in the same day that we drove at 2am. 27, 26, 6 and 8 month old. We’re going this year for Christmas season, first time. You can do it!
We stayed till park close when we were there in April and we liked it better it was so quite and we got on every ride so quick and the Tea Cup ride is so pretty also the Casey Jr train is the best to ride then. Also we were the only ones on the jungle cruise haha that was creepy at night but I highly recommend the closing time it’s so much more relaxed Also big thunder mountain was sooooo cool at night. I’m shocked how busy it is for you it was so quite and that was during Easter
Enjoyed the video! Definitely planning on doing more close of parks when we are there next trips because hotels are closer and we will be taking mid day breaks.😍
Great to learn about the Peter Pan line. Other than that, just a busy night. Usually, Pirates has been easy to get on for us late night. Have fine on your trek north! 👍
Yep, I get that. But if it’s a walk on, I’d rather be on a 16 minute ride I love than spend 30 minutes in a cue and 3 minute ride that’s okay (Although I love them all). Just imo.
Just got back from Disneyland Resort. I found rope drop was much better for 2 reasons. 1st - the lines to get through Security was quicker, the lines to get into the park were quicker. 2nd - You then get to have the opportunity to get onto rides that normally are long. The crowds were packed at night as DCA closed early for Oogie Boogie , so park hoppers finished up at Disneyland. I loved the cream cheese pretzel, and did not enjoy anything from Tiana's. The Mac & Cheese was very dry, cool, and unsatisfying. I did the Riverbelle for Fantasmic!, which food was THE BEST! I recommend it 100%!
I go at night all the time lol The one ride everyone needs to ride is Rise of Resistance slightly before 10PM. The ride closes at 10PM on the weekend but it moves so much faster when the lighting lane is also closed. Usually the wait is between 20 to 30 mins.
The west side of the park is the way to go at night. Particularly if you love Pirates or Mansion and go after the second Fantasmic performance, you can go again and again, with your wait time basically being dictated by your feet and how fast you can get back to the entrance. Sometimes even Indy can be short. Small World and Runaway Railway also can be quite short. In my experience, much of Tomorrowland and especially Fantasyland DO NOT clear out at night.
Thanks for the video! My family and I are going to be there the first week of December. I'd like to try to close one night, but I don't know if I can make it, looks fun though.
Couple things I’m wondering - First, when you were doing this in Disneyland, what were the crowd levels over at DCA? This time of year, where the Oogie boogie Bash is happening, really impacts crowd sizes in the other park. Secondly, how much of your experience is simply because it’s October right now, and the park is super busy because of the Halloween season? This is just my feeling, but I think the sort of crowds you get around Halloween are probably more in the mood to stay late.
I think it it depends on the day when you close out the park. I usually do Sunday night and it's usually much more empty. People tend to stay later on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Same! I am not a morning person 😂 It seems pretty busy for it being that late. Maybe because it’s a Friday night or if it’s Fall break when this is being filmed. I usually go during the middle of the week and it’s not quite this busy.
My closing strategy. (Maybe a bit before “closing” but it worked well for me) 915 I went to rise (fantastic already started and fireworks start soon I was in ray room in 12 min) Next I walked onto smugglers run, then pirates, big thunder, then Matterhorn or space depending on wait times, Indiana jones 10 minutes after the late fantastic starts and finish with Matterhorn or space whichever I didn’t do at the earlier choice. It was a lot of walking but like you always say chance those low wait times even when it says something is a 40 minute wait late at night you always have to check Indiana said 40 and it took me 9 can’t wait to see attempt 2 hopefully it’s less busy for you!
Hey, I appreciate the videos. I get a lot of help from watching these. I was wondering? What time to they close off fantasy land for fireworks and what time do they reopen it?
I'll be there on November 15th. Not sure if I'll stick around till close, but I should have a hotel (not confirmed yet, Get Away is helping me secure one). I know I'll be doing World of Color dessert party for sure. But whether I go over to Disneyland after DCA closes I don't know.
No, unfortunately not. Most people will hang around until fireworks or projections, which take place at 9:30 PM. So when the park closest at 10 PM, that's kind of the last thing most people will do. Granted, during the show is still a good time to ride rides because everyone else is camped out on Main Street. But it's not quite the same as 11:30 PM when you would expect most people to be gone.
@SoCalDisneyDad It looks like there will be no fireworks most of the days we are there, starting Nov. 5, so I can assume people will just stay to the end, and there won't be much of a magic closing hour?
@@bethbauer6 There will still be a projection show. So people will still gather on Main Street at the usual firework time. But yes, I’d expect most people to hang around till closing.
One thing I didn't like was running out of time. Counting down to midnight. I felt like a timer was hanging over me head. Where as at rope drop, while it gets busier with each passing minute, I don't have to worry about running out of time to get something done.
@@marybernard3186 As a character? I think he’s a Disney Visa exclusive character in Hollywood Land, but he’s not always there. I’m not even sure if he’s currently greeting guests or if his appearance is a few months old at this point.
I am requesting a cold brew and boba drink video period I know your wife likes cold brew. I don't know if oba is your favorite but my daughter and I, intend to be there for Christmas season and this gives you time from November 15th to put something together. Obviously tend cold bruise in 1 day.Would kill anyone so sometime?It's required to make this sort of video I would deeply appreciate it.I've got 2 days at Disneyland 1 day at DC.A so your info is deeply appreciated.Thank you sir
@@cassandralamendola8976 Tool they use to figure out the wait times. They scan it at the start to trigger a timer. And scan it when you reach the end of the line and it tells them how long you waited.
How they check the wait times. They scan it when they give it to you and scan it when you reach the end of the line. This tells them exactly how long you waited.
Would love more nighttime content! You’re right, the ambience is just so special.
I'm 35 with 4 kids we close all 3 days
What a different video! So good to see your park close strategy, usually you guys have to leave earlier because of traffic or to spare the kids from being exhausted! Thank you for the video 😊
My first time going I made a big mistake. I didn't realize that DCA closes earlier than Disneyland. We stayed till park closing, but had a locker in DCA filled with souvenirs & gifts. I figured we'd be able to park hop to retrieve our stuff at the end of the night. To my surprise we were told we couldn't go back into DCA. That was our last night there and the next morning we were on a flight back home. I was so upset at my mistake. We had hundreds of dollars worth of gifts that we bought for our friends and family. Thankfully, two workers behind the DCA gates were able to go to our lockers and retrieve our items for us while we waited at the DCA gates. The night could've ended badly for us. We could've lost hundreds of dollars in gifts, but but those two cast members went out of their way and saved our vacation!!! I was singing their praises all night! Big lesson learned. Be aware of all park hours.
I don’t know why, but your crowd update during the Peter Pan ride cracked me up 😂 that ride is like 45 seconds long so I know you had to rush your words lol
I like both. I think its all in what day you pick. The weekend is busier. I have been during the week. That last hour. Is amazing. It could also be luck. Are last night, my sister and my niece closed the park riding Splash Mountain 3 times. We got to stay on. No line. It was awesome. Then finished with 2 mins to spare on Indiana. Glad see you vlogging at. Kinda cool. Glad you did this.
@@lisabostrack24 It’ll be unlikely I ever get to do an evening on a weekday. Just the way the kids school schedule works. Maybe next summer.
@SoCalDisneyDad i totally get it. You never know. Its a hit and miss. You did awesome. But I do like rope drop a little bit better.
Just wanted to say that your videos have been so helpful! I'm going tomorrow and Friday for the first time in 9 YEARS, and I'm so excited!
Great video! If you did the same video next Friday, it could be totally different. With your knowledge on physical queue times compared to the app wait times, is a big asset. You can make decisions for what's best for you and your family. I'm still learning with trial and error.
Thanks for sharing your real experience with us which includes a tired wife and kid, not fully understanding a pre line for Peter Pan on the fly, making time for fireworks and trying to take in a few last attractions before the night is over. It was very relatable.
For sure. It was a super crowded day, too. So that contributes to the evening experience. I'm sure Fall Break was a huge contributing factor into this.
25:01 Nothing like Main Street at night! Mickey and Minnie saying goodnight was the BEST surprise to end our trip in May. We don’t get that type of magic at DW very often.
The shot you took of the full moon and Matterhorn was really cool. 😀
3:00 so me and my mom *have been* to disneyland like a zillion times and we *always* stayed until 1 am. the last time we we went was *2018* but maybe this strategy can still work?
1) skip the fireworks show, and instead go to *new orleans square* and ride pirates of the caribbean. it *should* be a 5 minute wait.
2) then try *rushing* over to space mountain and *see* if there’s a short wait. no time to *check* the app, you just have to almost run! when it’s late night, *the point* is to see how many rides you can ride while *lots of people* are distracted by parades, fantasmic, and the fireworks show.
3) you can also *try* to get into fantasyland if there’s time and see what has a short wait. just remember, *skip* the shows, and *run to rides* !!😂
Way to go, James, staying to closing! Thanks for making this closing strategy video. The info. about the Peter Pan pre-line after fireworks is helpful.
We were just there at the end of September and I made my husband close the park with me :D Honestly it was kind of amazing for us, but we were there on a Thursday night. We ate food, hit Runaway Railway, Peter Pan, Rise, Indiana Jones and finished up with Pirates. We had planned to do Big Thunder but it closed unfortunately so we ran to Pirates instead before official park close. There was NOBODY in the park at night past 11 pm and it was crazy. The pictures were great! The longest line was Peter Pan (45 min). Even Rise was only 30 minutes and it mostly took so long to walk through the line... but everything was basically a walk on.
I’m surprised Rise was open. It almost always closes at 9 PM or 10 PM.
I have only ever closed the park once or twice, so can’t really tell if this was a good strategy or not, but 3 rides per hour is pretty good. It’s probably better during the week. Thanks for doing this.
Btw I’m kinda shocked they still have the Natives in the Peter Pan ride. All those changes to Pirates and Jungle Cruise, yet these stereotypes are still there.
Was excited for this video just to see parks at night! Excellent video as usual. Enjoy seeing you guys trial-and-error process.
Good job James!
I love the early morning til like 11:00 am and then like 6pm to midnight! Its the best!!
I love Disneyland at night. It looks so different and magical.
I know you said that you’ll do more, and it would be great for more night time content. It was helpful and entertaining!
I love it at night but nothing beats the golden hour 🎉
I agree!
When I visited, right after the projection show (was a thursday) I rushed over with my older daughter (my younger daughter went to hotel with her dad) to Peter pan and we waited 20 minutes in the line. After we got off the ride Peter pan was 45 minutes.
I'm assuming they don't close the area if there's only projections. As the reason Fantasyland closes is due to firework debris. This is why it doesn't open until 10 PM when the fireworks end at 9:45 PM. During that time, a lot more people gather than would be the case on a projection only night.
Yay more hotel stays. Can’t wait to see more options
Galaxy’s Edge & Cars Land are both so so cool looking at night! 2:08
Would be cool to see you test the “exaggerated wait time theory” on Space MTN as your final ride of the night the next time you do one of these vids.
This was really good, thank you. I am a nite owl and rope drop is just a fantasy 🎉
Great video as always! Have a great week!
Looking to visit the parks soon from out of state. Hoping to do 3 days open to close. Who thinks we can pull it off? (Wife and I, 26 and 24) 🎉😂
Sure you can! You’re young so should have no problem 😉
I did that with my gf (both 26). It is very possible, just remember to eat and hydrate frequently
you totally can i’m doing the same again its very possible
We went for two days open to close even in the same day that we drove at 2am. 27, 26, 6 and 8 month old. We’re going this year for Christmas season, first time.
You can do it!
Thank you for doing the re-con on this.
We stayed till park close when we were there in April and we liked it better it was so quite and we got on every ride so quick and the Tea Cup ride is so pretty also the Casey Jr train is the best to ride then. Also we were the only ones on the jungle cruise haha that was creepy at night but I highly recommend the closing time it’s so much more relaxed
Also big thunder mountain was sooooo cool at night. I’m shocked how busy it is for you it was so quite and that was during Easter
Great idea for a video - - another fun idea if you want to, Can you show us the best/ your fav food that is packaged (to bring home in suitcases 😂)
Enjoyed the video! Definitely planning on doing more close of parks when we are there next trips because hotels are closer and we will be taking mid day breaks.😍
A midday break was essential for this for sure. I don't think we could have gone from 8 AM to Midnight without one.
This was a really good video. And I appreciate it! Keep up the work!❤
So excited to see the video from the mission!
Great to learn about the Peter Pan line. Other than that, just a busy night. Usually, Pirates has been easy to get on for us late night. Have fine on your trek north! 👍
I usually avoid boat rides when I'm trying to maximize my ride time. They just take too much time, they're better off ridden during the day (to me).
Yep, I get that. But if it’s a walk on, I’d rather be on a 16 minute ride I love than spend 30 minutes in a cue and 3 minute ride that’s okay (Although I love them all). Just imo.
Just got back from Disneyland Resort. I found rope drop was much better for 2 reasons. 1st - the lines to get through Security was quicker, the lines to get into the park were quicker. 2nd - You then get to have the opportunity to get onto rides that normally are long.
The crowds were packed at night as DCA closed early for Oogie Boogie , so park hoppers finished up at Disneyland.
I loved the cream cheese pretzel, and did not enjoy anything from Tiana's. The Mac & Cheese was very dry, cool, and unsatisfying.
I did the Riverbelle for Fantasmic!, which food was THE BEST! I recommend it 100%!
I go at night all the time lol The one ride everyone needs to ride is Rise of Resistance slightly before 10PM. The ride closes at 10PM on the weekend but it moves so much faster when the lighting lane is also closed. Usually the wait is between 20 to 30 mins.
Hey boss! Have we told u lately that we ❤ you! U da best bro
The west side of the park is the way to go at night. Particularly if you love Pirates or Mansion and go after the second Fantasmic performance, you can go again and again, with your wait time basically being dictated by your feet and how fast you can get back to the entrance. Sometimes even Indy can be short. Small World and Runaway Railway also can be quite short.
In my experience, much of Tomorrowland and especially Fantasyland DO NOT clear out at night.
I will never be a park close type of person unfortunately. Morning vibes are just too good and I like to go to bed early 😂
I’m an open to close person when on vacation, it’s just hard to do that when we live so far away here.
Love park closing cant wait for my trip in dec
Great video I never stay that long but I should do night
Thanks for the video! My family and I are going to be there the first week of December. I'd like to try to close one night, but I don't know if I can make it, looks fun though.
Good Evergreen video. Did you stay in a hotel close by? If so, which one
Couple things I’m wondering -
First, when you were doing this in Disneyland, what were the crowd levels over at DCA?
This time of year, where the Oogie boogie Bash is happening, really impacts crowd sizes in the other park.
Secondly, how much of your experience is simply because it’s October right now, and the park is super busy because of the Halloween season?
This is just my feeling, but I think the sort of crowds you get around Halloween are probably more in the mood to stay late.
@@sdr24 I’ll definitely be doing it again some other time. It was just a really busy day. So I’ll try it in the off season once January rolls around.
I think it it depends on the day when you close out the park. I usually do Sunday night and it's usually much more empty. People tend to stay later on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Yeah, Fridays or Saturdays are all I’ll ever be able to do since my family has school on Monday. But it makes sense!
I only come at night lol I will never wake up early enough for rope drop so closing out the park is the best strategy for me
Same! I am not a morning person 😂 It seems pretty busy for it being that late. Maybe because it’s a Friday night or if it’s Fall break when this is being filmed. I usually go during the middle of the week and it’s not quite this busy.
My closing strategy. (Maybe a bit before “closing” but it worked well for me)
915 I went to rise (fantastic already started and fireworks start soon I was in ray room in 12 min)
Next I walked onto smugglers run, then pirates, big thunder, then Matterhorn or space depending on wait times, Indiana jones 10 minutes after the late fantastic starts and finish with Matterhorn or space whichever I didn’t do at the earlier choice. It was a lot of walking but like you always say chance those low wait times even when it says something is a 40 minute wait late at night you always have to check Indiana said 40 and it took me 9 can’t wait to see attempt 2 hopefully it’s less busy for you!
Hey, I appreciate the videos. I get a lot of help from watching these. I was wondering? What time to they close off fantasy land for fireworks and what time do they reopen it?
I remember doing Autopia in DL Paris right before closing. Worst idea ever - it just turns into a traffic simulator
Autopia is sweet at night!
Go to Porto’s , it’s the best bakery in so cal
Was it pretty busy the day you filmed this? When we watched fire of the rising moons in August only half the space was full
@@kristenhoskin5822 It was super crowded. It was the same day as the crowd updates.
Last may we went on peter pan right after the fireworks it took 5 minutes...thought we hit the lottery
Hi the crowd were very light today just wondering 😊
They were excellent on Sunday as well. This video is from Friday, October 11th. It was much busier then.
On big thunder mountain which side of the seat is the “Yeti” on ( L or R side of the seat)
@@audreyelises2633 The Yeti is on Matterhorn. And he appears on both sides of the ride vehicle throughout the ride.
Going for my birthday and they unfortunately close early but I’ll make the most of it
i heard if you were in a line Que before closing they let you in the front right away
I'm going open to close nov 15. With the fam for the first time.... i hope it goes well😅
I'll be there on November 15th. Not sure if I'll stick around till close, but I should have a hotel (not confirmed yet, Get Away is helping me secure one). I know I'll be doing World of Color dessert party for sure. But whether I go over to Disneyland after DCA closes I don't know.
I will be there tomorrow do you have? Any tips for me because as soon as we land, we’re going to Disneyland. Do I rope Star Wars?
I like closeing out DCA it isnt to crouded I thnk its better then closing DL.
I’ll have to do a video for a DCA closing too. Where we ignore World of Color or else you really lose your ride time.
Question- you mentioned 10-12 are the magic closing hours, does that mean it's the same for the days when the park closes early, being instead 8-10?
No, unfortunately not. Most people will hang around until fireworks or projections, which take place at 9:30 PM. So when the park closest at 10 PM, that's kind of the last thing most people will do.
Granted, during the show is still a good time to ride rides because everyone else is camped out on Main Street. But it's not quite the same as 11:30 PM when you would expect most people to be gone.
@SoCalDisneyDad It looks like there will be no fireworks most of the days we are there, starting Nov. 5, so I can assume people will just stay to the end, and there won't be much of a magic closing hour?
@@bethbauer6 There will still be a projection show. So people will still gather on Main Street at the usual firework time. But yes, I’d expect most people to hang around till closing.
@@SoCalDisneyDad oh good to know! We will take advantage of that show time. Thanks!
Closing is better than early entry in my opinion
One thing I didn't like was running out of time. Counting down to midnight. I felt like a timer was hanging over me head. Where as at rope drop, while it gets busier with each passing minute, I don't have to worry about running out of time to get something done.
@SoCalDisneyDad it's more about taking in the nighttime sights and sounds. There is a quiet magic to the parks at closing.
Where can you find Stitch at Disneyland???
@@marybernard3186 As a character? I think he’s a Disney Visa exclusive character in Hollywood Land, but he’s not always there. I’m not even sure if he’s currently greeting guests or if his appearance is a few months old at this point.
I am requesting a cold brew and boba drink video period I know your wife likes cold brew. I don't know if oba is your favorite but my daughter and I, intend to be there for Christmas season and this gives you time from November 15th to put something together. Obviously tend cold bruise in 1 day.Would kill anyone so sometime?It's required to make this sort of video I would deeply appreciate it.I've got 2 days at Disneyland 1 day at DC.A so your info is deeply appreciated.Thank you sir
if they it isnt seasonal, bengal bbq has a thai tea with boba that my sister and i LOVED! just had it in october.
I think for rides, rope drop works better, but Disneyland at night is so beautiful with all the lights.
100%
What is a red card? 12:11
@@cassandralamendola8976 Tool they use to figure out the wait times. They scan it at the start to trigger a timer. And scan it when you reach the end of the line and it tells them how long you waited.
Night owls rejoice! 😂
👍
When you went on Star Tours, they gave you a red card. What was that???
How they check the wait times. They scan it when they give it to you and scan it when you reach the end of the line. This tells them exactly how long you waited.
🤗
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