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View Full Version : Have you ever been last to leave the park?



snappy
02-03-2004, 08:19 PM
After having dinner at Club33 my wife and I strolled toward the main gate not seeing a single person/guest. Spent 3 1/2 hours eating dinner and talking, but walking in sheer silence was a real neat experience. Anyone else? Please do tell.

Morrigoon
02-03-2004, 08:30 PM
In a word...... yes :D

Bruce Bergman
02-03-2004, 08:46 PM
Haven't been the Very Last Person AFAIK - I'm not a Club 33 member... ;)

But I have been with a bunch of people hanging out at Coke Corner past closing, past Rod coming down from his dressing room and walking out to Harbor Pointe, yakking till well after they closed the Main Street shops.

And a few of the "Sweep" Security CM's were hanging out nearby and not too subtly thinking "C'mon, please go home so we can go home..." They've escorted us to the gate and wished us a good morning...

You know, the place is just as beautiful when it's quiet, and Main Street is wide open and empty. You almost expect Walt to wander up and say Hi...

:fez: --<< Bruce >>--

Sophie832
02-03-2004, 10:02 PM
Basically, everything Bruce said.

I miss the good old days when we'd sit there until security made us leave...sigh. It was always a lot of fun, and kind of magical to have Main Street all to ourselves.

Demigod121
02-04-2004, 11:29 AM
When I did my stint in Security last year, I had the wonderful opportunity to walk all around DCA at about 3am..

It was dark, and quiet, and was just wonderful to walk around with no people or music - just taking it all in. Fantastic.

Something I will remember for a while! :D

-Demigod

Caleb the Great
02-04-2004, 11:50 AM
it would be an awsome experince to be at disneyland after it closed ................:confused: i think thats what heaven is like

David R
02-04-2004, 01:44 PM
One time at WDW, my other half and I were doing one of those e-ride nights at the Magic Kingdom and eventually decided to leave.

We found ourselves in front of the castle, no one around us, anywhere. We took a few pics and then we walked down Main Street, again, no one around us. Stores closed. As if we had been left in the park alone. Finally at the entrance area, near City Hall, there was one lone CM sweeping.

I ended up talking pics of a deserted Main Street. It was absolutely beautiful.

tod
02-04-2004, 03:41 PM
One night there was an early close, 6:00 or something, and The Lovely Mrs. tod and I had been spending time in the Emporium, and when we walked back onto Main Street the place was deserted. We started walking to the Castle, well-lit in the early-evening darkness, with the trees blinking in The Plaza, wnhen we were stopped, politely, by a cast member who gently informed us that the Park was closed and we should go that way.

Oh well.

--T

Kevy Baby
02-04-2004, 07:05 PM
Not closing but had an experience on the other end of the day.

We won tickets on KLOS for a preview of Rocket Rods. I remember walking up Main Street wat 6:00 a.m. with a couple of street vehicles (vans, delivery trucks) parked on Main Street. Somewhere I have pictures of that.

Main Street Magic
02-05-2004, 07:38 AM
I also, haven't been the last to leave but have been in the park prior to opening. I was participating in the CM canoe races one summer and we had practices very early in the mornings. So I have stood at the entrance to Fantasyland, just as Walt once did and looked down a deserted Main Street. Yes, it was truly a unique experience.

On a similar note, during our last trip to WDW back in August/September, we dined at one of the Japanese restaurants just as the park was closing. So, by the time we finished eating, we had a very leisurely stroll back to the main entrance, seeing only a few of the night shift. On that day, we actually were in one park before it opened (we did the sunrise safari in the AK) and then closed Epcot!:D

Ilikesteamboat
02-06-2004, 01:23 PM
Many times I have been the last during our trips.

I remember one night (at closing) a kid about 5 years old was crying because they had to leave and his dad told him they had to go and get ready to leave the next day. He told him they would take one last picture which they did by the tunnel and then they left.

My wife looked at me and said that she felt like that little kid, I did too and we waited until they politely kicked us out.

derraj25
02-07-2004, 04:06 PM
I have always heard that the Main Street stores close well after the closing of the park...Is this true?

Bruce Bergman
02-07-2004, 08:43 PM
Originally posted by derraj25
I have always heard that the Main Street stores close well after the closing of the park...Is this true?

Most of the time, yes. The normal procedure is stated in the closing PA announcement, "the Main Street stores will be open an additional hour for your shopping convenience." They sweep everyone out of the various lands and onto Main Street as the rides empty out, and don't start the final sweep to the gates until that hour is up.

The only times they aren't is on a very late closing, at 2 AM they just say "Goodnight" and the shops start closing. If you're inside, they'll let you finish browsing.

Or if they are closing early to have a special event later that night in the park, like Grad Night. They want to get everyone out, and have a chance to sweep up and take a break before the next bunch comes in.

:fez: --<< Bruce >>--