Magic Kingdom Exit Strategy: Getting Out After Fireworks
One of the most un-magical moments of your Disney vacation is very likely to happen after a nighttime show as you try to leave the park and get back to your resort - along with up to 100,000 of your "closest friends". You may first face a shoulder-to-shoulder jostle at snail's pace out of the park, followed by a long wait for your transportation as bus after bus fills and leaves and you still feel like you are at the end of the line, followed by standing shoulder to shoulder on your transportation of choice. All this when you may be tired from a long day and the hour.
While I can't promise the following strategies will eliminate any of this pain, I can promise they are likely to alleviate the frustration.
Use the following tactics as only one, or combine them into a strategy. Most importantly, though, do what works for you. And before I break down the tactics for the Magic Kingdom, the most important tactic I can recommend applies to all parks. Ready for it?
Primary Tactic: Mentally Prepare
Resign yourself to the fact that it's not going to be pretty after those fireworks. The fireworks will likely be worth it, yes, but right after, it's not going to feel like it for a little bit. Discard any dreams of walking freely out of an almost empty park to your waiting bus and sitting down to rest your tired feet while you arrive at your resort within a half hour of leaving the park. Can this happen? Yes. Is it likely? No. Prepare for the worst. Prepare for crowds, lines, and standing on your mode of transportation (OR... and this is very important... advocating for yourself if you or your family member cannot stand due to age or a physical issue by asking someone to give up their seat. If you do not advocate, some people will not do it, so ask ask ask).
Now that you are mentally prepared, here are some other tactics you may choose to deploy in the Magic Kingdom.
Tactic 1: Consider an alternate viewing location
The best location from which to see the Magic Kingdom nighttime show is the hub, specifically a little rise where the hub meets main street that is slightly elevated from the rest of the park. If this area is roped off, then anywhere toward the end of Main Street approaching the castle is considered "front of the house".
This tactic, however, involves abandoning the best viewing spot for an OK viewing spot with an easier exit. Viewing spots that are OK but have easier exits are those toward the entrance of the park, like by the flag pole, by the train station, even on top of the train station if it's not roped off. You'll still have a very nice view of the castle, and from these locations, you are already near the park entrance and should be one of the first out of the park and to the transportation which means less of a wait all around.
Another set of alternate viewing locations where you'll make more of a sacrifice in view but enjoy an uncrowded experience is at several beaches and restaurants around the Seven Seas Lagoon.
At the beach at the Polynesian, they pipe in the music during the show. However, the castle is far away and you won't see the projections on the castle itself which is a big show element.
Dine at the California Grill at the Contemporary resort any time during the day and receive a pass to view the fireworks from their rooftop viewing deck. It's a great view, but it's also an oblique view so the fireworks will not appear to be anywhere near the castle since they are actually set up behind the Magic Kingdom park. Also, you won't see the projections at all.
Dine at Ohana or Citricos during the fireworks for a view from inside. You won't really feel immersed in the show, but you will see the castle in the distance with the fireworks going off over it, so it's nice.
Tactic 2: Look to the sides of Main Street
If you are inside the Magic Kingdom, right after the fireworks, everyone and their brother has to make for Main Street USA to exit the park. As you get to Main Street, veer to the sides of the street.
To the right, facing the train station, is the best unbroken row of shops. Enter the door by Casey's Corner, and work your way through the shops (they will be crowded too but not as bad as the street) to the door at the Emporium at the end of the street. This will put you right near the fire station and exit of the park.
To the left, you can also work your way through the shops, but these shops will put you out onto the street at least one during your journey because there is a side street. However, the real gem here is not guaranteed, but when it happens, it's pretty great. On very busy days, the cast members will open a backstage area that runs behind the shops on the left side of Main Street. If this is open and seems less crowded, take it.
Tactic Three: Know Your Transportation
Depending on where you are staying, upon exiting Main Street, you have several transportation options. Ideally, you have a plan for which one you prefer along with a backup plan before the fireworks even start so that upon exiting, you can rush straight to your preferred transportation.
Let's start with the monorail - this is the most efficient transportation to the monorail loop resorts or the Transportation and Ticket Center. While the line might look long and prohibitive, it moves very fast. DO NOT abandon the monorail because the line looks longer than the line for the bus. That's a grave mistake. The monorail comes about 4x more frequently than the buses and fits three times the people a bus can fit.
The ferry - the ferry goes only to the Transportation and Ticket Center, but for many, this is exactly where they need to go because this is the Magic Kingdom parking lot. The ferry holds 600 people, which is almost double that of a monorail (but it comes slightly less frequently than the monorail, making the capacity per minute about equal).
Resort launches - these small boats go only to one or two resorts around the Seven Seas lagoon and Bay Lake and are really only good options for the folks staying at those resorts. But if you are staying at the Wilderness Lodge, Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Village, or Grand Floridian, unless the line seems VERY long for the boat launch, this is likely a good option.
Walking - there is currently only one resort you can walk to from the Magic Kingdom, but that may soon become three. Right now, you can walk to the Contemporary. If you are staying there, you would be downright crazy to consider any other transportation option in my opinion. When the bridge is finished between the Magic Kingdom and the Grand Floridian, you will also be able to walk from the Magic Kingdom to the Grand Floridian, and to the Polynesian Village resort (via the Grand Floridian). Honestly, this is an excellent post-fireworks exit strategy.
Tactic 4 - Shop until the kiss goodnight
While you can't ride any more rides after the park closes, or buy anymore food, the shops tend to stay open until about an hour after the park closes. If you aren't in a hurry, it might be a good idea to dawdle a bit getting that last souvenir. This strategy also opens up the possibility of experiencing the kiss goodnight at the Magic Kingdom, which is a very brief castle show that starts about 30 minutes after the park's official closing time.
What do you think? Can these tips help you make it out? Do you have some strategies you want to share? Share them here or on our Facebook page! Until next time...
