At Walt Disney World, there’s something special magical about the end of a day at the parks.
Jackie Swisher, executive vice president of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, told USA TODAY, “As each operation reduces the number of guests, there will be a sense of calm and a focus on the guests who are there.” Ta. “There’s also a bit of awe for the guests who get a glimpse of what it’s like when they’re not there.”
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, the last guests of Slinky Dog Dash and Oga’s Cantina may leave feeling like they have Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge all to themselves. However, the park is never truly empty.
“We operate 24/7 here at Walt Disney World, and Cast Members are always working to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible,” Swisher said.
USA TODAY took a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to close one of Disney’s most popular parks and what happens once guests leave. What happens here?
go with the flow
Tens of thousands of guests visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios every day, but not all of them leave at once. Some rope droppers who line up before the park opens leave early. Others may park hops. Many people stay to watch the park’s popular nighttime spectacular, “Fantasmic.” Additionally, some people are waiting to be the last to leave the park.
“There are patterns that our guests tend to fall into, and we prepare for them along the way,” Swisher said, likening each day to a symphony. “There’s a little bit of makeshift play in there, and it’s probably more like a jazz band,” she adds with a laugh.
When a hiccup occurs, the park caretaker on duty conducts the symphony and redirects it. On the night of USA TODAY’s visit, Fantasmic was interrupted by technical issues. To make up for the missed experience, guests were given a little extra time in the park, enough to do one more ride.
Utilizing various types of communications Swisher said he uses tools to keep his team in constant communication. “We can really adjust as guests move around the park.”
In the middle
Many guests chose to spend their extra time shopping.
“Merchant sales are actually very busy at the end of the night, so we staff accordingly,” Swisher said.
Mickey’s of Hollywood was packed with guests browsing for stuffed toys, t-shirts, and other themed souvenirs. Located on Hollywood Boulevard, this shop is one of the last stops for many guests in the park, which is why it’s open late into the night.
“They may have been browsing all day looking for something to help them remember their experience, but they may not want to carry it around with them all day,” Swisher said. “So when guests leave, we want to make sure that they can take advantage of the shopping opportunities that are on their way to the exit. That’s part of the way.
What happens if I’m standing in line for a ride when Disney parks close?
Even on normal nights, you can wait in line for attractions until just before the park closes. If you are already in line when the park closes, you can just stay in line and ride the ride.
“We want to make sure that every guest in line has the opportunity to experience that attraction,” Swisher said. “Rather than shutting guests out, we allow them to finish their day and make sure there is magic in every moment.”
The same applies to customers who have booked a meal for a later time.
“The reason someone at a restaurant goes out as the last guest of the night is because they were celebrating something really great, and they have an opportunity to engage with their guests in that moment,” Swisher said.
Can I stay at Disney?
From campgrounds at Fort Wilderness to villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian, there are many Disney resorts and hotels for guests who want to stay inside the Disney bubble.
They cannot stay within the park.
“We have very highly trained cast members who can perform very professional duties during the night, and we want to ensure the safety of our guests and cast members,” Swisher said. “Therefore, we absolutely need a process to ensure that our guests return home or back to their resorts safely before we begin these activities.”
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How does Disney make sure everyone leaves the park?
Disney has a process called park clearing. “We do that in each of our businesses, whether it’s restaurants or attractions and shows like Fantasmic,” Swisher said.
Measures vary by venue, but at the Slinky Dog Dash the night USA TODAY visited, cast members made sure no one else lined up behind the last guest at closing time. We then made sure guests exited the ride and headed to the park exit once they were done.
Cast members had already begun clearing the remaining land, so there was really nowhere else to go. Starting at the back of Galaxy’s Edge, several cast members effectively blocked access. We moved forward towards the front of the park, sweeping section by section to ensure guests did not backtrack unnecessarily.
But no one rushed out. One of the last guests asked a cast member to take a final photo of the group in an almost empty lot, and the cast member was more than happy to oblige. Additional cast members were stationed on the way to the exit, guiding guests with lit canes and waving goodbye.
What time do Disney parks close?
Park hours vary widely by date and park. Times are posted well in advance on the Disney World website so guests can plan ahead.
With Halloween and the holiday season approaching, travelers should be aware of dates when parks close early for after-hours events.
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What will happen if Disney World closes?
“There are a lot of different activities that we do, but it’s easier to do them on nights when we don’t have guests. This is due to the nature of the facilities or what we’re doing to support our guests and generate revenue. I’m sure everything is as ready as it can be and it’s going to be magical,” Swisher said.
This includes deep cleaning, maintenance, painting, restocking merchandise, changing visual displays, etc. Some can’t start until there are no guests left, so the last remaining guests are rewarded with a special treat.
“At the end of the night, you get more people saying goodbye, and it’s really fun to have those moments,” Swisher said. “Participating in the final farewell really fills you with so much fairy dust.”
