There is a lot of emphasis placed on what one does during the first hour that a park is open.  While there can be some large crowds at rope drop, the lines produced are somewhat minimal since an empty theme park can easily handle that number of people.  It is important, as we all know, to get the most out of that hour or so, because the majority of park attendees arrive sometime around 11 a.m., and at times like summer or the holidays, the crowds will continue to come until the park swells to a very unpleasant and sometimes unmanageable level.  Strategy and planning are important ingredients to making that first hour a success.

This week, we will take a look at what options are available to you during the last hour a park is open.  In my opinion, those of us who consider ourselves “Disneyphiles” are well aware of the importance of the first hour, but I believe that the last hour is just as crucial in making a good trip to Walt Disney World into a great one.  The last hour of a park’s hours offers many more options and advantages than the first and depending on what mood you might be in, can lead to either some time-saving or energy-saving activities. 

Nighttime Attractions and Shows:  Perhaps the biggest draw for a guest at night is the entertainment offered to guests to close out the day.  The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios all put on some great shows that really accentuate a fun day at Walt Disney World.  Depending on the season and the day of the week, there could be multiple showings of Fantasmic! (for now anyway) and Spectro Magic.  This provides guests with more flexibility in figuring out when is the best time for them to see a show or catch the parade (although, generally speaking, the latter of the two shows are less crowded).  I always enjoy watching Wishes or catching Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, despite how many times I have seen it before.  There’s something special about seeing such an amazing spectacle with other park guests.  There is nothing quite like cheering and applauding with thousands of other people that will make you want to come back and experience it again and again. 

Ride the rides.  Of course, for those times that I don’t catch Wishes or Fantasmic!, I make sure I take advantage of it by hitting all of my favorite attractions.  Some of the best times of the day to hit the super headliners, like Splash Mountain or the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, are during the showings of the end of the day events.  While some 9,000 people crowd into the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater to see the first showing of Fantasmic!, I can enjoy Toy Story Midway Mania or Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (a few years ago, during a Wishes performance during spring break season, my friends and I were fortunate enough to ride Splash Mountain about 3 times in a row, with no wait at all).  This is a great opportunity to experience the rides and attractions you weren’t able to see during the day or just want to ride again.

Bon a petit!  Much like the paragraph above, choosing to dine during the last hour can be less of a hassle for you.  Due to the popularity of the various dining plans available, it is often difficult to walk up and eat at any restaurant during the early evening.  For those of us that enjoy the spontaneity of dining (or simply forget to make advanced dining reservations), you’ll have better luck if you ask for a table during the last hour a park is open.  While there is no guarantee you will be able to dine absolutely anywhere at this time (read: Le Cellier Steakhouse), there is a chance you will be seated somewhere.  While people crowd the railings around the World Showcase Lagoon, you could make your way to the San Angel Inn, or Restaurant Marakesh for a nice meal.  I find this one of the best ways to end my day at Walt Disney World (especially Epcot).

Go Home.  Probably the least appealing of my tips for today, the option to leave the park during the last hour (especially during the showing of something like Wishes) is one for the tired, sunburnt, and cranky guest in all of us.  Let’s face it, Walt Disney World is like going to boot camp.  Long hours, maneuvering through crowds, waiting in lines, scoping out spots for the parade, and fighting a family for a table at a quick service restaurant are just some of the examples of how tiring and exhausting a trip to Walt Disney World can be.  When you are up at 6:30 am everyday to make it to park opening, and don’t fall asleep until 2 am because you wanted to do Evening Extra Magic Hours, it can take a toll on you physically. 

If you and/or your family become exhausted during the last few hours that the park is open, it might be best to pack up and call it a night.  The problem with waiting until after the parade and after the fireworks, is that everyone in the park decides to leave at once.  This problem is accentuated when you are at the Magic Kingdom, because transportation to get to your car or resort will be clogged with the onslaught of guests leaving the park.  If you want to beat the crowds to call it a night, do it just before or during the parade and/or fireworks.  You’ll find going to the Transportation and Ticket Center or the bus terminal a lot easier when you don’t have to fight all those people.

With all of this talk about the importance of the first hour, it is equally important to remember that the last hour can be just as productive.  

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