Subsonic Radio

When the park closes what is your plan of action to leave?

When we first started going to WDW, we'd plant ourselves by the exit, watch the fireworks @ MK and then run like heck to our mode of transporation (by bus or boat) to beat the crowds. (I must say, we were nuts!)

Now, after going a few times, we finish what we want, then leisurley stroll along and stop at whatever shops we want, or just look @ all the details in the park. By the time we reach the exit and the bus stop or boat launch all the crowds have diminished and we get to our resort unstressed.
That's the way we love to leave the parks now!

we do much the same as you now do. We'll meander around Main St. shops until the monorail station crowd has thinned down, then get the last train out.

js3901 - How many trips did it take you to figure it out? It took us 3!

after the first time. We went to the monorail station with the rest of the crowd and waited almost an hour on the platform to catch a ride. After that, we figured we'd wait a bit by checking out all the sourvenir things in all the shops before leaving.

Umm - thru the exit. Oh wait, that wasn't the question!

Usually for MK we watch the fireworks by the train station and then go over to the launch docks for the GF-Polynesian boats, that is so much faster than any other way to the Polynesian. If we're at the Contemp. it is just a 10 minute walk home - not bad at all. Otherwise we'd wait for the crowds to die down before hitting the exit.

"G2-4T"Umm - thru the exit. Oh wait, that wasn't the question!

You got me! I guess when I typed the question, I didn't think it through. I got a good chuckle out of it though. My sixteen year old just looked at me like I was nuts (laughing @ the computer screen and all)!

Oh boy. Well, at the MK, we do just what about everyone else does. We watch the fireworks from Main Street U.S.A., and then we walk through the shops and take our time. By the time we've reached the train station, the crowd has died down a lot.

This past November 2004, we were at Epcot watching Illuminations. When the show was over, it was HORRIBLE to get out. There was such a large crowd. Everybody was going for the main Epcot exit. My best friend Heather and I left her parents so we could get to the buses faster. Well, when we got to the buses, there was only one line for one resort, and of course it was for Caribbean Beach. The line was huge. A bus finally came about after a half an hour of waiting. We just made it on the bus, but Heather's parents still weren't there because there was still the huge crowd coming from Illuminations. About another half an hour later, the bus came and we were able to get on. Any advice on exiting Epcot after Illuminations, because I really don't feel like doing that over again for our next trip.

I will stick around for the fireworks, then leave through the exit turnstile. I will get a stamp if it's before closing time so I can look at it on my black light when i get home, and I like the smell of the ink.

Just depends on what we have planned and how tired we are feeling - my preference is to tour off season but we've been going summers recently since my kids got a bit older - I much prefer the leisurely last guest out approach though.

"Siriuslydead said - Any advice on exiting Epcot after Illuminations, because I really don't feel like doing that over again for our next trip."

Yes, take your time! Maybe watch Illimunations from a country, then leisurely stroll through the rest of the park and stop and look around at all the details. Make a last minute potty break just in case you do have to wait in line for an hour. Another (more pricey) suggestion would be to stay at the Boardwalk, Yatch Club, or Beach Club - that way, all you have to do is walk home.

Anyone out there have any other suggestions for Siriouslydead?

I just waddle through the crowd and try my best to get out.

After viewing fireworks show near the Cystal Palace we make our way through the gift shops then head directly to monorail station.

My way of getting out of MK:

After the fireworks, proceed to Exit.
Walk to COntemporary.
Catch Monorail at Contemporary.
Monorail is much less crowded.

Works for me, requires a little walking, but it gets you out quicker.

bigboodah71

Usually, i let the crowds go and browse in the stores for a bit until it starts to thin out. monorail is usually the transit of choice.

[quote="bigboodah71"]My way of getting out of MK:

After the fireworks, proceed to Exit.
Walk to COntemporary.
Catch Monorail at Contemporary.
Monorail is much less crowded.

Works for me, requires a little walking, but it gets you out quicker.

bigboodah71[/quote]

Oooh - smart thinkin bigboodah71. I'll have to put that in my memory bank for future reference. How about "miss the crowd" exit strategies for other parks?