There’s no denying that a day at Magic Kingdom is a wonderful Disney World experience, but it appears we’ve found a major flaw.
While Cinderella Castle is a sight that immediately pulls us back to our childhoods, and the warm fuzzies we get while walking down Main Street, U.S.A. first thing in the morning are hard to replicate, we have taken issue with some of the entertainment. These shows can be especially frustrating when we find ourselves in Magic Kingdom at 8:30 PM.
If you’ve ever been in Magic Kingdom at 8:30 PM and have tried to walk OUT of Magic Kingdom at 8:30 PM, you might know where we’re going with this.
Magic Kingdom’s newest nighttime parade — Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away! — happens at this time on scheduled nights (as well as at 10:30 PM) when there isn’t an after-hours party happening. This illuminated float parade featuring nostalgic music and beloved characters is a smash hit…and that’s kind of the issue.
Disney Starlight’s popularity draws in EVERYONE as it rolls along Main Street, U.S.A., into Frontierland. Which means Main Street, all the way to the entrance, is packed with onlookers.
We’ve seen this happen with the Happily Ever After fireworks spectacular. The time can change slightly throughout the year, but it’s usually around 8:30 or 9 PM. This fireworks and projections show is also extremely popular (probably the most popular entertainment offering in Disney World), and the traffic jams it causes are unbearable.
If you’re not sticking around to watch the fireworks and are trying to make an exit out of the park before the fireworks/parade crowds do the same thing, there’s just one problem. It’s VERY hard to make your way down Main Street, U.S.A., towards the entrance because Main Street is so crowded during these shows.
Good luck getting through that! Now, Cast Members do their best to keep paths along the sidewalks clear so you can make your way down Main Street, but it’s still a struggle. We’ve even seen times when Cast Members have opened up a backstage area to allow visitors leaving Magic Kingdom to make a quick exit out of the park (note that this isn’t always the case).
If you do plan on exiting out of Magic Kingdom, you might be better off doing it a bit earlier, before the fireworks show or parade starts — maybe a half hour to an hour before showtime. Otherwise, you’ll be fighting the crowds to get out.
Ultimately, you have windows before each parade, and the fireworks show begins. The trick is to either leave before the very first show of the night or wait for the crowds to thin out in between the showtimes. Once the bulk of the crowd is gone, feel free to make your escape!
Have you struggled with this issue? Let us know and continue to check back with AllEars again soon for more Disney World tips, tricks, and updates.
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What’s your best tip when trying to exit Magic Kingdom during the fireworks? Let us know in the comments!
We always enter through Casey’s then through Emporium shops…brings you right out in front of the train station and town hall 🙂
I find the very best place to watch the fireworks is from the balcony of my hotel room. I stay at the Riviera and always request a fireworks view, and have always gotten it. I leave the park before the show starts in order to get back to my room in time. It’s a great way to end the day, and I can retire to bed immediately afterward instead of trying to exit with everyone else and waiting for several buses in order to get back home.
If you just cut through the Emporium or even go through Casey’s and take go through the Emporium, you’ll get out just fine
Exactly. If you know your way around the Magic Kingdom, you know how to get around those Main Street Crowds!
Agreed, good call. Walk through the stores on the right side (as you head toward the exit). Don’t go near the castle, ideally come from Adventureland and stay toward the Crystal Palace as you head toward main street.