6 Secret Things That Happen in Disney World When It Closes

Disney World never sleeps. Even hours after the last guest has left the parks, there’s always something going on.

It makes sense when you think about it — there are so many people milling about the parks during the day that night is really the only time to get stuff done! That’s why we’re sharing the secret things that happen in Disney World when it closes.

Cleaning and Park Touch-Ups

Disney World sees tens of thousands of visitors every single day, and if we know anything about the general public, it’s that we can be pretty messy. So, it’s really no surprise that after guests leave is the perfect time to do some serious cleaning. Rides, restaurants, restrooms, and more get cleaned overnight so that they’re nice and tidy for guests in the morning.

Sometimes, it’s not just messiness that needs sprucing up. With so many visitors, the parks tend to see some wear and tear from time to time. At night, Cast Members come out of the woodwork to do some painting, pressure washing, and any other tasks that might need to get done. This includes both minor and major construction projects too!

Filming

You may have seen some lights, cameras, and action during the day on your last park trip, and that’s because there’s often filming taking place in Disney World. But, a lot of that filming also happens overnight! It might be the latest commercial trying to entice guests to plan a trip, or maybe even a photoshoot for some new merch.

Disney also films its TV specials and holiday shows at night, and that sometimes means celebrities and other famous faces make appearances. We’ve also seen certain parts of Disney holiday specials filmed at the parks during the day, so keep an eye out on your next trip!

Rehearsals

There are so many incredible entertainment offerings at Disney World, and they can only become that incredible through practice! Rehearsals are a major occurrence overnight in the parks. Parades will do trial runs to make sure everything goes smoothly, and stage shows will have dress rehearsals before performing for guests.

And if you hear any major booms overnight, chances are that’s Disney testing fireworks! Whether it’s a new fireworks show or just testing a new sequence or projection, there’s only one time Disney can test this all out before officially showing guests and that happens to be overnight!

Vehicles Driving Around

Imagine walking through Fantasyland late at night when all of a sudden you see a truck coming your way! Believe it or not, it’s a common occurrence in the parks at night. Cast Members have to get a lot done in a short amount of time, and sometimes that means getting from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible.

Of course, we’ve seen vehicles on the streets of Disney World before with the Main Street Omnibus, parade floats, and more.

Weddings

Have you ever dreamed about getting married in Disney World? You can — though it’ll cost you. Not only are Disney weddings expensive, but you might have to make certain concessions to get what you want, even if it means having your wedding late at night after everyone has already gone home!

If a late-night wedding isn’t your thing, you also have the option of getting hitched in the wee hours of the morning — sunrise wedding anyone?!

Utilidors

Magic Kingdom has an entire secret city underneath it — sort of. The Utilidors are a series of tunnels primarily under Main Street, U.S.A. that allow Cast Members to get around without being seen by guests. And at night, there’s always something going on inside the Utilidors. Okay, there’s pretty much always something happening here even during the day, but once the night crews roll in things really get going!

Next time you’re walking through the parks, think about all the Cast Members who work tirelessly overnight to make your Disney World experience that much more magical. For the latest news and tips, be sure to stay tuned to AllEars!