If we are not riding any rides at EPCOT, is it possible to keep looking around EPCOT on an EEH night, or do they escort you off?
1 Like
When we were there on the 11th no one asked us to prove we belonged there as we were moseying around. They only checked at the rides.
3 Likes
That’s what I was hoping. Thanks!
Anyone know if that includes Journey of Water? Hoping to see that lit up at night while we are there, but also want to see Luminous. We’ll be there on an EEH night but aren’t deluxe, but would love to just walk through it on our way out if possible!
3 Likes
I’d like to know that as well.
1 Like
I don’t know about EEH, but they were checking for the After Hours wristbands when I did After Hours.
3 Likes
We were there for deluxe hours two weeks ago, and they scanned our magic bands to enter the Journey of Water.
6 Likes
Ah ok. Thank you for the intel! We’ll have to squeeze it in during regular hours then.
4 Likes
Sorry I don’t have better intel to report! Although my husband and I both thought it would be a great time to walk around the rest of Epcot, even if we weren’t staying deluxe.
4 Likes
I know you’re asking about Epcot, but I am pretty sure that at MK they did have CMs at various checkpoints scanning bands before allowing you through. This may be different at Epcot because of the circular nature of it but I could almost imagine them doing something similar say at Mexico and the bridge to France, so as to allow people to use the Canada/UK area as a throughway to IG and resorts without allowing full access to WS
Oh and they may do the same at shops and dining spots
Just something to be aware of.
4 Likes
I thought about this after I went to bed. I wonder if they’d allow you in the shop or perhaps deny the purchase (though it’s hard to believe they’d eschew the $).
3 Likes
I’m not sure about checking magic bands in shops or walking around the front of Epcot, but last summer we were surprised that the WS is basically closed during EEH (shops, food and even the walkway at one point). We had the complete wrong strategy for the night. Trying to learn from our mistake, two weeks ago we did WS before park closed and then started at Remy and worked our way forward where most rides were open. I don’t remember any check points generally walking towards the front of the park, but definitely at all rides/attractions. There could have been checks that we didn’t encounter on our route. We didn’t shop, so I can’t speak to whether there were checks there. We were also there during a slow period, so I’m not sure if things would be different at busier times of year.
3 Likes
This all helps. I just want to slowly walk from WS after Luminous to the front. I will make sure that I visit JoW before close. I want to see it during the day and at night. I’m not at all interested in snacks or shopping after close.
2 Likes
We’ve been at Epcot twice (once in Feb 2024 and again in June 2025) on nights where there’s an EEH. In our experience, they don’t stop you from wandering around EXCEPT they do close the showcase after Norway (and I think once it’s swept all the way up to France since there isn’t anything open in between).
We had thought to use the time to wander past showcase pavilions not trying to ride anything and gave up on that notion once we saw they closed it up at Norway (and we had started from Mexico) and didn’t feel like walking around back to Canada and going up to France just to reach a dead end and have to turn back to the front of the park.
But you can shop at whatever’s open. And I remember the first time we realized that we actually needed to eat and were scrambling to get a mobile order in at Connections to pick-up before close so we could have actual food. (There may be some snacks things open but you’ll just need to make sure you plan for food before close?).
4 Likes
They closed down a lot for EEH when we were there in July. World showcase is closed between Norway and France. No shops open. Pavilions are closed. The only food we found open was the quick service in a Mexico and the Rose & Crown. Maybe there was more? We were EEH and could only get on three caballeros LOL and it wasn’t even a walk on. I found it very frustrating because there was nothing to do. I wouldn’t ever go again.
2 Likes
Do you happen to know when this closure happens? I’m planning to stay in Epcot for EEH on 29 September, and was hoping to ride Remy right around the end of the fireworks, and then wander slowly through World Showcase to FEA. I don’t mind if the shops and restaurants are closed, but I wanted to enjoy a leisurely walk through the countries.
I’m also wondering if I’ll still be able to use a LLs for FEA around 9.30 (I was thinking I could book a window starting at 8.30? Or is that not possible)? I’m solo, so I can do Remy and TT as single rider if the lines are still long at the start of EEH. But I thought a LL would help for FEA (I’m buying the LLMP anyway for the day for my morning touring at another park)?
If Epcot closes at 9pm, the LL with a return time of 8:30 will end at 9 pm. We had that for one of ours this last week when we were there.
1 Like
Thanks - good to know.
Is that the official end time in MDE, or do you know if it actually scans blue if you try to tap into the LL after 9pm (or do the CM not allow you into the LL in the first place after 9pm)? Curious to know if there’s any grace period that spills over into the beginning of EEH.
I don’t really have any must dos, so I’ll still be happy if I only manage to get a couple of those rides during EEH.
That’s the official time in MDE. We scanned in at like 8:48, so not sure if it would still turn green after 9 or not. It was an EEH night at Epcot when we went, and we were staying at GF so we qualified. Amazingly, the only LL we were late for in our entire week-long trip was a LLSP at Guardians. Almost 2 hours late (due to a variety of reasons lol) and still turned green! But that was before park closing.
1 Like
They close the path between countries as soon as they can reasonably remove people. It varies by night and crowd level. They specifically instated this to prevent people from getting easily from Remy to FEA, or vice versa, in an attempt to disperse people around the park. The CMs wouldn’t even let us walk between to exit though the International Gateway after EEH had started. We had to walk around the entire works showcase just to leave!
They closed the single riders lanes during EEH the evening we were there.
1 Like