Trip reports with new hours

Got some questions with which hopefully will get some responses. With the new 10pm closing hours, do the crowds start to diminish in the 6pm - 7pm range like they used to during pre-covid and how are they doing/treating ride closure lines at or near the 10pm closing time.

My visits to CP in the couple years prior to Covid was always get there about 6pm and enjoy the lesser ride lines of the major coasters, enjoy the cooler evening temperatures, and ride until closing.

Plus the CP lighting at dark is always great.

Since the 10pm closing just started, I assume it'll be a while before responses start to occur.

I'd say it did start to thin out slightly after 7-8, but a lot of people stayed for the parade. That is probably a good time to get some rides in. (But at least check out the parade once)

Unfortunately the lesser coasters are hit and miss in terms of ride lines. For whatever reason they either aren't staffed enough or aren't running on all cylinders. Magnum is almost a guarantee short line however unless the park is packed.

They might have stopped early line closures or at least softened them, but can't confirm. I was on the way out 9:30 and they were still letting folks in the Giants Wheel queue which was full. Gatekeeper and Raptor were down so couldn't really check for sure. App said all rides were open. at 9:30, but not sure what they would say with the early closures.

Also try and get there around 5 if you can. Ticket of a Lifetime entry stops at 6PM plus you have a shot at the VIP (free singles use Fastlane's and lounges with snack at water). My guess is they give out probably a few hundred of those a day, so your odds aren't bad if you can make it to all 5 stations. Figured the odds of ticket of a lifetime were probably around 1/15,000 even on a busy day, giving everyone's not making it to all 5 places. Long odds but 1000 times better than general ones before. VIP might be as low as 1/25 or 50.

thanks for report.