I think it's 3-hours before the latest closing time of the parks (special events would make DCA close later) - from my experience. This is so it will (or try to) discourage the Disneyland/DCA people from parking at DTD (with their free 3 hours without validation...) - but there was one time when they were still taking payments, maybe because of a special event - like Grad Night, or Re-opening of DCA, or something. - LaTruce  1614.9 #45 5:52PM

never that i know of. - secretagentangel  663.0 #156 4:50PM

Only on off season and only after 5pm from my experiences - shadowgamer  1954.3 #37 4:54PM

I got in free today at Pumba for some reason. I don't think they had the computers up and running yet. He just waved me in before I had to chance to show my AP. - Polkadobo  372.1 #370 4:58PM

It's usually 1-2 hrs before closing where they stop charging. - chris.  2507.1 #24 5:01PM

I went last night (sunday) about 9pm and there was nobody inside the booth. So we went in and parked right outside the minnie parking structure. Thanks for your responses! - Bolt22  39.7 #3997 5:04PM

I got there at 8 last wednesday and they were not charging :) - littleone  240.5 #1103 5:49PM