diff --git a/packages/core/src/components/action-sheet/action-sheet.tsx b/packages/core/src/components/action-sheet/action-sheet.tsx
index ada9df7fcb..7166508f79 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/components/action-sheet/action-sheet.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/components/action-sheet/action-sheet.tsx
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ export class ActionSheet implements OverlayInterface {
 
   @Listen('ionBackdropTap')
   protected onBackdropTap() {
-    this.dismiss(null, BACKDROP);
+    this.dismiss(null, BACKDROP).catch();
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/packages/core/src/components/alert/alert.tsx b/packages/core/src/components/alert/alert.tsx
index eaa3386c63..800b77b1db 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/components/alert/alert.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/components/alert/alert.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { Component, CssClassMap, Element, Event, EventEmitter, Listen, Method, Prop } from '@stencil/core';
 import { Animation, AnimationBuilder, AnimationController, Config, DomController, OverlayDismissEvent, OverlayDismissEventDetail } from '../../index';
-import { domControllerAsync, playAnimationAsync } from '../../utils/helpers';
+import { domControllerAsync, playAnimationAsync, autoFocus } from '../../utils/helpers';
 import { createThemedClasses, getClassMap } from '../../utils/theme';
 import { OverlayInterface, BACKDROP } from '../../utils/overlays';
 
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ export class Alert implements OverlayInterface {
 
   @Listen('ionBackdropTap')
   protected onBackdropTap() {
-    this.dismiss(null, BACKDROP);
+    this.dismiss(null, BACKDROP).catch();
   }
 
   /**
@@ -158,10 +158,7 @@ export class Alert implements OverlayInterface {
 
     // build the animation and kick it off
     return this.playAnimation(animationBuilder).then(() => {
-      const firstInput = this.el.querySelector('[tabindex]') as HTMLElement;
-      if (firstInput) {
-        firstInput.focus();
-      }
+      autoFocus(this.el);
       this.ionAlertDidPresent.emit();
     });
   }
@@ -181,6 +178,8 @@ export class Alert implements OverlayInterface {
     const animationBuilder = this.leaveAnimation || this.config.get('alertLeave', this.mode === 'ios' ? iosLeaveAnimation : mdLeaveAnimation);
 
     return this.playAnimation(animationBuilder).then(() => {
+      this.ionAlertDidDismiss.emit({data, role});
+
       return domControllerAsync(this.dom.write, () => {
         this.el.parentNode.removeChild(this.el);
       });
@@ -274,7 +273,6 @@ export class Alert implements OverlayInterface {
     return this.animationCtrl.create(animationBuilder, this.el).then(animation => {
       this.animation = animation;
       if (!this.willAnimate) {
-        // if the duration is 0, it won't actually animate I don't think
         animation.duration(0);
       }
       return playAnimationAsync(animation);
diff --git a/packages/core/src/components/loading/loading.tsx b/packages/core/src/components/loading/loading.tsx
index a3d0b4d96c..f45eaf1405 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/components/loading/loading.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/components/loading/loading.tsx
@@ -129,19 +129,6 @@ export class Loading implements OverlayInterface {
     this.ionLoadingDidLoad.emit();
   }
 
-  componentDidEnter() {
-    // blur the currently active element
-    const activeElement: any = document.activeElement;
-    activeElement && activeElement.blur && activeElement.blur();
-
-    // If there is a duration, dismiss after that amount of time
-    if (typeof this.duration === 'number' && this.duration > 10) {
-      this.durationTimeout = setTimeout(() => this.dismiss(), this.duration);
-    }
-
-    this.ionLoadingDidPresent.emit();
-  }
-
   componentDidUnload() {
     this.ionLoadingDidUnload.emit();
   }
@@ -156,7 +143,7 @@ export class Loading implements OverlayInterface {
 
   @Listen('ionBackdropTap')
   protected onBackdropTap() {
-    this.dismiss(null, BACKDROP);
+    this.dismiss(null, BACKDROP).catch();
   }
 
   /**
@@ -177,7 +164,15 @@ export class Loading implements OverlayInterface {
 
     // build the animation and kick it off
     return this.playAnimation(animationBuilder).then(() => {
-      this.componentDidEnter();
+      // blur the currently active element
+      const activeElement: any = document.activeElement;
+      activeElement && activeElement.blur && activeElement.blur();
+
+      // If there is a duration, dismiss after that amount of time
+      if (typeof this.duration === 'number' && this.duration > 10) {
+        this.durationTimeout = setTimeout(() => this.dismiss(), this.duration);
+      }
+      this.ionLoadingDidPresent.emit();
     });
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/components/modal/modal.tsx b/packages/core/src/components/modal/modal.tsx
index 182e400442..af50d63092 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/components/modal/modal.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/components/modal/modal.tsx
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ export class Modal implements OverlayInterface {
 
   @Listen('ionBackdropTap')
   protected onBackdropTap() {
-    this.dismiss(null, BACKDROP);
+    this.dismiss(null, BACKDROP).catch();
   }
 
   /**
@@ -151,12 +151,6 @@ export class Modal implements OverlayInterface {
       return Promise.reject('overlay already presented');
     }
     this.presented = true;
-
-    if (this.animation) {
-      this.animation.destroy();
-      this.animation = null;
-    }
-
     this.ionModalWillPresent.emit();
 
     this.el.style.zIndex = `${20000 + this.overlayId}`;
@@ -177,20 +171,12 @@ export class Modal implements OverlayInterface {
     // add the modal by default to the data being passed
     this.data = this.data || {};
     this.data.modal = this.el;
-    this.delegate.attachViewToDom(userComponentParent, this.component, this.data, cssClasses)
-     .then((mountingData) => {
-       this.usersComponentElement = mountingData.element;
-     });
 
-     return this.animationCtrl.create(animationBuilder, this.el)
-     .then(animation => {
-      this.animation = animation;
-      if (!this.willAnimate) this.animation = animation.duration(0);
-      return playAnimationAsync(animation);
-    })
-    .then((animation) => {
-      animation.destroy();
-      this.ionModalDidPresent.emit();
+    return this.delegate.attachViewToDom(userComponentParent, this.component, this.data, cssClasses)
+     .then((mountingData) => this.usersComponentElement = mountingData.element)
+     .then(() => this.playAnimation(animationBuilder))
+     .then(() => {
+       this.ionModalDidPresent.emit();
     });
   }
 
@@ -203,10 +189,6 @@ export class Modal implements OverlayInterface {
       return Promise.reject('overlay is not presented');
     }
     this.presented = false;
-    if (this.animation) {
-      this.animation.destroy();
-      this.animation = null;
-    }
     this.ionModalWillDismiss.emit({data, role});
 
     if (!this.delegate) {
@@ -216,20 +198,8 @@ export class Modal implements OverlayInterface {
     // get the user's animation fn if one was provided
     const animationBuilder = this.leaveAnimation || this.config.get('modalLeave', this.mode === 'ios' ? iosLeaveAnimation : mdLeaveAnimation);
 
-
-    return this.animationCtrl.create(animationBuilder, this.el)
-    .then(animation => {
-      this.animation = animation;
-      if (!this.willAnimate) {
-        this.animation = animation.duration(0);
-      }
-      return playAnimationAsync(animation);
-    })
-    .then((animation) => {
-      animation.destroy();
+    return this.playAnimation(animationBuilder).then(() => {
       this.ionModalDidDismiss.emit({data, role});
-    })
-    .then(() => {
       return domControllerAsync(this.dom.write, () => {
         const userComponentParent = this.el.querySelector(`.${USER_COMPONENT_MODAL_CONTAINER_CLASS}`);
         this.delegate.removeViewFromDom(userComponentParent, this.usersComponentElement);
@@ -238,6 +208,24 @@ export class Modal implements OverlayInterface {
     });
   }
 
+  private playAnimation(animationBuilder: AnimationBuilder) {
+    if (this.animation) {
+      this.animation.destroy();
+      this.animation = null;
+    }
+
+    return this.animationCtrl.create(animationBuilder, this.el).then(animation => {
+      this.animation = animation;
+      if (!this.willAnimate) {
+        animation.duration(0);
+      }
+      return playAnimationAsync(animation);
+    }).then((animation) => {
+      animation.destroy();
+      this.animation = null;
+    });
+  }
+
   @Method()
   getUserComponentContainer(): HTMLElement {
     return this.el.querySelector(`.${USER_COMPONENT_MODAL_CONTAINER_CLASS}`);
diff --git a/packages/core/src/components/picker/picker.tsx b/packages/core/src/components/picker/picker.tsx
index ddc343ad2d..13faa3e11e 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/components/picker/picker.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/components/picker/picker.tsx
@@ -111,6 +111,47 @@ export class Picker implements OverlayInterface {
    */
   @Event() ionPickerDidUnload: EventEmitter<PickerEventDetail>;
 
+
+  componentDidLoad() {
+    if (!this.spinner) {
+      let defaultSpinner = 'lines';
+
+      if (this.mode === 'md') {
+        defaultSpinner = 'crescent';
+      }
+
+      this.spinner = this.config.get('pickerSpinner') || defaultSpinner;
+    }
+
+    if (this.showSpinner === null || this.showSpinner === undefined) {
+      this.showSpinner = !!(this.spinner && this.spinner !== 'hide');
+    }
+    this.ionPickerDidLoad.emit();
+  }
+
+  componentDidUnload() {
+    this.ionPickerDidUnload.emit();
+  }
+
+
+  @Listen('ionDismiss')
+  protected onDismiss(ev: UIEvent) {
+    ev.stopPropagation();
+    ev.preventDefault();
+
+    this.dismiss();
+  }
+
+  @Listen('ionBackdropTap')
+  protected onBackdropTap() {
+    const cancelBtn = this.buttons.find(b => b.role === 'cancel');
+    if (cancelBtn) {
+      this.buttonClick(cancelBtn);
+    } else {
+      this.dismiss().catch();
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Present the picker overlay after it has been created.
    */
@@ -134,17 +175,16 @@ export class Picker implements OverlayInterface {
     const animationBuilder = this.enterAnimation || this.config.get('pickerEnter', iosEnterAnimation);
 
     // build the animation and kick it off
-    return this.animationCtrl.create(animationBuilder, this.el).then(animation => {
-      this.animation = animation;
-      if (!this.willAnimate) {
-        // if the duration is 0, it won't actually animate I don't think
-        // TODO - validate this
-        this.animation = animation.duration(0);
+    return this.playAnimation(animationBuilder).then(() => {
+      // blur the currently active element
+      const activeElement: any = document.activeElement;
+      activeElement && activeElement.blur && activeElement.blur();
+
+      // If there is a duration, dismiss after that amount of time
+      if (typeof this.duration === 'number' && this.duration > 10) {
+        this.durationTimeout = setTimeout(() => this.dismiss(), this.duration);
       }
-      return playAnimationAsync(animation);
-    }).then((animation) => {
-      animation.destroy();
-      this.componentDidEnter();
+      this.ionPickerDidPresent.emit();
     });
   }
 
@@ -159,122 +199,18 @@ export class Picker implements OverlayInterface {
     this.presented = false;
     clearTimeout(this.durationTimeout);
 
-    if (this.animation) {
-      this.animation.destroy();
-      this.animation = null;
-    }
-
-    this.ionPickerWillDismiss.emit({
-      data,
-      role
-    });
+    this.ionPickerWillDismiss.emit({data, role});
 
     const animationBuilder = this.leaveAnimation || this.config.get('pickerLeave', iosLeaveAnimation);
 
-    return this.animationCtrl.create(animationBuilder, this.el).then(animation => {
-      this.animation = animation;
-      return playAnimationAsync(animation);
-    }).then((animation) => {
-      animation.destroy();
+    return this.playAnimation(animationBuilder).then(() => {
+      this.ionPickerDidDismiss.emit({data, role});
       return domControllerAsync(this.dom.write, () => {
         this.el.parentNode.removeChild(this.el);
       });
-    }).then(() => {
-      this.ionPickerDidDismiss.emit({
-        data,
-        role
-      });
     });
   }
 
-  componentDidLoad() {
-    if (!this.spinner) {
-      let defaultSpinner = 'lines';
-
-      if (this.mode === 'md') {
-        defaultSpinner = 'crescent';
-      }
-
-      this.spinner = this.config.get('pickerSpinner') || defaultSpinner;
-    }
-
-    if (this.showSpinner === null || this.showSpinner === undefined) {
-      this.showSpinner = !!(this.spinner && this.spinner !== 'hide');
-    }
-    this.ionPickerDidLoad.emit();
-  }
-
-  componentDidEnter() {
-    // blur the currently active element
-    const activeElement: any = document.activeElement;
-    activeElement && activeElement.blur && activeElement.blur();
-
-    // If there is a duration, dismiss after that amount of time
-    if (typeof this.duration === 'number' && this.duration > 10) {
-      this.durationTimeout = setTimeout(() => this.dismiss(), this.duration);
-    }
-
-    this.ionPickerDidPresent.emit();
-  }
-
-  componentDidUnload() {
-    this.ionPickerDidUnload.emit();
-  }
-
-
-  @Listen('ionDismiss')
-  protected onDismiss(ev: UIEvent) {
-    ev.stopPropagation();
-    ev.preventDefault();
-
-    this.dismiss();
-  }
-
-  @Listen('ionBackdropTap')
-  protected onBackdropTap() {
-    const cancelBtn = this.buttons.find(b => b.role === 'cancel');
-    if (cancelBtn) {
-      this.buttonClick(cancelBtn);
-    } else {
-      this.dismiss();
-    }
-  }
-
-  buttonClick(button: PickerButton) {
-    // if (this.disabled) {
-    //   return;
-    // }
-
-    // keep the time of the most recent button click
-    let shouldDismiss = true;
-
-    if (button.handler) {
-      // a handler has been provided, execute it
-      // pass the handler the values from the inputs
-      if (button.handler(this.getSelected()) === false) {
-        // if the return value of the handler is false then do not dismiss
-        shouldDismiss = false;
-      }
-    }
-
-    if (shouldDismiss) {
-      this.dismiss();
-    }
-  }
-
-  getSelected(): any {
-    const selected: {[k: string]: any} = {};
-    this.columns.forEach((col, index) => {
-      const selectedColumn = col.options[col.selectedIndex];
-      selected[col.name] = {
-        text: selectedColumn ? selectedColumn.text : null,
-        value: selectedColumn ? selectedColumn.value : null,
-        columnIndex: index,
-      };
-    });
-    return selected;
-  }
-
   @Method()
   addButton(button: any) {
     this.buttons.push(button);
@@ -295,11 +231,63 @@ export class Picker implements OverlayInterface {
     return this.columns;
   }
 
+  private playAnimation(animationBuilder: AnimationBuilder) {
+    if (this.animation) {
+      this.animation.destroy();
+      this.animation = null;
+    }
+
+    return this.animationCtrl.create(animationBuilder, this.el).then(animation => {
+      this.animation = animation;
+      if (!this.willAnimate) {
+        animation.duration(0);
+      }
+      return playAnimationAsync(animation);
+    }).then(animation => {
+      animation.destroy();
+      this.animation = null;
+    })
+  }
+
+  private buttonClick(button: PickerButton) {
+    // if (this.disabled) {
+    //   return;
+    // }
+
+    // keep the time of the most recent button click
+    let shouldDismiss = true;
+
+    if (button.handler) {
+      // a handler has been provided, execute it
+      // pass the handler the values from the inputs
+      if (button.handler(this.getSelected()) === false) {
+        // if the return value of the handler is false then do not dismiss
+        shouldDismiss = false;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (shouldDismiss) {
+      this.dismiss();
+    }
+  }
+
+  private getSelected(): any {
+    const selected: {[k: string]: any} = {};
+    this.columns.forEach((col, index) => {
+      const selectedColumn = col.options[col.selectedIndex];
+      selected[col.name] = {
+        text: selectedColumn ? selectedColumn.text : null,
+        value: selectedColumn ? selectedColumn.value : null,
+        columnIndex: index,
+      };
+    });
+    return selected;
+  }
+
   render() {
     // TODO: cssClass
 
-    const buttons = this.buttons
-    .map(b => {
+    const buttons = this.buttons.map(b => {
       if (typeof b === 'string') {
         b = { text: b };
       }
diff --git a/packages/core/src/components/popover/popover.tsx b/packages/core/src/components/popover/popover.tsx
index d25de9cbf2..65031ff59b 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/components/popover/popover.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/components/popover/popover.tsx
@@ -134,10 +134,6 @@ export class Popover implements OverlayInterface {
     this.ionPopoverDidLoad.emit();
   }
 
-  componentDidEnter() {
-    this.ionPopoverDidPresent.emit();
-  }
-
   componentDidUnload() {
     this.ionPopoverDidUnload.emit();
   }
@@ -152,7 +148,7 @@ export class Popover implements OverlayInterface {
 
   @Listen('ionBackdropTap')
   protected onBackdropTap() {
-    this.dismiss(null, BACKDROP);
+    this.dismiss(null, BACKDROP).catch();
   }
 
   /**
@@ -165,10 +161,6 @@ export class Popover implements OverlayInterface {
     }
     this.presented = true;
 
-    if (this.animation) {
-      this.animation.destroy();
-      this.animation = null;
-    }
     this.ionPopoverWillPresent.emit();
 
     this.el.style.zIndex = `${10000 + this.overlayId}`;
@@ -191,19 +183,11 @@ export class Popover implements OverlayInterface {
     this.data.modal = this.el;
 
     return this.delegate.attachViewToDom(userComponentParent, this.component, this.data, cssClasses)
-      .then((mountingData) => {
-        this.usersComponentElement = mountingData.element;
-        return domControllerAsync(this.dom.raf)
-        .then(() => this.animationCtrl.create(animationBuilder, this.el, this.ev));
-      })
-      .then((animation) => {
-        this.animation = animation;
-        if (!this.willAnimate) this.animation = animation.duration(0);
-        return playAnimationAsync(animation);
-      })
-      .then((animation) => {
-        animation.destroy();
-        this.componentDidEnter();
+      .then((mountingData) => this.usersComponentElement = mountingData.element)
+      .then(() => domControllerAsync(this.dom.raf))
+      .then(() => this.playAnimation(animationBuilder))
+      .then(() => {
+        this.ionPopoverDidPresent.emit();
       });
   }
 
@@ -229,22 +213,33 @@ export class Popover implements OverlayInterface {
 
     const animationBuilder = this.leaveAnimation || this.config.get('popoverLeave', this.mode === 'ios' ? iosLeaveAnimation : mdLeaveAnimation);
 
-    return this.animationCtrl.create(animationBuilder, this.el)
-      .then(animation => {
-        this.animation = animation;
-        return playAnimationAsync(animation);
-      })
-      .then((animation) => {
-        animation.destroy();
-        this.ionPopoverDidDismiss.emit({ data, role });
-      })
-      .then(() => {
-        return domControllerAsync(this.dom.write, () => {
-          const userComponentParent = this.el.querySelector(`.${USER_COMPONENT_POPOVER_CONTAINER_CLASS}`);
-          this.delegate.removeViewFromDom(userComponentParent, this.usersComponentElement);
-          this.el.parentNode.removeChild(this.el);
-        });
+    return this.playAnimation(animationBuilder).then(() => {
+      this.ionPopoverDidDismiss.emit({ data, role });
+
+      return domControllerAsync(this.dom.write, () => {
+        const userComponentParent = this.el.querySelector(`.${USER_COMPONENT_POPOVER_CONTAINER_CLASS}`);
+        this.delegate.removeViewFromDom(userComponentParent, this.usersComponentElement);
+        this.el.parentNode.removeChild(this.el);
       });
+    });
+  }
+
+  private playAnimation(animationBuilder: AnimationBuilder) {
+    if (this.animation) {
+      this.animation.destroy();
+      this.animation = null;
+    }
+
+    return this.animationCtrl.create(animationBuilder, this.el, this.ev).then((animation) => {
+      this.animation = animation;
+      if (!this.willAnimate) {
+        animation.duration(0);
+      }
+      return playAnimationAsync(animation);
+    }).then(animation => {
+      animation.destroy();
+      this.animation = null;
+    })
   }
 
   hostData() {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/components/toast/toast.tsx b/packages/core/src/components/toast/toast.tsx
index 23be932909..1afa318639 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/components/toast/toast.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/components/toast/toast.tsx
@@ -133,27 +133,17 @@ export class Toast implements OverlayInterface {
     }
     this.presented = true;
 
-    if (this.animation) {
-      this.animation.destroy();
-      this.animation = null;
-    }
     this.ionToastWillPresent.emit();
 
     // get the user's animation fn if one was provided
     const animationBuilder = this.enterAnimation || this.config.get('toastEnter', this.mode === 'ios' ? iosEnterAnimation : mdEnterAnimation);
 
     // build the animation and kick it off
-    return this.animationCtrl.create(animationBuilder, this.el, this.position).then(animation => {
-      this.animation = animation;
-      if (!this.willAnimate) {
-        // if the duration is 0, it won't actually animate I don't think
-        // TODO - validate this
-        this.animation = animation.duration(0);
+    return this.playAnimation(animationBuilder).then(() => {
+      this.ionToastDidPresent.emit();
+      if (this.duration) {
+        setTimeout(() => this.dismiss(), this.duration);
       }
-      return playAnimationAsync(animation);
-    }).then((animation) => {
-      animation.destroy();
-      this.componentDidEnter();
     });
   }
 
@@ -167,45 +157,38 @@ export class Toast implements OverlayInterface {
     }
     this.presented = false;
 
-    if (this.animation) {
-      this.animation.destroy();
-      this.animation = null;
-    }
-
-    this.ionToastWillDismiss.emit({
-      data,
-      role
-    });
+    this.ionToastWillDismiss.emit({data, role});
 
     const animationBuilder = this.leaveAnimation || this.config.get('toastLeave', this.mode === 'ios' ? iosLeaveAnimation : mdLeaveAnimation);
 
-    return this.animationCtrl.create(animationBuilder, this.el, this.position).then(animation => {
-      this.animation = animation;
-      return playAnimationAsync(animation);
-    }).then((animation) => {
-      animation.destroy();
-      this.ionToastDidDismiss.emit({
-        data,
-        role
-      });
-    }).then(() => {
+    return this.playAnimation(animationBuilder).then(() => {
+      this.ionToastDidDismiss.emit({data, role});
       return domControllerAsync(this.dom.write, () => {
         this.el.parentNode.removeChild(this.el);
       });
     });
   }
 
-  componentDidLoad() {
-    this.ionToastDidLoad.emit();
+  playAnimation(animationBuilder: AnimationBuilder) {
+    if (this.animation) {
+      this.animation.destroy();
+      this.animation = null;
+    }
+
+    return this.animationCtrl.create(animationBuilder, this.el, this.position).then(animation => {
+      this.animation = animation;
+      if (!this.willAnimate) {
+        animation.duration(0);
+      }
+      return playAnimationAsync(animation);
+    }).then((animation) => {
+      animation.destroy();
+      this.animation = null;
+    });
   }
 
-  componentDidEnter() {
-    this.ionToastDidPresent.emit();
-    if (this.duration) {
-      setTimeout(() => {
-        this.dismiss();
-      }, this.duration);
-    }
+  componentDidLoad() {
+    this.ionToastDidLoad.emit();
   }
 
   componentDidUnload() {