magic kingdom at full capacity?

[mesaboy2]

Originally Posted by FortForever

Would WDW parks really turn away their own resort guests?

I've never been at that most crowded times of year, but I always assumed that people staying on site would always be allowed access. I thought they would shut to outside guests long before real capacity to ensure their own guests access.

I just made that up in my head, never read it anywhere. It was always just an assumption. Was I wrong?

Yes, but these are among the last folks shut out. Worst case, resort guests are always able to go to a theme park--it just may not be the one they want under extreme circumstances.

[mom2rtk]

Originally Posted by FortForever

Would WDW parks really turn away their own resort guests?

I've never been at that most crowded times of year, but I always assumed that people staying on site would always be allowed access. I thought they would shut to outside guests long before real capacity to ensure their own guests access.

I just made that up in my head, never read it anywhere. It was always just an assumption. Was I wrong?

I'm sure they don't want to. But I'm also sure they don't want to exceed fire code capacity.

[FortForever]

Originally Posted by mesaboy2

Yes, but these are among the last folks shut out. Worst case, resort guests are always able to go to a theme park--it just may not be the one they want under extreme circumstances.

Here's one that will stump you.

Resort guests go to MK in the morning, leave for a break, and return to a closed, at-capacity park. They do not have park hopper tickets. Will Disney upgrade them to go to another park?

[FortForever]

Originally Posted by mom2rtk

I'm sure they don't want to. But I'm also sure they don't want to exceed fire code capacity.

Yeah, that's why I had this made up scenario in my mind that they would close to outside guests before real capacity was reached.

[stargazertechie]

Originally Posted by FortForever

Here's one that will stump you.

Resort guests go to MK in the morning, leave for a break, and return to a closed, at-capacity park. They do not have park hopper tickets. Will Disney upgrade them to go to another park?

Probably not- they were given access to a park. They chose to leave. WDW held up their end of the deal

[FortForever]

Originally Posted by stargazertechie

Probably not- they were given access to a park. They chose to leave. WDW held up their end of the deal

That's pretty much how I view it myself. Was just seeing if I could stump mesa.

[mesaboy2]

Originally Posted by FortForever

Here's one that will stump you.

Resort guests go to MK in the morning, leave for a break, and return to a closed, at-capacity park. They do not have park hopper tickets. Will Disney upgrade them to go to another park?

These type of guests also have priority to enter that same park, but can still be shut out in the final phase of closing, where no one gets in. They will not be upgraded to a hopper per se, but would be allowed to finish that day at another park.

Gotta do better than that.

[FortForever]

Originally Posted by mesaboy2

These type of guests also have priority to enter that same park, but can still be shut out in the final phase of closing, where no one gets in. They will not be upgraded to a hopper per se, but would be allowed to finish that day at another park.

Gotta do better than that.

Thanks for the answer!

[mesaboy2]

Originally Posted by FortForever

Thanks for the answer!

Hope you have a great rest of your trip--I'm back home tonight.

[Alesia]

Originally Posted by FortForever

Yeah, that's why I had this made up scenario in my mind that they would close to outside guests before real capacity was reached.

They do have staged closures:

Stage Zero - Due to limited available parking, Guests may be directed to alternate parking areas where they will use Resort transportation to travel to the park of their choice.

Stage 1 - At this stage each Guest in a vehicle must have a valid multi-day ticket. Also Guests with a Park Hopper or re-entering the Park, by showing a currently dated Parking Receipt, will be allowed in. Also, any Guests using Disney transportation are allowed.

Stage 2 - At this stage, Theme Park admission is limited to Disney Resort Guests*, Annual and Premium Annual Passholders, Guests with Park Hopper tickets crossing over from another Park, Guests re-entering this Park today. Guests with written confirmation of reservations for Dining or Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League within one hour are also admitted. Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted. Guests not meeting the above criteria are told the Theme Park has reached capacity.

Stage 3 - At this stage, Theme Park admission is limited to Disney Resort Guests*, Annual and Premium Annual Passholders. Guests with written confirmation of reservations for Dining or Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League within one hour are also admitted.

Stage 4 - Nobody is allowed in.

[TDC Nala]

I'd think the 4th of July might be the only day in that area where there could be issues, and then only with Magic Kingdom.

Would WDW parks really turn away their own resort guests?

If there is a stage 4 closure, nobody gets in. No resort guests, no annual passholders, nobody.

Onsite guests are promised access to a theme park. There are 4 theme parks. The odds of all of them being closed at stage 4 at the same time is so astronomical as to be nonexistent. So the onsite guest will get into a park - it just may not be the park they wanted.

I understand MK had a stage 1 closure last week (parking lot only) but stage 4 closures are very rare and usually are limited to extremely crowded days like Easter week or Christmas/New Years week, especially New Years Eve. Magic Kingdom is the most likely park to experience one. Epcot has such a large guest capacity that I can remember hearing they had a stage 4 closure only on December 31, 1999.

[Chuck65]

My cousin was at MK during NYE one year when it hit level 4. She said it was not a pretty sight.

[mickeyluv'r]

Originally Posted by Alesia

They do have staged closures:

Stage 4 - Nobody is allowed in.

I would think that they almost always have make an exception for guests with dining reservations. I would be VERY unhappy to learn that I was charged as a "no show" at CP because I was refused entry to the MK when I arrived in plenty of time!


I also think that if the park to be THAT full, you will have a pretty good idea earlier in the day. If you start to see a huge line for HoP, CoP, and the TTA. It's like those, "You know you're a redneck if" jokes. You know it's a bad day at MK if you see an hour wait for CoP at 9:15am.

Watch out for the Daytona 500. It is Feb 24 this year. Another event to watch for is Daytona Bike week - March 8 to 17th. Especially if those two weeks also happen to coincide with a large cross-lower-48-states-blizzzard.
This past week was Mardi Gras, which also brings in folks.

[TDC Nala]

At a stage 4 there are no exceptions made. No restaurant reservations. Nothing. And yes, it counts as a no-show for credit card holds or prepayment. But as noted Stage 4 enclosures are rare. Bike Week is not going to cause one, nor did Mardi Gras.

[RMulieri]

As a Disney resort guest you are only guaranteed access to A park.Not neccessarily the park of your choice.If MK hits a phase 4 closing, NO ONE gets in.Including those with pre-paid dining, and YES you can be charged as a no show.