What happens if a park becomes full and you have a dining reservation?

[Safari23]

Anyone know what would happen if you had a dining reservation for a specific park and when you get there the park is full? I'm asking for a friend. She's arriving on NYE, staying onsite. She won't be able to get to the park till about 3pm. She's heard that on that day it's often full by then. So if she had a dining res would they allow her in? If not, would she be charged the no show fee?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If it's a stage 4 closure, nobody gets in. Dining reservation or no. And yes, they'd go down as a no-show, because the restaurant knows only that they didn't show up - not why.

Which park? If it's MK, that may be the only park that has a shot at a stage 4 closure. If it's Epcot, I think it's only been subject to a Stage 4 closure once (on January 31, 1999). AK closes so early it's not relevant, and doesn't offer fireworks anyway, most of the crowding is about seeing fireworks. DHS...not sure what happens there, might be an influx around fireworks time.

 

[Safari23]

Oh sorry, yes MK is what she's thinking. You say stage 4, are there other types of closures?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Stage 1 closure, they close the parking lots.

Stage 2 they will close the ticket windows, so only those with tickets in hand get in.

Stage 3, closure to all but Disney resort guests, annual passholders and guests with dining or recreation reservations.

Stage 4, nobody gets in.

 

[thisismyusername]

If not, would she be charged the no show fee?

I think in this case, Disney would be amenable to canceling the no-show fee since there's no physical way to appear at the restaurant. She'd have to call and explain the situation, but I can't imagine they would be that difficult to deal with under those circumstances.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It is true, they might waive the fee if the guest calls the restaurant line or sees a resort concierge and explains, but if they don't attempt to explain they will get charged.

 

[erionm]

Stage 0 - 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.

Also, if you are staying at a Disney owned and operated Resort and have a ticket, you are guaranteed entry into A park. Not necessarily the one you want (unless you want to go into AK). And if you have entered and left a park and do not have a hopper you may not get into anything.

*Guests of WDW Swan and Dolphin Hotels and Shades of Green at the Walt Disney World Resort are considered part of this group for Stages 2 and 3. In addition, Guests from Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels arriving by bus are included.

 

[Safari23]

Wow thanks! I'll let her know.

Markiramarlena - Did you mean dec 31 1999? That would totally make sense. Where better place to be if the world was going to end. Lol

 

[wilkeliza]

Also just a heads up don't ask CMs what "stage" the park is at. They won't say out right what stage they are at and will just say due to capacity we are not letting off site guest with no reservations in.

Best thing for her to do is get a reservation for 5 or 6 o'clock.

 

[maxiesmom]

It is true, they might waive the fee if the guest calls the restaurant line or sees a resort concierge and explains, but if they don't attempt to explain they will get charged.

And as you said, they MIGHT waive the fee. It is not guaranteed. It is up to the guest to make it to the ADR, and if they don't make it, the fault is theirs.

 

[Violet Parr]

If it's a stage 4 closure, nobody gets in. Dining reservation or no. And yes, they'd go down as a no-show, because the restaurant knows only that they didn't show up - not why.

Which park? If it's MK, that may be the only park that has a shot at a stage 4 closure. If it's Epcot, I think it's only been subject to a Stage 4 closure once (on January 31, 1999). AK closes so early it's not relevant, and doesn't offer fireworks anyway, most of the crowding is about seeing fireworks. DHS...not sure what happens there, might be an influx around fireworks time.

Jan 31, or Dec. 31? Jan 31 seems so random...

VP

 

[MakiraMarlena]

december 31. sorry.

 

[Violet Parr]

december 31. sorry.

No prob! I was just panicking for a sec because we're planning a grown-ups only trip for late Jan and I started wondering what was up with Jan 31!

VP

 

[suefly]

The fee is only charged if no one shows up. If she is meeting others who do show up, she will no be charged if she doesn't.