ADR when park is at capacity?

[Princess_Ariel_5]

Hi everyone! Been a lurker on the board for years now but just finally made an account (better late than never, right? haha). I'm going to Disney World in February I can't wait! I'm anxiously awaiting the date we can make ADRs which is in about two weeks. I've heard it's crowded around that time since that's when most kids have off from school but that's the only time we can go since we are teachers. We'll make the best of it though! My question is: what if I make an ADR at a park for dinner but by the time we get there, the park is closed because it's filled at capacity? Do we lose the ADR or are we allowed to go in to the restaurant? Do I even need to worry about the parks closing during that week (2/14-2/19)? This will be my first time going in February, so I'm not sure what to expect! Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks

 

[erionm]

It depends on what level of closing the park has reached. All levels except level 4 will allow you in if you have an ADR. It the park reaches level 4 and you are not allowed in, you would be charged the no show fee.

 

[mom2rtk]

Parks won't close to capacity your week.

 

[FunTimeMom]

It depends on what level of closing the park has reached. All levels except level 4 will allow you in if you have an ADR. It the park reaches level 4 and you are not allowed in, you would be charged the no show fee.

They charge a no show fee if they don't let you in? That doesn't seem fair.

 

[dvc at last !]

They charge a no show fee if they don't let you in? That doesn't seem fair.

Agree - Not fair !

 

[lwc]

It depends on what level of closing the park has reached. All levels except level 4 will allow you in if you have an ADR. It the park reaches level 4 and you are not allowed in, you would be charged the no show fee.

I hope that was supposed to say "wouldn't!!"

Agree - Not fair !

Agree. That is a fee I would adamantly dispute.

 

[HulkBuster]

thats how it works folks but as a previous poster said it won't matter for febuary parks dont get that busy that this will be a problem for the first poster

 

[siskaren]

that's how it works folks but as a previous poster said it won't matter for February parks don't get that busy that this will be a problem for the first poster

Exactly. The parks only get to the 4th stage of closing (which is where no one gets in, even with an ADR, and even then, I'm not sure if any park other than MK has ever reached that stage) during the week between Christmas and New Years, and I think around Easter and the 4th of July.

 

[Princess_Ariel_5]

Thank you everyone!!! You are all a great help. Relieved the parks won't be closing due to capacity during the week I'm there

 

[supersnoop]

I don't think Magic Kingdom has hit stage 4 anytime in the past four years. And they added capacity for 20,000 more people in that time. NYE only hit stage 2 the past few years.

 

[disnut8]

They charge a no show fee if they don't let you in? That doesn't seem fair.

But, the no show fee goes on your account automatically if no one in your party shows up. That's the way the system works. It's a system, it's not a human. Same thing happens when a park gets closed for capacity. A computer somewhere tells the Cast Members to shut things down until the capacity gets lowered. Do the two systems "talk" to each other? Probably not. There isn't a logical way for the park capacity system to tell the dining system, "hey, we have Joe Blow from Arizona dining at Tony's at 5 but we just shut down the Magic Kingdom because of capacity - don't charge him a no show fee!" and - well, one of Joe Blow's members could already be inside the park and can make it. I'd like to know how any system can do all of that when the two things that trigger it are almost immediate.

IF a park closed to capacity and none of your party was able to make an ADR and you were charged a no show fee, then call Disney or visit Guest Relations while you are there and explain the situation. Have available the time you attempted to get into the park and when your ADR was for. Because, the "close to capacity" can be lifted during the day. So, if you tried to get into the Magic Kingdom at 10:30 with a dining reservation at 5 and were turned away for capacity but that was lifted at 2, well, you could have made your reservation.