Anybody know what maximum capacity actually is??

[JoannaOhio]

I have searched the Internet for hours, and have come up empty handed on this one. I've read that some of the parks (especially MK) close when they reach "maximum capacity" - so there obviously is a number that WDW uses to determine the maximum capacity of each park. I remember some years ago reading in one of the guide books about the estimated attendance (in actual number of guests) at different times of the year. Now they only seem to rate the "crowd conditions" - from level 2 to 10, with definitions of what each level means in the way of wait times for rides, etc.

If anybody has information about how many people the various parks will hold - or how many visit at different times of the year, etc. - I would be most interested in reading it.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

I think I once read that capacity for MK is 10,000. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's what I read.

 

[safetymom]

I am sure that it is a lot more than 10,000. Disney doesn't usually release those numbers.

 

[GOOFYFREEK]

As Safetymom has said Disney does not release those #'s. Its based on what rides are open what the weather is like and how big there staffing is for the day. And I also agree it is WAY more than 10,000

 

[drusba]

10,000 is an extremely light day at MK. Those figures you remember seeing years ago were 90,000 to 100,000 daily entries into MK during its two busiest seasons, Christmas and Eastertime (I still have Birnbaum's quidebooks from the 1980's when it gave such figures). However, those were turnstyle entries and not the actual number that were in the park at any particular time. I would guess capacity is some percentage of that.

 

[sanibelover]

Yeah, we've been there on capcity days, and I guarantee you it's WAAAAAAY more than 10,000. Think about it, small arenas hold at least 15,000 people for concerts and such.

I have no idea what the actual number is, but I do know htat I NEVER want to be there on a capacity day agian. It's an awful, awful experience. If I had small children with me, I think I would have been frieghtened for their safety, and I am not easily shaken by things like that.

 

[maps]

I was talking to a CM about President's day and she said they were surprised that there were only 56,000 people. She said Christmas they had around 80,000. So I'm assuming capacity would have to be about 80-100,000. That's a lot of people!

 

[n2mm]

Yes the number is pretty high, but Disney will never release those numbers and will hold them close and never release them. Since I read somewhere that MNSSHP sells 25K tickets and back when they did e-tickets the number was 5K, I'm sure the number is at least 6 digits.

 

[drusba]

Just a tidbit of interest. Disney does leak to financial publications its annual total of visitors. The top ten theme park totals based on figures recently released for 2004 are:

Theme Park 2004 Attendance/Increase from 2003
Magic Kingdom 15.1 million/8%
Disneyland 13.4 million/5%
Epcot 9.4 million/9%
Disney-MGM Studios 8.2 million/ 7%
Animal Kingdom 7.8 million/7%
Universal Studios Florida 6.7 million/14%
Islands of Adventure 6.3 million/13%
California Adventure 5.6 million/6%
SeaWorld Orlando 5.6 million/4%
Universal Studios Hollywood 5 million/8%

For MK that is an average of over 41,000 a day. The percentage increase from 2003 is not so important as Disney's figures are now back to and somewhat above what they were pre-9/11, indicating that the negative impact to it of 9/11 is now over. Moreover, Disney actually controls the world in this area. The most visited theme park outside the United States was Disneyland Tokyo with 13.2 million.

 

[seashoreCM]

According to some old news report, I think it was a Life Magazine article, 100,000 people were in Magic Kingdom the day it opened in 1971. But I am told that capacity closure to everyone not already in the park occurs somewhat before that nowadays.

Given the density of people and the long waits to enjoy rides and attractions, you really don't want to be in the park when closure conditions have been reached.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr.disney.htm

 

[SnackyStacky]

Just a tidbit of interest. Disney does leak to financial publications its annual total of visitors. The top ten theme park totals based on figures recently released for 2004 are:

Theme Park 2004 Attendance/Increase from 2003
Magic Kingdom 15.1 million/8%
Disneyland 13.4 million/5%
Epcot 9.4 million/9%
Disney-MGM Studios 8.2 million/ 7%
Animal Kingdom 7.8 million/7%
Universal Studios Florida 6.7 million/14%
Islands of Adventure 6.3 million/13%
California Adventure 5.6 million/6%
SeaWorld Orlando 5.6 million/4%
Universal Studios Hollywood 5 million/8%

For MK that is an average of over 41,000 a day. The percentage increase from 2003 is not so important as Disney's figures are now back to and somewhat above what they were pre-9/11, indicating that the negative impact to it of 9/11 is now over. Moreover, Disney actually controls the world in this area. The most visited theme park outside the United States was Disneyland Tokyo with 13.2 million.

If that's from Amusement Business, those figures are only estimates. Disney won't release those numbers.

I've always wondered why. It doesn't seem like information that would need to be kept top secret.

 

[GOOFYFREEK]

If that's from Amusement Business, those figures are only estimates. Disney won't release those numbers.

I've always wondered why. It doesn't seem like information that would need to be kept top secret.

Its called they dont want the IRS and share holders to really know how much there making so Eisner can give him a 13 billion dollar bonus before he leaves

 

[cruiseonmagic]

Thought you might like to know--you wouldn't even notice 10,000 people in MK. That would mean an extra early night for us. According to one of the transportation supervisors(who has been here for years) there have only been 100k in mk twice--for a short amount of time. Those two times?...

The last two performances of...???

Can you guess?

 

[Luv2Roam]

Having been in MK at capacity (NYE -- all day and evening) I can say it is do-able. Just need to prepare for it, and know you won't be able to do everything you want. And we noticed guest's stress level (agressiveness) was the highest we had ever seen. Not be best time to try to enjoy MK, certainly.

 

[civileng68]

I was talking to an empoyee of Disney, not a CM, but offices, and they said it was 95,000.

 

[jfis1020]

Well.......I was there the first Christmas ('71) and I can tell you that my dad always talked about the fact that Disney closed it that day with 68,000 in attendance. I can honestly say that it was an experience I will never forget. Keep in mind what WASN'T there that year. Splash, Big Thunder, and Space to name a few. It took quite a while to get a burger too!!!!!!

 

[peter11435]

There is not just one form of capacity. There are actually four phases each with its own numbers.

The Phases are as follows:
-Phase 1 = normal park operation everyone is let in.
-Phase 2 = day guests are no longer allowed in. Resort Guest, CM's going for fun, and AP holders are still let in.
-Phase 3 = CM's and AP holders are no longer let in. Only Resort Guests are let in.
-Phase 4 = No one is let in.

As for the parks maximum capacity, just like attendance numbers these are not given out. They are very secretive about this type of information being told to guests. Also there is no fixed number. The Maximum capacity can change every day. Many factors contribute to deciding what the capacity is for a day. These include the number of attraction operating, the amount of food they have, the number of CM's scheduled, number of attractions running fastpass, etc. For example Small World being closed lowers the parks max capacity. Also the parks capacity decreases as the number of attractions running fastpass increases. This is because Fastpass puts more people back into the park and out of lines, therefore causing a lower park capacity.

The information in business magazines are only estimates, Disney does not release that information to anyone including those magazines. Obviously like others said it is far more than 10,000. I can tell you that all of the parks have capacities under 100,000. However some are very near that number. Epcot has the largest capacity, and Animal Kingdom while it is the largest park, has the lowest capacity.

 

[All Aboard]

According to some old news report, I think it was a Life Magazine article, 100,000 people were in Magic Kingdom the day it opened in 1971.

That article aparently squeezed in an extra zero. Opening day attendance was close to 10,000 which was well below expectations. But, within days attendance rose to expected levels.

 

[robinb]

Having been in MK at capacity (NYE -- all day and evening) I can say it is do-able. Just need to prepare for it, and know you won't be able to do everything you want. And we noticed guest's stress level (agressiveness) was the highest we had ever seen. Not be best time to try to enjoy MK, certainly.

ITA. We're at WDW every NYE and it's a zoo. That's why we take a break in the day!

 

[sanibelover]

The biggest concern I have about maximum attendance is the safety of guests.

We were waiting to get the monorail out of the Magic Kingdom on July 4th one year. We were so packed together that you could not move one inch. It was obviously very hot, and someone was on the ground - I really don't know what was wrong because we couldn't move at all. Well, there was NO WAY that any help could get to her. I am actually quite surprised that she wasn't trampled. That to me is scary.

I agree with a previous poster about the aggressiveness of guests that day - it was awful. People fighting in lines, trying to cut, etc. We waited over 2 hours for POC and had some mighty unhappy people in line next to us. It just got really ugly. Add the fact that you could feel the heat of the pavement through your shoes, and it is a recipe for unpleasantness and quite possibly disaster.

This all did happen in 1985 so things may have improved since then, but sometimes the almighty dollar does win out over common sense when Disney is involved...........

I was a college kid then, and didn't really get bothered by much of anything, but this day in the MK really made me stop and think. I was actually concerned about the safety of all of the guests that day.