Can the parks fill to capacity for guests staying onsite?

[Tink-n-Peter]

We are going to WDW during the 4th of July! We have gone down at this time of year before, and we always hear the parks, (esp. MK) fill to capacity.

Here is my question. Do the parks fill to capacity JUST for those staying off property? Or does it fill to capacity for everyone?

We have ARDs for the Fantasmic Dinner Package at H&V on the 4th. Will I be able to get into MGM at any point? Or, do I have get there early in the morning can stay until 10:00pm Fantasmic Show at night?

We had Fantasmic ADRs on July 4th in 2004, and had no problems entering MGM at about 6:00pm to see the Fireworks and Fantasmic! Were we just lucky???

Thanks for input

 

[seashoreCM]

Yes it can happen, although rarely.

Closure occurs in stages, day guests first. If "everyone" is excluded due to capacity, that condition (stage 4) won't last all day, and when the stage (or level) backs down after a coupl'a hundred people exit (not one person in for every person out) resort guests waiting get first entry.

As resort buses will be en-route as soon as the level drops to 3, passenger counts should be added to the park attendance "level meter" so it may be awhile before the level drops another notch to let day guests in.

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

 

[bicker]

Also keep in mind that the parks operate separately, so closures due to capacity aren't based on total attendance, but rather attendance at each park, individually. So while under certain circumstances you may be able to get into A park, you may not be able to get into the specific park you're aiming for.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

What they said. And, I have NEVER heard of MGM or AK being closed due to capacity, ever. BUT, I haven't heard everything.

 

[peter11435]

What they said. And, I have NEVER heard of MGM or AK being closed due to capacity, ever. BUT, I haven't heard everything.

It has happened at both. In fact it has happened a few times at AK.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

It has happened at both. In fact it has happened a few times at AK.

There! Now I've heard everything!

 

[Tink-n-Peter]

Yes it can happen, although rarely.

Closure occurs in stages, day guests first. If "everyone" is excluded due to capacity, that condition (stage 4) won't last all day, and when the stage (or level) backs down after a coupl'a hundred people exit (not one person in for every person out) resort guests waiting get first entry.

As resort buses will be en-route as soon as the level drops to 3, passenger counts should be added to the park attendance "level meter" so it may be awhile before the level drops another notch to let day guests in.

Is there anyway to gain knowledge of the "level meter" at each park?
Can I ask the CM's at the resorts? Will they let me know its 85% capacity and at a stage 2, let's say? Will they post this information on the hotel TV's?

I have heard that MGM is the second busiest park on the 4th of July! And the reason is because the “Sorcery in the Sky Fireworks” is only shown 1 or 2 a year.

Was I lucky to get into MGM in 2004 or is this truly a rare occurrence?

I just want to be sure I will be able to make my ADR and fireworks!

Thanks to all that have already replied,

 

[DisneyBill]

Disney previously guaranteed admission to the 4 theme parks for guests staying at a WDW resort. Has this changed?

 

[peter11435]

Disney previously guaranteed admission to the 4 theme parks for guests staying at a WDW resort. Has this changed?

Disney guaranteed admission to ONE of the 4 theme parks for resort guests. Not necessarily the park of your choice.

 

[DisneyBill]

Disney guaranteed admission to ONE of the 4 theme parks for resort guests. Not necessarily the park of your choice.

According to the 2006 Birnbaum's Official Guide, on page 60... "Disney resorts offer guaranteed admission (with ticket) to the theme parks-even when they're filled to capacity and closed to the general public"

 

[peter11435]

According to the 2006 Birnbaum's Official Guide, on page 60... "Disney resorts offer guaranteed admission (with ticket) to the theme parks-even when they're filled to capacity and closed to the general public"

Yes as a resort guest you are guarenteed admission to a theme park. However that does not mean you are guarenteed admission to a specific theme park. MK (or any other Disney park) can close to capacity for all guests including resort guests. Like I said Resort guests are guarenteed admission to a disney park but it is not the park of their choice. Birbaums has poorly worded that in their guide because it is very misleading.

 

[bicker]

And beyond that, the guarantee is limited (even though the Birnbaum guide doesn't explain that). If all four parks were filled to capacity (which has never occurred as far as I recall), then even resort guests would be denied entry.

 

[peter11435]

And beyond that, the guarantee is limited (even though the Birnbaum guide doesn't explain that). If all four parks were filled to capacity (which has never occurred as far as I recall), then even resort guests would be denied entry.

Well the thing is that it is not possible for all four parks to reach phase 4 capacity (no more resort guests) without all resort guests being in the parks. The gap between phase 3 and phase 4 is large enough that the four parks combined can always accomodate all resort guests.

 

[marcbelt]

Was in MK last July, and I don't know what 'level' we were at, but Main Street was so packed that to get out of the park we were taken out through the back parking behind tomorrowland. From there we were led to the Ferries, Monorail and busses, which had incredible lines.

 

[NotUrsula]

Out of curiousity, does anyone know if the MYW "base" tickets are extended to allow hopping if the park they were initially used at that day ends up closed for capacity?

I see the whole issue of high-crowd days as a serious drawback to the base ticket concept; if you get into a park and discover that it is uncomfortably crowded, you have no real alternative but to sweat it out or blow off the whole day.

 

[bicker]

There is no automatic extension. You could go to Guest Services and ask for an exception for yourself, if you're truly unsatisfied with your experience at the park you visited.

 

[seashoreCM]

I believe that bus service is suspended to a park that is at level 4 closure thus providing indirect notification to resort guests. I would expect that when the level was lowered to 3, all guests in arriving buses would be admitted before level 4 was declared again. Chances are the parking lot is already full so resort guests driving would get turned away long before level 4. I do not believe the parking lot operates on a one car out one car in basis but rather several dozen spaces would have to be vacated before the lot is re-opened.

I suppose you can make the case (before leaving the resort) that, if you are heading for the parks at noon you should be able to get both the afternoon and evening of Disney fun with a non-hopping pass even if Animal Kingdom is the only available park.

 

[renessa]

We were in the world during 4th of July 2005. We spent the evening at MGM...and had no difficulties getting in. We arrived 1 1/2 hours or so before fireworks...have a great trip!!!

 

[Tink-n-Peter]

We were in the world during 4th of July 2005. We spent the evening at MGM...and had no difficulties getting in. We arrived 1 1/2 hours or so before fireworks...have a great trip!!!

Thanks renessa! And to all of you for your posts!

 

[NotUrsula]

What I was thinking of is a scenario such as: go to the MK for morning EMH, then monorail over to the GF for a character lunch at CP. After lunch, try to go back to MK and find that it is closed.

I would think that simplest thing to do would be to just set the turnstiles (or allow CM override) to allow hopping (on any multiday ticket) for the remainder of the day once a park has closed due to capacity. It seems as though doing that would help immensely to even out crowd levels.