Closing admittance on New Years?

[Percy The Pug]

Hi Everyone,

We are going down on Tuesday for a month at Disney. I read someplace on the boards that they sometimes close down the Magic Kingdom on New Years Eve day and New Years Day because of over crowding. I am somewhat concerned because we are travelling with a four year old and even if we get to the park early, we will not be able to keep her there all day. If we leave to give her a rest at the C.R., will they not allow us back in? I would hate to miss the fireworks and atmosphere of these special days and evenings?

Any information from you veterans would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,

Percy The Pug

 

[square pond]

Percy The Pug, I dont know about New Years but we were in the Magic Kingdom several years ago on July 4th and that is exactley what happened. They announced the park was closed due to capacity crowds. But I am pretty sure if you were a Disney guest on Property they were still allowing you to enter the park. Maybe they make an allowence for resort guests. Good Luck and Have Fun!!

 

[WDSearcher]

There are various levels of closing, and since you're on property, the only time you're likely to be denied entry is if the park is at "Stage Four", which means no more guests allowed to enter, period. It's unlikely that the parks will be at that stage on New Year's Day, but it is possible on New Year's Eve. Of course, when the parks are THAT full, you don't want to be trying to lead a 4-year-old through that crowd anyway!

But it is possible that you'll be closed out of MK or Epcot that night. Be sure to check with the Guest Relations folks at the Contemporary before you head over.

 

[Jackie H.]

We were there last NYE and it is possible - even for WDW hotel guests to be shut out of any park because of the attendance level. WDW guarantees you admittance to A park not any particular park. See the difference? They may say MK is full, so go on over to MGM.

MK is almost guarantted to get extremely full. It may or may be so full as to shut out WDW hotel guests. EPCOT is the next most likely to fill up - but it is extremely large and it takes a lot of people to fill it up. Last year EPCOT was packed to the gills, but not full enough to close it to hotel guests.

What people do is go to MK or EPCOT when it opens and stay there all day long so as not to be shut out.

With a 4 year old and if your going to be there a month, why not go to a park (which ever one you prefer - just knowing that MK & EPCOT will be very crowded) and then go back to the hotel pool for mid day - assuming the weather allows. Then go somewhere not actually in a park to see the fireworks. Have dinner at O'Hannas (at the Poly) or on the Boardwalk? Of course, this is your preference. But expect to be holding a 4 year old on your shoulders for him or her to be able to see anything. With crowds at thick at they will be on NYE, all they will see from the ground is other people's legs.

The great news for you is that by January 3rd the whole place should be crowd free and you will have a whole month with those conditions (with the exception of MLK holiday) to enjoy it all!

By the way, a WDW bus driver named Tyler used to post on the DIS transporation board. He can give you great advice about crowd levels and history. He had said that there have indeed been times when MK had closed to ALL new entrees - including WDW hotel guests.

 

[kate7047]

I also have the same concerns as Percy-PUG. We're going on NYE. We are planning on Epcot. I can't say I relish the idea of 16 straight hours there (definitely planning on staying LATE being NYE and all) and my husband may really go nuts. Does anyone have experience with NYE in years gone by who could give info about liklihood of closure? I mean, does it happen one year in 10 or practically every year? Any ideas about timing for reaching capacity? 10 AM? 2 PM? (BTW, we're staying off site) Thanks very much!

 

[Luv2Roam]

You always need to throw the weather in as a factor. I don't think there is any set rule. Just prepare for what your worse case may bring.
Like you, I am not thrilled about a lllllong day in MK on NYE. But that is what will happen. It's just adults in our party, so I am sure we can *suffer* through it. But I admit I rather wait until early to mid afternoon to enter MK. But I know that may not be possible.
With a four year old, I would go along with a previous post suggestion. Or even get a babysitter for all day/evening if that is possible.
Two years ago NYE I recall reading it was pouring rain so hard the crowds thinned out early. And yesterday (Christmas Day) we witnessed nothing too bad crowd-wise, And that was because of an all day rain.

 

[peacefulgirl]

see these posts

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=629415&highlight=years+eve

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=696504&highlight=years+eve

 

[zurgswife]

The 2 years we have done NYE's Epcot hasn't been a problem even though MK was closed during the day and did not open up much throughout the day....

Last year Epcot was packed to the gills but my dh left and reentered around 7pm for about 30mins without any problem...

 

[grumpy]

We were in disney over new years, and we went to DQ on new years eve and animal kingdom on new years and the lines were very ssmall. We chose not to go to MK because it was extremely crowded, and in recent years they have had to turn people away at 10:00 am! because the park was already at capacity

 

[Daisy Duck 5]

We were on a tour and asked this question last week, they can be 90% sure they will let you back in with a stamp but can not tell you this for sure. If you want 100% go to MGM or Epcot that day. If you go outside the entrance of MGM you can see the Epcot fireworks as well as MGMs and it is not crowded at all.

 

[fdecker]

MK closed on NYE and surprisingly just a few days before also. Epcot did not close this year for NYE. A lot of people who could not get into MK, were redirected to Epcot.

I went alone while the rest of the family slept to MK 30 mins before opening. For two hours, I had the entire park almost to myself. I rode all the major rides two or three time. At Thunder Mountain, they were telling people "if you want to ride again, just stay on the ride". By 12:30 on New Years Day, the park started to become fairly crowed, but by then I had done everything I wanted to do.

-f

 

[drp4video]

We went to MGM on NYE, not that crowded. We went to Magic Kingdom on New Years day, got there about 11, and stayed till 11:30..did everything, sometimes twice.

 

[peacefulgirl]

I was in WDW since Dec 29th till yesterday. NYE we went to DTD, heard MK closed at 11am. Also heard people complaining the day after that they couldnt MOVE in there on NYE. But on NYE day, we went to AK and it was slow there ! Good plan ! Crowds died down on the 2nd and it was great !

 

[seashoreCM]

Went to Magic Kingdom on New Years Day, arrived before 8 AM opening. Park seemed almost empty until about 10, then not really crowded until the 1 PM parade.

Was told that parking lots did not fill up and gates not closed due to capacity.

Seems that a lot of folks slept late from being up so late the previous night.

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

<small>Never put soda pop in a baby bottle.</small>

 

[All Aboard]

MK was heavy, but manageable on New Year's Day. We hopped over to a deserted Epcot (World Showcase, at least) that afternoon. Asked a few CMs and they indicated it was like that all day that day. You had your pick of spots for Illuminations right up to the start. I was very surprised.

 

[emmabelle]

We went to AK in the morning on New Years Day and it was deserted, we walked over to Epcot that night for a snack and could have stood anywhere to see Illuminations, it was such a turn around from the night before.