DH is freaking out. HELP!!

[MagikMom]

Hi everyone. My DH is freaking out about the 4th of July. He says that we must be in the park (MK or Epcot) early in the day because they stop admitting people at a certain time. Is this true? I was planning on making dinner reservations somewhere in Epcot, arriving at Epcot at the time of the dinner reservation, say around 6:00pm or something, and then just staying to watch the Fireworks. Am I wrong? Do we really need to show up early and hang out in a crowd of people just to see the fireworks? Or can I do the dinner at Epcot thing and arrive later in the Day? HELP!!! He's driving me crazy!!!

 

[Poohs Pal]

Sorry to say but I think your DH is correct. I wouldn't chance it by trying to arrive late in the day. I don't believe a PS will get you into a park if it's closed to occupancy. Susan

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Tell your DH to take a deep breath and calm down.

We went to Epcot last July 4, arriving well after opening. Take the morning to sleep in or swim.
The park was crowded, yes, but manageable. Epcot is so huge, it absorbs the crowds well.
We didn't have much of a wait for anything really, except Test Track. We had fastpasses, but they kept shutting down the ride due to lightning in the area. We stayed in the line, air conditioning! And had a great time on it.

We had a dinner ressie for Marrakesh, fabulous time.
After dinner we strolled over to Japan and grabbed our spots for the fireworks. We always watch from the pagoda and it was not crowded at all.
Fireworks were fantastic, BTW. Everyone raved about them.
We had a great time.

The worst part of the evening was the bus back to our resort. The line was out of the queue and snaked down the walkway. We estimated at least an hour, maybe more. Decided that we would take a taxi back. Definately worth the twenty bucks.

 

[CapeCodFam]

It's all about capacity. If the park is full, they don't allow any more in. I have seen this happen a few times. If you have your heart set on a particular park, arrive early. Otherwise, there will definately be a least one park for you to go to that is not at capacity on 7/4.

 

[ErinC]

I thought if you were a Disney resort guest that you could get in anyway, even if the park was at capacity? Did I misunderstand this?

 

[CapeCodFam]

Yup. If the park is full, it is closed to everyone. They will, however, let more in as people leave.

 

[DVCLiz]

ErinC - there is a "graduated" level of park closing, according to how many people are in the park at a given time. If a certain capacity is reached, the park will be closed to "day guests", ie off-site guests. At the next two levels, some combination of resort guests, AP holders, and resort guests using only Disney transportation is implemented. Sorry I can't remember the specifics here. At the final level, the park has absorbed as many people as it physically will hold, and no one is admitted, even resort guests or people with a PS for a meal at a park restaurant. As others have said, it is usually the case that as people leave, more are admitted, and it is Disney policy to admit you to one park if you are a resort guest, but it's not your choice then. If Epcot is full at a level four, then, you might be sent on a Disney bus to MGM, but you couldn't choose where else to go. If you are dead set on seeing the 4th of July fireworks at Epcot, you'd need to plan for this happening and be there early, or take your chances that Epcot, which does absorb crowds better than the others, would still be admitting people later in the day. Good Luck!

 

[dyingtodisney]

This reminds me about our New Year's Eve experience at MK this year. We had heard that the park reaches capacity early and was there at opening New Year's Eve. Our plan was to go make to VWL in the afternoon nap, come back for our late PS at Liberty Tree Tavern. That being said when we tried to leave the CM at gate informed us we might not get back in, and having a PS did NOT guarantee we would be allowed back in. They explained the 4 levels, I've slept since then and do not have them memorized, but it was hilarious to me-- I kept calling them DEFCON 1,2,3,4.
Needless to stay we stuck it out , as I was not going to risk blowing my dream of ringing in the New Year at MK. By 10:00 my 5 yo DS had passed out in the waiting que of the hall of presidents and I carried his sleeping little body for the next 2 hours. My 9 yo DD stayed awake and her, myself, and DH had a magical experience watching the New Year Fireworks but DS slept through the whole thing. I don't think MK reached "defcon 4" that day as predicted so you should be safe to sleep in and then try to make it into Epcot at a reasonable time. I definitely would be there by 11 ish though.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

This reminds me about our New Year's Eve experience at MK this year.... I don't think MK reached "defcon 4" that day as predicted so you should be safe to sleep in and then try to make it into Epcot at a reasonable time.

Nope it didn't. We strolled in at about 6:00 P.M. without a problem after we had dinner. We have also gone into EPCOT late in the evening on July 4th without a problem either (but that was 6 years ago). Tell DH to relax.

HBC

 

[dyingtodisney]

HBC- Thanks for letting me know! In the future I know the chances are slim to be completely shut out. Do you know the exact levels and who they eliminate?

 

[ErinC]

ErinC - there is a "graduated" level of park closing, according to how many people are in the park at a given time. If a certain capacity is reached, the park will be closed to "day guests", ie off-site guests. At the next two levels, some combination of resort guests, AP holders, and resort guests using only Disney transportation is implemented. Sorry I can't remember the specifics here. At the final level, the park has absorbed as many people as it physically will hold, and no one is admitted, even resort guests or people with a PS for a meal at a park restaurant. As others have said, it is usually the case that as people leave, more are admitted, and it is Disney policy to admit you to one park if you are a resort guest, but it's not your choice then. If Epcot is full at a level four, then, you might be sent on a Disney bus to MGM, but you couldn't choose where else to go. If you are dead set on seeing the 4th of July fireworks at Epcot, you'd need to plan for this happening and be there early, or take your chances that Epcot, which does absorb crowds better than the others, would still be admitting people later in the day. Good Luck!

Thanks for that explanation. I new I heard something about it! Glad to now that I haven't completely lost it!