Dining in the Parks at Christmas

[SSRLover]

I have enjoyed reading these forums for a long time and I've learned a lot.

We are DVC members and we really love our home resort. We have visited several times in the summer but we will be spending the Christmas holiday at Saratoga (December 21 - 28, 2011) for the first time.

We always use the DDP and plan to do so in December. We usually get to the parks early in the morning and return to the resort for a swim and nap in the afternoon before heading back out for dinner (usually at one of the Epcot restaurants).

I understand that the parks are very busy at this time of the year and some close because they have reached capacity. Are we going to have a problem if we have a reservation at a restaurant in the Magic Kingdom, Epcot etc. and we leave the park in the early afternoon and need to return for dinner?

Would we be better to make reservations at restaurants in the resorts rather than the parks and are there certain days when this would apply more than others?

Any guidance you could offer would be most appreciated.

 

[CarolMN]

An ADR is no guarantee that you will be allowed back into a park that has been closed for capacity reasons. So if you leave and the park closes, you will not be let back in just because you have an ADR.

If the break is important to you, better to make your dinner ADRs for restaurants outside of the parks.

 

[JWG]

While capacity controls don't allow anyone in if in a phased close who doesnt meet the criteria for admission, as a resort guest your odds are better. Usually by the evening with the exception of maybe July 4 or December 31 even phased closings have stopped.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I thought that they had included ADRs (especially pre-paid ones) in the listing of who gets locked out when the park fills. So you might have priority over non-resort guests.

But at some point, everyone gets locked out.

 

[capecoddisneyfamily]

What about making a back up resv. at Turf Club

 

[Deb & Bill]

What about making a back up resv. at Turf Club

Why not just make the first reservation at the Turf Club instead of making two and only using one? It's hard enough to get a dining reservation at this time and someone else is making two - one to use and one to "no show".

 

[JWG]

Why not just make the first reservation at the Turf Club instead of making two and only using one? It's hard enough to get a dining reservation at this time and someone else is making two - one to use and one to "no show".

Agree. I just made our October reservations yesterday. Some were hard to get and some were only easy because we did breakfast or lunch. This system is too painful for people to be taking unneeded spots. I could have made conflicting resies because I don't yet know what we're doing on what day in six months, but we've learned deal with that.

I think you'll be fine to get in the park for your resie. I can't guarantee it, but look at the phased closing history and prolonged phase iv closings are very rare.

 

[SSRLover]

Agree. I just made our October reservations yesterday. Some were hard to get and some were only easy because we did breakfast or lunch. This system is too painful for people to be taking unneeded spots. I could have made conflicting resies because I don't yet know what we're doing on what day in six months, but we've learned deal with that.

I think you'll be fine to get in the park for your resie. I can't guarantee it, but look at the phased closing history and prolonged phase iv closings are very rare.

Thanks to everyone for their responses - I'm feeling better about this.

I too don't like the idea of making conflicting reservations as it makes it difficult for others and it's too much for me to keep up with!!

A couple more questions on this. Is Epcot less crowded at this time of year and therefore a better bet for early evening dinner reservations. Should we steer clear of MK for dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?

 

[ilikedvc]

All the parks are very busy Christmas and New Years week. Epcot & Magic Kingdom will both be a challenge. We have gone at these times and always make reservations for our resturant of choice as early as possible and have never had a problem getting in. good luck!

 

[Plutofan]

You should have no problem at Epcot. This past Christmas there were several days that MK was at different levels of lock down.

 

[JWG]

Below are the phased closings and what they mean. If you're staying on a DVC reseravtion you'll be admitted through Phase 3, I think the odds of a Phase 4 close late in the day for a dinner reservation are remote. Unless it's New Year's Eve, July 4th or MAYBE Christmas Eve. But, Phase 4 closings never last that long.

Phases For Park Closing

Phase One:
Day Guests who have not already purchased tickets and Cast Members using their Maingate & Silver Passes will be turned around at the Auto Plaza. Guests meeting this criteria are told the Park has reached capacity.

Phase Two:
Currently, admission is limited to Resort Guests, Premium and Annual Passholders, crossovers and other Guests re-entering one of our Parks today. Guests using WDW Resort Transportation and Guests in taxis, will be admitted. Guests not meeting the above criteria are told the Park has reached capacity.

Phase Three:
The theme park is only open to Resort Guests using Disney transportation from their Resort or other theme parks or Annual and Premium Passholders. Shades of Green and Downtown Disney Resort Area Guests using their respective transportation will also be admitted. Guests not meeting the above criteria are told the Park has reached capacity.

Phase Four:
Closed to all Guests and Guests are told the Park has reached capacity.