Disaster at Disney

[disneymomo]

oh my god im sorry to hear that happened. when I went a christmas a couple of years ago it was very busy like you excpected but like you i would have never expected to have been in this situation.

 

[asianmom]

A simillar incident happened early this month in Hong Kong Disneyland.I don't know all the details because I was at WDW at that time and missed out on the news.It was the week of the Chineses New Year and the park being quite small, filled to capacity mighty quick.Lots of people were unhappy and did not understand why they were refused entry or re-entry when they had the tickets.This being the first year of that park's running, most guests who visited were not acquainted with the capacity control policy.Anyhow, Disney decided to refund their money, which is a nice gesture, in my opinion.
GailT, I think i've read somewhere on the Resort website that guests staying at the Disney hotels are guaranteed park entry even after it has reached capacity.I have not personally been to DL at peak seasons so I do not know for sure, but have been admitted one time to Tokyo Disney after they closed the park due to capacity.I was staying at the Miracosta then and had to walk thru the entrance that was in the Hotel.

 

[Scratch42]

Are the people that stay in the Disney hotels allowed back in if they leave and then return?

No Guarantees!

It all depends on the level of capacity. I was told that at Level 4 that even CM's that are supposed to be working aren't allowed in!

janet

 

[leilani96743]

Planning a trip in July '06, has the park ever closed like this during the summer?

 

[Surroundedbyboys]

We were at the park in 1997- didn't realize that it was a "last" time to see a certain parade. We left for afternoon naps and when we went back they were only allowing people in who were on Disney transportation from the hotels with handstamps. We were so excited that we were some of the "LUCKY" ones who were being let back in. What a joke. It was wall to wall people. Just trying to walk down the sidewalk was a nightmare. People were getting in fights, jostling each other for spots for the parade, etc. etc. We made it to the castle when we decided to leave. (A man had tripped and fallen on my son- not his fault, fault of Disney for allowing in more people). Take my advice, if they say the park is closed due to capacity issues, get your refund, and get the heck out of there. Do not take your children in when it's that full!

 

[Brutie]

We have annual passes and on the rare chance that we do leave and are thinking of coming back, we do get our hands stamped and nobody has ever told us we might not be allowed back in. But thats a chance you take when you leave the park, I also dont get all the anger and why people feel that they are owed something. I'd say its probably posted somewhere on a ticket/brochure or somewhere in very teenie tiny print that you take a chance when you leave.

For me, I just dont see why people made such a big deal about it. We drive down from Northern CA also several times a year, we usually dont go in until around lunchtime even though we can get in sooner with annual passes, then we spend the rest of the day there. If we couldnt get back in one night, then we'd just go back the next day. You'd already been in the park for half the day, I dont see what all the fuss is about.

 

[Surroundedbyboys]

For some people, they may have saved for years to make that trip. It may be the only trip they have there....ever. Imagine saving all that time, and then when you finally get there and have to go get a jacket or eat somewhere (you can afford) you're not allowed back in....Like I said before, I would never go back in if there wasn't room but I can certainly understand the disappointment on the part of people- especially children-if that happened.

 

[lvanthony]

Do they have anything posted about reentry into the park and how its not guarenteed? If they do, its not there fault people don't read it. However, if there isn't anything then I agree with everything about the CM's should have gave a forewarning about not being able to get back in. For the future then, DL should have something posted near the exit about reentry into the park.

As far as requesting a full refund for not being able to get in the park.... I think that is a bit obsesive. If I go into DL early and then leave at 1:30, should I get a refund because I didn't do any more of the park? When you goto the park, regardless how long your there, a day is deducted from your pass, as it rightfully should be and is stated in numerous places. Now I understand giving them a half day pass for that is what they missed and were restricted from doing. But a full refund is a bit much. Just my opinion.

Oh and on the post that said that they should keep people counted as a guest in park even after they leave.... they you just created a bigger problem. You will stunt ticket sales, for the park will be viewd as "full" earlier on in the day. That is definatly not the solution. If the park was full and then half of them left, by doing this plan, DL would still have to consider the park full. How does that make sense?

I do also agree that for the mother getting the jackets, that was a bit much on Disney's part. They definatly should have let her back in. Although, to verify the story, perhaps calling the rest of the group to the front to verify she is with them. You wouldn't want a bunch of people claiming they were seperated only to get into the park. That could become a big mess.

 

[iluvvacay]

I don't think disney should continue to sell tickets beyond park capacity. Also people that have entered and left should be counted as still being in the park in case they want to return later (for fireworks or dinner) Remember not all people buy hopper tickets so if the park is closed for reentry what do those people do??They are stuck because they cannot go to another park. Do they just lose the day??? What if someone wants to leave to go to a hotel for lunch or back to the hotel pool, why should they be denied reentry? If disney wants to continue with this current policy then people leaving should be told " the park is near capacity and you may not be allowed to return later if you leave now." THen people could make an informed decision on what they want to do.

 

[ACDSNY]

I don't think disney should continue to sell tickets beyond park capacity.

Are you forgetting not all tickets are sold at the gate, nor are they sold for a specific date so how is Disney supposed to know they've over sold. Multi-day tickets are good for a 14 day period, and APs are for most days. Tickets may be purchased from multiple sources...Disney Store, Travel Agents etc.

How are the CMs supposed to know they'll reach capacity if you left say at 11:00 AM, when up to that point it didn't seem it would? There are too many variables to hold the CMs accountable. It's the chance you take anywhere if you leave.

That said...I'm sorry anyone has to experience it.