Disneyland closes the gates, no re-entry

[weluvdizknee]

I just read an article about how Disneyland will close their entrance gates when they reach maximum people capacity. The article didn’t mention what that capacity limit is. Many people years ago had bought hopper passes ahead of time for both New Years Eve and Thanksgiving holidays. They entered the park early in the morning, left in the early afternoon, and when they returned that evening, the gates were closed, and they were not admitted back into the park. One New Years Eve, according to this article, the park had reached its capacity by 11:00 am, and people were turned away the rest of the day, and didn’t get to participate in bringing in the New Year.

My aunt remembers reading about that in her California newspaper the year it happened. She recalls Disneyland would only let guests of their hotel resorts re-enter the park, which was only Disneyland at the time. She says that another article stated that since California Adventure has opened, they just redirect people to that park when Disneyland is full. They’ve been doing that since the new park opened. They offer guests free admission to California Adventure park if they have a 1 day only pass. I would feel very cheated if I planned a family trip to Disneyland to spend New Years Eve in front of the castle, and was herded over to California Adventure to stand on Hollywood Blvd.

I’m just assuming that if you purchase hopper passes ahead of time, it’s no guarantee that you will get into the parks, no matter what day you plan to arrive. I also assume that we shouldn’t leave the park on New Years Eve if we’re planning to see the midnight celebration. That could be a very long Disney Day.

Disney nightmare: Flight is over-booked and you’re bumped to the next flight, hotel is over-booked and you’re moved to motel six 3 miles away, Disneyland reaches people capacity by 9:30am, and your hopper passes are only good for one free fast pass to Mission to Mars. Wake up Wake up!!

 

[maxie]

Good reason to go off seaon...more closed attractions but no danger of not getting admitted!!

 

[Bete]

you go during the worse possible times then you have to be armed with the best like Disney resort ressies, etc. I feel for those with hopper passes staying at nearby resorts but I feel more for those who pay five times as much to stay on Disney property to get the privelege of no refusal to the park on peak days. It's not only the rich that stay on Disney property and those who have saved for the privelege deserve the guarantee of park admittance.

For the others, you need to plan for a long day at the parks if you want to go on the most crowded days. Do some downtime at the park by relaxing and even taking turns with naps. Plan your day with sit down meals and go to attractions where you can vegetate for a while; so, you can last for the long day ahead.

There has to be some perks with staying on property. First-timers may be hit the hardest because they truly may not know about all the rules regarding admittance but after the first time caught in this situation; they never get caught again. I do know Disney CMs at both locations, California and Florida, have informed guests at times about the busy days and no guarantee to get back in the park if you leave. It probably should be advertised more during those bad times but I don't think they want to discourage guests, either. There's a fine line here and I really think Disney handles the circumstance with very good taste.

 

[almostGoofy]

This only happens a few times a year. As a matter of fact, when it happens, it hits the news on our local network owned stations. It's that infrequent. The only time I've ever heard of this happening is during the week between Christmas and New Years Day. New Years Eve routinely hits maximum capacity.

 

[challada]

I've only seen this at new years and frankly, don't know why people want to go be in those crowds anyway! Yes, it's full, full, full at NY Eve but that's partly because of the RoseBowl crowds. I think I remember CM's at the exits warning about non-re-entry risks. WOULD NEVER GO AT FULL CAPACITY AGAIN!!!!

(And we were there week before Xmas week last year to find you can get all the "new year" products as early as that and no crowds!)

 

[Firefly777]

I had a great time at NYE. The only thing I didn't like was when it took us about 20 minutes to get to Main Street from Small World. Overall, It was a fun experience though. I would do it again, but the rest of my family feels differently.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

DL (and WDW) actually have a five tierd close system and its not just "no more"-

1) Stop selling tickets
2) no re-entry
3) No free (CM) or AP entry
4) Only resort guests
5) Hard close (aka no more people)

It doesnt happen very often they get to the 5- I have gone when its been up to a 3-

-em

 

[dletz]

They usually only close to no guests whatsoever a few times a year, and that's during extremely buys periods. They may shut to new people, however once people start leaving they may open the park back up. Since DCA has opened, when DL fills they start selling only 1 day tickets to DCA. When that fills up then no one is let in until people start leaving. Usually by 5 or 6 pm they start letting people back in. They may close it again, if it fills up again though.

One time we were told that only those who already had tickets could go in. Another time they we just made it in before they closed to admissions. We have never had a problem coming back in. We have been told when we leave that they are close to capacity, and if they close we will not be let in. We've never had this happen, and we go on some of the busiest days of the year, including NYE the last 5 years straight, and at least every other year for the 10-15 prior to that.

If you know you're going at a crowded time, make sure you get there early in the day, if it's that important to you to go in. If you know it's reaching capacity and you want to leave consider how important getting back in is.

 

[weluvdizknee]

Disneyland_emily,

Thanks for that info, that's good stuff to know for the holiday traveler. Kinda eases my mind about spending money on hopper passes for the NYE celebration at DL.

You wouldn't happen to know what the actual capacity for Disneyland and California Adventure are would you? It would be interesting to know how many people they can actually squeeze into the parks.

I wonder if there is a line limit for rides? Do they ever rope off lines that are to long and turn people away? I know the fast pass is helpful, but before fast pass, we would stand in some lines up to two hours. Now that we‘re older and have more since, we never stand in lines longer than ½ hr. There’s always something you can do besides stand in 2 hr lines. Comes with age and lack of stamina. All of a sudden, you become people watchers on a nice bench. LOL

Thanks again.

 

[dletz]

Generally they don't close down the lines. However if it's less than 2 hours prior to closing and a line for something is projected to be well over 2 hours then yes they will close the line. This doesn't generally happen though. Usually only when they open a new ride, like the opening days of Rocket Rods, Indiana Jones, etc. Usually on NYE DL is open till 2 with DCA closing around midnight. After midnight most of the people just leave DL and it gets pretty empty. That's the best time to go on rides between midnight and closing. Also beware if you park in the Mickey and Friends parking structure (maybe the other lots too, I'm not sure) on NYE they end tram service around 11:30 or so, and everyone has to walk back. Usually you walk the tram route. First couple of years after they opened M&F they would start the trams up about 1:45, 2 am. This past NYE they did not, everyone had to walk. They did have service for handicapped though if I remember correctly.

I actually think that DL did a great thing by shutting down the trams. With both parks emptying with near capactiy crowds at about the same time, if they had the trams running you would be waiting in an hour plus line to get on the tram. I know, because prior to DTD opening they had M&F parking structure open, but no way to walk from DL to M&F. You had to ride the tram. At closing or after fireworks, fantasmic, or any big rush of exit, it would litterally take over an hour from the time you got in line to get on the trams. Disney decided that they would have to use more people with crowd control and less driving trams that it wouldn't be very productive. They do have signs out that day telling you when the trams will shut down.

Also the week between Xmas and NYE is extremely crowded, and I would say you have a better chance of not being let in that week than you do NYE.

 

[dletz]

I would suggest having your tickets ahead of time, rather than buying day of, as when they hit a certain level they stop selling tickets, but still let those with already purchased tickets in. Also there will be a long line buying tickets. This past NYE I think we arrived around 5 or so, no problems getting in. I would suggest if you leave during the day that you arrive back by early evening, because by 5 or 6 is when the crowds really start to pick up. I don't remember the capacity of the 2 parks, I just remember that if DCA were filled to capacity, only about half the people in the park would be able to get on the Sun Wheel (and that with a 14 hour day)

By the way I'm an AP holder and Howard is a CM, and we've never been turned down on NYE.

Also tip, DO NOT get in line for an FP ride during or near a popular ending time. One NYE we waiting in line from 9:00 till 11:45 for Haunted mansion. We got in line and it said 2 hours. We went through the 3/4 of the line in 20 minutes while the fireworks were on. As soon as the fireworks ended the line stopped. They let every person with FP on, and only let a no FP when there were no FP people at the turnstyle. We were jammed up near the front of the line with no easy way out. I will never ever get in a line like that again. Same for using FP, the FP line will be a lot longer when something just ends than waiting half an hour or so after it ends.

 

[SomeSayImGoofy]

The park capacity is something like 83,000...these dyas they're barely pushing 40,000 on a Saturday.

No worries...have a great time! It's IMPOSSIBLE not to!

Kevin

 

[SomeSayImGoofy]

oops...

 

[disneychrista]

Ususally when they close the gates it is only for a period of time not necessarily the rest of the day. So even if you get turned away you could reenter later.

Just note if you are going to high attendance days, get there early and DONT LEAVE!!

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I don't know specific #s but my feeling is over 55,000 I *think* they topped it out over 60,000 when the MSEP was "glowing away"

I know on July 17 next year most of the group I'll be with plan to be in line about an hour to 2 before park open and then stay all day to make sure we are there

All I can say is for any crowded day- Get there early and stay all day

-em