Epcot Closing Due To Capacity?

[CamColt]

When is Epcot more likely to close due to reaching capacity limits, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or is it usually both?

 

[*Flower*]

Actually it's pretty much neither.

It has the largest capacity of any of the theme parks, and only closed once, when the person in charge freaked out on New Year's Eve 1999 - 2000.
Of course that was the year that Michael Eisner was staying at the Yacht Club, and HE freaked out when he saw resort guests being turned away at the International Gateway.

I'm sure that they'll be REALLY careful about that from now on.

I hope that this helps.........

 

[CamColt]

LOL!
Thanks it did help a lot.

 

[*Flower*]

I'm glad I could help!!

 

[Terk-1]

When I went over New Year's back in 1997, I know that both the MK & MGM maxed out their capacity by about 10am both that day & NYD and I believe I heard a CM said that EPCOT had maxed out as well, but don't quote me on that one. You definitely feel the max at the other 2 parks.

 

[candleonwater]

I was there for New Years 99/00 and I remember the word going around MGM that EPCOT had closed... by the time I left MGM (around noon) it was so packed I couldn't wait to get out of there... I can't imagine how crowded EPCOT was!

 

[Experiment626]

Usually the only park to close to capacity on christmas day is MK.

Now NYE is another story. For NYE 2002 from what I heard the closings due to capacity were:

2p - MK
3p - MGM
5p - Epcot

Mind you, at about 7p it started to downpour and plenty of people left, allowing for others to enter the park at that point.

HTH,
e626

 

[pintrader]

they may reopen any time as exiting guests create allowable space. Michael Eisener nor Walt himself can override a maximum capacity set by the Fire Department. It is set as a safety issue to allow for orderly evacuation of the park in case of emergency.

I have known of EPCOT closing on two occassions as I was waiting at the turnstile to get in. Both times we had had to wait at the auto plaza as well. Once was in 1997 and once was in 1999.

As a rule MK reaches capacity on Easter and Christmas and EPCOT reaches capacity on NYE. This is based on past participation and may vary every day/year. Either way the Christmas parade is televised Christmas day and it is a challenge getting up/down main street on that day. Every one wants to be on tv

 

[ilovefh]

Either way the Christmas parade is televised Christmas day and it is a challenge getting up/down main street on that day. Every one wants to be on tv

They actually dont film the Christmas parade on Christmas day. This year they filmed it the weekend of Dec. 7. But even though they dont film the parade on Christmas day, MK does sometimes close to capacity on Xmas day. During the 2001 holiday season EPCOT did close, but I cant remember which day it was. (They had it posted on a sign outside the MK plaza on my way unto work.)

 

[pintrader]

not to be disagreeable ilovefh, but yes they do. The filming they do earlier in the month is only televised if there is inclement weather according to the producer of the parade. They pre-record bands and such so the kids can spend their day with family, but I have been there EVERY Christmas day for the last 14 or 15 years and they DO televised that day as well.

I live less that two miles from the castle and am an annual passholder I go every day just to "feel" the magic. Sometimes I turn right around and leave too.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

They televised this past Christmas Day at MK. I didn't know about it at that time though and didn't get on TV. I'm glad.
LOL

Christmas Day at MK is packed packed packed. Ofcourse I didn't know it wasn't always that packed at MK at the time though. I found that out later.

All the parks were CROWDED that week (we went 24th-Jan 2nd) but the one park that didn't feel as crowded as the rest was Epcot. So I don't think you have much to worry about with that park (except perhaps NYE.. we weren't there then and I could see it getting really crowded then). I think it's because Epcot is so big with bigger walking spaces? Not sure. I just know that Epcot didn't feel crowded that week yet MGM always seems to feel crowded to me- even in value season!

 

[thinkerbell]

I was at MK on Christmas Day in 1999. We thought that the parade was taped on that day. When we were in City Hall before the parade a young girl was asking about it and they told her that the taping was done a couple of weeks ago. There was no taping at all on the day we were there. The weather was not inclement that day. It was actually very beautiful and warm. My daughter and I sat for a couple of hours and waited for the parade. We wanted to have good seats. It was very crowded but I don't believe that they closed the park. If it has to be more crowded than when we were there to close, I certainly wouldn't want to experience that.

 

[DebbieB]

I saw the taping of the Christmas Parade the first week of December in 2001. Regis & Kelly were there, it was the one shown on Christmas Day. We were also there the second week in 2002 and it was taped that Saturday but we didn't go during the day. We did go to MK that night and the parades & fireworks were delayed because the taping ran late. A local high school band was on our plane because they were there for the taping and they were shown on Christmas Day, they were not there live.