Has anyone ever had this problem????

[purpletiger]

Hello everyone,
I am new to the DIS and wondering if????????

I made a ADR for Chef Mickey for the day we will be at MK. I have read on here that sometimes the MK fills to capacity and my question is if this happens and we leave to go to our ADR will we be able to return and get back into the MK if filled to capacity. My ADR is for 6:25pm?

It has been over 15+ yrs since I have been to Disney and my parents did all the planning.

 

[Sawhiskey]

Nope, once its full its full..

 

[mi*vida*loca]

When are you going? MK really only closes due to capacity on major holiday's. 4th of July, Easter break, Christmas and NY's.

 

[Hootch]

have a process of closing down the parking lots, then the intra Disney transportation and then closing the park entrance? I thought I had read something like this at some point.

Two key points from PPs.

1) The park can be closed to further admission.

2) This happens at really high times and posibbly not at all parks at those times.

 

[purpletiger]

When are you going? MK really only closes due to capacity on major holiday's. 4th of July, Easter break, Christmas and NY's.

We are going in late July. No major holidays around this time.

 

[purpletiger]

have a process of closing down the parking lots, then the intra Disney transportation and then closing the park entrance? I thought I had read something like this at some point.

Two key points from PPs.

1) The park can be closed to further admission.

2) This happens at really high times and posibbly not at all parks at those times.

I am not for sure about their closing practices. Our ADR is scheduled for 6:25pm and we will return to MK about 8 or 8:30pm (I assume) to watch parade and fireworks. This will be my kids first trip to Disney and I do not want them to miss the parade and fireworks. Is it a better idea to eat dinner in the park or risk leaving and returning that late in the day?

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I have never heard of the MK closing on a night in late July - anyone else?

 

[purpletiger]

I have never heard of the MK closing on a night in late July - anyone else?

Thank you that makes me feel better.

 

[disnut8]

You won't have any problems with late July so don't worry about it. As mentioned, it's only for the really major holidays. Even Memorial Day doesn't get close to capacity and I've never heard of it closing for Thanksgiving which is pretty full. Definitely one less thing to think about.

 

[B-Ride]

Several things to consider:
1. Other than the 4th of July and Christmas I have never heard of MK closing.
2. Likely the parking lot will close before the MK and you will be on the monorail.
3. Even if by some fluke it did close it would be during the middle of the day and would be sure to have emptied out enough by the time you were returning. Many guests are too tired to last that long in the hot Florida sun.

 

[ToddyLu]

If there is a problem and I sure their won't be.. there is , I believe an observation deck on one of the floors ( not the 15th where the CaGrill is) but like on the 4th floor or something in the Contemporary Resort. So you could leave Chef Mickey's and head there to see them in a crunch, too! Somebody will read this and correct me.....

 

[Girly_Qs]

If there is a problem and I sure their won't be.. there is , I believe an observation deck on one of the floors ( not the 15th where the CaGrill is) but like on the 4th floor or something in the Contemporary Resort. So you could leave Chef Mickey's and head there to see them in a crunch, too! Somebody will read this and correct me.....

Yes there is!

You can't hear everything (which for us was a good thing that trip, with a skittish 4.5yo and a 1.5yo!), but it's a great view!

 

[SPOERLX3]

When a park is full to capacity, the customers that can not come in are ones that are NOT staying at a Disney Property. Even if they have a ticket.
If you are staying at one of the Disney Resorts, you will have no problem coming back in, even if it is full.
It is only if you are staying at a NON Disney Resort that you would not be able to enter when the park is full.
Another benefit of staying at a Disney Resort.

 

[goofygal531]

When a park is full to capacity, the customers that can not come in are ones that are NOT staying at a Disney Property. Even if they have a ticket.
If you are staying at one of the Disney Resorts, you will have no problem coming back in, even if it is full.
It is only if you are staying at a NON Disney Resort that you would not be able to enter when the park is full.
Another benefit of staying at a Disney Resort.

This is not true. We were in WDW two years in a row the week of Thanksgiving and MK always reaches capacity on Thanksgiving Day.

As a resort guest, you are guaranteed admission to A PARK. You cannot enter the park that is closed.

To the OP, there is no way of knowing when a park will reach capacity. MK has closed due to capacity several times in March of this year, which it's never done before. I wouldn't worry in July, but the parks have been very crowded this season.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

OP, you should have no problem in late July. Enjoy CM's! Lots of fun there.

When a park is full to capacity, the customers that can not come in are ones that are NOT staying at a Disney Property. Even if they have a ticket.
If you are staying at one of the Disney Resorts, you will have no problem coming back in, even if it is full.
It is only if you are staying at a NON Disney Resort that you would not be able to enter when the park is full.
Another benefit of staying at a Disney Resort.

This is partially true, but not quite. If it's a lower level closure, the park will be "full" to non-Disney resort guests, but Disney resort guests can still enter. However, there comes a point where the park really is full (Phase 4 closing, I believe is what it's called), and no one, Disney resort guest or not, gets in the gates. This happened several times a couple weeks ago.

 

[Girly_Qs]

Quoted from another thread where this came up (I found the info quite helpful):

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2150049

The turnstile master computer at each park keeps track of both entries and exits. When a park capacity closes (which is done in stages) there has to be a certain number of people exiting, with the total "in park" below a certain number, before they start allowing people in again.

I am low enough on the totem pole that I have no idea what these numbers are.

There are four stages to park closing:

Stage 1 - The parking lot entrance is closed. You can only access the park if you are using Disney Transportation.

Stage 2 - The ticket windows are all closed (and the automated Ticket Vending Machines are turned off). Unless you already have a ticket you cannot get in.

Stage 3 - Only people with Annual Passes or current Resort IDs will be allowed in.

Stage 4 - Nobody is allowed in.

Note - having restaurant reservations in a park, even with written proof, will not override a stage closing for you.

Also, if you are staying at a Disney owned and operated Resort and have a ticket, you are guaranteed entry into A park. Not necessarily the one you want (unless you want to go into AK). And if you have entered and left a park and do not have a hopper you may not get into anything.

HTH someone else as much as it did me!

 

[Mom2gymnasts]

We were there last year late July/early August & none of the parks closed due to capacity levels.

 

[SPOERLX3]

And thank you all for helping me understand it too. I always try and go in a slower attendance time frame so personally I have not experienced this. I was only going by what I have read on line and in books. Sorry if I confused anyone and thank you all for correct details on how it works.

 

[Dani C]

And thank you all for helping me understand it too. I always try and go in a slower attendance time frame so personally I have not experienced this. I was only going by what I have read on line and in books. Sorry if I confused anyone and thank you all for correct details on how it works.

This is one of the best things about this board. None of us knows everything, and each of us has something, knowledge or otherwise, to offer others.

 

[RMulieri]

Mk tends to close for capacity during Easter, Spring Breaks(just ask all those people 2 weeks ago that were posting), 4th of July, Christmas ,New years and the week in between.Other than that it doesn't really happen all that much.