If the parks are full and you have an ADR, is it true you won't be let in?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I remember reading a few threads where if you go the parks on a busy holiday like 4th Of July, Christmas or New Years Eve if the parks are full you will not be allowed in until enough people leave even if you had an ADR that was scheduled within the time you arrived. So I am wondering if this is true how do the restaurants handle it if you are not allowed in right away? Do they list you as a no show and give your time to another family, or because they know the parks are going to be very busy do they hold back the times on days like that knowing some guests might not be allowed in right away?

For the record my family and I don't have any ADR's planned on any major holidays in the parks, so this is just a general question.

 

[magicaldisney]

It is true that you do not get entrance to a park for your ADR's. I don't however know how the individual restaurants handle it. I was told you were just out of luck (we had ADR's for Thanksgiving last year and I called about this), but I would love to hear if anyone has first hand experience.

 

[CamColt]

I've never had the experience myself, but from everything I have heard over the years, that is correct. ADRs do not guarantee admission into a specific park.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

It is true that you do not get entrance to a park for your ADR's. I don't however know how the individual restaurants handle it. I was told you were just out of luck (we had ADR's for Thanksgiving last year and I called about this), but I would love to hear if anyone has first hand experience.

To bad you were not let into the park for your ADR. Just curious which park was it and what restaurant was your ADR for?

 

[magicaldisney]

Sorry, I gave you the wrong impression. We personally were not effected by this policy. I just called to get the rules so I knew ahead of time, since we had ressies on such a busy holdiay.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Sorry, I gave you the wrong impression. We personally were not effected by this policy. I just called to get the rules so I knew ahead of time, since we had ressies on such a busy holdiay.

Oh I see what you were trying to say. Sorry about asking you that question since you were not turned away from entering even with an ADR.

 

[Lewisc]

My experience is restaurants will generally add you to the list if you arrive after your ADR. I think CRT is the only theme park restaurant that might be a problem. I'm not sure I'd even want to enter a park that was so packed that entrance was being delayed for resort guests.

I don't think EPCOT generally closes due to capacity and that's probably the theme park that guests are more likely to want to enter late for a dinner ADR. I think guests with an ADR at the Disney-MGM studios or the MK plan to get to that theme park early enough.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My experience is restaurants will generally add you to the list if you arrive after your ADR. I think CRT is the only theme park restaurant that might be a problem.

That's good to hear with the expection of CRT.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I can't imagine that they wouldn't let in someone with a CRT ADR. I mean, it's prepaid, so say a family of four go 2 adults and 2 children, that's about $150. They'd have to let that family in. Wouldn't they?

 

[Faerie]

because full to capacity means just that

 

[nbodyhome]

ADR's don't guarantee admission if the park is completely at capacity.

 

[Lewisc]

NO. If the family was staying offsite they wouldn't even be able to enter the parking lot. If the park was at the highest stage of being closed buses from the resort might not even go to the MK. If that family was able to get to the MK gate guest services might get them to the head of line but I wouldn't even count on that. The only option might be to take a bus from an open park, or even DTD, to the Contemporary and then walk to the MK. Guests with an ADR at a MK restaurant should get there early on days where closing is expected.

The only question is how hard it would be for that family to get a refund.

I can't imagine that they wouldn't let in someone with a CRT ADR. I mean, it's prepaid, so say a family of four go 2 adults and 2 children, that's about $150. They'd have to let that family in. Wouldn't they?

 

[brergnat]

I would think that if someone PREPAID for a meal at CRT, they would make darn sure they got into the park EARLY on a day like Christmas or 4th of July.

Those particular holidays have different rules regarding capacity. On most days, even if the parks are full, they allow resort guests guaranteed admission. On those couple of MAJOR holidays (Christmas, New Year's Eve, July 4th), they change the policy and tell you that if you want to be guaranteed admission, you need to arrive in the first couple hours of the park opening and if you leave, you are NOT guaranteed re-admittance.

ADR's have NO power to overrule this sort of thing.

 

[tbrenk]

NO. If the family was staying offsite they wouldn't even be able to enter the parking lot. If the park was at the highest stage of being closed buses from the resort might not even go to the MK. If that family was able to get to the MK gate guest services might get them to the head of line but I wouldn't even count on that. The only option might be to take a bus from an open park, or even DTD, to the Contemporary and then walk to the MK. Guests with an ADR at a MK restaurant should get there early on days where closing is expected.

The only question is how hard it would be for that family to get a refund.

Does anyone know around what time parks start not letting people in?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When I said if the parks were full, I meant they would be in the situation where they would also stop letting in onsite Resort guests which is what they would call critical capacity or something.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

When I said if the parks were full, I meant they would be in the situation where they would also stop letting in onsite Resort guests which is what they would call critical capacity or something.

1) You are correct regarding your assumptions.
2) If the parks are at Stage-4, NO ONE gets in.
3) This is a capacity and safety issue, and Disney does not risk safety.
4) This is regardless of ADR, AP, resort guest, CM (as a visitor), etc.
5) That is why on major holidays, once you are in, you should stay in.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

2) If the parks are at Stage-4, NO ONE gets in.

Thanks for stating what the correct name was when the parks reach full capacity.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Here are the "staged" closures.
2) Resort guests are guaranteed a park, but not necessarily the park they want.
3) There is no provision for exceptions due to ADR's.
4) Resort concierge desks, front desk & bus drivers always know the closure status.


Stage-1: (Refused Admission)
. . . single-day guests who have not already purchased tickets
. . . cast members using their Maingate & Silver Passes

Stage-2: (Allowed Admission)
. . . resort guests, premium and annual pass-holders
. . . park hopping crossovers and guests re-entering one of the parks that day
. . . guests using WDW resort transportation
. . . guests in taxis

Stage-3: (Allowed Admission)
. . . resort guests using Disney transportation from their own resort
. . . resort guests using WDW transport from other theme parks
. . . annual and premium pass-holders
. . . guests of Shades of Green via SOG transport
. . . guests of DTD Resort Area Guests via their respective transportation

Stage-4: (Refused Admission)
. . . all guests not already IN the park
. . . no exceptions
. . . guests can get in ONLY as other guests leave the park (not always 1-for-1)

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

TheRustyScupper,
Thanks for posting the rules regarding how park closures which is something we should all know when visiting any of the 4 parks during a busy holiday season (Easter, 4th Of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years Eve) if anyone of us happens to visiting WDW during those times.

 

[Lewisc]

Probably a non-issue but hypothetically
1) A guest enters a park (MK for example) and leaves at lunch time
2) MK is at Stage 4 when the guest wants to return
3) Guest has a base (non-hopper) ticket
4) Will the guest be allowed admission at another park a) as an exception b) allowed but required to use another day off the ticket (not normally allowed)

I understand most guests in that circumstance won't leave the MK

1) Here are the "staged" closures.
2) Resort guests are guaranteed a park, but not necessarily the park they want.
3) There is no provision for exceptions due to ADR's.
4) Resort concierge desks, front desk & bus drivers always know the closure status.


Stage-1: (Refused Admission)
. . . single-day guests who have not already purchased tickets
. . . cast members using their Maingate & Silver Passes

Stage-2: (Allowed Admission)
. . . resort guests, premium and annual pass-holders
. . . park hopping crossovers and guests re-entering one of the parks that day
. . . guests using WDW resort transportation
. . . guests in taxis

Stage-3: (Allowed Admission)
. . . resort guests using Disney transportation from their own resort
. . . resort guests using WDW transport from other theme parks
. . . annual and premium pass-holders
. . . guests of Shades of Green via SOG transport
. . . guests of DTD Resort Area Guests via their respective transportation

Stage-4: (Refused Admission)
. . . all guests not already IN the park
. . . no exceptions
. . . guests can get in ONLY as other guests leave the park (not always 1-for-1)