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

[clkelley]

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

I doubt they will be allowed back in. As a matter of fact, once a park reaches stage 4, I believe the CMs at the exit start warning guests that they will not be allowed back in this park and if they don't have a park hopping ticket they need to stay in the park if they want to continue their day there.

Plain and simple, non-park hoppers are less expensive than park hoppers, that is the risk you take when you buy a non-park hopper.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

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

I would hypothesize that you might be told that the park is at capacity and turned away, but that if you challenged that, or took a trip down to Guest Relations you would be allowed admission to another park as an exception. Again, not necessarily the park you want, but Disney does want to keep their guests reasonably happy. If they're busy, they also don't have time to waste. I would bet that a Guest Relations cast member would do it "as a courtesy".

From past experience as a Guest and as a CM, when there's an issue like this, they will often do what they can within reason to make the Guest happy.

However, when a park is at Stage 4, no one will be allowed in - with an ADR, annual pass, special event tickets like MVMCP, etc. You just won't be allowed in. Most often it is MK that goes to Stage 4, although the others do occasionally. I've never heard of DAK going to Stage 4, though - at least not when I was there.

 

[sotoalf]

When was the last time the MK was at "Stage Four"?

 

[profdsny]

When was the last time the MK was at "Stage Four"?

Am I the only one uncomfortable with the term "Stage Four"? Not the concept, that I understand, just the term.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When was the last time the MK was at "Stage Four"?

Last December when my family and I left WDW for Clearwater Beach on Christmas Day, we were filling up for gas at the Hess station around 11:30 AM and there were security guard CM's directing cars that were not allowed to park at the TTC, so they were turned away at the Magic Kingdom gates. I don't know if they were at Stage-4, so my guess is they were at Stage-1 and getting ready to go into Stage-2.

 

[Katiebell]

Am I the only one uncomfortable with the term "Stage Four"? Not the concept, that I understand, just the term.

Yeah, it kind of made me think of "orange alert"

I completely understand of the need to turn guests away if they have reached full capacity at any given park -- I've been at DL a couple of times when non-resort guests have been turned away, but know it's been worse before. And I also understand why AP's, ADR's, etc would not make a difference. It's a public safety issue, like fire marshal rules on a room capacity -- it's not a negotiable thing.

The one thing I disagree with is if you have prepaid for a meal -- specifically CRT. If the park is at full capacity, that's understandable, but there is no way on earth a family who made reservations and paid in full 6 months in advance could possibly know they would be turned away for park admission on the day of their reservation. They should be offered a cheerful and immediate refund from Guest Services, or a guaranteed seating at a time of their choosing that is convenient to them before the end of their vacation. There should be no question at all about that.

 

[maxiesmom]

If I had a ADR for Cinderella's Castle on a day the park might reach capacity, you can bet my butt would be in that park at open. If you did enough research to be able to snag a ressie, I would hope that you would have an idea that the parks would be crazy busy on that day.

RustyScupper--They closed MK yesterday for a while. Was that a stage 4? Just curious.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The one thing I disagree with is if you have prepaid for a meal -- specifically CRT. If the park is at full capacity, that's understandable, but there is no way on earth a family who made reservations and paid in full 6 months in advance could possibly know they would be turned away for park admission on the day of their reservation. They should be offered a cheerful and immediate refund from Guest Services, or a guaranteed seating at a time of their choosing that is convenient to them before the end of their vacation. There should be no question at all about that.

I totally agree with you that if a family is denied entry into the Magic Kingdom because of Stage-4 and end up missing an ADR at CRT they should get something of their choice because it was not their fault.

 

[bomzar]

If I had a ADR for Cinderella's Castle on a day the park might reach capacity, you can bet my butt would be in that park at open. If you did enough research to be able to snag a ressie, I would hope that you would have an idea that the parks would be crazy busy on that day.

RustyScupper--They closed MK yesterday for a while. Was that a stage 4? Just curious.

Yesterday only got to a Phase Two.

 

[Katiebell]

If I had a ADR for Cinderella's Castle on a day the park might reach capacity, you can bet my butt would be in that park at open. If you did enough research to be able to snag a ressie, I would hope that you would have an idea that the parks would be crazy busy on that day.

We would know because we post on boards like this and are fortunate enough to be "in the know". I would assume the vast majority of WDW guests do not. Maybe their TA made the reservation for them, and they didn't realize how hard those ADR's are to get. And what if you had made dinner reservations for 7:00 pm and you have a 3 year old and a 5 year old...you might not realize that you will have to be at that park when it opens at 9:00 am and stay there all day long or you will forfeit the money you paid months in advance for dinner? We would be there early and stay all day if we knew the park could reach maximum capacity, but not every guest would necessarily know to do that. In a case like that, I just can't see WDW turning down a guest request for a refund or a seating on another date. But now I'm curious -- I will email WDW Guest Relations and ask them. If they would refuse a refund in a case like that, I'd love to see their line of logic.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We would know because we post on boards like this and are fortunate enough to be "in the know". I would assume the vast majority of WDW guests do not. Maybe their TA made the reservation for them, and they didn't realize how hard those ADR's are to get. And what if you had made dinner reservations for 7:00 pm and you have a 3 year old and a 5 year old...you might not realize that you will have to be at that park when it opens at 9:00 am and stay there all day long or you will forfeit the money you paid months in advance for dinner? We would be there early and stay all day if we knew the park could reach maximum capacity, but not every guest would necessarily know to do that. In a case like that, I just can't see WDW turning down a guest request for a refund or a seating on another date. But now I'm curious -- I will email WDW Guest Relations and ask them. If they would refuse a refund in a case like that, I'd love to see their line of logic.

Once again you made some very good points on how this system of denying entry for the parks when they hit Stage-4 is a bit flaud if a family would have an ADR at CRT and had to put a deposit down when making the ADR, only to be told sorry because of all the people you can not enter the Magic Kingdom. Also when WDW e-mails you back you should post what their response is because I would like to know what they say.

 

[maxiesmom]

Please post what they tell you. You have got me wondering now too.

You made some good points. I can just see an agent who does not deal with Disney on a regular basis making an ADR, and not bother to tell the guest that they are still not guaranteed entrance to the park. Another reason I love my DU agent!

 

[Katiebell]

OK...this was the email I sent:

Hello. I understand that recently the MK was closed due to maximum capacity, and no more guests were allowed to enter. I also understand that if a park has reached maximum capacity, for safety reasons no guests would be allowed to enter, even if they are Disney resort guests, or have an ADR within that park. This is perfectly understandable. I was wondering however, what happens if a meal is paid for in advance? I am thinking specifically of CRT. Guests that had an ADR for CRT during the time the park was closed to admission had already paid for their meals. Would they be offered a refund, or what would happen? Thanks for your time.

Now, to sit back and wait to see what the answer is...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Your e-mail was said very well and hopefully WDW will give you the straight answer and not beat around the bush.

 

[tbrenk]

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

Where do off-site guests with park hopping tickets fall into this?

 

[webray]

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.

A resort guest is guaranteed entry to a disney park. Not the one they want to enter necessarily, but a park. If a park is full and you are a disney resort guest, they still won't let you in. They will let you know which parks are still open so that you may go there.

 

[Lewisc]

Guests who have an ADR at CRT, during a day in which MK is likely to be closed, are probably planning on spending the day at the MK and would get there before it closed. Alternately they'd wait at the gate for an hour or two, until enough guests leave so they could enter.

I'll speculate that Disney would probably make an exception and issue a refund, if the guest calls in advance. MK is closed and packed. My guess is Disney will have no problem finding a walk-up. Regardless of what the email says I'm sure Disney will work with such a guest, I'm not saying they'll be allowed to enter the park but might get a refund, credit to eat there at another time or be allowed to dine later when the park re-opens.

Once again you made some very good points on how this system of denying entry for the parks when they hit Stage-4 is a bit flaud if a family would have an ADR at CRT and had to put a deposit down when making the ADR, only to be told sorry because of all the people you can not enter the Magic Kingdom. Also when WDW e-mails you back you should post what their response is because I would like to know what they say.

 

[Katiebell]

Regardless of what the email says I'm sure Disney will work with such a guest, I'm not saying they'll be allowed to enter the park but might get a refund, credit to eat there at another time or be allowed to dine later when the park re-opens.

And that would be perfectly fair to offer other options. If it truly was a maximum capacity issue and it wasn't safe to let in more guests, then that would not be a reasonable expectation. But if it was say...resort guests only...and one-day ticket holders come up with a paid ADR for CRT...then an exception should be made. Especially if they will truly only be there one day -- maybe it's a little girl's birthday or something like that.

The problem is...it would not be just one family. It would be every single family -- who was not already inside the park -- that has a prepaid meal scheduled within the entire time frame the park was closed to admission. (Ugh, that was an awkward sentence -- hope it made sense! )

For example, the park is closed to admission at from 11:30-1:30. Every single family that shows up for a 12-1:30 reservation at CRT will be turned away. I could easily see a family getting up, having a leisurely swim, before heading to lunch at the park. Or taking their daughter to DTD for a princess makeover at the BBB -- then trying to get in for their lunch ADR.

I'm very interested to see their answer to my email.

 

[Lewisc]

I think Disney closes the parking lot when the MK is only open for resort guests. Non-resort guests would probably have to park in an open theme park, take a bus to the Contemporary, walk to the MK then plead their case.

I'd hope dining would make sure the customer knows to get to the MK early if they make an ADR during a time in which the park might close due to capacity.

A family that didn't have a pre-paid meal, lunch at Tony's for example, would still be upset of having their special meal canceled. The difference is they wouldn't be out any money and have a better chance of being seated if they got to the restaurant late.

My guess is guests faced with that problem will get a better resolution when it happens then what will be written in the email you receive.

And that would be perfectly fair to offer other options. If it truly was a maximum capacity issue and it wasn't safe to let in more guests, then that would not be a reasonable expectation. But if it was say...resort guests only...and one-day ticket holders come up with a paid ADR for CRT...then an exception should be made. Especially if they will truly only be there one day -- maybe it's a little girl's birthday or something like that.

The problem is...it would not be just one family. It would be every single family -- who was not already inside the park -- that has a prepaid meal scheduled within the entire time frame the park was closed to admission. (Ugh, that was an awkward sentence -- hope it made sense! )

For example, the park is closed to admission at from 11:30-1:30. Every single family that shows up for a 12-1:30 reservation at CRT will be turned away. I could easily see a family getting up, having a leisurely swim, before heading to lunch at the park. Or taking their daughter to DTD for a princess makeover at the BBB -- then trying to get in for their lunch ADR.

I'm very interested to see their answer to my email.

 

[mommyaof2]

Oh my gosh! I never thought of this. Could this happen while we are there? April 13-21? I would die if I got my girls all dressed up and we had to miss CRT! Not too mention losing out on dining credits!