MK closed..filled to capacity..

[kazlac4]

Wow..just noted on another forum that the Magic Kingdom closed at 11:45 a.m. due to being filled to capacity. I am sure glad we go in early November when the crowds are not as high..those lines must be long today

 

[DaveInTN]

Wow! We were there a couple weeks ago and it wasn't nearly that bad. Guess we are in the thick of spring break season right now..the week before and after Easter.

It's too bad for those that can only travel this week and have spent a lot of money for tickets...only to find parks filled to capacity. If you get in, you are still faced with packed walkways, 150 minute stand by lines at rides and irritated people. Doesn't sound very magical. But, there are ways to make the best of things even in conditions like that. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Visit early at rope drop, stay a few hours then leave until evening. Maybe stay at the Fort and enjoy the campground a bit more. Not much else you can do.

 

[freshlybarked]

We went last week and I was surprised that the crowds were not that bad. It must have been an off week. Some of the ride lines were long, but the parks as a whole were not that crowded.

 

[ftwildernessrick]

Unless something has changed, as a resort guest, they still will let you into any park.

Christmas Day & New Year's Eve usually find MK with signs on the roadway leading up to it that it is closed due to capacity, but we have always gotten in with the resort ID (make sure you bring each person's resort ID).

If you are a non-resort guest and get into the park that morning, then leave & return later, you may not get back in.

 

[ElementCamper]

Closings occur in stages, when it gets to stage 4? (or 1, can't remember which), noone gets in regardless of resort guest or not. That happens over Christmas/New Years holidays sometimes. Other stages limit drive ins (only get in if coming on resort bus) etc. Over on theme park stategies board someone posted the different stages and what happens.

 

[TR_WDW]

We went in Early - March 2007, it was not that bad. I think Spring Breaks are more spread out now. This year, my kid's break is this week. We almost booked for this week.....
This year due to our limited summer schedules, we could only get in late May. I hope we made a good choice!

 

[BradyBz12]

Last year during Easter/Spring Break, MK closed 3 days.

Being a resort guests guarantees you entry into A park, but not necessarily the one you want if that park has closed to capacity...

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.

Christmas-NY week 2009 MK closed (phase 4) 4 days, HS at least 1 and even AK 1.

 

[mamaloya]

We went in Early - March 2007, it was not that bad. I think Spring Breaks are more spread out now. This year, my kid's break is this week. We almost booked for this week.....
This year due to our limited summer schedules, we could only get in late May. I hope we made a good choice!

I am going in late May as well and am hoping that I made a good choice!!! Let's keep our fingers crossed!!!

 

[retired and happy]

Will the new construction in FantasyLand alleviate some of the problem, or will the expansion hardly be noticible in the overall scheme of things and crowds?

 

[Tnbob]

I am going in late May as well and am hoping that I made a good choice!!! Let's keep our fingers crossed!!!

Late May is usually pretty dead. We have gone the last week or so of May for many yrs now and its one of the deadest times. Two yrs ago we were in Epcot and it seemed like there was less than 1000 people there.

 

[owensmama2007]

Late May is usually pretty dead. We have gone the last week or so of May for many yrs now and its one of the deadest times. Two yrs ago we were in Epcot and it seemed like there was less than 1000 people there.

whew!!!! We're going late May too so let's hope for less crowds!

 

[justcynn]

Ugh, the plan for our trip was to arrive Saturday before Thanksgiving and leave Sunday after, now this has me thinking need to go back to the original plan which was to arrive the day before thanksgiving and stay through thursday after. That might give us 4 low crowd days in the parks...I have been to Universal where we could basically walk on most rides, no way I can wait 1+ hours for a ride...

 

[DaveInTN]

Ugh, the plan for our trip was to arrive Saturday before Thanksgiving and leave Sunday after, now this has me thinking need to go back to the original plan which was to arrive the day before thanksgiving and stay through thursday after. That might give us 4 low crowd days in the parks...I have been to Universal where we could basically walk on most rides, no way I can wait 1+ hours for a ride...

I know you have to decide what works best for your family's schedule, but I will tell you that we have gone the past three years in the two week period after Thanksgiving, and the crowds are very manageable. That's my favorite time of year. Thanksgiving week is very crowded. But, if Thanksgiving week is the only time that works for you, just go with the flow and enjoy yourselves.

 

[SiAmCrAzY]

Dear Crowd Fairy,

Please make all of these people magically disappear by April 12th.

 

[Jack Rabbit Run]

Grrreeaatt!! That's not what I wanted to hear. We'll be there tomorrow. Actually the Fort tomorrow, AK on Thursday. The rest of the time we'll be hangin in the Fort. This will be our first time during spring break. This school system sure does make it hard for us to get away for a few days. Doctors note.....Please!

 

[tlh0726]

Dear Crowd Fairy,

Please make all of these people magically disappear by April 12th.

check out the crowd calendar on touringplans.com

They updated 2 days as 9's during the week we are there 4/16-24th.

 

[Disneylitch]

Ugh, the plan for our trip was to arrive Saturday before Thanksgiving and leave Sunday after, now this has me thinking need to go back to the original plan which was to arrive the day before thanksgiving and stay through thursday after. That might give us 4 low crowd days in the parks...I have been to Universal where we could basically walk on most rides, no way I can wait 1+ hours for a ride...

The 2 weeks after Thanksgiving is a great time to go. There were times that we didn't even have to wait in line. We got to go on every ride that we wanted to without a long wait. Even the new toy story ride was only about a 45 minute wait. That was fantastic. Of course, the weekends are always more crowded. We were there for Christmas 2008 and it was really crowded, but I think it was worth it. The atmosphere over Christmas is really great. However, I wouldn't recommend it for a first time visit. There were rides that we didn't get on because the line was 3 hours long. We knew were coming back the following year so it didn't bother us. It's all about what time frame works for your family and the experience that you are looking for.

 

[shoreline99]

Dear Crowd Fairy,

Please make all of these people magically disappear by April 12th.

QFT. Shoo!

 

[DisneyWithMyBoyz]

We were there the week before Easter last year and the crowds weren't all that bad. Though I heard they were bad the week after Easter.

We were also there last week and while MK was packed by noon, DHS wasn't bad at all!