Question on dining reservation on party night

[Minnie824]

On a party night at MK, the park closes at 6 and the party starts at 7. When I look to book a reservation at 6:30, it does NOT come up with a warning that it is during the party and allows me to book. But without having a party ticket, technically the party closes at 6. Would I be allowed to go to that reservation? If not, I would think that warning should come up at booking but it doesn't, so I wanted to see if anyone has come across this before.

 

[Disneydawg74]

On a party night at MK, the park closes at 6 and the party starts at 7. When I look to book a reservation at 6:30, it does NOT come up with a warning that it is during the party and allows me to book. But without having a party ticket, technically the party closes at 6. Would I be allowed to go to that reservation? If not, I would think that warning should come up at booking but it doesn't, so I wanted to see if anyone has come across this before.

If you booked this, I think you’ll find the confirmation email contains a general disclaimer about needing a party ticket. CMs will escort you out starting at 6:00p.m. Even if you have a 6:30 ADR if you don’t have a party ticket.

 

[BrianL]

Yeah, when the park closes at 6 PM, the CMs will start "sweeping" the park. There will start to be checkpoints for heading deeper into the park where if you don't have a party wristband, they will direct you to turn around. The restaurant itsel fmay not enforce it, but generally you are expected to leave at that point without a party ticket. If the reservation were for 5:55 PM, then you'd be okay and you'd just have to leave immediately once exiting the restaurant.

 

[focusondisney]

On a party night at MK, the park closes at 6 and the party starts at 7. When I look to book a reservation at 6:30, it does NOT come up with a warning that it is during the party and allows me to book. But without having a party ticket, technically the party closes at 6. Would I be allowed to go to that reservation? If not, I would think that warning should come up at booking but it doesn't, so I wanted to see if anyone has come across this before.

FYI, I saw something new this year. We had a BOG ADR for 6:15 on a day we had party tickets. When I made my adr, times after 7 pm had the warning, my 6:15 time did not. As we were checking in, a man came up to the CM & asked if his party could be seated as walk ups. The CM asked if they had party tickets & he said no. We were also asked if we had party tickets & showed our wristbands. The CM did not turn him away, but sent him to a different CM. His party was seated near us about half hour later.

However, I saw several parties in the restaurant that had bright yellow wristbands on that said DINING ..GUEST. None of them had party wristbands. The man & I saw asking to be seated & his party also had those yellow wristbands. I believe they are using these wrist bands as a quick way to identify who is in the park without tickets, why & where they are supposed to be. I.E. yellow band = no party ticket. Dining Guest= they’re there for a meal at Be Our GUEST. I haven’t read anyone else posting this, so it’s just my theory.

So I think you’ll be fine, but you’ll be given a brightly colored wristband. I did not see what happened when guests left the restaurant. I don’t know if they were escorted out as was done in the past or not. I did not see anyone walking around the party with those bright yellow wristbands tho, so there did seem to be some way they were escorted/ directed out after dining.

 

[R&RsMom]

Some Magic Kingdom restaurants take reservations until closer to 7.
Not sure which.

 

[Debbie Jean]

At Jungle Navigation guests were asked at checkin whether they had party tickets and it was noted for the server. Those without were escorted out after finishing their meal.

As someone pointed out above, fleets of CM’s are deployed at the entrances to the various lands and throughout the park checking guests for wristbands.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I would make sure I was physically inside MK before 6pm for simplicity. After I finished my last thing I’d head straight for the restaurant ready to show my ADR on my phone in case I was asked. I really don’t see Disney allowing ADRs and then pulling a “JK no party ticket! Get out!” thing. Like, we would have heard about it.

As others have referenced, be ready to be escorted/directed straight out of the park after you finish. No photos, no shopping, no bathrooms (yeah, someone tried to make that a thing here a while back- go before your party leaves your table because the next stop is at guest relations outside the park).

 

[missingdisneymore]

At Crystal Palace we’ve watched them specifically seat non-party diners at very out of the way/out of sight line to the happenings around the castle and view of the hub. A man asked for their family to be seated at the windows looking out towards the castle and they were told no. We chatted with a CM about it and oftentimes they do the escort out through the bypass behind CP and the emporium to avoid people trying to stall.

 

[KPeterso]

FYI, I saw something new this year. We had a BOG ADR for 6:15 on a day we had party tickets. When I made my adr, times after 7 pm had the warning, my 6:15 time did not. As we were checking in, a man came up to the CM & asked if his party could be seated as walk ups. The CM asked if they had party tickets & he said no. We were also asked if we had party tickets & showed our wristbands. The CM did not turn him away, but sent him to a different CM. His party was seated near us about half hour later.

However, I saw several parties in the restaurant that had bright yellow wristbands on that said DINING ..GUEST. None of them had party wristbands. The man & I saw asking to be seated & his party also had those yellow wristbands. I believe they are using these wrist bands as a quick way to identify who is in the park without tickets, why & where they are supposed to be. I.E. yellow band = no party ticket. Dining Guest= they’re there for a meal at Be Our GUEST. I haven’t read anyone else posting this, so it’s just my theory.

So I think you’ll be fine, but you’ll be given a brightly colored wristband. I did not see what happened when guests left the restaurant. I don’t know if they were escorted out as was done in the past or not. I did not see anyone walking around the party with those bright yellow wristbands tho, so there did seem to be some way they were escorted/ directed out after dining.

They had the bright yellow bands last year too. Rode the bus back from MK last year around 7-8 PM on a MHSSHP night - we had dined at one of the resorts. A family had the bright yellow bands and said they had eaten at one of the restaurants and been given the yellow bands. As soon as they were done, they were escorted out of the park.. First I had seen or heard of the yellow bands.

 

[focusondisney]

They had the bright yellow bands last year too. Rode the bus back from MK last year around 7-8 PM on a MHSSHP night - we had dined at one of the resorts. A family had the bright yellow bands and said they had eaten at one of the restaurants and been given the yellow bands. As soon as they were done, they were escorted out of the park.. First I had seen or heard of the yellow bands.

Thanks for the confirmation!