Thanksgiving?

[kayrosek]

Hi we will be in WDW over Thanksgiving staying in ASMo. I knew Thanksgiving would be crowded but I can't believe I diden't consider that the parks might be to capacity on Thanksgiving. Now I am worried because we have a 4pm ADR at CRT and there is no way my DH (a 100% service connected vetran) and my DS 9 with an ASD and ADHD can make it from rope drop on without down time. I already feel worried about them dealing with all the crowds but it's our first trip and it was the only time available so we decided to try it and just be flexible, but it's Thanksgiving I want it to be wonderful. I am really worried about leaving MK on Thanksgiving day and getting back in for our ADR. Any thoughts, advice or suggestions?

 

[g-dad66]

Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I think if you get to MK by 11:00 a.m, you'll be able to get in.

Of course, there's always a risk, I guess.....

 

[Dizzy over Disney]

We were there last Thanksgiving and the park did not close at all. We went to HS during the day , but headed over to Magic Kingdom around 5 for our ADR's at 7 at Crystal Palace. It was fine. Yes, a little crowded, but it was not totally awful ( remember being soooooo tired that night so I was a tad giddy)..

Don't worry.. I bet you'll be fine.

Have a magical trip!

 

[DISNEMOM]

i thought if you were staying on property, you were guaranteed entry? is this not correct?

 

[Dizzy over Disney]

you are guaranteed entry in A park.

 

[kayrosek]

Thanks you guys I talked to DH and we were wondering if it might be eaisier for just DH and DS to go back to the resort that day and me and DD's will stay at the park what do you think?

 

[tinkerfan1]

We've been there several times over the past several years at Thanksgiving. It was our understanding if you stayed on property you could get in. We've always gone back and forth between parks and had no difficulty. Plus, if you have dining reservation, they can't NOT let you in.

 

[rcraw45425]

We've been there several times over the past several years at Thanksgiving. It was our understanding if you stayed on property you could get in. We've always gone back and forth between parks and had no difficulty. Plus, if you have dining reservation, they can't NOT let you in.

I'm sorry but if the park is at maximum capacity, yes, they can deny you entry, dining reservation or not. As a PP mentioned, as an onsite guest, you are guaranteed entry to A park, not a specific park.

 

[maj42169]

Right, if a park is a maximum capacity, then you will not gain entry, even with confirmed dining reservations. If you are staying on property, then they will make sure that you get entry into A park. It doesn't mean that you get to pick the park that you want. If a park is full, then it is full and you can not enter. Of course, as the crowd thins they reopen and allow more people to enter. This doesn't happen often, so there isn't a large risk on Thanksgiving.

If it were my family, I would plan on missing rope drop, which on Thanksgiving Day there is a morning EMH so the park is open at 8 to resort guests, 9 to general public. I would just plan on hitting the park around noon or so and staying through the dining. You could leave the park for a while after eating and then go back in the evening. I believe the park is open until midnight that evening.

 

[princessmom29]

We've been there several times over the past several years at Thanksgiving. It was our understanding if you stayed on property you could get in. We've always gone back and forth between parks and had no difficulty. Plus, if you have dining reservation, they can't NOT let you in.

I'm sorry, but yes they can and do. Once a park hits capacity they cannot let anyone in untill x number of people leave or else they are in violation of fire code. Resort gests can get in after they close the parking lot to off site guests, but bottom line once the park closes completely due to capacity NOTHING gets you in until it reopens. As someone else has siad being a resort guest only guarantees that you will be allowed into one of the 4 parks at least once during a particular day. Once you have been into and left a park all bets are off.

 

[MonorailDriver]

Ive been the last two years and will be there this year for Thanksgiving, I think Thanksgiving itself was not nearly as crowded as the days that follow, Saturday in my experience has always been the worst day.

 

[willowsnn3]

Check some of the other threads regarding holidays & park capacity. There is a lot of info posted from folks in the know. We have a similar situation this Thanksgiving also. Going for rope drop, lunch adr @ the Plaza & late adr @ CRT for dd's 40th b'day. We wanted to leave for a break also but have gotten a little worried about getting back in later, & with CRT already paid for 5 we don't want to take a chance. DD called back & asked the people at dining reservations & they didn't advise leaving the park that day. I've heard the park didn't close in recent years but did they have the free dining going on at that time also like this year???

 

[rie'smom]

As far as I know the MK has never closed due to capacity on Thanksgiving Day. Just get there a coupe of hours before your ADR. If it should close, be sure to go to the turnstyle farthest to the right and let them know that yu have an ADR. That should give you prioirity when they begin to allow guests back into the park.
Any park that closes will usually open again after a few hours.

 

[duffy]

And, if it's that crowded that they're not letting people in, why would you want to get in there anyhow???