WDW closes on Christmas once it reaches maximum capacity?

[Kahana-ri]

News to me. My question would be are you allowed to leave the parks and return later. We have a small one that will need nap time mid-day. Do park closing mean no in/out privileges?

 

[Sammie]

There are two stages of closing at Disney.

One only Disney resort guests using WDW transportation are allowed, meaning the parking lots are closed to further traffic.

The other is the park has reached it's capacity for safety. If it reaches that point and sometimes it does, if you leave you will not be let back in.

Personally I avoid the parks on these days like the plaque. When it reaches this point, you truly can not move, can't find a place to eat, rides are hours long, restrooms waits of 30 mins or more, not my idea of fun.

We spend our days at the resorts on major holidays.

 

[runner26.2]

If you are going to go on Christmas, GO EARLY !!! stay until nap time and don't go back. It will be soooo busy you will wish you never went back. Enjoy the quiet of the resorts.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

There are actually Four stages to a park closing:

Phase One:
Guests meeting these criteria are told the Park has reached capacity:
Day Guests with MYWBase tickets or one-day one-park tickets and Guests without theme park admission will be turned around at the Auto Plaza.

Phase Two:
At this time, admission is limited to Resort Guests, Annual and Premium Passholders, Guests with Park Hopper tickets, and Guests re-entering this Park today. Guests using WDW Resort Transportation and Guests in taxis will be admitted. Guests not meeting the above criteria are told the Park has reached capacity.

Phase Three:
The theme park is only open to Resort Guests and Annual and Premium Passholders. Shades of Green and Downtown Disney Resort Area Guests using their respective transportation will also be admitted. Guests not meeting the above criteria are told the Park has reached capacity.

Phase Four:
Closed to all Guests and Guests are told the Park has reached capacity


In the past 3-4 years, they have been allowing WDW resort guests to leave and come back to the same park. Say if you are at MK from opening until around 3-4pm and decided to go to the hotel and take a nap, you would be able to return to MK later in the night because that is the park that you initally used your ticket at for the day. If you were to leave Epcot, take a nap and try to go to MK they would not allow you in (if MK is at capacity) because you had initally used your ticket at Epcot. Again, there is no Guarantee that they will let you back in once capacity has been reached (which on Christmas Day will be VERY early in the morning) but this has been the practice that they have followed for the past few years.

 

[Jon99]

Regarding parks closing... While on property, whats the best way to keep updated on this throughout the day???

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

Regarding parks closing... While on property, whats the best way to keep updated on this throughout the day???

The information is passed from the parks to the hotel front desk, other park guest relations, security, etc. If you are at another park you can check at Guest relations, if you are at the hotel ask at the front desk... Or you can find a security guard or the best way to find out would be the bus drivers (if you have access to them... they would know ASAP as they are driving to and from the parks...

 

[iliketoby]

A friend of mine went for Christmas - her first time, and reFUSED to plan - and was really mad because they were turned away on Christmas Day.