WDW resort guests: Guaranteed admission to parks?

[biggroofy]

Since we are going in March break, I am afraid that some parks (e.g. MK) can be closed due to high volume of visitors. My TA told me that since I stayed on-site, I have guaranteed admission to parks.

Wondering what they meant by "guaranteed admission": Do they let me in MK even if it is closed? Or they only guarantee me to go to one of the parks (e.g. if MK is closed, then go to AK)?

Should I get hopper option?

P.S. What if a park is closed, but I am not allowed to get in - what happen to my restaurant ADR? Will I be penalized for no show? (I believe cancellation has to be 24 hours in advance?)

 

[peter11435]

Disney resort guests are guaranteed admission into a WDW park. Not necessarily the park of your choice.

 

[java]

Staying onsite gives you guaranteed admission up to a certain point after closing(for example if everyone staying at WDW decided to go to MK at the same time they would exceed safe capacity) but in all the years visiting during July 4th it never has closed to resort guests for capacity concerns. And the MK closes to non-park guests around 11AM on that day so all day they allowed resort guests in. So not saying it can't possibly happen. But HIGHLY unlikely that you will be shut out.
ETA that INCLUDES the park of your choice. We were never sent to say AK because MK was full as an onsite guest.

 

[eeyoregirl]

WDW Resort guests are guaranteed admission when the parks hit capacity. I think it is a good idea to get the Park Hopper option, especially if the crowds seem overwhelming to you and any little ones who may be in your party.

Whatever you choose to do, have a wonderful vacation!

 

[java]

WDW Resort guests are guaranteed admission when the parks hit capacity. I think it is a good idea to get the Park Hopper option, especially if the crowds seem overwhelming to you and any little ones who may be in your party.

Whatever you choose to do, have a wonderful vacation!

Oh I have to agree..when it hits capacity usually that is our signal to hit the pool. The parks are no fun when they are that crowded if you have little ones.

 

[ellenmiele]

We've gone for Easter week the last 2 years (and going again this year). Never got shut out. In fact, last year I think only on Tuesday of that week did MK close for capacity. More likely to happen during Christmas week rather than any of the "spring break" weeks.

 

[peter11435]

Most likely the park will not reach capacity in March. That usually only happens on select holidays. The way capacity works at the parks is that there are different levels. Different sorts of people are shut out at each level such CM's, Ap's, and Resort guests. Resort guests are the last group of people to be shut out. But there is a point at which resort guests will also be shut out. They make sure there is enough room among the four parks to accomodate all resort guests, however it is entirely possible to be shut out from the MK and have to go to another park. But again it is very unlikely this will happen anytime in March.

 

[Disney Mama 2 Two]

I've been curious about this as well...we are going this year Dec 23 - Jan 3 and will be staying on-site...I've read the 'horror' threads about MK closing every day that week at 11 am, but I've also heard about on-site guests being let in?

How does that work? Say on Christmas day we go early early early and by 12 it is just too crazy...if the park is 'closed' and we go back to the hotel for a couple hours will we get back in later for dinner/shows?

Has anyone ever been turned away at the gates? What a disapointment that would be...especially for kids...

Dawn

 

[rgf207]

I've been curious about this as well...we are going this year Dec 23 - Jan 3 and will be staying on-site...I've read the 'horror' threads about MK closing every day that week at 11 am, but I've also heard about on-site guests being let in?

How does that work? Say on Christmas day we go early early early and by 12 it is just too crazy...if the park is 'closed' and we go back to the hotel for a couple hours will we get back in later for dinner/shows?

Has anyone ever been turned away at the gates? What a disapointment that would be...especially for kids...

Dawn

If the park is closed due to capacity and you have a dinner/show, you are not guaranteed to get in. On site guests are guaranteed admission to a park and not necessarily the park of your choice. If the park is filled to capacity, there may be a chance you will not be allowed regardless of shows/ADR's

 

[Mickeyistheman]

I beleive the most likely for the parks to close due to capacity is during Christmas week. My cousins travel there every year and stay at the Polynesian and usually Christmas day and the day after they are shut down due to capacity. So if you are staying onsite during that time I would get to your park of choice as early as you can so you know that you will be there for the duration of the day especially if you have an ADR.

Good Luck!

Coronado Springs here we come (again!0 Aoril 2006

 

[java]

I am confused about those that are saying they guarantee a park admission not just the park of your choice? Has this happened to you? Again I will say that we have been in Epcot many many times on July4th- decide to go to MK(full to capacity park closed to non-resort guests.....) we get in....hear Epcot is closed to capacity- want to head back there- so we go and still get in. So we have never been turned away on a capacity day as resort guests. There is a chain of command so to speak...the poster that listed the cm's ap's ect ect.... resort guests are the highest on that list and the last to be excluded. I would be really surprised for it to be more crowded in March than it is on July 4th. I am really curious about this because I want to know if it is something that I should worry about. It has never happened to us.

 

[peter11435]

I am confused about those that are saying they guarantee a park admission not just the park of your choice? Has this happened to you? Again I will say that we have been in Epcot many many times on July4th- decide to go to MK(full to capacity park closed to non-resort guests.....) we get in....hear Epcot is closed to capacity- want to head back there- so we go and still get in. So we have never been turned away on a capacity day as resort guests. There is a chain of command so to speak...the poster that listed the cm's ap's ect ect.... resort guests are the highest on that list and the last to be excluded. I would be really surprised for it to be more crowded in March than it is on July 4th. I am really curious about this because I want to know if it is something that I should worry about. It has never happened to us.

If the MK (or any other WDW park) reaches a level 4 capacity they will refuse entry to everyone including resort guests.

 

[seashoreCM]

The level of closure is not going to stay pegged at four all afternoon long. You as a resort guest can wait outside and when the level drops you will be let in. (It is not a one person out one person in matter but rather they will wait for many people to exit before changing the level and letting many people in.

On the other hand, if the level is four, an off site guest has to wait for it to drop two notches before he can get in so he might as well try a different park.

Meanwhile, once you get in, you won't be happy. It'll be wall to wall people, and just walking up Main St. (e.g. Magic Kingdom) could take a long time.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Tikiman]

Sorry if I repeat something since I only read through a few responses but we use to go every 4th of July. Every time the main gates closed to offsite traffic and guests. When this happens resort guests can still go in up to a certain amount. One or two times we were there on the 4th it did close for a while even to resort guests. If every park hit that limit they would close to all including resort guests.

Aloha

Steve

 

[Sammie]

As Peter stated there are levels of closings. One can be they turn away the cars coming into the parking lots but still allow buses, including buses from off property hotels and resorts.

Then they can close it to all cars and all nonDisney buses.

However if it gets to Level 4, then everyone is turned away, the monorail will not run to the parks and buses will not run to the parks. There are times this does happen, as Tikiman said I have seen it also on the 4th of July.

Then if the parks begins to clear it will be opened back up to Resort guests. Believe me if it gets to the point they are turning away anyone, you really don't want to be there.

 

[Disney Mama 2 Two]

If the MK (or any other WDW park) reaches a level 4 capacity they will refuse entry to everyone including resort guests.

Anyone here know of this happening the week of Christmas - or even Christmas Day?

I think our plan for Christmas Day is to just "hang out" all day since we wouldn't want to risk not getting back in..but I'm still curious if anyone has had this happen to them.

Dawn

 

[peter11435]

Anyone here know of this happening the week of Christmas - or even Christmas Day?

I think our plan for Christmas Day is to just "hang out" all day since we wouldn't want to risk not getting back in..but I'm still curious if anyone has had this happen to them.

Dawn

It often happens on Christmas day and the week between Christmas and New Years.

 

[byoung]

I will not go during the crowded times.