when parks are filled to capacity....

[ez]

I know Christmas week is probably crazy at Disney but my son and his GF are coming from NY and she has never been (she is from Hong Kong) I'm guessing probably not a good time to get a one day park hopper if parks get filled to capacity, better to do one day one park? They were only wanting to go over for a day or two. My son has been spoiled over the years because we have limited our trips to the slow seasons, I don't know if he can imagine how bad it may get! Also, is bonnet creek wyndam considered an on property resort, like if they stop letting some people in would they still be allowed in if they were staying there. Any other tips or suggestions would be much appreciated, thank you

 

[seashoreCM]

The Bonnet Creek resorts (south of Buena Vista and next to Caribbean Beach) are considered off-site and those guests are not guaranteed park entrance and under some near-capacity situations are denied entrance while Disney's resort guests are still being admitted. Even on-site guests are not guaranteed the park of their choice.

(Corey Sandler, author of some of the Econoguide books) "... some of the parks actually close the gate by mid-morning. Don't feel too bad if you're shut out. It could be worse; you could be inside. In line."

 

[RMulieri]

I actually PREFER park hoppers for that time of year..The parks that typically close are DHS and MK.If a park is so crowded ,I can easily hop to Epcot etc.Without the hopper you are limited to the one park .If for some reason you chose to leave the park and come back later, if it closed to capacity and you don't have a hopper you are stuck.
As for Bonnet Creek they do NOT get resort guest privelages.Even disney resort guests can't get in a phase 4 closed park.They are only guaranteed admittance to A park.Not neccessarily the park of thier choosing

 

[ez]

thank you...are the swan and dolphin considered onsite?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

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 sta ying 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.

Note the bolding above. Bonnet Creek Resorts, Hotel Plaza Blvd Resorts, and SoG and Swolphin are not Disney owned and operated resorts. Some of them have EMH privileges, but that is by contract.

 

[RMulieri]

thank you...are the swan and dolphin considered onsite?

They are not disney owned but do have some resort privelages at this time

 

[TDC Nala]

is bonnet creek wyndam considered an on property resort, like if they stop letting some people in would they still be allowed in if they were staying there

No. It may be on property but it is not a Disney resort.

Also note in Cheshire Figment's post - a restaurant reservation will NOT get you in if the park is otherwise closed to you. that is something to think about if one desires to book a meal at a prepaid restaurant like CRT on a major attendance day.

 

[chartle]

Also, is bonnet creek wyndam considered an on property resort, like if they stop letting some people in would they still be allowed in if they were staying there. Any other tips or suggestions would be much appreciated, thank you

No. It may be on property but it is not a Disney resort.

Actually it's not on WDW property at all. Its on a hunk of land that I guess Disney tried to buy but at the time they wanted to buy it the secret was out at the owners must have asked for too much.

The reason you may think its on property is that the area is land locked and doesn't have access to the road system so Disney was required to allow them assess to their roads.

You will notice their signs are of a different style.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnet_Creek_Resort

 

[seashoreCM]

Swan and Dolphin are on Disney land; those hotel owners own the buildings and lease the land.

Disney Transport (buses), Extra Magic Hours, Magical Express, Charging park meals and purchases to your room account, and On-site park capacity rules are different features and an "off site" resort can have some and not necessarily all of them by contract.