Will MK fill to capacity and close day after Thanksgiving?

[KarenB]

Here is the reason I am asking. Our DSs will be at WDW with their high school band. They are spending the day after Thanksgiving in MGM, THEN they will go to MK and march at 8:45 pm. DH and I want to see them at MGM and of course watch them march in the MK parade. We are not chaperoning but staying at Saratoga Springs. So here are the questions:

Does MK usually close due to being filled to capacity that day?

If so, is it possible to reopen in the evening?

Can we still get in as resort guests if full?

If it is full and we tell the CMs at the gate our kids are marching, would they allow us in?

It classifies the crowd level to be a 7 out of 10 on that day which really isn't too bad (considering we were at an 8 in July and did a ton of stuff!)

Thanks for any info or strategies!
Karen

 

[tink2]

In a word, yes. We have been to WDW three times Thanksgiving week and all three times MK filled to capacity sometime around lunch or early afternoon. Now, there are three levels at which they close the park- one not allowing off site guests in, (not sure of the exact specifics). We never left so I don't know if they open it back up or not....

 

[JDarling]

Gosh! I didn't even think of this! My DH and I will be arriving the day after Thanksgiving and staying until 12/4. Our plan that first night was to get great seats for Spectromagic, and video tape the parade. Looks like we'll need a "plan B" if the park gets that crowded!
Are the other parks usually any better?
- JD

 

[KarenB]

oh my, what to do? I really didn't want to spend the entire day from opening until closing in MK, especially since it will be adults only and we have been there many times. We wanted to spend a little time with our DSs at MGM earlier that day, and the kids can't park hop. On the other hand, I would just break down and cry if I missed my kids marching in MK! I just don't know what to do

 

[danny1649]

Epcot seems to handle huge crowds better than the other parks.

 

[JDarling]

Thanks! Maybe we'll make PS there instead and spend our first night seeing Illuminations. Epcot is a favorite park!

 

[bizeemom4]

Oh great. We are going to MK this day. We will be there at 7:30 for EMH and are leaving after lunch to escape the crowds. My DSis is planning to go back that night while we babysit for her & her DH. We're staying onsite so I hope she'll get back in after 8pm.

 

[KarenB]

....a little push for any information

 

[Beca]

I thought the week after Thanksgiving was slow??



Beca

 

[JDarling]

I think the week afterthanksgiving is. We've never waited more that 15 minutes for anything and we usually arrive the weekend after thanksgiving and stay for 5-6 days. This year we're arriving a little earlier.
- JD

 

[PeaPicker5]

The week after is very slow....just the actual holiday and the weekend after are a little busy, but nothing like february recess or summer......

i arrive on Thanksgiving day and stay til the 3rd.....By Monday, you can basically walk into anything w/ no problem

 

[pennyplanner]

Please note:

The Disney website lists MK as the EMH park for FRIDAY morning, November 25th. There is NO EMH at MK on Thanksgiving Day.

--penny

 

[tink2]

The last Thanksgiving we were there MK opened at 8:00- no EMH, just opened. Now, I don't know if non-resort guests could get in, but we definitely got in at 8:00 in 2003. I definitley remember this b/c we had CRT at 8:10 and thought we'd get in the park early for pictures. No ma'am, they would not let us in b/c the park was opening at 8:00. So, be sure to ask front desk at your resort b/c that definitely took us by surprise. If we didn't have CRT that morning, we wouldn't have been there for opening but an hour after opening....

 

[pennyplanner]

tink2,

I think that is very good advice. I wouldn't be surprised if the park opens up at 8 even if it is not scheduled. It sure is a crush of people. We were there in 2002 and it was an early arrival day for resort guests. We made it there at around 8:30 and there were throngs of people waiting to get in at 9 a.m. Amazing amounts of people. We left by 11 a.m to return to WL and met up with DH to head to AK.

--penny

 

[Sammie]

Yes it can happen and as stated there are different levels of closing. First off site guests arriving in cars will be turned away as the parking lots fill. Then off site guests arriving by their buses will be turned away.
Then when the parks reaches capacity and it is no longer safe to admit anyone, all guests including Disney resort guests will be turned away.

Beca the crowds do not leave until the Monday after Thanksgiving.

 

[KarenB]

I still am not sure how to plan for this day. The DIS park hours link says Friday after Thanksgiving is am EMH. I guess the best idea is to ask Guest Services at our resort what the chances are of getting into MK around 7pm in order to watch them march at 8:45 pm. This is making me nervous. It may be a difficult day for DSs grandparents to skip an afternoon break.

 

[Okiemom]

We are planning on doing MK on that Friday too. We were going to leave and eat at WL for lunch then come back to MK. So do you think there is a big chance we can not get back in?

 

[mrscoobs]

HTH even though it was back in 2000. We had the same problem as OP, only our high school band was supposed to be at Epcot first, then go to MK for them to march before the first spectro parade. Yes, MK did close to Offsite during the afternoon, and for an hour (1-2pm) no onsite weren't allowed in either. After 2 resort guests were allowed to enter the Magic Kingdom and I believe (but am not certain) that it opened back up to offsite at 4-5pm. Enjoy your day, take a break during the busy crowded part of the day, and by evening when others are leaving you should be fine to get in

 

[MickeyisanNDfan]

I have been to MK on Thanksgiving and the day after numerous times including last year and never experienced the park being at capacity. Yeah it was crowded...especially at Spectromagic, we entered the park as it was starting and it was insane! But it was nothing compared to Christmas and New Years!