Will the Magic Kindom fill to capacity on Dec. 31st?

[dpic]

We have a trip planned for the Dec 30-Jan 6. We're staying offsite Dec. 30/31 to save some money. On the 31st, we plan on getting to right MK at opening. We have ressies, though, at O'hana for dinner that day. I am concerned that if we leave MK that the park will be filled and we won't be re-admitted because we are not staying onsite.

So, does MK normally max out attendance on Dec 31st? Also, if we are in the park and just leave for dinner, are we guaranteed re-admittance?

Thanks!

 

[ChrisK]

If you leave the park, there is no gaurantee you will be let back in.

 

[Terk-1]

Most likely you will see most of the parks fill their capacity that day. I went in 1997 and did MGM on 12/31. A CM told me ahead of time to pick a park (already had), hopefully I had ADR's (which I did), plan on getting there as soon as it opened and not to plan to leave, unless I did not want to get back in to the park. By 10am the park had hit it's capacity. When this happens, they cannot let any more guests in until enough guests have left the park, due to safety and fire reasons. It was packed to the hilt. There were lines everywhere. When I found a spot near the stage (where the hat is now), I panned my camcorder around and all you saw was a sea of heads. The fireworks ended around 12:20am and by the time I got back to my resort, it was close to 2am. The lines for the buses were longer than any of the lines I saw in the park.

You are not guarenteed readmittance (or even admittance) if a park has reached it's capacity. Again, it is a fire and safety issue. If you have not already done so, I would make sure to make ADR's at every sit-down restaurant you want to dine at, as it is extremely busy that time of year. Can't tell you how many angry people I saw being turned away because the restaurant was full and the guest did not plan ahead of time.

If you leave the park for dinner, plan on not being able to get back in to the park. You can watch the fireworks from the beach of the Polynesian after dinner (depending on what time your ADR is for).

 

[flortlebap]

I don't think it would matter if you were staying onsite either - if the parks are full to capacity, nobody gets in, Disney resort guest or not!

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

We've been several times for New Years Eve, and yes the parks do fill capacity early. I never remember someone asking whether or not we were WDW resort guest or not even though we were. I may be wrong, but I don't think it matters if you are staying at a WDW resort. If I'm wrong someone will correct me. If you want to be a part of the celebration get there early and don't leave. Change your ADR's for Ohana's for another day. I've celebrated New Year's at both EPCOT and the MK and they're both awesome.

 

[AStamm]

If being at the MK for midnight is important to you I wouldn't step one foot outside those gates at anytime during the day. When we were there for NYE 2004/2005 they closed the park just after lunch. It was a total mob scene. We got physically stuck for almost an hour trying to travel between the river boat and Tom Sawyer's Island on that path to the side of Frontierland. The main street was jammed pack with people watching the Christmas parade and there were no CMs in sight to control traffic on the path we were on. People were shoving and swearing and we weren't moving--no fun at all.

Also, by late afternoon the wait for Peter Pan's Flight was 120 minutes!!!! I can't believe anyone would wait that long for a few minute ride.

This year we'll be spending the morning of NYE at AK and then hightailing it out of there on a plane back to PA well before midnight.

 

[Laurajean1014]

It will be at full capacity. Leave at your own risk of re-entry.

 

[Maria395712]

every year I have been it is full
maria

 

[Antonia]

You won't get back in - I don't think it will be worth it to leave for dinner. We were there in 2002 and the parks closed early. MK was closed by at least mid-afternoon if not earlier.

 

[Steamboat Marti]

on our honeymoon it was at capacity by 10am... I would plan accordingly

 

[gydell]

When we were there a few years ago they closed the park to anybody coming in that wasn't already there at 9:30am. Lots of disappointed people!

 

[wecroozin]

Now, we all love Disney but....why in the world would anyone want to subject themselves to the crowd conditions for those days around the holidays? You can barely see where you are walking let alone enjoy any attractions. I have heard of wait times up to 30 minutes for a hot dog. That's just nuts. I am very excited to be going this early December, but I am more relieved that when I am visiting the World the crowds will be nowhere near what you guys are talking about for Christmas and New Years days and eve's. Yet I will still get to enjoy seeing all the "Disneyfied" holiday splendor that comes with the season. I have been to WDW in the busier summer months and I thought the crowds were close to extreme then. I can't imagine what it is like when they have to close the gates due to capacity.

To each his/her own. Enjoy your trip. I will definately enjoy mine.

Please don't flame me. Just voicing my view.

I'll be watching the Christmas day parade from my recliner with my favorite Mickey pj's and some hot cocoa and not having to look over a shoulder or through an armpit to see it.

 

[dpic]

Thanks all for the advice. I've changed our O'hana ressies, and now we will eat at LTT. I dread the thought of the crowds, too, but it's our first day and we know the rest of our trip the crowds will drop noticeably everyday. We want to be in MK for NYE, so we'll deal with the crowds.

It's funny, but even with the expected huge crowds I had no trouble getting a 5:00 ADR at LTT. Seems funny with the place so crowded that I had the choice of times for dinner. I asked the CM about it, and he said most people are eating later because they plan on staying late. Even then, I can almost envision hundreds of people with their noses pressed against the windows at LTT watching my family eat in comfort while they silently loath our foresight.

 

[canwegosoon]

You might also want to make a second dining ressie...for later just to grab a snack /drink/ app Tonys or Plaza might be great(even if you send 1/2 of your party at a time-eg 8:30 2 people at Plaza, and 9:30 2 people at Plaza) this way someone can be holding spots for you to see Wishes.

I would not subject myself to those crowds...but since it is your vacation...I hope you have a great time!!!

 

[rstamm]

Don't go into the day "dreading" it. You'll have a great time regardless of the crowds. While I don't look at our 45 minute tie up featuring lots of swearing and rude people, there is still no where else I'd rather be. It's a live and learn situation. I've learned that my family prefers to be at a park that will be a little less crowded (or so I hope!) on NYE and for us it wasn't worth staying until the 1st since DS probably wouldn't make it to midnight for fireworks anyhow.

Yes, pre-Christmas is great at WDW...I've been there twice when the decorations are all up (mid-November last year, and early December 2003), but that week of Christmas is fabulous. The weather is usually cooperative and with the smart use of fastpass I didn't find us standing in any lines longer than we normally would have. It's the perfect time to "stop and smell the roses", seeing attractions off the beaten path, and just enjoying the ambience since most people are in a great holiday mood.

 

[dbmarie]

I'm confused according to disney if you are a guest you are guaranteed admission if you are staying onsite. I hope I'm not wrong I'll have to redo all my ADR's.

 

[canwegosoon]

I'm confused according to disney if you are a guest you are guaranteed admission if you are staying onsite. I hope I'm not wrong I'll have to redo all my ADR's.

But when they reach capacity...all bets are off. You are gaurenteed admission in the morning when all WDW resort guests will have an opportunity to get in first...then once it reaches capacity you must wait for some one to leave...and on NYE they are not leaving. I think the only days it becomes a real problem is NYE and Christmas day.

 

[cranbiz]

Last year MK was full by 10:00am.

We waited in line at the toll booth at EPCOT for at least 30 minutes at around 11:30am. EPCOT was full but not to capacity. After the first Illuminations at 8pm a lot of people cleared out, in fact, so many that they allowed us to go backstage by Test track to exit the park.

NYE is the best time to explore nooks and crannies that you normally bypass. You see so much.

Go and have fun, just be there early.

Remember, resort guests and AP holders are guaranteed admission to A park, it may not be the one that YOU want.

 

[janica]

Are there any other days besides Christmas and New Year's Eve that
the parks sometimes reach capacity?

Also, how can they guarantee admission to resort guests and AP holders? It
seems that if it has reached capacity according to fire and safety regulations,
then it's at capacity and it shouldn't matter who you are.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I'm confused according to disney if you are a guest you are guaranteed admission if you are staying onsite. I hope I'm not wrong I'll have to redo all my ADR's.

1) Whoa.
2) Yes, you are guaranteed admission to "A" park.
3) But it might not be the park you want.
4) I doubt you would get back into MK.
5) But you might get into Epcot (since it hold so many more people).
6) If you want to be at MK at midnight, DO NOT LEAVE the park to eat!