Will we be able to get in? your opinion...

[lomillerin]

I have read that MK or any park can close if it is too crowded and have read about the various levels of closing.

I am an AP holder and staying at the Boardwalk, so what is the chance I will not be able to get into MK around 5:00 pm on Christmas Day? I really want to know what you think the % is?

Anyone go last year? Did it close at any point to WDW guests or AP holders on Christmas Day?

Just to let everyone know, that is the day we arrive, so we can't get there any earlier that day. We have dinner ressies at Crystal Palace for dinner. It is just me and my DD-6.

 

[bicker]

If I recall, the priority list is topped by folks who had visited MK (specifically) earlier in the day. Presumably, this priority is established to protect folks without park-hopping privileges. So your best bet is to visit MK early in the day -- perhaps first thing -- get your hands stamped and then don't wash your hands!

However, we've found that there are often two challenges to getting into MK once entry is limited: Getting into the park is the easy part. The hard part is getting to the park, as they block traffic trying to get to the park. So keep that in mind.

Personally, I wouldn't take the risk. On a day like Christmas Day, if I have ADRs at MK that I didn't want to miss, I'd enter MK by 9AM at the latest, and plan on spending the entire day there, without breaks.

 

[lomillerin]

Our plane gets in at 3:30 p.m so we can't get to MK any earlier. I am just curious to know if anyone went last year and was turned away-being guests of WDW...

 

[danny1649]

Crowds are up this year and I would think many who left earlier in day and those park hopping going to MK at that time,could make it very crowded. If I put a percentage on it I would say 60º/º chance you will be able to get in at that time.

 

[shellybaxter]

I've never been at Christmas. But in reading the boards last year was different as it rained a lot on Christmas and people left early. People posted they were able to go back to MK for dinner and such and lots posted they just stayed in their hotels because of the rain. I don't know if I'd want to risk a Christmas dinner at CP. Maybe you could do Christmas dinner at Cape May instead. Its still a character meal, but you could get there from your hotel really easy.

I hope others with actual expirience will post soon

 

[robinb]

I have been to WDW on Christmas and New Year's Day quite a few times. My usual routine is to enter the park very early, leave by about 2:00 PM and then return about 5:00.

Brian has some good points about park entrance and transportation. They close the parking lots first (by about 10:00 AM on Christmas), then they limit entrance to resort guests, and then to only returning guests. They will also close off roads to all but Disney busses. If you were staying off-site, I would say: "No way!" However, I see that you're at BWV so it's my guess that you would be OK as long as you take Disney transportation. I would suggest that you leave around 4:30 so you have plenty of time to walk through Epcot to the monorail in case the busses are not running.

ETA: I just read that your plane gets in at 3:30. I think you are cutting things tight for a normal 6:00 PM AR and it will be virtually impossible for you to get to your AR on one of the busiest days of the year. I would suggest that you push back your AR (if you can) past 7:00 or eat somewhere closer to BWV for Christmas. Sorry .

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I had heard that if you have ADR's they will let you in, even if the park is otherwise full.

Teresa

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

I thought that Disney Resort guests were guanteed admission, just everyone else would be restricted.

 

[gydell]

I also was told that if you are staying at one of the hotels on site that they would let you in. Call and check.

 

[cleo]

As an on-site guest you will get into a park, it just may not be the one you want to get into. Disney guarantees you will be allowed entry into a park even if the parks close to off-site guests, but what they don't say is, it may be Epcot (which, to my knowledge, has never filled to capacity), Animal Kingdom, or MGM Studios. Magic Kingdom is certainly NOT guaranteed.

 

[johnvree]

Even on Christmas, I'd be surprised if on-site guests couldn't get into the MK. I have heard that they will eventually close the park to everyone, but have not heard of that happening. If you walk to Epcot from the BC, then through the park and hop on the monorail to MK, you should get in. I could be wrong, and it's been many years since I was at MK on Christmas, but I think you will get in.

Making a 6:00 ADR off of a 3:30 flight is not very feasible. Sorry, but even under the best of circumstances you will be cutting it very close.

 

[lomillerin]

Thanks for the responses. I am planning to take a towncar to save time. I will call and attempt to make a later ADR but I am not sure anything will be available.
I was thinking I would be at the hotel no later than 4:15 and am planning to go straight to MK after checking in.



I think I will come up with a backup plan.

Any more advice?

 

[robinb]

I was thinking I would be at the hotel no later than 4:15 and am planning to go straight to MK after checking in.

I don't think you could make it to the resort only 45 minutes after landing even if you use a towncar service and bringing only carry-on luggage .

 

[Luv2Roam]

Figure on an hour and a half from the time you land to you might be checked in -- and that is with a town car.
Bewteen holidays and other transportation, I would not count on anything under 2 hours, and that would be pushing it.

Last Christmas day was VERY slow in the parks because it RAINED ALL DAY. It was miserable and cold. Most everything was canceled.
That was a Christmas I won't forget.

We were at Epcot and a little at MK.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Also, I would not count on being able to enetr any park solely due to having ADR's (and a pass of course).
I could be wrong, but I have never heard this to be true. I have read others ask about it. But no one to my knowledge has stated this is true and have tested it.

 

[safetymom]

BTW they don't do hand stamps anymore. An ADR won't get you into the park if they are in the closing stages.

 

[philaround]

I would schedule at least 1 hour travel time from the time your plane gets to the gate at MCO until you get to the front desk at BC. If the front desk is fully manned and there is either a very short or no line waiting to check in it will still take you nearly 30minutes from front desk to your room. It could be almost 5:30 before you can get to the bus stop for transportation to MK. It is more likely that you won't be leaving BC until 6 or 6:15. I don't think you will have trouble getting into MK BUT I doubt if you can get to CP in time.
Keep trying to get a later ADR time for CP. I have traveled to MCO on Christmas day in the past and the trip itself can be very stressful, do all you can to reduce the stress after your arrival.
Good Luck and say hi to Pooh and the gang from all of us who can't be there this year for the holidays.

 

[johnvree]

Thanks for the responses. I am planning to take a towncar to save time. I will call and attempt to make a later ADR but I am not sure anything will be available.
I was thinking I would be at the hotel no later than 4:15 and am planning to go straight to MK after checking in.



I think I will come up with a backup plan.

Any more advice?

4:15 would be really quick. I would try to make a later ADR. Keep in mind, you can always just walk up and put in your name.

 

[cleo]

An ADR will not get you into the park if it's closed or closing. Many, many DIS-ers were turned away two (or was it three?) years ago on both Christmas and New Year's Eve, depsite their having a Priority Seating. I remember it well, as there were a great number of threads about it and some pretty unhappy guests (understandably).

And yes, Magic Kingdom does close to further guests, including on site guests, when it reaches capacity on Christmas Day.

 

[bicker]

I wonder how they'll handle the non-refundable deposit reservations at CRT...