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Old 07-27-2004, 05:14 PM   #1
Nick and Ryans Mom
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Maximum crowds at WDW

A wife of one of DH's co-workers called and asked the following: One of the benefits listed for staying at a Disney Resort is that you are still admitted to the parks even when they are turning away others (people not staying at a WDW hotel). How often does this happen? and Does this benefit include the waterparks?

We have never stayed anywhere but WDW resorts while there and I have never been aware of being at full park. I told her I would check with my knowledgeable Passporter friends...

Any thoughts
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Old 07-27-2004, 06:02 PM   #2
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Re: Maximum crowds at WDW

Even if you are staying at a Disney resort, you can be turned away if the parks are full. I don't think that happens a lot, though. They close the parks in phases- at first they may only let onsite guests in, and turn away day guests, but if the park reaches maximum occupancy, they won't let anyone in. -Stephanie
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Old 07-27-2004, 06:11 PM   #3
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Re: Maximum crowds at WDW

I believe I remember reading here previously that the resort stay guarantees you admission to at least one of the parks, but not necessarily the one you wanted.
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Old 07-27-2004, 07:45 PM   #4
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Re: Maximum crowds at WDW

You'll notice this most in the summer at the water parks - they have a much smaller capacity and fill up QUICKLY!

Sad news for people who hit the theme parks in the morning thinking they'll hop over to the water park in the afternoon!
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Old 07-27-2004, 08:24 PM   #5
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Re: Maximum crowds at WDW

I called Disney a few months ago regarding this issue. I was told that you will be admitted into a park, some park maybe not the one you want.

I was worried about my trip in December. Because of my families schedule we have to go the week of Christmas.

Angela
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Old 07-28-2004, 02:24 AM   #6
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Re: Maximum crowds at WDW

I'm sure I was told that one year, maybe 2000, they even turned resort guests away at Christmas and I know that certainly happened over the Millennium - I remember a CM telling us that. I don't think it happens often, but trust me, the Magic Kingdom is not a nice place to be once it's full and they're only admitting resort guests.
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Old 07-28-2004, 08:09 AM   #7
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Re: Maximum crowds at WDW

Typically, MK reaches capacity on July 4 and Christmas day around 10am or so, and they begin turning away off-site Guests. Sometimes it happens on New Years Eve, as well, though it might be later in the day as people come into the parks for the midnight countdown.

The other parks don't always reach capacity on those days, though they are always extremely full, since July 4 and Christmas are the most crowded days of the year.

Epcot sometimes reaches capacity on New Years Eve, too, which is hard since Epcot's capacity is so much higher than the other parks.

I've heard that plenty of people get turned away from the water parks in the summer hot season; not much you can do about it except try the other water park or go back to your hotel pool for a while.
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Old 07-28-2004, 10:54 AM   #8
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Re: Maximum crowds at WDW

People (even resort guests) have been turned away from Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon this week. I know, because we get news flashes on our computer at work and MUST let the resort guests know. So, I guess it does happen.

As far as maximum capacity at the parks, it definately happens. News Years, Easter, July 4th and Christmas are the most likely times. July 4th of this year, they were letting NO ONE else into the Magic Kingdom, whether you were a resort guest or not. That was in the late afternoon. It happened as well at Epcot of this past New Year's Eve.

Kelly
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Old 07-28-2004, 11:03 AM   #9
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Re: Maximum crowds at WDW

We were staying at Disney a month ago and could not get into either waterpark one day as they were both closed to capacity.
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Old 07-28-2004, 05:22 PM   #10
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Re: Maximum crowds at WDW

One other factor to add:

Parking lots usually reach capacity before the park does. So, access by car (to on- or off-property guests) may be closed off even though the park is still open to guests using Disney transportation.

Moral: Use Disney Transportation to visit waterparks on hot summer days.

As to on-property guest (and annual passholder) admission policies on the big holidays - the policies are not etched in stone. I recall they changed several times in the run-up to the Millennium, the last change occurring on December 31.

Generally, Disney will find a way to get an on-property guest and/or annual passholder into a park, although it may not be the guest's first choice.

We've found that full-to-capacity park closings can be short-lived. As soon as some guests leave (and they usually do), the gates may open again. If you were locked out of the (full) parking lot you'll probably miss the opportunity, but on-property guests using Disney Transportation will get a good crack at things. For instance, if MK is full, hop the monorail to one of the resorts, enjoy a drink or snack, and head back to MK.
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Old 07-29-2004, 07:02 AM   #11
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Re: Maximum crowds at WDW

Will the bus drivers know if they are taking you to a full park and warn you when you board? ("Sorry to tell you MK/EPCOT/TL... is closed?") When we went last August we went to the waterparks in the middle of the HOT days and never had a problem, I wonder if it was because we used Disney transportation? or maybe enough people had left? Thank you everyone for the infomation
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