Christmas and New Year 2013 capacity phased closings and wait times

[grimb168]

We go every Christmas and love it. Arrive early and plan. We rode everything yesterday at studios and today doing epcot

 

[Hakunamatata]

We go every Christmas and love it. Arrive early and plan. We rode everything yesterday at studios and today doing epcot

Did you use FP+?

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Nothing like Christmas Day 2005 when the power went out at Magic Kingdom.

What? Wow. The whole park??? I haven't heard of this.

 

[asianway]

Can some one please explan thsse phases for me? I am an annual pass holder but will be spending two nights at the Contemporary, arrive the 30, stay for 31, and leave the first. Our room is club level of the resort with Mk view. I was ggoing to try and see the 9 pm wishes in the park, but I guess it will be too busy! Can I hear tthe music from the 12 floor atrium room?also are the midnight fireworks wishes, or are they different?

Dude, do not go in the park. You have the best view right from your room especially for the special midnight fireworks which have perimeters, a mirror of the main show on the 7 seas lagoon island, and multiple launch points around the lagoon. They only do this 4 days a year. The audio should be on one of the tv channels. Come back next week and thank me

 

[wdwmagic]

Basically...if your an annual pass holder, you are allowed in any time. The only phase that closes out everyone is phase 4, but it never goes to 4, not even on New Years Eve.

April 2009
http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...gdom-closed-to-all-guests-due-to-capacity.htm

 

[Jwhee]

Was last Sunday a phase one? MK wasn't allowing my friend with a CM guest pass.

 

[drew81]

What? Wow. The whole park??? I haven't heard of this.

I was there and it was quite the experience.

 

[ImagineerDude]

You are down there now? Good luck! LOL...

I swear it hadn't been that bad yet!! Even typhoon Lagoon...and we walked right into Beaches and Cream w/o a ressie Sunday. However, we are heading to MK around 5:15 and I'm sure that will all change. Thank you! Merry Christmas

 

[asianway]

Was last Sunday a phase one? MK wasn't allowing my friend with a CM guest pass.

That's a main entrance pass blockout-happens for a good portion of December. They could have used a comp ticket to get through though

 

[Jakester]

April 2009
http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...gdom-closed-to-all-guests-due-to-capacity.htm

I heard from a CM that they're expecting a phased closing at Epcot on 12/31. I personally don't think it will happen

 

[TheRabbit]

April 2009
http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...gdom-closed-to-all-guests-due-to-capacity.htm

Well thank you Admin, I stand corrected. I take it that was an Easter week? Very rare though you must agree.

 

[DVC4bestvacations]

We arrived at MK this morning at 800. Rode JC, PotC, & IASW by 930. We had Reservations at the Crystal Palace at 10 for breakfast. By the time we finished eating the park seemed unmanageable as we expected. There was still a steady flow of guests entering the park.

My daughter and I went to the MK Tuesday Christmas eve arriving at 10pm and had the best time. Short lines and great atmosphere.

 

[grimb168]

Did you use FP+?

Yes we did just to figure this out. We are coming down next month bringing down 200 of our members of our high school band. Great band director thing. It is 6:00 did everything in the front of Epcot including sitting in every car and playing games and now eating a snack in china

 

[BuddyThomas]

Does this closure stuff happen every year, or are they particularly crowded this year? PS - Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[wdwmagic]

Does this closure stuff happen every year, or are they particularly crowded this year? PS - Merry Christmas everyone!

Every year. Here is a history http://m.wdwmagic.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/news.htm

Merry Christmas!

 

[WDW1974]

Perhaps if they added actual attractions and capacity to the parks instead of removing it and playing a crowd shell game with a $2 billion data mining and trip planning app, then there would never be the ridiculous overcrowding and phased closings to begin with.

But I am far, far, far, far away from the O-Town madness and I am not even supposed to be here right now, but we all know the Spirit likes to give as much as receive.

Be well, y'all.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Magic Kingdom parking lot at capacity, but park remains open to all guests

Has MK capacity gotten to the point where it exceeds the capacity of the parking lot? Was that case prior to Fantasyland's Expansion?

 

[JimboJones123]

Can anyone really enjoy these critical mass times or get much done? With 120 min wait for TSM, is it any wonder park hours are extended. The little secret is that you probably have more fun and get more done during non-peak periods with shorter park hours. (Related: going to MK the same day as a party when regular hours close at 7)

It will get over 200 this week.

 

[maxairmike]

Has MK capacity gotten to the point where it exceeds the capacity of the parking lot? Was that case prior to Fantasyland's Expansion?

Like I said yesterday, they didn't even open the back right section of the parking lot when that happened, opting instead to park the trams there as normal. That was around 200 spaces they could have used. It is also possible that a lot of cars only had 1 or 2 people in them, making for very inefficient use of the parking lot. I don't think the NFE added nearly that much capacity.

 

[TheRabbit]

Every year. Here is a history http://m.wdwmagic.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/news.htm

Merry Christmas!

Ok, here's a question for ya...Has the MK ever STAYED at a phase closing all the way till the park closed? Seems like the phase closings happen late morning/early afternoon and then drop after afternoon parade. None in your history seemed to stay at phase closing all thru the evening.