Closing Rules for July 4th

[disney4life2008]

I am anticipating MK for the 4th of July for the spectacular fireworks I keep reading and hearing about. Is it necessary to be in the MK from 8am until the fireworks to prevent from being locked out? Or do they let people in eventually? Both guests are off property.

I am debating on MK on July 3rd as another option - how do you guys estimate crowds will be around 2pm?

 

[bethymouse]

Yikes!
I'd check easy wdw.com or touring plans.com for advice.
I am sure they may get to a PHASE where they are not accepting anymore visitors.
Good luck! If you have to stay all day in the MK, just make the best of it, and relax some, knowing you'll be enjoying the best fireworks ever later that evening!

 

[disney4life2008]

Yikes!
I'd check easy wdw.com or touring plans.com for advice.
I am sure they may get to a PHASE where they are not accepting anymore visitors.
Good luck! If you have to stay all day in the MK, just make the best of it, and relax some, knowing you'll be enjoying the best fireworks ever later that evening!

Yes - that is what I am thinking. I really would like to take a break around 2 and come back around 4 but I do not want us to get locked out. But the fireworks are worth it - its also my birthday

 

[luv]

I'm not sure the fireworks are worth hanging around a park all day, in the heat. Nobody can be certain how full the park will be. Crowded, certainly. Unable to get back in? Don't know.

If you want to be certain you see those fireworks, arriving early is the best bet.

And good luck with the heat!!

 

[stichrules]

We were there in 2010, and went to the MK on the 4th. Went to the park around 4pm and got in no problem, but it was extremly crowded. We ended up leaving and went to Poly had a QS dinner (line to order was huge, 30-40 deep) and then went and sat on their beach and watched the fireworks. They even had the music playing on speakers. The show was excellant. I remember reading soemwhere though they may be trying to restrict that to Poly only guests.

 

[Master Yoda]

It will depend on what closure phase they are in.

Here is the break down...

Phase 1
Guests with 'Magic Your Way' base tickets, or a '1-Day 1-Park Ticket', Guests without an admission ticket, and Cast Members using Main Gate & Silver Passes will be turned around at the parking lot booths.

Phase 2
Admission is limited to:

• Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels)
• Annual and Premium Annual Passholders
• Guests with Hopper tickets coming from another park
• Guests re-entering the park
• Guests with dining reservations
• Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League
• Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted.

Phase 3
Admission is limited to:

• Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels)
• Annual and Premium Annual Passholders
• Guests with dining reservations
• Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League

Phase 4
Closed to all guests.

The park will go in and out of those 4 different phases during the day (phase 4 is incredibly rare). If you have an AP, are staying on property or have a dining reservation, you will be good to go all the way up to a phase 4.

 

[disney4life2008]

I'm not sure the fireworks are worth hanging around a park all day, in the heat. Nobody can be certain how full the park will be. Crowded, certainly. Unable to get back in? Don't know.

If you want to be certain you see those fireworks, arriving early is the best bet.

And good luck with the heat!!

Yea - as much as I love MK I really do not think I can sit up there all day long. However, my friend has never been to MK so much of that time will be spent standing in line for attractions. We are both in Florida all summer long and our jobs have us in the heat all day so were pretty immune to sun and heat by now. I was thinking we could do MK rides (arriving at 2pm) and do as much as we can then follow up with the fireworks that evening as they are showing all week). I am sure the crowds will be just as bad though??

 

[nepalostparks]

Phase 1
Guests with 'Magic Your Way' base tickets, or a '1-Day 1-Park Ticket', Guests without an admission ticket, and Cast Members using Main Gate & Silver Passes will be turned around at the parking lot booths.

It will be interesting to see if this is adjusted since MK is now a separate category for a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket. Don't know how often it would be an issue, but assuming you bought that ticket, it's only good for the MK as I'm understanding the changes.

 

[dreamfinder]

From this very site here -> http://www.wdwmagic.com/park-closing-phases.htm

Phase 1
Guests with 'Magic Your Way' base tickets, or a '1-Day 1-Park Ticket', Guests without an admission ticket, and Cast Members using Main Gate & Silver Passes will be turned around at the parking lot booths.

Phase 2
Admission is limited to:

• Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels)
• Annual and Premium Annual Passholders
• Guests with Hopper tickets coming from another park
• Guests re-entering the park
• Guests with dining reservations
• Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League
• Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted.

Phase 3
Admission is limited to:

• Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels)
• Annual and Premium Annual Passholders
• Guests with dining reservations
• Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League

Phase 4
Closed to all guests.

As far as what level gets hit when, that's hard, if not impossible to say. Phased closings that may happen earlier in the day do often seem to be rolled back to lesser levels, but it's a total crap shoot. If its a must do, then yeah, be prepared to hang out all day. If they are ok with taking their chance, that that works as well.

 

[disney4life2008]

It will depend on what closure phase they are in.

Here is the break down...

Phase 1
Guests with 'Magic Your Way' base tickets, or a '1-Day 1-Park Ticket', Guests without an admission ticket, and Cast Members using Main Gate & Silver Passes will be turned around at the parking lot booths.

Phase 2
Admission is limited to:

• Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels)
• Annual and Premium Annual Passholders
• Guests with Hopper tickets coming from another park
• Guests re-entering the park
• Guests with dining reservations
• Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League
• Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted.

Phase 3
Admission is limited to:

• Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels)
• Annual and Premium Annual Passholders
• Guests with dining reservations
• Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League

Phase 4
Closed to all guests.

The park will go in and out of those 4 different phases during the day (phase 4 is incredibly rare). If you have AP, are staying on property or have a dining reservation, you will be good to go all the way up to a phase 4.

Thank you - this is what I was looking for. I anticipate July 4 going through Phase 2 and 3 - as long as it remains in phase 2 we should be fine as I am am AP and my partner will be re-entering from earlier in the day.

 

[dreamfinder]

I was thinking we could do MK rides (arriving at 2pm) and do as much as we can then follow up with the fireworks that evening as they are showing all week). I am sure the crowds will be just as bad though??

If I recall the original news posting correctly, while the entire week will have "enhanced" fireworks, it won't be the exact same. I believe someone chimed in that the 3rd and 4th would be 360 degree perimeter shells, while the other nights were just going to be 180 degrees. Just keep that in mind.

 

[disney4life2008]

If I recall the original news posting correctly, while the entire week will have "enhanced" fireworks, it won't be the exact same. I believe someone chimed in that the 3rd and 4th would be 360 degree perimeter shells, while the other nights were just going to be 180 degrees. Just keep that in mind.

Whoa thanks for the heads up on that. I want the full experience with the 360. So I guess I just need to decide if we should go July 3rd or 4th.

 

[Master Yoda]

It will be interesting to see if this is adjusted since MK is now a separate category for a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket. Don't know how often it would be an issue, but assuming you bought that ticket, it's only good for the MK as I'm understanding the changes.

It will most certainly come up a non-zero number of times. 1 day ticket sales are not common, but they do happen on a daily basis and Phase 1 closures during the summer are not that uncommon. The only saving grace I see is that a person coming in to buy a 1 day ticket for the MK would most likely do it at the TTC and be driving. If that is the case, they will never make it past the parking booths.

 

[luv]

Yea - as much as I love MK I really do not think I can sit up there all day long. However, my friend has never been to MK so much of that time will be spent standing in line for attractions. We are both in Florida all summer long and our jobs have us in the heat all day so were pretty immune to sun and heat by now. I was thinking we could do MK rides (arriving at 2pm) and do as much as we can then follow up with the fireworks that evening as they are showing all week). I am sure the crowds will be just as bad though??

It's going to be crowded. How crowded is anyone's guess.

Rain would cut the numbers down. So might ridiculous heat.

But you can bank on crowds. I don't even want to think about being there, lol.

Good luck to all who go to MK and Epcot on the 4th!!!!!!

 

[disney4life2008]

It's going to be crowded. How crowded is anyone's guess.

Rain would cut the numbers down. So might ridiculous heat.

But you can bank on crowds. I don't even want to think about being there, lol.

Good luck to all who go to MK and Epcot on the 4th!!!!!!

You are making me terrified, lol. This is once in a lifetime - I doubt I will ever be able to be at WDW on my birthday on the 4th ever again so I will make it work

 

[Master Yoda]

You are making me terrified, lol. This is once in a lifetime - I doubt I will ever be able to be at WDW on my birthday on the 4th ever again so I will make it work

Be afraid, be very afraid.

 

[disney4life2008]

Be afraid, be very afraid.

WOW I almost said this is Christmas then I realized there is no Christmas bunting, lol. We will be one of a million. I am glad I went to the 24 hour event because MSUSA looked just like this between 8pm and 1130pm.

 

[CrescentLake]

I was at the MK on the fourth last year. Got there at 5pm no problems, but it was an absolute zoo. I actually got my spot for the fireworks 2.5 hours in advanced, but there were some people that had stalked out their spot at 5pm when I got there. Five! I've never experienced anything like the fireworks or the crowds. Yeah it was a little unsettling, but certainly worth it. Not sure if I'll brave the MK crowds again this year, but worth it.

 

[luv]

You are making me terrified, lol. This is once in a lifetime - I doubt I will ever be able to be at WDW on my birthday on the 4th ever again so I will make it work

Just pack your patience and don't go with anyone who is claustrophobic.

 

[disney4life2008]

Just pack your patience and don't go with anyone who is claustrophobic.

If it were anyone else - I could not do it. But he is prepared.