Magic Kingdom Filled To Capacity On Christmas

[pheneix]

This is really nothing new, and not a very hard goal to accomplish with the dramatically lowered maximum capacities since Fastpass was introduced, but the MK was closed for 2 hours on Christmas day due to capacity crowds according to the Orlando Sentinel:

>>>The Magic Kingdom was closed for two hours on Christmas Day after it reached capacity. "We had a great day, and we are beginning to see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel," spokeswoman Jacquee Polak said.

Still, not all of Walt Disney World's 20,000-plus hotel rooms were filled. "We still have rooms to fit every budget available, on limited nights," Polak said. But, she added, "We have exceeded our expectations."

The holiday news was good at Universal Orlando, too. "We're sold out for most of this weekend and New Year's," said Michael Sansbury, regional vice president of Loews Hotels, which operates 2,400 rooms in three resorts on Universal property -- Hard Rock Hotel, Portofino Bay and the recently opened Royal Pacific. "Last year wasn't sold out the weekend before New Year's," he said.<<<

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...27,0,623361.story?coll=orl-business-headlines

 

[General Grizz]

Great news! I wonder how early it's going to get filled on New Years Eve!

BTW; nice post count, pheneix ...

 

[jwbeck3]

Does anyone know how crowded the other parks were?

 

[RandeB]

Originally posted by pheneix
This is really nothing new, and not a very hard goal to accomplish with the dramatically lowered maximum capacities since Fastpass was introduced, but the MK was closed for 2 hours on Christmas day due to capacity crowds according to the Orlando Sentinel:

How dramatic are the lowered maximum capacities since FP was introduced? I understand that presumably some people who would be in line for a ride are now allowed to wander free until FP times click in, but is it really that big a difference?

 

[pheneix]

>>>is it really that big a difference?<<<

Yes. Disneyland's maximum capacity dropped from the mid-80's (thousands) down to somewhere in the mid-60's. The other parks have had similar drops when Fastpass was introduced into the mix.

 

[Sean23]

I arrived at the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day around 3:30 pm and they let me right in even though the signs driving to the entrance had full instead of the arrow next to the MK. I think it might have been full earlier in the day but the crowds did not seem unbearable to me. I did not ride to much just TTA, COP and the train from frontierland to the entrance of main street. The line were long and a lot of the FP return times were after 9 p.m. I first went to fort wilderness around 1:30 and it looked like they might have been turning people away then but I am not sure.

 

[WDWspider]

Originally posted by pheneix
>>>is it really that big a difference?<<<

Yes. Disneyland's maximum capacity dropped from the mid-80's (thousands) down to somewhere in the mid-60's. The other parks have had similar drops when Fastpass was introduced into the mix.

But I thought FastPass got people riding two rides in place of waiting in line and riding one... wouldn't that increase capacity?

 

[labattican]

I was at EPCOT on x-mas from 4-8 and i've never seen at as packed as it was. It wasn't so much that the lines were ridiculous, there were just too many people crowding the walkways and not moving. Saw the Auburn football team. Even with the crowds we walked onto JIYM and Spaceship Earth. My family did the single rider line on Fast Track and it only took about 35 min.

Another thing I found weird was Pleasure Island was dead on Monday night. I figured that even though it was a holiday week some people would be out having a good time. I was wrong, but it was still fun to hang out.

If anyone else has any questions about my trip, holla!

 

[CREEKWAYNE]

Yipee!:sohappy: That is great news! Go disney!

 

[Michael]

Originally posted by pheneix
>>>is it really that big a difference?<<<

Yes. Disneyland's maximum capacity dropped from the mid-80's (thousands) down to somewhere in the mid-60's. The other parks have had similar drops when Fastpass was introduced into the mix.

The attendance capacity has dropped, however, it has not dropped to the 65k. The attendance last Monday was over 70k at Disneyland alone.

 

[pheneix]

>>>The attendance last Monday was over 70k at Disneyland alone.<<<

I'm pretty sure Disney had a nice chat with the fire marshal before letting that many people into the park too.

You're MouseInfo Michael, aren't you?

 

[WDWspider]

Originally posted by pheneix
>>>The attendance last Monday was over 70k at Disneyland alone.<<<

I'm pretty sure Disney had a nice chat with the fire marshal before letting that many people into the park too.

You're MouseInfo Michael, aren't you?

Oh, do you mean general park capacity is lowered? I thought you meant ride capacity per attraction.

 

[pheneix]

>>>It wasn't so much that the lines were ridiculous, there were just too many people crowding the walkways and not moving.<<<

In a nutshell, that is why Fastpass has lowered the maximum capacities for the parks. What you saw is probably not because of Fastpass, but the basic problem- people being displaced out of lines and into the streets- is the reason why Fastpass lowered the park's maximum capacities.

 

[pheneix]

>>>Oh, do you mean general park capacity is lowered?<<<

Yes.

>>>I thought you meant ride capacity per attraction.<<<

Well, those have been lowered too, but not because of Fastpass. The new safety gates that are being installed on everything have taken a toll on capacity too.

 

[One Lil Spark]

Originally posted by grizzlyhall
I wonder how early it's going to get filled on New Years Eve!

Well, if it does hit maximum capacity I hope that is b/c everyone is watching the fireworks! That's when I'll have to ride all the good rides. Do you think that most will be at the magic kingdom for the fireworks?? Or will I be fighting enormous crowds either way??

 

[Invero]

Personally, I haven't seen the crowds that I was expecting... Christmas Day, the MK Parking lot closed for a lil bit, as did the park I believe, however, numbers weren't nearly what they've been in past years. Perhaps the weather had something to do with that, as I could have sworn it was raining here in part of the morning.

At anyrate... yesterday, day after Christmas, the MK wasn't nearly as crowded... the parking lot didnt even come close to filling up.

 

[Ian]

A Couple years ago i was at Disney for the New Years time. We got on our buses to go to Epcot for new years eve being only 8 when we got on our way we assumed we wud have no problem and they informed us that epcot and magic kingdom were already sold out for the day and mgm was getting close and animal kingdom had plenty of room so we got into mgm that day and it sold out by the end of the day i herd the word was that all 3 sold out and that animal kingdom either did or got very close...i did think it was fun to attend the park totally full but not sumthing i wud ever plan on doing again it was so crowded especially late at night when the dj's came out and played music in the boulevard u cud hardly walk. All in all quite an expiernce:hammer:

 

[Michael72688]

I might be going to Epcot on New Years Eve, do you guys think it'll close, cause we wont be able to get there till like 4 or 5?

 

[Quentin Disney]

Originally posted by Michael72688
I might be going to Epcot on New Years Eve, do you guys think it'll close, cause we wont be able to get there till like 4 or 5?

I'd go a bit later. Sean23 did last year and he got in...

I'm hoping to get in a park later on, as with sheer luck I got an opening shift at 6:30am on NYE!

 

[Mary Poppins]

Animal Kingdom was at capacity today at noon. They actually thought they were going to have to add another Festival of the Lion King show because there were about 500 guests still waitingafter they filled the theater for the last show (with standing room only, mind you!)