Park capacities when remodeled?

[dieboy]

Just curious if the fire marshals set capacity (I know they do with indoor spaces), or if since its an outdoor space, does Disney set the park capacities?

Secondly, once a park is retooled, say Pandora added, SWL, and TSL, do they reevaluate the capacity due to the added square footage?

 

[tractor tipper]

Just curious if the fire marshals set capacity (I know they do with indoor spaces), or if since its an outdoor space, does Disney set the park capacities?

Secondly, once a park is retooled, say Pandora added, SWL, and TSL, do they reevaluate the capacity due to the added square footage?

Great question. Have no idea. Hope someone has correct answer.

 

[drizgirl]

I'm pretty sure they increased capacity when New Fantasyland opened in the MK. Perhaps that's why it hits capacity so seldom?

Do the other parks hit ever capacity? Maybe Epcot on NYE? Although I guess we'll find out when Star Wars opens, but can't really compare it to past closing crowd amounts since..... has there ever been a capacity closing at DHS?

 

[JIMINYCR]

I'm pretty sure they increased capacity when New Fantasyland opened in the MK. Perhaps that's why it hits capacity so seldom?

Do the other parks hit ever capacity? Maybe Epcot on NYE? Although I guess we'll find out when Star Wars opens, but can't really compare it to past closing crowd amounts since..... has there ever been a capacity closing at DHS?

Touringplans had a good article regarding the closure phases and the history of closures.
They list MK as being the most likely park to face closure from park capacity. Historically closing 6 x a year. During NYE, Christmas week, Easter week. Ep being the least because of its size. DHS and AK has faced closure before but its unusual.

 

[dieboy]

I know they occasionally hit capacity, but i'm more curious on how capacities are calculated.

I know WDW has a fluctuation of staff levels, my thoughts start to drift over to, does WDW control its own capacity levels, as in;
x amount of people in park
x amount of sq footage in park
x amount of staff in park.

I'm starting to lean to this is a changing thing, and could be different daily, especially if they under estimated staffing levels for the day.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

Unless the actual square footage of the park changes, I doubt the official capacity is changed (even vertically).

 

[justintheharris]

Unless the actual square footage of the park changes, I doubt the official capacity is changed (even vertically).

I believe it increases with the addition of attractions too. I know that the entrance of Hollywood Studios is being pushed outwards like... Bag check will be about where the tram loop used to be. This way they can add square footage and artificially increase park capacity.

 

[PorterRedkey]

I am really curious about DHS's new capacity after the remodel. This park is going to be stretched thin and I predict not only SW:GE land closures, but also the whole of DHS closing its gates during peak times.

 

[justintheharris]

I am really curious about DHS's new capacity after the remodel. This park is going to be stretched thin and I predict not only SW:GE land closures, but also the whole of DHS closing its gates during peak times.

I'm willing to bet cast member blocks out will last months if not a full year on Hollywood Studios upon the opening of Galaxy's Edge

 

[BoarderPhreak]

I believe it increases with the addition of attractions too. I know that the entrance of Hollywood Studios is being pushed outwards like... Bag check will be about where the tram loop used to be. This way they can add square footage and artificially increase park capacity.

While additional attractions increase crowd capacity (ability to absorb guests), from a safety standpoint I don't believe so - as the egress routes and exits remain the same size.

 

[Driver]

I'm willing to bet cast member blocks out will last months if not a full year on Hollywood Studios upon the opening of Galaxy's Edge

That won't happen, Disney encourages CM's to visit parks ( especially new additions ) so they can better relay information to guest and answer questions more accurately through first hand experience. Keeping CM's out of the parks would be counterproductive. Which is another reason why they have soft openings for CM's only.

 

[Driver]

Disney is very tight lipped about park capacity. I explained this in another thread last winter. What I can tell you without sharing company secrets is , phase closures are based on available capacity to guest staying on property. So in other words if the parks are near capacity and a lot of guest staying on property are not at the parks , a reserve will be held for them and off property guest may be turned away.

 

[justintheharris]

That won't happen, Disney encourages CM's to visit parks ( especially new additions ) so they can better relay information to guest and answer questions more accurately through first hand experience. Keeping CM's out of the parks would be counterproductive. Which is another reason why they have soft openings for CM's only.

Well I have many cast member friends who were blocked out of Hollywood Studios in the weeks following Toy Story Land's opening. The block out got lifted early however. I am certain a block out will occur and it will be a lengthy one but maybe not as much as I indicate in my previous post.

 

[justintheharris]

While additional attractions increase crowd capacity (ability to absorb guests), from a safety standpoint I don't believe so - as the egress routes and exits remain the same size.

Good point. I actually never considered that difference.

 

[lazyboy97o]

While additional attractions increase crowd capacity (ability to absorb guests), from a safety standpoint I don't believe so - as the egress routes and exits remain the same size.

The park walkways are generally considered a “public way” in terms of building codes, so they are not maintaining a means of egress throughout the park, just the individual buildings. The minimum width that will be maintained throughout any park is what is required for fire truck access.

Park capacities are very much based on attraction capacity.

 

[Driver]

Well I have many cast member friends who were blocked out of Hollywood Studios in the weeks following Toy Story Land's opening. The block out got lifted early however. I am certain a block out will occur and it will be a lengthy one but maybe not as much as I indicate in my previous post.

I have no knowledge of a block out at HS. I went! And you say the block out got lifted early. Early? Was there a designated time that it was supposed to go till that got changed? Your prediction of a block out is merely your opinion.

 

[thomas998]

The park walkways are generally considered a “public way” in terms of building codes, so they are not maintaining a means of egress throughout the park, just the individual buildings. The minimum width that will be maintained throughout any park is what is required for fire truck access.

Park capacities are very much based on attraction capacity.

Would be nice if they created a formula for park capacities and enforced it... but I suspect that won't happen until there is a disaster at one of the parks in Orlando that gets lots of people injured or killed because they can't get out quick enough... then maybe they will do something... otherwise I'm betting it all just stays focused on indoor areas having a limit but not the park as a whole.

 

[justintheharris]

I have no knowledge of a block out at HS. I went! And you say the block out got lifted early. Early? Was there a designated time that it was supposed to go till that got changed? Your prediction of a block out is merely your opinion.

I'd have to ask my friend for specifics but at the opening of Toy Story Land, he was not allowed in and was supposed to not be allowed in through about a month. Maybe this was because he was ICP or maybe it went for only certain cast members. But I can tell you with certainty his blue ID was blocked out. He also told me that upon a rather unexpectedly low turn out for it, the block out got lifted earlier than expected. With all this in mind, Disney is almost certainly going to block out some sect of cast members for the opening of Galaxy's Edge for a substantial period of time.

 

[Driver]

Would be nice if they created a formula for park capacities and enforced it... but I suspect that won't happen until there is a disaster at one of the parks in Orlando that gets lots of people injured or killed because they can't get out quick enough... then maybe they will do something... otherwise I'm betting it all just stays focused on indoor areas having a limit but not the park as a whole.

All the Disney parks have emergency egress plans. There are three different levels, depending on how quickly they need to clear. Guest walk by these locations on a regular basis and most don't even know.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Would be nice if they created a formula for park capacities and enforced it... but I suspect that won't happen until there is a disaster at one of the parks in Orlando that gets lots of people injured or killed because they can't get out quick enough... then maybe they will do something... otherwise I'm betting it all just stays focused on indoor areas having a limit but not the park as a whole.

Why would this be nice? What purpose does it serve? The point of exits is to let people get away from the danger and the parks still let people move away from a problem. Theme parks are not the only space people congregate outside buildings.