Park closure for Resort guest question

[Tinkerbell397]

My visit to WDW is coming right up....July 1-7. I have never been to the World on the 4th. We are planning to visit The MK on the 3rd and Epcot on the 4th. My question: does the park ever close to resort guests due to large crowds? We would like to leave MK on the 3rd for a few hours to meet up with my daughter who is flying in. We want to return to the park for our 6:00 ADR's at The Crystal Palace. We are staying in the Tower at the Contemporary. Thanks :sohappy:

 

[SirGoofy]

Yes, but it very rarely happens. Very rarely. You shouldn't have to worry about it.:wave:

 

[luvlifeinfl]

I know in the past yrs we have been in the MK july 3rd & Epcot on the 4th, The parks were very busy but I do not believe that they were closed, if they do and what I have read on posts is they are full around 11:30 am and might not reopen till 2 or 3pm.

But I think you will be ok.

Let us know how everything turns out when you return.

 

[slappy magoo]

Before closing the park entirely, they'll close the lot to anymore incoming cars, meaning technically, WDW resort guests using WDW transportation can still get in. But at that point, only the brave or foolhardy (or those with ADRs) would.

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

Unless things have changed from when i worked there...as long as you are staying on property, the park doesn't close for you anyway. MK capacity is actually 100,000 but they will close the park at 75,000 which gives a 25,000 buffer zone for resort guests to continue to enter. Only non-resort guests are not allowed in. The park rarely ever closes entirely even on it's busiest days

As Slappy Magoo says, though I would think twice about going in.

 

[SirGoofy]

Unless things have changed from when i worked there...as long as you are staying on property, the park doesn't close for you anyway. MK capacity is actually 100,000 but they will close the park at 75,000 which gives a 25,000 buffer zone for resort guests to continue to enter.

100,000...you aren't even close. You've over shot MK's capacity by a good 30,000-35,000.

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

100,000...you aren't even close. You've over shot MK's capacity by a good 30,000-35,000.

nope...it's true. I still have my training manuals with the numbers in it. If you ever read anything by Lou Mongello...he has quoted it in a few of his books as well.

Many people think the 75000 is park capacity because that's when the closure signs go up but that's not for resort guests so technically another 25,000 can enter though it rarely happens. The closings go in Phases starting with phase 1 which is when they close th parking lots, then they only allow people in who have a pre-purchased pass (they close the ticketing booths and don't sell additional tickets for that day), then they will close to all except AP holders and resort guests (that's the 75,000 mark), but it goes up to phase 4 where no one enters the park at all.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Without giving into the "capacity argument", getting back to the OP's question.....

You'll be fine. Make sure you have your room key with you because if they do shut down the monorail to day guests, you will need to show that get on the monorail. Likewise with park entry after you park hop.

With all the phased closings, resort guests are the last ones who are denied entry. Those closings are few and far between. Basically, as long as you can get to the front gate, you should be able to get yourself in.

Crowds? Now thats another story. Bring plenty of patience and sunscreen as it will be packed beyond belief.

 

[carlosaguiar]

I was there this Easter and they close MK to EVERYBODY, thats what Disney calls level 4. For about 3 hours in the afternoon.

I was in the park that afternoon and I think they keep a good buffer zone because although the park was obviously busy, it was business as usual, managing the fastpasses and the queues, it was only later at the hotel that I found the park was closed.

I read somewhere on the net that the record crowd for MK is around 92000.
:wave:

 

[LiveyMouse22]

I have been going to WDW around the 4th of July for the past few years and although the crowds can get large (knock on wood) we've never had a situation where parks have closed because of crowd control. Hopefully it will be like that this year as well. Hope this helps! :wave:

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

I think the key to remember if you are dead set on being in a certain park and are worried it may close is that once you're in...you're in. So be one of the early people before they close the park.

The other thing to remember is that sometimes the park isn't closed for the whole day, it may re-open to everyone in the later hours because the crowd has thinned out by then.

Personally if a park has closed to non-resort guests, even if I can get in, I would head to another park just to avoid the crowds

(or have a pool day at the resort)

 

[SirGoofy]

nope...it's true. I still have my training manuals with the numbers in it. If you ever read anything by Lou Mongello...he has quoted it in a few of his books as well.

Many people think the 75000 is park capacity because that's when the closure signs go up but that's not for resort guests so technically another 25,000 can enter though it rarely happens. The closings go in Phases starting with phase 1 which is when they close th parking lots, then they only allow people in who have a pre-purchased pass (they close the ticketing booths and don't sell additional tickets for that day), then they will close to all except AP holders and resort guests (that's the 75,000 mark), but it goes up to phase 4 where no one enters the park at all.

Believe me. It ain't 100 thousand anymore. When I was trained at EPCOT and MK, I was told MK has a much lower capacity than EPCOT, and ECPOT's is 80,000

 

[Tinkerbell397]

Thanks

Thanks to everyone who responded to my question. I will take your advise. I agree that if it gets that crowded....then it's time to leave for sanity sake.