(This page is one of a series explicating Walt Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)
WALT DISNEY WORLD PARK CLOSINGS
When Walt Disney World theme parks become, in Disney’s judgment, too crowded, it begins to close them to new guests.
- Disney World park closures happens most commonly during the Christmas-New Year’s periods, Easter Week, and the Fourth of July.
- The theme park most commonly closed is the Magic Kingdom, and Epcot is the least commonly closed.
Some visitor types are more at risk to Disney World park closures than others.
WHO HAS THE MOST AND LEAST RISK OF BEING TURNED AWAY FROM A DISNEY THEME PARK
Disney has several levels of theme park closure–ranging from turning away only those who are driving their own car to its theme park parking lots to closing a park to all new visitors.
You will be most at risk to park closure if you are not staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel, have not yet purchased your tickets when you arrive at the park, and are driving or using something other than Walt Disney World transportation to arrive at the parks.
You will be least at risk if you are a Walt Disney World resort hotel guest, already have your tickets, and use Disney transportation to get to the park.
These varying risks come from the sequence of procedures Disney uses to limit access to a Disney World theme park that is becoming crowded.
- First it closes the park’s parking lot, excluding new car-based arrivals
- Second, it excludes all other transportation except that from the Walt Disney World resort hotels. That is, the park will be closed to taxis, buses from off-site hotels, etc.
- Third, it stops selling tickets
- Finally, it closes the park entirely to everyone
Walt Disney World resort hotel guests who have tickets and use Disney transportation (Disney buses, boats and monorails) are affected only by the last closing stage.
Other visitor types can be affected by any of the stages.
SOME SUBTLETIES ABOUT PARK CLOSINGS
Parks that fully close can re-open later that day, which makes resorts within walking distance–the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower at the Magic Kingdom, and the Boardwalk, Yacht Club, and Beach Club at Epcot–particularly valuable.
From the Epcot resorts you can walk not only to Epcot but also to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which makes these resorts particularly flexible at times of the year with horrible crowds.
Disney World resort hotel guests are guaranteed access to “a” park–which means that not more than three parks will ever be entirely closed.
The open parks may not include the one you wish, so on Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, Easter Sunday, and the Fourth of July, it’s good to plan to be at Epcot anyway–the park least likely to close.
If a park is fully closed, no circumstance will get you in until it re-opens–not the fact that you were there earlier in the day and don’t have a park hopper, nor even that you have a dining reservation in it.
Fully closed is fully closed.
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147 Comments on "Park Closings at Walt Disney World"
hi dave,
if we arrive at the park between 8 am and 9 am do you think the chances of a closure will happen then?
Hi Paula! Yup, I’d suspect those slots have been sold out for a while. For the purposes of park closings, the Dolphin is considered a WDW hotel, and it’s an easy walk from it to Epcot. I’d say you do have a good to great shot at getting back in!
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Hi – This will be our first trip to Disney for NYE, just two adults. I’ve tried every restaurant in Epcot and can’t seem to find any openings from 1pm on! We are staying at the Dolphin hotel but I’m afraid to go back there to eat and not be able to get back into the park. Do you have any suggestions? Is the Dolphin consider a WDW hotel? Do we have a decent shot of getting back in (say 8pm ish). Thanks for your help! 🙂
Hi Caroline, you should be OK at 9.30a.
For NYE celebrations by park, see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/05/21/new-years-eve-20122013-at-walt-disney-world/ There’s hundreds of eating options, but none are cheap.
Once you decide which of the four theme parks you are going to, let me know, and I’ll suggest some counter-service ideas.
Hi Dave,
My family and I will be going to Walt Disney on New Years day around 9:30 am. Do you think that at that time there is any possibility that we will be turned away?
Also I want to know what Disney does for New Years. Do they light firework or have parades. It would also be helpful if you can tell me a good cheap place to eat inside the park [ 3 adults and a 13 year old]