MK is at Phase 4 capacity (Merged Threads)

[WDWdriver]

As of 1:30 pm today the Magic Kingdom is at Phase 4 capacity. All arriving guests are being turned away. The other three parks are still open to guests.

Guests currently visiting WDW should expect park closures due to capacity through Easter weekend and for several days beyond that.

[mudpuppysmom]

I'm thinking WOW, it's only Tuesday and already we're seeing closures!

[MickeyMousse]

So soon, already???

Many of my DS7 classmates went down for the break.....wonder if they got in or not!

Now with something like this, do they stop running the MK buses from the resorts to the park?

[Tinkerbelly84]

that's crazy!!!!

[barbiegirl314]

Is this normal for this time in April? Is it because it's Easter time or because of the 4/3 promo. We're heading down the beginning of May and I'm starting to get nervous about the crowd levels.

[GrumpyFan]

Is this normal for this time in April? Is it because it's Easter time or because of the 4/3 promo. We're heading down the beginning of May and I'm starting to get nervous about the crowd levels.

It's due to it being the week before Easter. This is one of the busier weeks of the year. Although, this is the first time I remember these levels of crowds. I think a lot of it may have to do with the 4/3 special too. Apparently, a lot of people took advantage of the offer.

I read elsewhere that DHS is close to capacity also. Apparently parking for DHS is full and being re-routed to Epcot and they're shuttling people over via bus.

[MOJoe]

Is this normal for this time in April?

My family was in WDW for Easter Break last year, and in 06. It was crowded, but we never encountered a park closing.
This is amazing. It must be total gridlock in the parks right now.

Thanks WDW driver for this report. Can you enlighten us with any info on where are all these people are coming from?

[Itchy]

Oh! Wow!!!

I love visiting WDW, but

I dont think I could handle that large of a crowd without a shoe horn.

I think that I would enjoy the pool and wait for the crowds to die now a might.

Another trip planned in August.

[Tygger7]

My DD16 is at WDW right now and called about an hour ago telling me how packed everything was and about MK closing. She said the weather is absolutely perfect today...no humidity, sunny, and in the low 70's, so you add that on top of it being the week before Easter and you have a nightmare. When she went over the same time period in 2007 she encountered the same thing with crowds & parks closing to capacity. They're avoiding the crowds as much as possible and doing some resort hopping today instead. Another reason we love going in May.

[paragon]

While I wouldn't want to be stuck in those crowds, I think it totally awesome that the MK is that busy! And the DHS has a full parking lot. Thats amazing.

[Mousemates]

I know this might sound crazy to some, but as crowded as it is, I'd still like to be there.

[WDWdriver]

Thanks WDW driver for this report. Can you enlighten us with any info on where are all these people are coming from?

It's a combination of factors:
Spring break is still going on
Easter weekend
Accommodation and dining incentives
Northerners getting fed up with a long winter
US vacations still a good buy for Europeans

Put it all together and you get massive crowds at WDW. Attendance levels have been higher than normal for the past couple of months, but not reaching park capacities until now.

[Maleficent's Dad]

We're here right now (writing this from OKW!), and I have to tell you, that I initially believed we were going to be OK. Sunday at DHS wasn't too bad at all! There were still FP's for TSM at 1 PM! Monday at MK was quiet initially (park opened at 7 AM), but crowds did grow. It was pretty crowded after lunch when we left - to the point where we were happy to get out of there.

Today we were at the AK all morning - talk about crowds... The usual spots (EE, KS) were getting insane. To give you an idea, at 1 PM today, Primevil Whirl had a wait of 75 minutes!!!

Looks like the rest of the week is gonna be a challenge!

[Crow]

please dont be crowded next week, please dont be crowded nest week.........
im arriving Sun w the nephews for their first visit.
this could be bad.

[WDW_Obsessed]

Today we were at the AK all morning - talk about crowds... The usual spots (EE, KS) were getting insane. To give you an idea, at 1 PM today, Primevil Whirl had a wait of 75 minutes!!!

Now that's just not right! I can't even imagine the wait at TSM...

[joanna71985]

As of 1:30 pm today the Magic Kingdom is at Phase 4 capacity. All arriving guests are being turned away. The other three parks are still open to guests.

Guests currently visiting WDW should expect park closures due to capacity through Easter weekend and for several days beyond that.

Seriously?! Dang!

It's due to it being the week before Easter. This is one of the busier weeks of the year. Although, this is the first time I remember these levels of crowds. I think a lot of it may have to do with the 4/3 special too. Apparently, a lot of people took advantage of the offer.

I read elsewhere that DHS is close to capacity also. Apparently parking for DHS is full and being re-routed to Epcot and they're shuttling people over via bus.

Wow! I never thought the parks would close like this in April. July, yes. Dec (for Christmas and New Years), yes. But April? Dang.

Today we were at the AK all morning - talk about crowds... The usual spots (EE, KS) were getting insane. To give you an idea, at 1 PM today, Primevil Whirl had a wait of 75 minutes!!!

Looks like the rest of the week is gonna be a challenge!

Wow!! If PW is that bad, you KNOW it's crowded.

[Kenny1113]

This may be a silly question but...

If we go to MK in am, take afternoon break and when we try to come back, they have reached max capacity. Would we be able to go to another park without park hoppers? TIA

[Diz-Knee]

This may be a silly question but...

If we go to MK in am, take afternoon break and when we try to come back, they have reached max capacity. Would we be able to go to another park without park hoppers? TIA

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but if you are a Disney Resort Guest then I believe you are guaranteed entrance...correct?

[MOJoe]

It's a combination of factors:
Spring break is still going on
Easter weekend
Accommodation and dining incentives
Northerners getting fed up with a long winter
US vacations still a good buy for Europeans

Put it all together and you get massive crowds at WDW. Attendance levels have been higher than normal for the past couple of months, but not reaching park capacities until now.

Thanks Ron, for the quick response.
I feel like i am with this remark, but with all the talk of the bad economy, billions of retirement fund dollars lost, as well as corporate layoffs in WDW and elsewhere, ect., ect.........having these capacity crowds just doesn't make sense. I guess i watch too much T.V. news.

[DizneyRox]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but if you are a Disney Resort Guest then I believe you are guaranteed entrance...correct?

Incorrect... At phase 4, even the president would be turned away.

I believe the wording is guaranteed admission to A park, which would mean not necessarily the one of your choice.

Also, is any of this related to the cutbacks in CM hours, etc.? I'd have to guess that if they aren't staffed accordingly, capacity within the park is reduced as well. For example, if they only have the staff to run pirates through one queue, the capacity of pirates would be reduced, which would impact the entire park's capacity. Same with restaurants, etc. if they can only feed x number of people they can't let more than that into the park.

This is the first I've heard of phase 4 in a while, AND this far away from a holiday to boot. Seems strange... I'd like to know the actual number of people, that would tell a much more accurate story.