WDW Park Closing Phases

 

Have you ever wondered what Walt Disney World does when the crowds get too big? I'm talking the-fire-marshall-is-going-to-shut-us-d0wn big! When the Parks are beginning to get too crowded, Disney implements a closing process in phases, according to a number of factors--whether guests are staying on-site, if they have multi-day tickets or annual passes, if they have dining reservations, etc. Only as a last resort--when the Parks are truly at capacity--will they be closed to all incoming guests.

Here's a breakdown of the four phases of Park closure at Walt Disney World:

In Phase 1, all guests will be admitted to the Parks, with the exception of:

• Guests who haven't yet purchased tickets.


• Guests who have a single-day Magic Your Way tickets (not Park Hoppers).


• Cast Members using Main Gate or Silver Pass privileges to admit additional guests. (The Cast Member can still be admitted.)

In Phase 2, only guests meeting the following criteria are admitted:

• Disney Resort guests (including the Swan and Dolphin and Downtown Disney area hotel guests, providing they arrive on a bus from their hotel)


• Annual passholders


• Guests with Park Hopper tickets arriving from another Park


• Guests re-entering the same Park


• Guests with ADRs or reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League


• Any guest using Disney Resort transportation

In Phase 3, admission is further limited to:

• Disney Resort guests (including the Swan and Dolphin and Downtown Disney area hotel guests, providing they arrive on a bus from their hotel)


• Annual passholders


• Guests with ADRs or reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League

Phase 4 is a complete closure to any additional guests. No, they won't kick guests out that are already in the Parks, but they won't let anyone new guests in at this point.

So, there you have it. Based on this, a good strategy for anyone visiting WDW during Peak Season is to make (and keep) dining reservations in the Park you want to visit each day. Another great strategy: arrive early! Then you won't be the guest who is turned away. (But I think the best strategy of all is to visit WDW during a non-Peak season.)