Recession? Sagging Attendance? MK Closed for Capacity!

daguru

I just read several reports that the Magic Kingdom is currently in a Phase 4 Closure, which means NO ONE is able to get into the park due to capacity (including resort guests and APs)!

Some sites have predicted that Disney could break park attendance records this week, because of Spring Break and all of the great resort/ticket deals going on.

I was also reading that water craft and the Monorail are not operating because of the extremely high winds (gusts over 25 MPH)... so they are running packing lot trams from TTC to MK on the surface streets.... Boy that must be a fun ride, especially when you go over the cannal in front of the Contemporary.... WHEE!!!
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Kati24 · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:39 am Post subject:

Neat! Where did you read this info?
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daguru · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 12:21 pm Post subject:

I was reading about it over at WDWMagic, this thread has some photos of the crowds: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=426433&page=4

They are also saying that DHS is near capacity and closure, their parking lot is full so they are bussing people from the Epcot parking lot.... Glad I'm not there today!
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kmiller15211 · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 12:43 pm Post subject:

I was in Epcot for NYE in 1998-1999 where they closed the parking lots around 11 AM. Probably the least fun trip that I can remember. It took us an hour and a half to get from the park to our Disney hotel by rental car after the fireworks. CRAZY!

daguru · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 3:41 pm Post subject:

Yeah, we did the NYE at Epcot a few years ago... It's one of those things were you do it once, just to see what it is like and to say you have done it... and never do it again. It was not a fun experience and a like scary, bath room lines were over 2 hours wait, after the fireworks you couldn't move more than a foot every 10 minutes... Several hours to get back to the car alone, let alone OUT of the parking lot.
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daguru · Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:03 pm Post subject:

From what I've been reading, MK was been at Phase 3 closing and near Phase 4 for most of today...

I did find a photo, not sure if it is from yesterday or today: http://twitpic.com/309ty

INSANE!
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CTKnight3 · Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:33 pm Post subject:

More of a concern for me is that Jay Rasulo has just finished trimming the cast members so that there are not "too many " of them. From what I read over at MICEAGE, Mr. Rasulo thinks people waiting in lines is a sign of "efficiency" and proper staffing.

Have they downsized all the people they will need if this capacity crowd continues?

GrumpyDaddy · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:22 am Post subject:

From that picture it looks like they need extra Cast members not fewer.

With April vacation and College Spring breaks I don't see why they chose
now to reduce staffing????

If they have some excess middle managers that might work but as the picture
shows they still need the regular level Cast Members.

Many people, me included, go to Disney with certain service level exspectation
and when you don't get it they will no be Happy.
And Happy is what they are in bussiness for.

I leave for WDW a week from tomorrow and I hope to find Disney up to their
normal high standards.

RavenStGermaine · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:02 am Post subject:

Wow! I can't even imagine! We used to go at spring break when I was in school, but I don't remember it ever being that insanely crowded. There's no way I could deal with that and still have fun- I'm too spoiled by my off-season visits!
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Therewasatime · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:28 am Post subject:

OH GOD That picture coins a new phrase
"Extra Tragic Hours" Razz

It's glad they are doing good business right now, but the park just wouldn't be fun with that many people. If you can't skip merrily how are you supposed to enjoy anything? Very Happy

WDWFan · Pilot Joined: Mar 01, 2006 Posts: 10863

Ok phase 4, phase 3... some one want to explain what the various phase closings mean?

daguru · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:32 am Post subject:

Ask and you shall receive:

Phase I: Guests with non-hopper-type Magic Your Way base tickets or Single Day/Single Park Tickets, guests without admission, and Cast Members using certain types of CM admission are turned away at the entrances to the parking lots.

Phase II: Disney Resort guests, Annual/Premium Annual Passholders, guests with park hopper tickets, and guests re-entering the same park on the same day are admitted, but only if they arrive using Disney resort transportation or a taxi.

Phase III: Disney Resort guests and Annual/Premium Annual passholders are admitted; however, they must arrive using Disney resort transportation.

Phase IV: The parks are closed to all incoming guests. There is no incoming transportation of any kind.

I know they have had various closures all week, both water parks were closed at noon yesterday for capacity, probably the same today as well...
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WDWFan · Pilot Joined: Mar 01, 2006 Posts: 10863

foxer76 · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:47 pm Post subject:

It was KrAzY at Coronado last week!

CTKnight3 · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 6:16 am Post subject:

That crazyness at the parks was not cause of the crowds...My niece was there...never underestimate the power of a 5 year old redhead