Have the parks ever closed for being too full?
It doesn’t happen very often but the Magic Kingdom has closed several times in the last few years during the winter holidays. Last year in 2017 both Christmas day and New years eve the Magic Kingdom closed its gates to additional guests. Epcot is so large it almost never reaches capacity and the last times Animal Kingdom and Hollywood studios closed were Christmas time 2011 and 2009.
While Disney does not have anything official posted on their site you can find plenty of information online that names 4 different “phases” of closure to the parks. If a park reaches a phase of closing there is a chance it will be removed once enough guest have left the park.
Phase 1
those turned away include:
- guests without tickets
- one day single park tickets
- castmember passes
Phase 2
guest will be turned away unless:
- they are staying at a Disney resort
- those park hopping from another park
- those re-entering
- annual passholders
- guests with in-park reservations
- guest arriving on Disney transport (monorail, buses or boats)
Phase 3
guest will be turned away unless:
- they are staying at a Disney resort
- annual passholder
- have in-park reservations
Phase 4
The park and parking lot are closed to all guests. Luckily this very rarely happens last on record was Magic Kingdom during April 2009.