As of 9:25 a.m. on New Year’s Eve 2014, the Magic Kingdom hit Phase A closing capacity meaning that it is closed off to some guests. Check out the full meaning of that closing below.
Also, by 10:15 a.m., Magic Kingdom’s parking lot and Epcot’s parking lots are at full capacity and closed off to Guests. Guests are being redirected to other places to park and take Disney transportation into the parks.
By 10:25 a.m., the parking fees were being waived at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
UPDATE at 2:00 p.m.: Magic Kingdom is now at Phase B closing which means that in addition to the Phase A stipulations below, Guests with Park Hopper passes are not allowed to re-renter the Magic Kingdom or go there after leaving another park.
Per Doctor Disney reader Lydia:
“Heard “they” are checking for MagicBands at the Marketplace bus stops right now! Never have heard of them doing that before, but I presume it is b/c they expect the parks to be at capacity and lots full….prevent people parking at DTD/DisneySprings and riding over to resorts/transfer to parks. Good plan, IMO!”
UPDATE at 11:20 a.m. – Some sources are stating that Magic Kingdom has reached Phase 4 which means it is closed off to ALL Guests until some leave. Have not gotten full confirmation on this as of yet.
Here is the full explanation for a Phase A closing at the Magic Kingdom and click this link to check out explanations of all closing phases.
Phase A
No admission of guests with Magic Kingdom one day tickets, and no admission of guests even with Magic Kingdom FastPass+ reservations unless they have one of the following:
- WDW Resort Guests, including The Four Seasons Resort, Swan, Dolphin or Shades of Green, Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels arriving by bus (Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel, The Buena Vista Palace, DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel, B Resort, Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort, Hilton), Golden Oak residents and guests.
- WDW Premier Passport, Annual & Premium Passholders
- Guests with Park Hopper tickets re-entering or crossing over from another WDW Theme Park
- Guests with Memory Maker
- Guests with dining reservations
- Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Harmony Barber Shop or The Pirates League.
It is possible that the parks and parking lots could reopen as the day goes on, but being New Year’s Eve…it’s likely to just get worse.
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Should have been signs advising travelers that park was closed before you sat in bumper to bumper for 2 hours. Outrageous! Will never return to a Disney Park.
Well, the park closed to capacity and then reopened throughout the day on numerous occasions.
Not to mention the fact…that it was New Year’s Eve so big crowds and traffic were expected.
If you don’t do the research and know that MK hits park capacity every New Years Eve it’s your own fault. There are too many resources available, this site being one of them, that give incredible advice on what crowds will be like throughout the year and for special events. If you don’t do the research you have no one to blame but yourself. So if you let that be the reason for you to not visit a Disney Park again I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you because you will make my family’s experience all the more enjoyable from reduced crowd levels as a result of people like you. TTFN and have a magical day!!!