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Mother, Son, Giraffe, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Animal Kingdom, Savannah
  • On Nov 1, 2013
    Michelle from NY Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hi All! Staying @ WL & have 6:30pm dinner rez @ Crystal Palace Xmas day. Heard rumors that MK might close entrance cuz of max capacity. Can we still get in for the rez? Wouldn't want to miss dinner!

    Hi, Michelle!  The theme parks can close during the very busy Christmas holiday due to reaching capacity.  The Magic Kingdom is especially susceptible to this.  The park closes in stages, and guests who are staying at a Walt Disney World resort with in park dining reservations are among the group allowed entrance up until the last phase of closure.

    Having said that, the Magic Kingdom has closed completely - meaning no one else can be admitted to the park - by late morning on some Christmases past.  It won't matter that you have an in park dining reservation if the park has completely filled to capacity, as they won't be able to allow additional guests into the park.  You may get into the park later in the day, as other guests begin to leave, but there are no guarantees once the park is full.

    Your best bet is to plan to spend the day in the Magic Kingdom.  If it doesn't matter how many attractions you experience, try to get there by 10 or 11 in the morning.  If you want to make the most of the day, arrive about 45 minutes prior to theme park opening, where you'll already be waiting with a good sized crowd to get into the theme park.  You can usually hit a few attractions early in the day, which will make up for the much longer lines later in the day.

    I hope this helps you to plan for a magical Christmas vacation!
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Meet the Panelist: Anna, New Jersey

My name is Anna and I am a retired teacher with a J.D., a proud Navy wife with 30+ years of experience, mom to three daughters and a son-in-law, and grandmom to three tiny Disney fans. I have planned vacations for all sorts of special occasions and celebrations, but I really enjoy DVC vacations, helping military families, and assisting those with special dietary needs.    Learn More About Anna

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