Hi there, Marla, and welcome back to planDisney!
I 100% understand that you want to make sure that your trip goes according to plan, especially for those sometimes hard-to-get dining reservations. You're definitely a super planner like me, so let's jump right into your possible scenario.
Let's say that you have a dining reservation at Magic Kingdom's
The Beak & Barrel (perfect for pirate lovers) or
Cinderella's Royal Table (a fun way to meet many princesses). But on the big day, the theme park has reached capacity. You would be notified of this in the
My Disney Experience app without having to visit the park to find out. If that happens, unfortunately, the dining reservation won't guarantee park entry.
Here's the good news, Marla: As a local to Disney World, I can tell you that the theme parks reaching capacity is a very rare occurrence. The most likely times for maximum capacity are during the winter or summer holidays, such as Christmas and the Fourth of July. Overall, the chances that the theme park will be at capacity the first week of December are on the lower side.
AN EXTRA GEM: If you do somehow get blocked out of Magic Kingdom,
reach out to a friendly Cast Member so that you are not charged for missing the reservation. And there are many delicious places to eat around Disney World property so there's no shortage of alternatives. With a Park Hopper ticket, in addition to
Disney Springs and the Resort hotels, you could even go to the other theme parks to eat.
Marla, you really do have The Most Magical adventure ahead of you. Please don't hesitate to
revisit us here at planDisney to get all of your Disney planning questions answered.
Magic always,
LeAndra