Disney World can be pretty unpredictable at times.
Rainy day on Main Street
Ride closures, transportation troubles, and technological problems can all affect your experience in the parks. It’s a good idea to have a Plan B in case you encounter one of these setbacks, but sometimes the setbacks are a lot more involved than one simple ride closure. Today, in Magic Kingdom, three whole lands were closed due to a bear that had been spotted in the area — just when we thought we had seen everything! So, just what does the park look like when half of it is closed? Come find out.
This morning, Adventureland, Frontierland, and Liberty Square were all closed — yes, the entire lands — while Disney monitored the situation. That means no access to the rides, restaurants, or shops in these sections. Cast Members were standing by at the entrances to each of these lands to direct guests elsewhere.
Guests waiting outside Adventureland
With so much of Magic Kingdom closed, the rest of the park felt BUSY. Ride wait times soared — Peter Pan’s Flight had a 95-minute wait.
Peter Pan’s Flight
Even “it’s a small world” got up to 40 minutes.
“it’s a small world”
Fortunately, the Festival of Fantasy Parade still happened. It still did its usual route through Frontierland, even though that section of the park was blocked off for guests. It emerged from the closed Liberty Square. However, since there were fewer viewing areas, the parade crowds were intense!
It was PACKED
If you wanted to grab a bite to eat, there were fewer options, so those that were open were also packed. In Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe, every seat inside the large dining room was taken when we checked.
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
During these closures, Disney was also not allowing guests to book Lightning Lane selections for the closed areas of the park, so it was harder for some guests to plan out their day.
Cast Members blocking guests from entering the land
So, if you are in the parks when something like this happens, keep in mind that it will probably feel much busier than expected. Hopefully, it will be a long time before a bear is spotted nearby again! As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news.
NEWS: Menu CHANGE Arrives at Magic Kingdom’s Spring Roll Cart
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Have you ever been in the parks when something like this has happened? Let us know in the comments below!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
This why they to lift the park hopping restriction times. So when something like this happens, you can go to another park at anytime. With the restrictions, you’re basically trapped inside one park until 2:00 pm.
It’s even worse if you’re there for a Rope Drop, because you’re stuck at one park for 5 hours that is half closed.
Agree.