Navigating Disney’s Capacity Limits: Strategies and Measures

As the global health landscape continues to evolve, theme parks like Disney are facing new challenges in managing capacity and visitor traffic. This article delves into the strategies and measures Disney has in place to effectively handle capacity limits, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable experience for visitors.

Controlling Capacity and Preventing Crowds

One of the primary concerns for theme parks during peak seasons is managing visitor capacity to ensure social distancing and reduce the risk of overcrowding.

Disney, similar to many other venues, is limiting ticket sales through advance purchases only. This approach ensures that there are no walk-ups, which helps to mitigate the spread of disease. Once the 50 capacity limit is reached, no more tickets will be available for purchase, thus limiting the influx of visitors.

The Future of Ticketing and FastPass

Beyond limiting ticket sales, Disney is also looking into new technologies and strategies to manage visitor flow. During the recent earnings call, Bob Chapek, the CEO of Disney, mentioned the possibility of selling limited number of dated tickets or something similar. This suggests that Disney is considering a range of options to control and manage visitor flow.

The FastPass system, which has been a staple at Disney parks, will likely play an integral role in managing lines. FastPass allows visitors to reserve specific times for rides, reducing wait times and spreading out visitors throughout the day. This system can also be used for sit-down restaurants, ensuring that tables are reserved in advance and allowing for safe social distancing.

Strategies for Managing Capacity Limits

Disney has a detailed system in place to manage capacity limits. There are four levels of restricted access, each designed to control the number of visitors entering the park:

Stage 4: Full Closure

During times of extreme overcrowding, no new guests will be allowed into the park. This measure is a last resort and is rarely activated.

Stage 3: Limited Entry for Specific Groups

Disney hotel guests, annual pass holders, and guests with proof of reservation for restaurants, princess beauty treatments, or similar activities can access the park. This tier also includes guests staying at semi-Disney resorts and those transferring from other parks, as well as guests with park-specific tickets and those arriving through Disney transportation.

Stage 2: Additional Access

Beyond the first three groups, the park includes additional tiers such as cast members with free passes, and a more restricted number of advance ticket sales. The aim is to reduce the number of new visitors entering the park while maintaining a balanced flow of existing guests.

Stage 1: Basic Controls

This stage focuses on limiting access to cast members with free passes and not selling additional tickets to those who don’t already have one. This is the lowest level of restriction and is most commonly in place under normal operational conditions.

Food and Dining Strategies

Managing food and dining spaces is another critical aspect of managing capacity. Disney restaurants, both table-service and quick-service, will limit seating and reservations to maintain social distancing. Table-service restaurants can limit the number of tables that are available, ensuring that a safe distance is maintained between guests. Quick-service restaurants will also limit seating and promote mobile ordering to minimize contact and reduce lines.

Attraction Management

Managing attractions is particularly challenging, but Disney has developed protocols to address this. The "boarding group" strategy, used for attractions such as those in Galaxy’s Edge, assigns guests to specific groups to enter attractions. This system ensures a more controlled flow and maintains social distancing.

Disney parks have faced similar challenges in the past, and they have established measures to handle capacity limits. For instance, during peak seasons when new attractions open, the park may decide to limit the number of visitors to manage the flow and prevent overcrowding. Once the park reaches capacity, it is immediately closed for the day, and there is no "waiting" for entry. This system has been in place for many years and has successfully managed the influx of visitors during peak times.

In conclusion, Disney is well-prepared to handle capacity limits through a combination of advanced ticketing systems, controlled access, and strategic management of food and attractions. These measures are designed to ensure a safer, more enjoyable experience for visitors while also maintaining operational efficiency.