Magic Kingdom lines will be worse than ever!

[gdrj]

On our trips we will usually spend a good amount of time at EPCOT and also DHS. We will usually do AK for 1/2 a day. We always have hoppers or AP's so we will usually spend part of 3 days at MK.

Our trip in March this year when scheduling FP's we ending up scheduling most of our time at MK, due to work being done at other parks and rides/venues closed permanently or for refurb. At EPCOT we can't even find 3 rides that we want to FP.

I'm thinking that we are not alone with this, and can imagine that the crowds at MK will go up as attendance at DHS and EPCOT drop or slows. With fewer EMH's than past years I just think that MK will become even more unbearable.

The past few years we've had the opportunity to go multiple times a year, so we don't try to go on rides constantly but just try to enjoy the parks and jump on the rides with FP and with short waits early or late in the day.

I really feel bad for people who are going this year and it might be their one trip of a lifetime of for awhile. We have friends who are going for the first time with young children and really hope that I am wrong with my thoughts on waits getting longer

 

[sharonabe]

You're not wrong. There are already reports coming in that MK is busier than expected on the crowd calendars. It's only going to get worse until Soarin opens back up and/or Rivers of Light comes online.

 

[rpb718]

At EPCOT we can't even find 3 rides that we want to FP.

Even with everything open at EPCOT, I wouldn't be able to find 3 rides to FP+ due to the tiering.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Even with everything open at EPCOT, I wouldn't be able to find 3 rides to FP+ due to the tiering.

Exactly. We ended up fast passing soarin, character spot and.....figment

 

[Tomh]

There is plenty to see, and do in Epcot, just the tiering makes it hard to find something worth using 3 FP+ on. This is nothing new. Even with Soarin' running, you can only do one of the two main rides, either TT, or Soarin'. The other two FP+ have to be used on lesser rides, most of which usually don't have lines long enough to really require FP.

 

[Spork24]

Some of the stress on MK will be relieved once frozen opens at Epcot. (mayish) and even more with the new soarin this summer. But you are right it's looking like a tough spring in MK.

 

[Mark P.]

Any thoughts on early March crowds?
Our trip is March 3-8, and I'm guessing that things might pick up that second week as spring break begins?
Still putting in perspective, we did a 2 week'er last August, and another Summer trip the year before that. Compared to those Summer crowds/weather, I think we'll be all right
Happy Planning!

 

[wdw4rfam]

Any thoughts on early March crowds?
Our trip is March 3-8, and I'm guessing that things might pick up that second week, as spring break begins?
Still putting in perspective, we did a 2 week'er last August, and did a Summer trip the year before that. Compared to those Summer crowds/weather, I think we'll be all right
Happy Planning!

My sister went last year the 28-6th and said it was not bad. She said it picked up as the week went on though.

 

[ArwenMarie]

The problem is too that a lot of people hop to MK after they do a few things at DHS or Epcot or DAK. Hopefully Frozen and the new show at DAK will help with that.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I think the OP is right on. I'm glad I postponed our trip until the end of the year now.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I don't feel bad for anyone going to WDW ever.

 

[starjazz]

We've been here all week. We did MK two days. One recommended, one not (by Josh). We had great success both days. Less on the second day, but it wasn't due to crowds, it was due to break downs. Its low season, granted, but we didn't wait more than 20 minutes for anything, and that wait was for our fourth time on Mine Train.

 

[Ametista]

Well this ends my thoughts of MK for spring break. I have one day left on our no-expiration tickets and was going to use it for MK but now I think I will wait til October. That's fine. :'(

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I don't feel bad for anyone going to WDW ever.

Good point!

 

[TJA]

I was thinking the same thing as I booked our FPs for next month. I normally don't care that much about big crowds because having FPs really makes all the difference. What I did though was add in an extra MK day just in case we need it. By going to MK 4 days, I have all the rides booked on FP that are must-do's and 7DMT for every day we are there.

I do wish Epcot wouldn't have the tiers. It really makes planning difficult when we don't know for sure if we'll be able to secure that other big-ticket FP. Mission Space never seems to have a long wait, so I just booked test track both days we are in Epcot. I can't wait for frozen to open. I just hope it's awesome. I remember being so excited for the Mermaid ride in MK and then being disappointed...was hoping for something with a bit more excitement, but it's still a cute little ride that we try to make time for.

 

[Planogirl]

I can't see Frozen helping THAT much. It will be low capacity and people will probably head back to MK once they see it. I hope for those who are going later this year that I'm wrong though.

 

[larryz]

I don't feel bad for anyone going to WDW ever.

 

[labattblue]

IMO MK will be crowded in March and April because that is a popular time of the year. I don't think the rehabs going on in other parks is going to drastically alter attendance at MK.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I think Flower and Garden may help this a bit. I don't know about anyone else, but when we go in the spring (and we've been 3 times now), we actually spend most of our time in EP because we absolutely love the Flower and Garden show! They expanded it to 90 days this year - I think there is a reason for this and it may be because they need that crowd draw until, at least, Frozen opens!

 

[KatherineDisney]

I think OP is really hitting the nail on the head. I haven't been to AK or DHS since the rehabs really started. A couple years ago I went to DHS, but only stayed to ride ToT. Last trip I only went to MK and EPCOT and even then, didn't ride anything really at EPCOT. I love the World Showcase, but I am already planning next trip and will probably be skipping EPCOT altogether aside from popping in for dinner one evening. We will be focusing on the MK just because at the moment there is more to do there. In my opinion, the World Showcase will always interest people...but if there are no rides to get folks through the door to EPCOT, I am not positive that is enough to get the current customer to spend extra money on this park. Last trip was the first time I did not do Park Hoppers because I felt confident I didn't need them.