Who has been when crowds are at 10?
- Thread starter Yusani
- Start date
Disneylover99
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2012
Go to the parks super early until noonish or super late in the evening. If you're going to stay in the parks all day, go on secondary attractions that don't generally have lines in the afternoon.
If eating counter service at lunch, eat as soon as they open to avoid huge crowds.
If eating counter service at lunch, eat as soon as they open to avoid huge crowds.
fla4fun
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2006
I went to Epcot on Christmas Day in 2014. I booked the Candlelight Processional package for lunch, and three FP+. I hit the park at rope drop, rode rides I didn't have FP+ for, then FP rides, then lunch, enjoyed live entertainment in WS, went to processional, and watched Illuminations. I think the important thing is to have a good plan.
RedOne3781
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2008
I was at Epcot on New Year's Eve one year. The crowd level was a 10. It was kind of intense.
My suggestions:
1.Get to the park early. Like a half hour before rope drop. At least.
2. Cover as many attractions as you can as early as you can.
3. If you plan on having s TS meal, book it for the middle of the day, between lunch and dinner. Eat any meals during "off" times.
4. Plan your Fast Passes for mid-day. Plan them too early and your risk wasting them since the wait times won't be that bad. Plan them too late and the level 10 frustration might have set in and you risk not enjoying it as much.
5.During the busiest time of day try to see lower tier (less popular) attractions.
6. If you are visiting on a holiday, do not leave the park unless you are prepared to not be let back in. If the park reaches capacity, they will not let you back in.
7. Be prepared to grab a spot early for any nighttime entertainment/parades that you want to see.
8. But most of all, be patient and go in realizing you are probably not going to get to see/do as much as you would during a less crowded visit.
My suggestions:
1.Get to the park early. Like a half hour before rope drop. At least.
2. Cover as many attractions as you can as early as you can.
3. If you plan on having s TS meal, book it for the middle of the day, between lunch and dinner. Eat any meals during "off" times.
4. Plan your Fast Passes for mid-day. Plan them too early and your risk wasting them since the wait times won't be that bad. Plan them too late and the level 10 frustration might have set in and you risk not enjoying it as much.
5.During the busiest time of day try to see lower tier (less popular) attractions.
6. If you are visiting on a holiday, do not leave the park unless you are prepared to not be let back in. If the park reaches capacity, they will not let you back in.
7. Be prepared to grab a spot early for any nighttime entertainment/parades that you want to see.
8. But most of all, be patient and go in realizing you are probably not going to get to see/do as much as you would during a less crowded visit.
MickeyHereWeCome!
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2004
We were there Christmas week and also Easter week. It is essential to get to the parks early enough to be at the front of rope drop. You also never know when parks will actually open. We were there two weeks ago, and EP, HS and AK opened about 20 minutes early.
During our day over Christmas break, they upset our plans by adding an EMH (we weren't resort guests). We still planned to arrive 1/2 hour before the EMH started, so that we could get "in line". I wasn't sure what to expect. We got there so early we beat the parking attendants! I was shocked when they let us in with the EMH guests! So, my early-bird plan worked out extremely well
Between 7-11, we were able to ride/see 16 attractions! Around 11, it got really crowded: So crowded you couldn't navigate the park well at all. We planned our Crystal Palace meal at 1:40, which was the perfect time for a long break to get out of the crowds.
As expected, they did enforce closures due to being at capacity, so don't plan to leave and come back. They won't necessarily let you in, even if you have fast passes or a dining reservation.
I went in to all of this expecting the entire day to be so crowded we couldn't walk. Those early hours were so nice, and we got so much done! Yes, it eventually got as crowded as I expected, but we had already done what we wanted to do!
During our day over Christmas break, they upset our plans by adding an EMH (we weren't resort guests). We still planned to arrive 1/2 hour before the EMH started, so that we could get "in line". I wasn't sure what to expect. We got there so early we beat the parking attendants! I was shocked when they let us in with the EMH guests! So, my early-bird plan worked out extremely well
Between 7-11, we were able to ride/see 16 attractions! Around 11, it got really crowded: So crowded you couldn't navigate the park well at all. We planned our Crystal Palace meal at 1:40, which was the perfect time for a long break to get out of the crowds.
As expected, they did enforce closures due to being at capacity, so don't plan to leave and come back. They won't necessarily let you in, even if you have fast passes or a dining reservation.
I went in to all of this expecting the entire day to be so crowded we couldn't walk. Those early hours were so nice, and we got so much done! Yes, it eventually got as crowded as I expected, but we had already done what we wanted to do!
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2004
Go with the mindset that there's no way to do everything you'd do on a less crowded day. Plan your FP+ well. Unless you go at rope drop, consider any additional rides bonus!
Make ADR for meals. If you choose CS, be aware that you might not be able to sit until you have your food in hand, and strollers aren't usually permitted inside the cs.
Make ADR for meals. If you choose CS, be aware that you might not be able to sit until you have your food in hand, and strollers aren't usually permitted inside the cs.
McKelly
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2004
We have gone Christmas to New Year's several times. Hit early AM rope drop. Make ADR's for meals in the park. CS lines will be insanely long. You should be okay at your resort though.
Even though the prices at the resorts go up significantly this week, I would stay on site - the traffic is crazy. Plus you won't get locked out of the parks.
Even though the prices at the resorts go up significantly this week, I would stay on site - the traffic is crazy. Plus you won't get locked out of the parks.
Klayfish
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 19, 2016
Yep, all good advice here. In the past 12 months, I was there for 4th of July (2015 and 2016), Thanksgiving and Christmas day. Like everyone else said.
1. Get there really early.
2. Either hit the popular rides right away, or get FP+ for them in the afternoon.
3. Have patience, big time.
1. Get there really early.
2. Either hit the popular rides right away, or get FP+ for them in the afternoon.
3. Have patience, big time.
Praying Colonel
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2004
I was at MK last summer (on my birthday!) when a projected 9 crowd actually turned out to be a 10 according to tp.com. It was a great day. Pre-planned FP+, got there early, had a plan and saved the attractions that have no real wait time (TTA, HoP, Philharmagic, etc.) until later when the park was packed. I think my longest standby wait was 25 minutes. No worries.
85glht
This is the way....
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2016
Go at a different time frame.... We went to EPCOT for New Years Eve. Never seen so many people. We ended up leaving early and headed back to the hotel.
If you are going to brave that kind of crowd, make sure you have dining reservations at the least. Otherwise you will be stuck with quick service meals. Pick your fastpasses wisely and pack some extra patients. Good luck!
Yusani
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2016
We are going the first week of August. I have seen crowd forecasts anywhere from 7 - 9. I am trying to hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.
Has anyone ever left mid-day during a non-holiday summer day and not been permitted to go back in due to crowds?
Has anyone ever left mid-day during a non-holiday summer day and not been permitted to go back in due to crowds?
Disneylover99
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2012
No. You don't need to worry about that.
mickeyluv'r
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2005
#1. I don't trust websites that predict crowd levels. Mostly, I don't use them.
#2. Zig when the crowd zags. #1 on that list, do NOT eat lunch noon-1pm. Simply stay alert! Zagging isn't just in the parks either, it is the entire vacation. Think outside the box, and you'll be rewarded. Stick to the same pattern that everyone follows, and you'll pay the price.
#3. Adjust your expectations in a way that enhances your experience. If we go to WDW when crowds are low, we spend more time on e-rides. If we go during a more crowded time, we make a few small shifts to things that don't have long lines. Maybe we swim a little longer, maybe we explore a garden, maybe we spend an afternoon visiting the resorts. On the simplest level, avoid all horrendously long lines. Also, if it isn't moving, you are (usually) allowed to leave.
#4. Get out of WDW! Over the past few years, this has been our best strategy yet! WDW peak week prices are a bit absurd. Instead of paying $700 a night for an onsite deluxe room every night, we split our time and enjoy offsite luxury for less. Florida is home to an amazing array of fun places to visit.
If nothing else, Florida is home to many wonderful dining establishments. You don't have to go far from WDW to find better quality dining for less money.
#2. Zig when the crowd zags. #1 on that list, do NOT eat lunch noon-1pm. Simply stay alert! Zagging isn't just in the parks either, it is the entire vacation. Think outside the box, and you'll be rewarded. Stick to the same pattern that everyone follows, and you'll pay the price.
#3. Adjust your expectations in a way that enhances your experience. If we go to WDW when crowds are low, we spend more time on e-rides. If we go during a more crowded time, we make a few small shifts to things that don't have long lines. Maybe we swim a little longer, maybe we explore a garden, maybe we spend an afternoon visiting the resorts. On the simplest level, avoid all horrendously long lines. Also, if it isn't moving, you are (usually) allowed to leave.
#4. Get out of WDW! Over the past few years, this has been our best strategy yet! WDW peak week prices are a bit absurd. Instead of paying $700 a night for an onsite deluxe room every night, we split our time and enjoy offsite luxury for less. Florida is home to an amazing array of fun places to visit.
If nothing else, Florida is home to many wonderful dining establishments. You don't have to go far from WDW to find better quality dining for less money.
SA mom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2012
We've been in MK on Thanksgiving Day. It was packed, but crowds don't really bother us. You won't see that level in August. My concern would be more about managing the heat. There are several great threads on that. Take advantage of EMH if you are eligible. The mid afternoon break is always in our schedule.
Fantasia79
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2009
I too was in EPCOT for NYE. The whole time, my wife & I said to each other, "Never again."
Just getting from our "waiting for fireworks" spot to the bathroom (directly across the walkway) took 10 minutes to get the through crowd.
Forget about going on quiet attractions, even those lines are out of control. You're dying for anything slightly entertaining.
All you can do is feel very sorry for cast members, who perform like superstars all day.
Just getting from our "waiting for fireworks" spot to the bathroom (directly across the walkway) took 10 minutes to get the through crowd.
Forget about going on quiet attractions, even those lines are out of control. You're dying for anything slightly entertaining.
All you can do is feel very sorry for cast members, who perform like superstars all day.
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