We've been at WDW this week, and started it with SWW last Sunday. We've spent a great deal of times in the parks over the years, and I'd have to say this was the biggest disappointment of any event I've attended at WDW.
The crowds were so thick it was difficult to tell where the audience for one show ended, and the line for a character began. My kids only tried to do one thing (meet Kenny Baker) and gave up, because the lines were prohibitive. By that time, the other character lines had swelled even more.
The parade was enjoyable, although not themed out with any large floats with set designs like the normal Disney parades. (Which is understandable, considering they're only going to put it on a few times a year.) But by the time the parade was over, the entire morning was shot.
Overall crowds this week have been heavy, but we've managed fine everywhere else (including the rest of MGM), but SWW is overhyped, and brings in many people with unrealistic expectations. (Our expectations were realistic--meet a celebrity and a couple of characters--and still weren't met. Yes, others may have played it smarter, but I know this was the sentiment of most of the crowd we were near.)
Here's my suggestion for deciding if you should we go to SWW: simply ask yourself, "How interested am I?"
If your answer is "OH, WE GOTTA GO! IT'S STAR WARS!" Then by all means go. But arrive very early and be prepared for crowds.
If you're thinking, "SOUNDS INTERESTING, I'D KIND OF LIKE TO CHECK IT OUT" then DON'T GO. You'll be happier on other attractions.
The crowds were so thick it was difficult to tell where the audience for one show ended, and the line for a character began. My kids only tried to do one thing (meet Kenny Baker) and gave up, because the lines were prohibitive. By that time, the other character lines had swelled even more.
The parade was enjoyable, although not themed out with any large floats with set designs like the normal Disney parades. (Which is understandable, considering they're only going to put it on a few times a year.) But by the time the parade was over, the entire morning was shot.
Overall crowds this week have been heavy, but we've managed fine everywhere else (including the rest of MGM), but SWW is overhyped, and brings in many people with unrealistic expectations. (Our expectations were realistic--meet a celebrity and a couple of characters--and still weren't met. Yes, others may have played it smarter, but I know this was the sentiment of most of the crowd we were near.)
Here's my suggestion for deciding if you should we go to SWW: simply ask yourself, "How interested am I?"
If your answer is "OH, WE GOTTA GO! IT'S STAR WARS!" Then by all means go. But arrive very early and be prepared for crowds.
If you're thinking, "SOUNDS INTERESTING, I'D KIND OF LIKE TO CHECK IT OUT" then DON'T GO. You'll be happier on other attractions.
I totally agree with your POV. Hopefully Disney has realized the issues with the crowd control and bad organization and will try to do better next year. Maybe pushing it all into June was a mistake. Having it in May could be a better way to lighten the demand. Or maybe extending it a few more weeks would help.
