10/7-10/8. That was crowded!

[mamamelody2]

Yikes! Sounds like it was crazy!

 

[Darbie]

It will be crowded through the rest of the month. October is a very busy time at Disney.

 

[mab2012]

We are also just back. We were at EPCOT and MK on Thursday, and thought it very uncrowded compared to our usual March trips. Granted, it was raining off and on, and it was a party night at MK. But I don't think I've ever seen wait times that low while we've been there.

The party on Thursday was busy, but not awful. There were no lines to speak of at the trick-or-treat stations even at 7 pm, and the few rides we did were more or less walk-on.

Friday we went to Typhoon Lagoon, and the crowd level there was awesome. We didn't wait more than 5 minutes for anything. We went to EPCOT that evening and thought it was okay too. Busy in the World Showcase, but not packed like I've seen it before.

Saturday at HS felt busier, but still not crazy. We didn't try to do much besides our Fastpasses, but walking around the park was not difficult. There were people streaming into Indiana Jones 20 minutes before showtime without a problem (we've missed that show in the past when arriving at that time). Wait time for BB8 was less than 20 minutes when we visited mid-day, and I remember that when I checked the standby wait time for Star Tours around lunch, it was also 20 minutes. We did wait quite awhile in the FP line for RNR, but that was because it had been down earlier in the day, and everyone was coming back at the same time.

Yesterday we went to AK, and again, it was busy. Posted standby time for FOP was 175 in the middle of the day, and the Navi boat ride was also over 2 hours. Likewise Safari standby was 2h when we entered the FP line. But still not as busy as our trip this past March, when we could barely move. Again, we walked into FOLK at 20 minutes before show time, and people were still getting in 5 minutes before. We missed out in March when we arrived 25 minutes in advance.

On the whole, I wouldn't call it "low season", but we thought it was manageable to good, depending on the day. I guess maybe it's a matter of perspective. I'd love to go during a really quiet time, but that's not in the cards for us right now, so I guess we've just adjusted our expectations.

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

We got in line for the HS bus at AOA at 8:30 - maybe not early enough because the lines were so backed up we took a taxi. Arrived to gates just after opening. By the time we got through bag check and walked back to RnR it was 9:20. Posted wait 90 minutes. We waited 120. Missed our TOT FP and the wait was 80 minutes but then we'd miss our TSMM FP, so we used that (standby was 110 minutes). By noon we had done two rides. We should have gotten out earlier but I'm with a group who is slow moving. I have just never seen crowds like this. I can't imagine what Christmas is like if it's worse than this. I hope we survive the rest of this trip! If it were just my son and I we would be ok but navigating my group of 6 in these crowds is tough. already planning a do over trip but never around Columbus Day again!

 

[dlavender]

We got in line for the HS bus at AOA at 8:30 - maybe not early enough because the lines were so backed up we took a taxi. Arrived to gates just after opening. By the time we got through bag check and walked back to RnR it was 9:20. Posted wait 90 minutes. We waited 120. Missed our TOT FP and the wait was 80 minutes but then we'd miss our TSMM FP, so we used that (standby was 110 minutes). By noon we had done two rides. We should have gotten out earlier but I'm with a group who is slow moving. I have just never seen crowds like this. I can't imagine what Christmas is like if it's worse than this. I hope we survive the rest of this trip! If it were just my son and I we would be ok but navigating my group of 6 in these crowds is tough. already planning a do over trip but never around Columbus Day again!

Sorry to hear it.

Like I've said, I've been to the World over a hundred times. I've been every major holiday except for Christmas. I have never seen MK as busy as I saw it yesterday. Not in person, anyway.

I've been on these boards for a few years. I never knew that Columbus day weekend would cause level 10 crowds. Extended queues for the carousel?!

We are a party of 5, and were using two double strollers. There were parts of fantasy land where I wasn't sure how we were going to cut through.

Good luck to you! I hope it dies down a little. Doing two rides in 3 hours can be extremely frustrating!

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

Sorry to hear it.

Like I've said, I've been to the World over a hundred times. I've been every major holiday except for Christmas. I have never seen MK as busy as I saw it yesterday. Not in person, anyway.

I've been on these boards for a few years. I never knew that Columbus day weekend would cause level 10 crowds. Extended queues for the carousel?!

We are a party of 5, and were using two double strollers. There were parts of fantasy land where I wasn't sure how we were going to cut through.

Good luck to you! I hope it dies down a little. Doing two rides in 3 hours can be extremely frustrating!

Thank you and good luck to you too! Did I mention we waited 35 minutes for Figment yesterday?? Lol, it's crazy to me. We go every Oct but usually Oct 1-8 or so. My son's school moved Fall Break to this week this year and so here we are until the 13th. Epcot tomorrow and then AK Wednesday and MK Thursday. I hope it gets better but I'm afraid it won't.

MNSSHP tonight and I'm hoping it isn't too packed. We usually enjoy it so much but with the way the crowds are, I'm worried!

 

[kydisneyfans]

We went to Epcot Thursday evening and found it to be very tame and quiet.
Our kids said Hollywood Studios was just as quiet.
We hit EMH at the MK Friday and rides were walk on through at least 9:30. Fantasyland did get busier as the morning went on.
The Halloween Party Friday night was the lowest attendance I had seen at a party in years.

We used Sat as a rest day, then Animal Kingdom was mobbed yesterday. Epcot this morning had waits of 55 minutes for Spaceship Earth. 35 for Figment, over an hour for Nemo, and 90 minutes for Living with the Land. Those 4 are normal walk on's.

I see the same trend as above, through Friday was fine, Saturday unleashed the crowds.

Don't get me going on the non-existent bus service. Thank God for Uber.

 

[dlavender]

over an hour for Nemo

 

[MegMouseketeer]

Kenny the Pirate as well as several other crowd calendars has this whole week as heavy-insane crowdwise. A friend from Atlanta said that a lot of Atlanta public schools as well as Louisiana have the week off...coupled with Columbus day. Touring Plans is not predicting crazy high levels, but I would be surprised if it is not slammed all week!

 

[Kelly loves Food]

Banks are closed on Columbus Day because the Federal Reserve is closed: it is a federal holiday. Anyhoo: hoping the crowd levels go down for next week...my vacation week!!

 

[Farro]

Lines didn't seem too insane today - looking at touring plans app. DHS looks the worst overall. Typical holiday weekend maybe.

I'm not sure next week is any better, as hardly any hotel availability, but last two weeks, starting on 10/23 have recently had a lot more hotel availability on the week days.

 

[AngiTN]

That makes a difference? Most schools here don't even mention it, let alone take a day off for it

Not only do our schools take the day off, they are off all week too

We are here now. It's not that bad. Not worse than I expected at least. I knew Epcot was a no go starting Friday at noon through today (Monday). We'll return tomorrow. You never step foot in Epcot during FW on a weekend. Not if you are sane

MK was pretty reasonable for a holiday Monday today. Mostly because it's a party day. Saturday was busy but manageable. Pirates was down most all day and that really messed up FP wait times at the other rides

Today we've gotten additional FP, for 4, for every day. Today we got Dumbo, Barnstormer at MK (for DGD and a friend) then at HS we got ToT, TSMM, ST

We are sitting at the new Tap Room right now waiting to use our 6th FP at ST. There are still FP for F! We are not getting one because we don't want to stay but it's been there. To me that is not super crowded. We find summer more crowded

We've gotten lots of great last minute ADR.

 

[leahlefler]

We're in Western NY and we had a four-day weekend for Columbus Day. A few of our friends took the opportunity to travel this weekend (though none of them to Disney) - the good weather coupled with a four day weekend causes many from our area to travel this time of year.

 

[firefly_ris]

We arrive tomorrow.... we'll see how it goes!

 

[Kindermouse]

Touring Plans is showing that yesterday's actual crowd number for Magic Kingdom was 10. Unreal!!

I had to take a sick day on Friday and Saturday we were only in the parks until 12 before we had to get back for magical express so I missed the crowds. Who would have thought having an asthma attack and then going home saved me from a poor park experiance....so it was a blessing in disguise? I feel lucky to have missed the 10 crowds

I thought that 9/30 through 10-5 was not too crowded at all. We had a good touring and we used FP+ and we just plain old skipped anything with a long wait and kept checking it on the app until wait times went down and we had no problems and got a ton done each day.

That being said I don't think I'll be back in October again-too hot and humid for me. I'll be doing my Halloween times in Disneyland once again (even though my son and I agree that the WDW party was better)

 

[SDSorority]

I had to take a sick day on Friday and Saturday we were only in the parks until 12 before we had to get back for magical express so I missed the crowds. Who would have thought having an asthma attack and then going home saved me from a poor park experiance....so it was a blessing in disguise? I feel lucky to have missed the 10 crowds

I thought that 9/30 through 10-5 was not too crowded at all. We had a good touring and we used FP+ and we just plain old skipped anything with a long wait and kept checking it on the app until wait times went down and we had no problems and got a ton done each day.

That being said I don't think I'll be back in October again-too hot and humid for me. I'll be doing my Halloween times in Disneyland once again (even though my son and I agree that the WDW party was better)

Hubs was sick on Friday, too- I went to Epcot by myself and it was a ZOO!

 

[TomorrowlandKD]

Yes, a lot of schools and businesses are closed across the country.

Most schools in my area were off today as well.

 

[anniemae]

Lots of schools have fall breaks this week too. Plus, lots of folks that rescheduled from the hurricane, rescheduled for October.

 

[CMNJ]

Lines didn't seem too insane today - looking at touring plans app. DHS looks the worst overall. Typical holiday weekend maybe.

I'm not sure next week is any better, as hardly any hotel availability, but last two weeks, starting on 10/23 have recently had a lot more hotel availability on the week days.

AK was insanely busy today, too. We got there for EMH and rode navi river journey right away since we had a FP for FOP. The line for FOP seemed crazy immediately but by the time we got off of the river ride (which only had a 5 min wait at opening) the FOP line literally zig zagged across a significanf portion of pandora. They had the line stretching down the passage to Africa and back. We saw the line go from 2-4 hrs on MDE throughout the morning. That being said since everyone spent the morning in line in Pandora we got a lot done. Between 8 and 1 we rode NVJ, the Safari, Bugs Life, Festival of the lion King, expedition Everest, and FOP plus had lunch at yak and yeti and wandered around getting some pictures taken. At that point we needed a break from the heat and head back to our hotel. I looked at the wait times on our way out of Pandora and NRJ was 110 and FOP was 185. Those Wait times sound like when it first opened

 

[AngiTN]

AK was insanely busy today, too. We got there for EMH and rode navi river journey right away since we had a FP for FOP. The line for FOP seemed crazy immediately but by the time we got off of the river ride (which only had a 5 min wait at opening) the FOP line literally zig zagged across a significanf portion of pandora. They had the line stretching down the passage to Africa and back. We saw the line go from 2-4 hrs on MDE throughout the morning. That being said since everyone spent the morning in line in Pandora we got a lot done. Between 8 and 1 we rode NVJ, the Safari, Bugs Life, Festival of the lion King, expedition Everest, and FOP plus had lunch at yak and yeti and wandered around getting some pictures taken. At that point we needed a break from the heat and head back to our hotel. I looked at the wait times on our way out of Pandora and NRJ was 110 and FOP was 185. Those Wait times sound like when it first opened

And they have remained at those numbers pretty consistently since it opened but for an odd time here or there. So that is nothing new or unusual at all