2021 - crowds & construction

[DisneyJade]

I'm starting to get nervous that 2021 is going to be a VERY crowded year at WDW. It seems that everywhere I turn, there are questions or posts online about when to book for 2021. We are planning for a late Feb/early Mar 2021 trip. I'm curious to hear from the DIS forum experts:

1) Do you predict the first half of 2021 will be extra crowded in the parks, or do you think crowds will surge in the second half of the year, when Guardians and Tron and Epcot are fully "done?"
2) Do you think there will still be a lot of construction in MK & Epcot in Feb/Mar of 2021?

I can't decide which is worse - heavy construction or heavy crowds - and I'm worried our trip is actually planned for a time that will be an overlap of both.

 

[mjr0483]

We used to go so often, multiple times a year. So if we missed something we could just get it next time. Our AP expired 8/19 and we are taking a long break and can’t afford to go as often so we want to wait until all the new stuff is open. Guardians and Tron. So when will these two blockbusters be open?

 

[gharter]

Its still a guess as Disney hasn't said when everything will open.
Its safe to guess that most everything currently in progress (except the EPCOT center and outdoor water area maybe) will be complete before October 2021 for the 50th celebration.
I expect all of 2021 to be busy, but later in the year will most likely be worse.
No data to support this, just a guess.

Most of the construction in MK is just around the TRON area. I would expect a lot of the outside area to be done by spring. But still may not be able to walk around that area.
EPCOT, I expect will still have a lot of construction in Future World at that time.

 

[YITBOS]

We are booking 3rd week of March 2021 after St. Paddy's day with the hope that most winter referbs are finished and crowds will be slimmer than normal as people hold off for 50th. Fingers crossed.

 

[acebatonfan]

I’m debating whether to split up my points over two stays if the predictive crowds are going to be that bad in 2021. I usually go in September but might even go towards the end of F&G. Can’t do anything now about it and wait until my window opens to book. I’m keeping my fingers crossed it might be like SWGE and be a bunch of hype or like YOAMD or Disneyland’s 50th with year long celebrations.

 

[PaladinButters]

Always see two ways of thinking for this - Disney starts 50th that summer and runs to the next fall or Disney starts the 50th in the fall and runs the whole next year.
My in no way expert guess would be that early 2021 will be light crowds and full of discounts as everyone waits for the celebration. I’ve never seen the parks where SOMETHING wasn’t under construction so I’d take the lighter crowds if I could.

 

[CastAStone]

1) Do you predict the first half of 2021 will be extra crowded in the parks, or do you think crowds will surge in the second half of the year, when Guardians and Tron and Epcot are fully "done?"
2) Do you think there will still be a lot of construction in MK & Epcot in Feb/Mar of 2021?

1) If the parks are 10% more crowded than normal, you may not notice it much. If they are 30% more crowded than normal you definitely will. If the economy hold up and Disney stops increasing prices at the crazy rates of the last few years, I think 2021 could be a very busy year. But those are 2 very big ifs. I don't imagine it will vary much across the year. Guardians should open earlyish in the year, Ratatouille and MMRR will all be less than a year old, and SWGE less than 2 years old. Tron will probably open in mid-June; construction is reported to be ahead of schedule but it is rumored that Shanghai disney has a 5 year exclusivity. All of those will help drive crowds; I don't think Guardians or Tron will make any special impact above and beyond the others.

2)
Epcot: Very, very much so.
MK: Not particularly. I imagine the Railroad will be reopened by then, any Tron construction will be inside the building, and they haven't announced anything that would lead me to believe that MK will have major changes to other areas of the park. Rides will close for refurbs throughout the year, of course, but I don't think any more so than usual.

 

[Heather07438]

We visited at the end of 2019 and are skipping 2020. Our plan is to visit early January 2021. We gave it some thought regarding construction, crowds & new attractions. Hard to guess but I think/hope early 2021 will be lighter than the second half with some people holding off for the big head liners to open and the 50th to be in full swing. Those will draw extra crowds and WDW will be marketing it like crazy.

We figure there's always going to be some construction and new rides opening around the corner so we just focused on a time of year we enjoy that coincides with expectations of lower crowds that week. I think crowds are much harder to deal with than construction.

 

[DVC2000]

We are planning to go with a very large group of people in Nov. 2021 and we have the same fear. My wife only condition to going in 2021 was not in October as we feel the crowds will be extremely high especially if locals come in for the actual celebration.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

We are planning to go with a very large group of people in Nov. 2021 and we have the same fear. My wife only condition to going in 2021 was not in October as we feel the crowds will be extremely high especially if locals come in for the actual celebration.

We are planning on May 2021 and then again in October 2021. Everyone has me worried about October. I just got back from a Thanksgiving trip and really want to avoid the crowds during our next trips. I'm hoping late October won't be as bad as the first week of October.

 

[YITBOS]

I just books a ROOM ONLY reservations for a split stay in 2021. 3/19 @ Pop Cent was a $280 deposit with plenty of standard rooms available. 3/23 @ the Poly was a $805 deposit with only 2 standard rooms available. I'm sure there was a little salesmanship on the cast-members part to get the reservation booked, but it does seem early for 2021 Luxury rooms to be filling up.

 

[samc]

I just books a ROOM ONLY reservations for a split stay in 2021. 3/19 @ Pop Cent was a $280 deposit with plenty of standard rooms available. 3/23 @ the Poly was a $805 deposit with only 2 standard rooms available. I'm sure there was a little salesmanship on the cast-members part to get the reservation booked, but it does seem early for 2021 Luxury rooms to be filling up.

Did you book your trip online, through a TA or direct call to WDW? I can't find anywhere that even has 2021 dates open for booking.
TIA

 

[amylevan]

Did you book your trip online, through a TA or direct call to WDW? I can't find anywhere that even has 2021 dates open for booking.
TIA

You can’t make reservations for WDW online for next year until they release package info. You have to call, and it will be room only.

 

[YITBOS]

Did you book your trip online, through a TA or direct call to WDW? I can't find anywhere that even has 2021 dates open for booking.
TIA

I called WDW direct and gave them my dates for each stay. Javar (Ext:5243527) gave me the Rack Rates per night and the total for the trip. I had to pay one nights rate to hold each reservation. Now I have 2 reservation for my split stay on the My Disney Experience APP that I can change/modify once 2021 packages come out.

 

[evlaina]

2021 is the 50th, and I have read many posts/threads with people saying they're going then for the anniversary, but also because they want more rides to be open. All these people seem to want to go the later half of the year, so feb/march seems safe. I'll take construction over crowds any day.

We live far from the parks and I know people personally who are waiting till 2021 to go, too. We like to go every year, but I think we're skipping 2021 to do a cruise instead and will be back in 2022.

 

[CastAStone]

Did you book your trip online, through a TA or direct call to WDW? I can't find anywhere that even has 2021 dates open for booking.
TIA

You can’t make reservations for WDW online for next year until they release package info. You have to call, and it will be room only.

It also can only be 499 days in advance even if you call.

 

[mickey765]

We are booking 3rd week of March 2021 after St. Paddy's day with the hope that most winter referbs are finished and crowds will be slimmer than normal as people hold off for 50th. Fingers crossed.

that's spring break time

 

[jeepwreck]

We are planning to go with a very large group of people in Nov. 2021 and we have the same fear. My wife only condition to going in 2021 was not in October as we feel the crowds will be extremely high especially if locals come in for the actual celebration.

we are planning a large family trip for mid Nov. 2021 also and I a also a bit concerned about the crowds too since we were just there in Nov and the crowds were not that bad but I assume 2021 maybe a bit busier because of the 50th

 

[skippytx]

Absent a major recession, WDW is going to be busy year round for the next 3 years at least. I'm going when my schedule allows and the weather is good.

 

[DisneyJade]

Always see two ways of thinking for this - Disney starts 50th that summer and runs to the next fall or Disney starts the 50th in the fall and runs the whole next year.
My in no way expert guess would be that early 2021 will be light crowds and full of discounts as everyone waits for the celebration. I’ve never seen the parks where SOMETHING wasn’t under construction so I’d take the lighter crowds if I could.

I sure hope this is the way it goes!

I just books a ROOM ONLY reservations for a split stay in 2021. 3/19 @ Pop Cent was a $280 deposit with plenty of standard rooms available. 3/23 @ the Poly was a $805 deposit with only 2 standard rooms available. I'm sure there was a little salesmanship on the cast-members part to get the reservation booked, but it does seem early for 2021 Luxury rooms to be filling up.

Wow, that seems really surprising for over a year away!

Thank you, everyone, for the insights. I definitely agree that crowds are worse than construction!