Anybody got a crowd report?

[crzy4mk]

We'll be at WDW from 10/8-10/14 next year (Columbus day and the week following). Anyone who was there this past week, can you give a crowd report? I know it was somewhat crowded because of MNSSHP and Columbus Day holiday, but did the crowds thin out some after Monday? Just curious.

 

[lovethattink]

Yesterday Epcot was CROWDED!

 

[momx2]

On Friday, 16th there was a 60 minute wait for Pooh at MK. Don't think I'll be going during this week again.

 

[Jon16195701]

I own a Disney guidebook that says that you will be going in a "Least Crowded" time. This is nothing to be happy about, though. Epcot, will be unusually crowded because of the Food & Wine festival. As for the MK park in Fantasyland: Pooh, Peter Pan, Dumbo, etc will all have long lines because they are attractions for little kids. Also, there is construction going on at the old Skyway builiding and there is a wall cutting off a little of the path there. And, "it's a small world" is under refurbishment. However, that makes it better & worse. Worse because now other attractions will have "its a small world's" lines in addition to their long lines already. Better because instead of stroller parking leaking out onto the already crowded pathways, they can use the "it's a small world's" entrance for that.

When I went (October 1-3) the paths in every park were crowded, but we actually WALKED on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Every weekend the crowds seem more and more heavier.
Even last Sunday evening at Epcot was the heaviest I had seen in WS for a long time.
I think this will happen until after the first of the year.
This also could be hurricane related. Some may be those who had postponed their previous planned trips.

 

[buzzlightlily]

just back and the crowds were awful 10/14-10/16

 

[boston1029]

Just got back today. We were there 10/9-10/16. The crowds were terrible! I have never seen it so crowded in all my times there. I think that we'll stick to Jan and Feb.

 

[disgoer]

We were there the first week of Oct. last year and practically walked on everything. This past week there were at least three times as many people in each park as last year. Many attractions had a 75-90 minute wait time. The Cm at the tower of terror said it was the most crowded he had seen it all year.

 

[cannonballer70]

I was there from 10/8-10/15, I thought the crowds were moderate. The longest line I waited in was 40 minites but I did have to get a fast pass for Aerosmith Roller COaster. Only day I felt was super packed was MK on Saterday, we went there after Animal Kingdom to watch SPectomagic Parade. The staff told me they were getting a rush of people in who postponed thier trips from earlier because of the hurricanes, also some of the southern schools have fall break in October.

 

[n2mm]

When we stayed the last week of October last year at POR, the resort was at 100% and was told most of them were. We were trying to pay for an upgrade, and was told we should be happy to have a room. They were trying to relocate a family to a handicap accessible room at a different resort, because none were available to this family when they checked in at POR (wheelchair).

I've been reading how awlful the crowds are, and fully expected it. With this being the 10th Oct. in a row for me, I've watched a steady incline of crowds each year. The hurricanes have also had a huge impact on the crowds and the vacation schedule for most folks.

 

[rapriebe]

We just got back today and the crowds were unbelieveable. We found that we just went in the morning to MK and then left by 1pm. The crowds just kept coming in and coming in. I went over Saturday morning just to pin trade and the rides in Tomorrowland were very long. At 9:45am the FastPass for Buzz Lightyear was stating a return time of noon and the regular line was very long. I guess that's to be expected on a Saturday but the weekdays were also very crowded.

 

[SG1Fan]

okay someone get all these people to leave. I have 3 days to go till i get there. And by goodness WDW is just for my family and me. no one else.

 

[KimandBrian]

We'll be there next weekend and I hope it isn't horribly packed.

 

[ttichenor]

By all means, book MNSSHP to get away from some of the crowds! We were there October 9-16 and actually noticed an increase in crowds the later in the week it got (away from Columbus Day). We went to MGM on Sunday the 10th, got there at rope drop, headed straight for RNR and ToT and waited less than 10 minutes for each. Monday the 11th we went to Epcot in the rain, again at rope drop and rode Test Track twice with minimal waits and then M:S with minimal wait. Tuesday was a down day and got into MNSSHP at 4. (THANKS for that GREAT tip, boards ). Wednesday was wall to wall at Typhoon Lagoon. Seemed like the park was short on staff and concessions. Was the prettiest day of the week and maybe they got blindsided????? Thursday was Animal Kingdom - not bad at all. Friday was a go back to your fave day. We did MGM in the morning - there early, but had to do fast passes for the big rides. Then to MK around 2:30, we actually cut that day shorter than planned because the MK was packed late on Friday!

Does anyone know if cruises are started to book up in October too? That may be next year's trip.

 

[JimmyBlaze]

I was there this past week. Horrible crowds. I was so disapointed it really made the trip unenjoyable. We had to leave Disney altogether on Wednesday and go to Universal which wasn't quite as bad but pretty crowded also. I really would like to know when you can go to DW that isn't a miserable crowded time?

 

[empkuzco]

We were there from Oct 11-15 (Mon-Fri). What we found was:
Monday (Oct 11) - Animal Kingdom - It drizzled much of the morning and this seemed to keep the crowd down. In the afternoon it POURED for at least a half hour. This probably sent folks home early. All in all, the park wasn't that crowded. With fast passes we did Kilm Saf twice, Prim Whirl twice, and everything else once.
Tuesday (Oct 12) - Disney Quest - We started for Epcot but it was already drizzeling pretty good, so we decided to switch up days and go to DQ. It actually stopped raining shortly and turned out to be a nice day. DQ wasn't too crowded. We did the Pirate simulator 4 times (best darn thing there by far).
Wed (Oct 13) - Epcot - Sunny, and a little cooler. The park was a good bit more crowded. We did most everything (Test Track twice) but by the afternoon the crowds were tough at the big rides. We tried to go back to Test Track at 3pm. The line was all the way out the door and fast passes were giving 5:20pm as the return time.
Thursday (Oct 14) - Magic Kingdom - Another nice, cooler day. This was EE day, and things did seem a little crowded. But, with fast passes we did everything (included Splash M twice) without bad waits (nothing more than 10 minutes).
Friday (Oct 15) - MGM - Alot cooler day, but sunny. It POURED down rain about 10am, but quit after about 20 min. The park was a little crowded but manageable. With Fast Passes we didn't wait long for anything (< 10 min). I believe we did everything but RRC.

In short, if you use the fast passes, you can easily do everything once and several things twice. Go early (early entry), knock out a few rides in the first hour, and always get your fast passes (get one during EE for something later). Do the popular rides early, save the not-so-popular rides for later. Get fast passes for things you want to do a second time while you are doing the not-so-popular things. Also, check the wait times. Long lines don't necessarily mean long waits. Most wait times are also overestimated. Hope this helps.

 

[rob'n]

I agree with empkuzco! We just got home from our stay from 10/7 to 10/16. We did early entry most mornings and at the very least were at the parks for opening. I would say the first 90 minutes is great at the parks...pretty much walk right on...plan on using fast passes!

We would leave the parks around noon and head back over to the hotel for lunch and a swim.

It was more crowded than I expected but we hadn't been in 12 years. We will go at this time again...weather was warm and we were able to enjoy the water parks and water rides without freezing! Oh!!! MNSSHP party is one very huge reason to go at this time of year...our kiddies had a blast..as did we...and the waits for rides for short!!

So sad to be back

 

[bajanswife]

Was I at the same place??!! We were there Oct 13 - 15 and the longest we waited for anything, anywhere was 15 mins! Character greeting lines were long at times, though - but we weren't really doing characters.

Oct 13: AK: potential waits were Safari and Kali, but we had FP, so 5 - 10 min wait max. We did Kali twice at the end of the day.

Oct 14: MK for MNSSHP: 4 p.m. to midnight - longest wait was 15 min for Peter Pan - that area was very crowded right around 8.30 p.m. as people were gathering for the fireworks. The mountains were all 5 min waits (no FP). We only trick or treated when the line wasn't too long. We did all the rides except Astro Orbiter, the stuff in Toontown (though we did get pics with Donald Duck at the end of the night!), Small World & Aladdin (closed). This was MNSSHP, which is obviously quite different from a regular park day. When we got there at 4 we didn't attempt rides - we walked around and looked at all the scenery that wouldn't be as good as after dark, like flowers, rustic theming in Adventureland and Frontierland etc. We also took the train around the park to get a feel for it. I got pics with Timon, Rafiki and Big Louie - waited maybe 10 - 15 mins for them. We watched the fireworks and the 10 p.m. parade as well. I was amazed at everything we got done, and for much cheaper than a regular day's entry!

Oct 15: Epcot: didn't get there til noon, but the lines for the F & W booths weren't really long til evening. Still, I never waited longer than 5 - 10 mins at the booths - most waits were more like 3 mins or less earlier in the day. HISTA was walk on, so were the WS rides. Yes it was a bit crowded, but I didn't find it really hampered what we did. The longest wait was actually to get hot chocolate right before Illuminations (it was chilly!) - I was in a line for almost 20 mins cause everyone else was cold and had the same idea! We didn't do FW except HISTA and Living Seas.

We really didn't find it too bad at all overall. Mind you, we were adults and not doing characters. I'd go again with those crowds any day, as long as MK was during MNSSHP! Sounds like MK was bad during the day on the non-MNSSHP days.

 

[dixiegirl]

I'm with you bajanswife - we just returned from our trip Oct 8-15th. Although I found the parks to be slightly more crowded than our previous trips in Oct, I did not find the crowds to be horrible at all. Our hotel was at 98% and that was a mix of regular vacationers, replanners from the hurricanes and some FL residents who are staying there while repairs are being made.

The popular rides we just used fastpass and no problems - we were able to do everything we wanted to and ride some of our faves a couple of times in the same day.

Also we didn't do characters - just DH and I. There were lines for the characters. Overall, we had a fabulous time and have no complaints.

 

[crzy4mk]

Thank you, dixiegirl and bajanswife! It's so hard to get a read on these "crowd" posts, which is why I almost didn't post it. We were there during President's week this year and found that the crowds weren't unbearable (probably because of being at parks at opening, having a touring plan, and using fastpass). As I read the boards when we got back, I was amazed at how many people said the crowds were horrible.

I'm sure it is crowded because of Columbus Day, MNSSHP, and FAWF, but this still can't be as bad as spring break or summer. Do you think maybe all those who thought it was too crowded didn't utilize the things I mentioned above?

Anyway, if any of you out there are meticulous planners like me and were at the world last week, give me your honest opinion . . . were the crowds ok as long as you had a good plan? I'm starting to get concerned about my trip next year.

Help!