Anyone else go last week? Was that crowd level normal?

[Shasta]

We went March 13th through 20th (last week) and were surprised by the crowds. We have been Spring Break several times and didn't expect the crowds we experienced. It could be that our last few Spring break Trips were in the 4-5 years post 9/11 and those years had low attendance.

So, for those who were there, was that normal?

 

[Missytara]

We went March 13th through 20th (last week) and were surprised by the crowds. We have been Spring Break several times and didn't expect the crowds we experienced. It could be that our last few Spring break Trips were in the 4-5 years post 9/11 and those years had low attendance.

So, for those who were there, was that normal?

Disney actually released a statement early last week that they were overwhelmed by the crowds; and started extending hours like crazy. Apparently, it was not normal or they would have probably been more prepared....

 

[luke6417]

I was there and it was very busy. I expected it though. We still managed to do alot during the first couple hours every morning. We were even able to do alot right before park closing at MK.

 

[Shasta]

We were at rope drop so we were able to do a lot. Last Thursday, MK did extend the hours to 11 from 10.

I'm glad that it wasn't just me. I don't feel like it was a poroblem for us but we were at the parks all day since my DD has gotten older. If I were a late sleeper or couldn't hang in for the whole day, I'd have felt different.

 

[GoBlue34]

I was there and it was very busy. I expected it though. We still managed to do alot during the first couple hours every morning. We were even able to do alot right before park closing at MK.

Us as well. It's amazing how much you can get done in the first 2 hours. We rode almost every ride!

 

[susan0326]

We were there last week. it was our 7th Spring Break trip in March. The crowds were normal until Wednesday and it got steadily worse throughout the week. It was about the heaviest crowd we've ever seen in March! I'm glad this wasn't our first trip. You had to really work the FPs to do the major attractions.

 

[tinkgurl]

We were able to get to the parks early and got a lot done before the crowds started coming in. We really didn't have a problem with them though.

 

[Mom3girls]

We went a week later than that last year and the crowds were NOTHING like that photo!!! It was beautiful weather and the crowds were great!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I was wondering this also. Mom and Dad went for the first time last week and I think they went on about 4 rides all week. And they said that there were long lines everywhere. Dad loves his coffee, but he said the lines were too long even to get coffee, so they must have been busy!

 

[lemondog]

We were there last week as well. I have never been during Spring Break but it was MUCH more crowded than our normal time of late July. I think the 4/3 deal had a lot to do with it.

 

[Shasta]

I was wondering this also. Mom and Dad went for the first time last week and I think they went on about 4 rides all week. And they said that there were long lines everywhere. Dad loves his coffee, but he said the lines were too long even to get coffee, so they must have been busy!

Yes, the food lines were terrible too. We commonly saw 30 people in line for a snack/drink cart. This also caused problems because it would block the main walkways. After the first day, we packed in snack and drinks. Not to save money as much as to save time.

 

[Suellen]

Yikes!!! So glad we re-scheduled our trip to May for the better weather! Looks like we 'may' have also dodged a crowd bullet! I haven't seen it like that since the early 90's.

**Disclaimer** we try to travel in nonpeak times.

 

[RabFlmom]

Yes, the food lines were terrible too. We commonly saw 30 people in line for a snack/drink cart. This also caused problems because it would block the main walkways. After the first day, we packed in snack and drinks. Not to save money as much as to save time.

Yes saw that too. Even at 8:30 PM in Epcot it took us 35 minutes to get drinks and french fries at the Electric Umbrella.

 

[Sea-Donkey]

My last 3 trips have been during Spring Break. The past 2 were the 2nd week of March and crowds were what I would call normal. Last week, which was the 3rd week of March was ridiculous. We are done with Spring Break...we'll find another time. 2 hour wait for Space Mountain or 70 minutes for Big Thunder? I quit going in the summer years ago due to crowds. Toy Story was 2.5 hours all the time. Fast passes were gone in a hurry. We didn't get to do Tower of Terror, Soaring, or Expedition Everest this time due to crowds...but we did hit Space Mountain for 8 trips by going late!

 

[jdb1232]

We were at VWL from the 17th to late in the day of the 20th. Crowds were much bigger than I expected. between 90 and 120 minute waits for the most popular rides (tsm,soarin,test track,space mountain,etc) Parks were packed with softball teams, cheerleaders and spring breakers.

We didn't expect the crowds to be that big, nevertheless it was still a good time. Make sure you have a strategy for the rides and don't sleep in everyday, be prepared to motivate in the morning. Have fun.

 

[jdb1232]

Like Sea-Donkey we will not be going back during Spring Break again either. We usually travel in Oct. or November.

The crowds last week were just like June and July, nuts...

 

[brajfamily]

We went March 13th through 20th (last week) and were surprised by the crowds. We have been Spring Break several times and didn't expect the crowds we experienced. It could be that our last few Spring break Trips were in the 4-5 years post 9/11 and those years had low attendance.

So, for those who were there, was that normal?

Where was this picture taken? I can't place it....

 

[sassyredhead]

We were there last week (March 13th-20th) and the crowds were crazy! However,5 of us had GAD fastpass cards, which were a blessing. Otherwise, I'm not sure we would have been able to ride everything. We made it to rope drop everyday, which helped, and also stayed later in the evenings, when the crowds died down. We had the best time at MK on Friday night between 10pm and midnight; the crowds were non-existant!

Since this was our third trip in 4 years, it wasn't a big deal. But, I would have been upset had this been our first trip! Not sure I'll do spring break again. I'll still to Memorial Day week; much less crowded and much warmer!

 

[Plucker001]

We were there the 13th-20th also. It did seem more crowded than the previous year but it didn't bother us much. We used FastPasses, tried to get to the parks w/in an hour of opening (never made it to rope drop!), and tried to grab lunch b/w 11 and 11:30. Had ADR's for dinners made at 180 days out. The Diamond Horseshoe and Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station were both open at MK-I've never been there when they've been open!

Maybe someone can explain this-several days (in the afternoon) TSM standby line was 120 min but no one was in it and the FastPass line extended outside to the FastPass machines. When we got inside to the point where they blend the FastPass and standby people (at the top of the steps) DH asked a standby guest how long they had been waiting and they said 20 minutes! Bizarre...

 

[KateKat23]

We were there the 13th-20th also. It did seem more crowded than the previous year but it didn't bother us much. We used FastPasses, tried to get to the parks w/in an hour of opening (never made it to rope drop!), and tried to grab lunch b/w 11 and 11:30. Had ADR's for dinners made at 180 days out. The Diamond Horseshoe and Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station were both open at MK-I've never been there when they've been open!

Maybe someone can explain this-several days (in the afternoon) TSM standby line was 120 min but no one was in it and the FastPass line extended outside to the FastPass machines. When we got inside to the point where they blend the FastPass and standby people (at the top of the steps) DH asked a standby guest how long they had been waiting and they said 20 minutes! Bizarre...

Was this on Tuesday March 16 at about 4:30 or 5:00?? We went to use our fastpasses at TSM about 3:00 and everyone was evacuating the building!! So we walk up to use our fastpasses and the CM tells us TSM has just shut down. At this point we see all the employees coming out and they are asking everyone to step away from the building. My DH asks a CM what is going on and he tells my hubby that some guy jumped off the ride and that they had to go thru all there emergency procedures. They told everyone that they would honor all the fastpasses when the ride starts up. So my family camps out there and finally at 5:00 the ride comes back up and we were the first ones on!! When we exited the building we saw that the wait in standby was 90 but we stop a CM and he said it was more like 20 minutes at 5:00. We were going to go on again but decided to head over to Epcot instead. I thought the CM over at TSM were so wonderful towards everyone during this time.