Anyone in WDW that can tell us about the weather & the crowds ?

[wdwstar]

Anyone in WDW that can tell us about the weather & the crowds ?

i am trying to figure out our park days and the weather from the internet changes three times a day, lol

and at this point how are the crowds ? i am trying to see if its already crowded or by this week it will be more crowded.

 

[Ksp]

My guess is that by Christmas day, it will be incredibly crowded, and by Monday, 12/27....phenomonally crowded.

 

[4407mark]

We just returned Mon 12/20 from 5 days at VWL. We were in all four parks and had a great time - we did MVMCP on Thursday and the crowd was about what I expected for that. We ran into long lines waiting to get into AK on Saturday but lines inside the park weren't bad at all. We did the Osborne Spectacle of Lights on Saturday and that was packed. From what I understand, it will be that way from now through probably at least Monday or Tuesday if not through New Years. MK and EPCOT were very busy on Monday - at least as busy as I've seen in June and July.

As for weather - it was cool when we arrived and gradually warmed up through last Saturday when I think the high was around 73 or 74. Then it cooled down again. I'm from the midwest and certainly used to the cold - and I was wearing a golf shirt, sweatshirt and light jacket on Monday. The wind was strong and I think Florida's humidity makes the cold worse. From what I can tell now, it looks like they're going to be unseasonably cool until at least Christmas Day. I would definitely pack for the cooler weather!

Have a great time!

Mark

 

[goldilocks_63]

WDWStar,

It's very crowded. Needed the stroller for DD-6, so she doesn't get stepped on.

It's cold (so bring long sleeve shirts, pants (jeans), sweatshirts, hats, gloves, and blanket for little ones). ALso swimsuit (old one) for the hottubs (ie fading).

It's supposed to rain the next few days, so maybe rain poncho, and collapsable umbrella.

I'm going to CP tomorrow, and going to bring a blanket, because the seats are metal, and kinda cold after an hour

also, decided due to it being cold, to cancel CP for DD, and putting her in sandcastle club (which I think she'll enjoy more).

Having said all that, weather is all over the place. Was warm enough today to swim, and last Friday (water was warm, getting out was H - E - double hockey sticks).

We have the BCV tree. It was great. GOt a picture I'll post when we get back.

Got to see NYE practice fireworks for Epcot last Friday. They were spectacular. Anyone wanting to see them for NYE will be really pleased, I think.

GOt more bad family news..... I have Easter Reservations (OKW- primo expensive point days), and now not sure if I'll be able to go. May need some help on what to do, but won't know more about medical situation for another week or so. SO please send pixie dust for my MOM.

OH, and my own opinion, but was disappointed with the osborne lights. Now looks much more urban, and I guess I like the old fashioned Americana look.

Also, chickened out and bought a few PHP tickets, as fillers, because the Magic Your Way tickets can't be passed around (CM said they will have person's name on them).

Goldi

Be back to COLD Illinois on Friday afternoon. Have a great trip!!!!

 

[tjkraz]

Got to see NYE practice fireworks for Epcot last Friday. They were spectacular. Anyone wanting to see them for NYE will be really pleased, I think.

Are you sure that wasn't just the holiday add-on to Illuminations that's been running since Thanksgiving? We saw Illuminations twice last week. Both times there was an extra 10 minutes at the end of the normal show with the song "Let There Be Peace On Earth" accompanied by Walter Cronkite narration.

Is this what you saw or something different?

 

[Caskbill]

Are you sure that wasn't just the holiday add-on to Illuminations that's been running since Thanksgiving? We saw Illuminations twice last week. Both times there was an extra 10 minutes at the end of the normal show with the song "Let There Be Peace On Earth" accompanied by Walter Cronkite narration.

Is this what you saw or something different?

We've been here since Nov 30th and have seen several Epcot Illuminations during the last 3-weeks, including last Friday's. Yes, it's the holiday add-on that they're doing immediadely after the illuminations display that they saw. We've been here for seveal NYE celebrations and I expect this year NYE will be more than just the holiday add-on.

As to crowds, they have increased considerably this week now that the kids are out of school. Went to Epcot today, typical lines were about an hour for Test Track, Mission Space. Early in the day Spaceship Earth was about 45 minutes, but at about 4:30 pm it was a walk-on. At one time Norway's Maelstrom had about 45 minutes, but later was down to about 10 minutes. Mexico (at about 3:00 pm) was a walk-on.

Yesterday at MK was very crowded. Even Pirates had a long line (about 50 minutes if I recall) but was down to 5 minutes by evening. Splash mountain was running lines of about 85 minutes early, and down to about an hour later in the day. Spectromagic was running a line longer than one theatre group so getting in line would not get you into the next show, but definitely the following show. Don't know if that one tapered off later or not. Haunted Mansion line wasn't too bad at about 25 minutes by early evening. Fireworks (wishes) was at 11:00 pm last night and the crowd was still large even that late. We dallied around for about 1/2 hour after the fireworks ended, and then went to the monorail and still had about a 15 minute line.

We use fast-pass for everything we can so didn't actually use any of those long lines. Remember you can get a new fast pass 1-hour after the last fast pass you got. You don't have to wait until fast-pass time actually arrives. Example: You get a fast-pass at 11:00 am for an attraction that is good for 2:55-3:55 that afternoon. You can get another fast-pass at 12:00 (1-hour after getting the 1st fast-pass) for another attraction. So that's tip-of-the-day for anyone who wasn't aware of that.

You can expect crowds to be heavy the rest of the month, and tapering off considerably right after the 1st.

It did not really rain today as predicted (Did spit a little in the AM, but nothing at all after noon for the rest of the day). Current forecast (just now shown on TV local news is for high of 60 tomorrow (Friday) and rain. High of 58 on Saturday with rain. Sunday Partly Cloudy with high of 62. Warming up next week.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night.

Bill

 

[goldilocks_63]

Friday, we saw the Illuminations fireworks, with the extra 10 minute display, "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me...." finished about 9:40 p.m.

Then, was staying at BCV 4th flooor Illuminations view, and got a phone call from CM saying that there would be a special NYE practice of fireworks at midnight, and they hoped it wouldn't disturb us. It was held around 12:30 a.m., and was truely awesome!!!!

So yes, I did mean to say we saw the preview of the NYE Illuminations, and it was great! Also, longer.

Today, weather was great. Somewhere around 74ish, so we swam at SAB all day (no parks). Build a gingerbread house with Stephan, the German chef who makes the BCV carousel display. Loads of fun.

So I don't know what else to say about the weather, except pack for everything I guess. Going home tomorrow to IL, which is high of 6 DEGREES. Buuurrrrrrr!!!!

Great Trip, more later, Goldi