At WDW, Crowd Report June 12 & 13

[Geoff_M]

We're in the middle of a 5 night trip, and here's the crowd updates. June 12, MK: Busy, but very do-able. We got there at 7:50 for 8:00 EE and thought we were in trouble because the area in front of the gates was full of people. But when we had left by 4 PM we had done all of the rides we wanted to do. We did all of the E-night rides (a couple more than once) plus a lot of others. I never felt the park was "jammed" or had the urge to leave. The longest wait, by far, was Splash at about 25 minutes for walk-on.

June 13, Epcot: Crowd was very light. Had no problems getting on to anything. We ate lunch as the pastry shop in France and the street was basically deserted.

 

[JoEllen]

We'll be there the same time next year since we can't take our DD out of school anymore. How bearable is the heat? Are you getting T storms every day?

Glad to hear the crowds aren't too bad!

JoEllen

 

[donmil723]

We were there too but went into the parks June 10th and June 12th. Did EMH at MGM on Tuesday and it was very crowded. Only did ToT and RNR once each before 9 a.m. Movie Ride had 50 minute wait by 10 a.m. Left at noon and went to Epcot about 4:30. No lines there. On Thursday we did EMH at MK. Not quite as crowded as MGM was but still crowded. Of course we haven't been in the summer since 2001. By noon Space Mtn. and BTMRR had 50-60 minute wait times. Even Small World had a 25 minute wait time about 1 pm. Went to AK in afternoon and the only ride with a wait time over 10 minutes there was Kali River Rapids.

Geoff-Didn't realize they had an e-ride night at MK on Thursday. I thought it was just Tuesday and Friday!

Donna

 

[JimmyMartin]

We noticed the same as donmil723 on Tuesday. I have advised all to skip EE at Studios unless you love TOT and RNR. Donmil did you notice anything different on the movie ride? I think they had bad planning that day because it was only loading half the cars. This was the first early entry since re-hab.

 

[cindyfan]

I have advised all to skip EE at Studios unless you love TOT and RNR.

That is probably the best advise anyone can give for MGM !!!
Since everyone tries to hit TOT and RNR.....then all those people head over to the other shows/rides after EE. There isn't enough to do at MGM to disperse the crowd.
No matter what time of year.....the only EE we do is for AK for the safari (so we can see the animals at their most active in the early morning) and MK (and we head out by 1pm.)

 

[CarolA]

I was there Saturday and I have to say the crowds were much more manageable then I expected. I heard MGM was PACKED due to the Star Wars weekend.

I was talking to a family that had not been in about 5 years before Illuminations. They said they came about the same time 5 years ago and the crowds were DRAMATICALLY lower this time.

 

[donmil723]

Jimmy-We didn't ride Movie Ride until Thursday evening about 7 pm and it was still a 25 minute wait but I wanted to see what they did differently during the rehab. I didn't notice anything different on the ride at all. They were only using one ride vehicle that night too.

Donna

 

[Geoff_M]

Just catching up on the threads after getting back...

Geoff-Didn't realize they had an e-ride night at MK on Thursday. I thought it was just Tuesday and Friday!

Sorry to confuse you... I was refering to the group of rides, not the event. We were able to ride all of the "E-night rides" during the day at MK on Thursday. We also did E-night on Fri the 13th too!

On Sunday 6/15 we split our time between MGM and Epcot. We were at MGM for the drop and rode R-n-R twice and did TT in nothing flat. We just did our favorite attractions, but didn't any encounter any "long" waits until we did GMR. The attraction was down until around noon, so by the time it was open there was a "pent-up" demand. The wait was probably 25 minutes. We were also surprised to see the stand-by wait for Star Tours was only 10 minutes by late morning... during Star Wars weekend!!! Like with MK, our impression was that the crowd was "busy" but was not a problem.

We went to Epcot in the afternoon, and again, the crowd was light. We took our places for places for Illuminations 10 minutes before it started and still got a front row position along the railing outside Germany. The worst part of the day was the heat. It seemed to kick in the "afterburner" that day.

As for the rain... There were pretty good storming the evening of 6/11 and 6/12. Both days to seemed to started around 5-6 PM. There were storms in the area on Fri and Sat, but they missed WDW. Sunday around 5 PM the skies looked bad, there was lots of rumbles, but it only sprinkled for a short time.

 

[mommystieg]

Geoff_M--we were at Illuminations on 6/15 also along the railing in front of Germany. We were to the right of the boat dock--where were you? We also went to MK on 6/13 and found the crowds pretty light. We were able to ride everything we wanted and hit some of the things we missed on Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Geoff, thanks for unknowingly getting me back in these boards!!!!
I read your explanation on another board(I was there searching answers about the DIS and am not a member, could not respond). Anyway, I found a site that gave me the IP address and here I am! I am technically challenged, so your answer helped a lot!!! THANK YOU!!
Looks like you went to Disney right after we left! Welcome back!

 

[Geoff_M]

We were to the right of the boat dock--where were you?

We were on the LEFT side of the boat dock! We were right next to a father and his two young daughters who were right against the wall of the dock. I was the guy that kept leaning over the railing to reach my camera on the wall so I could take picture of the fireworks. They'll be posted here shortly.

BibbidiBobbidiBoo,

Glad to be of assistance. Yep, we flew back on Monday after a great visit. It was our 2nd Honeymoon and our first "alone" trip since our first kid was born over 12 years ago. We got to do the things we liked, ate at a lot of nice restaurants... and joined DVC.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

DH and I did an adults only trip(as he had a meeting in Orlando) last Sept. We enjoyed the Boardwalk and eateries that we don't do with the children . Had to eat at Kona Cafe the day we left ! Anyway, since we now have SP's and just took the kids on a 6 day trip, DH and I plan another quick get away without them-perhaps Sept or Oct. We will be taking them back over Thanksgiving. It IS fun to do the rides the kiddies don't like! And we want to try some restaurants in WS that the kids turn their noses up at ! Glad you had a good trip. I can't wait to be running from coaster to coaster with DH !
PS-I am STILL having to use numbers to get in , so I would still be out if you had not mentioned the number thingie!

 

[Geoff_M]

That was the same idea with our restaurant choices. We dined at Tony's in MK, Artist's Point, Rose & Crown, and California Grill among other places. We decided to live "high on the hog" without the kids. I'd have hated to see the tabs for those meals if all five of us were there!

As for the DNS troubles with the DIS, it's slowly resolving itself. I'm 1 for 2. The DNS updates have been made at my place of work, but they still haven't been updated at the ISP we use at home.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

You are so right! Much more reasonable to eat at those places with just the 2 of us. All the kids want anyway is hamburger, hot dog, chicken or pizza! I can't wait to get a date for our next alone trip so I can make the PS's. CG is on my list!
Where did you stay? We stayed at CSR for our alone trip, but I am spoiled by deluxes now. Would love to try the Poly, though I think my kids would enjoy that too (guilt may prevent me from staying there without them!)

 

[Geoff_M]

We stayed at WL (woods view). We didn't feel too guilty. The older two were off to camp for a week (which they really like) and the 4 year old was off to "cousin camp" at my SIL's. He was more geek'ed about going to sleep at his cousins' than we were in going to WDW!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Great choice! We love WL-woods views! We have AKL booked for our Family Thanksgiving trip.
We did not feel guilty last Sept as the kids were occupied in school(we went on weekdays ). Of course we bought them lots of gifts too .
What was your favorite adult place to eat?

YEAH! I can now access the DIS normally BUT it is VERY slow !