Considering canceling and could use some reality checks/advice

[Bashful2]

If you decide to go on your Thanksgiving trip, don't forget all of the decorations. Wilderness Lodge is beautiful that time of year and the gingerbread house at Grand Floridian is amazing. Sure, it would be nice to go after Thanksgiving when the crowds die down a bit, but, even with the crowds, it's a wonderful time of year to visit.

 

[Garyjames220]

We are going to go middle of November 2019

Any ideas what I can expect the crowds to be like then

 

[mshanson3121]

We are going to go middle of November 2019

Any ideas what I can expect the crowds to be like then

If Star Wars has opened, crazy busy, and at Hollywood Studios itself, an insane madhouse of epic proportions.

 

[kandb]

You have to know yourself. Personally, I would be miserable in super crowded parks waiting for rides, bathrooms and places to eat. It would not be worth going to me since mobs of people are not something that I find enjoyable. If you had a lot of money and went and didn't have that great a time, it probably wouldn't be a big deal if you had money to blow but if it's something you saved up for a long time, it would be a lot worse.

 

[kandb]

Don't believe a lot of the hype you read here, I think much of it is overblown. We are WDW veterans and AP holders. We were there for Thanksgiving this year. Busy, sure. Terrible? Absolutely no way. Learn and use FP, have patience and you will have the time of your life!! Go, enjoy, don't worry.

Why should she not believe much of what she reads here? Do you think people are making up how they feel about rides going down all the time and heavy crowds and waits? Why do you thnk people "overblown" things? I think people on here give their honest opinions, even if it is not your opinion.

 

[kandb]

Family vacations are about making memories. Even if it’s crowded, it can’t keep you from having those memorable family moments. The trip will be what you make of it.

This is only true to a point. If you go to the parks and don't want to wait 2-3 hours for a ride and a lot of the rides are down and crowds are so numerous that you feel like everywhere you turn you are waiting, some people don't find that enjoyable. Thanksgiving week is super crowded and maybe some find insane crowds OK to deal with but others don't. The OP is being realistic about what she will probably have to deal with during that week.

 

[kandb]

305 Minute wait for FOP? Are there really people who would wait over 5 hours to go on a few minute ride? I find this mind-boddeling? What do you do for 5 hours? That is insane!

 

[whiporee]

Why should she not believe much of what she reads here? Do you think people are making up how they feel about rides going down all the time and heavy crowds and waits? Why do you thnk people "overblown" things? I think people on here give their honest opinions, even if it is not your opinion.

1) A lot of people who comment on rides being down are actually watching the app and not actually experiencing the problem. That makes it look like a lot more people are affected than actually are. I also think there is a natural tendency to exaggerate when explaining a situation that was less than optimal. Plus, when someone is relaying a story in order to make a point about things not being great, they also have a tendency to leave out details that do not support their argument. Not a criticism, but a reason why complains should be taken with a grain of salt.

2) There's a nostalgia level here that projects that WDW is perpetually the worst its ever been. The same people who complain adamantly say they'll never wait 30 minutes for a ride forget that every ride used to be 30 minutes at least -- I remember an hour at POC being the norm back before FPs.

 

[Farro]

Why should she not believe much of what she reads here? Do you think people are making up how they feel about rides going down all the time and heavy crowds and waits? Why do you thnk people "overblown" things? I think people on here give their honest opinions, even if it is not your opinion.

It's not that their opinions aren't honest, but they are presented in a hyperbolic way so they can prove their point.

I can't even believe the amount of posts last year telling anyone going in October "IT'S GOING TO BE AWFUL!!!!".
Yes, it's more crowded than it used to be, but nowhere near the apocalyptic picture people were painting of it.

And quite frankly, I think an expectation of all ride wait times to be under 30 minutes is just unrealistic. You are setting yourself up for disappoint if that's the expectation. 30 - 40 minutes goes by quite quickly anyways in those queues.

 

[Garyjames220]

If Star Wars has opened, crazy busy, and at Hollywood Studios itself, an insane madhouse of epic proportions.

Hope am not silly going at the time

What do u think the other parks will be like

 

[Farro]

If Star Wars has opened, crazy busy, and at Hollywood Studios itself, an insane madhouse of epic proportions.

Really?

 

[Farro]

Hope am not silly going at the time

What do u think the other parks will be like

It will be crowded at DHS when Star Wars opens, plan wisely, utilize rope drop when you can and be smart with your fast passes. Other parks may have over flow, but follow the same advice and you will be fine.

I bet you will have a blast!!! I'm jealous, we aren't going back until 2020.

 

[mshanson3121]

Really?

Yup. Based on what others here have said. Did you not read about the insanity of Pandora when it opened? Star Wars will be much worse.

 

[mshanson3121]

305 Minute wait for FOP? Are there really people who would wait over 5 hours to go on a few minute ride? I find this mind-boddeling? What do you do for 5 hours? That is insane!

Yup. People did it. As for what they did while in line, no idea. No 5 minute ride on earth is worth over an hour's wait in my opinion.

1) A lot of people who comment on rides being down are actually watching the app and not actually experiencing the problem

A lot of the commentors on recent threads were first hand accounts of actual time spent in line.

 

[Farro]

Yup. Based on what others here have said. Did you not read about the insanity of Pandora when it opened? Star Wars will be much worse.

Sure did. Pandora was very busy, the rest of Animal Kingdom was manageable.

 

[Garyjames220]

It will be crowded at DHS when Star Wars opens, plan wisely, utilize rope drop when you can and be smart with your fast passes. Other parks may have over flow, but follow the same advice and you will be fine.

I bet you will have a blast!!! I'm jealous, we aren't going back until 2020.

Do you think the crowds will just be really bad in all the parks cos of Star Wars land opening

Would it put u off going

Just hope it’s not sooo crowded it spoils it

 

[mshanson3121]

Sure did. Pandora was very busy, the rest of Animal Kingdom was manageable.

Yup. You're forgetting that AK is almost 5x as large as HS, and Star Wars will draw far bigger crowds than Pandora.

 

[Farro]

Do you think the crowds will just be really bad in all the parks cos of Star Wars land opening

Would it put u off going

Just hope it’s not sooo crowded it spoils it

Well, I just don't know.
Again, your best bet is to just plan, plan, plan! There will be crowds, expect it, but I don't know what level of crowds will spoil it for you.

Again, I can't say for sure, but I think the only parts that will be VERY (maybe intense for some) crowded will be Star Wars Land. Maybe skip it if it doesn't interest you.

And no, it would not put me off going at all!!! Wish we could go next year!

 

[Farro]

Yup. AK is almost 5x as large as HS, and Star Wars will draw far bigger crowds than Pandora.

Well, whatever. I'm sure anyone who goes will have a good time. I certainly wouldn't discourage anyone from vacationing because of it.

 

[mshanson3121]

Do you think the crowds will just be really bad in all the parks cos of Star Wars land opening

Would it put u off going

Just hope it’s not sooo crowded it spoils it

There's going to be overflow in the parks for sure. MK will be the worst. I'm guessing MK on non party days will be a 10 (since they're already 8-9). AK and EP will still be very manageable I'm sure since they typically are only 4-6 that time of year. HS will be a madhouse.