Crowd Calendars Comparison ?

[BuckeyeBama]

Ahhhh. So it is the "Chicken Little's" who are disseminating false information because you walked on AK all day?

Yes, in saying that the parks are always crowded. It is simply not true. People need to stop with this misinformation.

 

[siskaren]

We are here now and both major sites were off yesterday and the day before. Yesterday predicted crowds at MK were 3 (non subscription) & 6 (subscription) if I remember correctly, but actual was 10. I think early starts and/or late nights along with strategic timing for FP+ is essential for a decent day. If crowds are lighter, consider it a bonus.

I'm sorry, but you did not experience level 10 crowds post-holiday - 10 is the most crowded it ever gets, with phased closures a real possibility. If you want to see what level 10 wait times look like, check this post from easyWDW:

http://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/di...-wait-times-the-definition-of-a-10-crowd-day/

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I'm sorry, but you did not experience level 10 crowds post-holiday - 10 is the most crowded it ever gets, with phased closures a real possibility. If you want to see what level 10 wait times look like, check this post from easyWDW:

http://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/di...-wait-times-the-definition-of-a-10-crowd-day/

There was a 10 crowd based on wait times in MK on Tuesday. Now, that doesn't mean that the crowds were like NYE, but NYE way exceeded the standard 10 crowd.

 

[wdw71]

It looks to me like like the crowd calendars are all over the place. In our experience a good touring plan is way more important than the crowd levels. We have always used Touring Plans and it has never let us down. We don't always stick strictly to the TP but it helps to get there early and follow it to start. We've always been able to ride everything we have wanted and we usually travel during the busy summer.

 

[casperthegm]

We prefer EasyWDW. It's usually pretty accurate. Like others have said, it MK on Tuesday was recommended as a lighter day but it definitely was not. Was it a 10? Doubt it but as a Disney veteran I can tell you it was pretty packed with some big wait times that kind of took us by surprise. When things are off it seems that it's usually for MK. We're finding it tougher to find slower days at that park. Epcot was a little problematic on a predicted slow day, when it came to getting a 4th fp after our first 3 (by noon)- Test Track no longer available, as there was no Soarin to offset demand. were used upAK was light yesterday, so that forecast was accurate. No crowd calendar is perfect but I'm sticking with Easywdw.

 

[lizzyb]

So, question... they usually do not recommend the parks that have EMH. As a resort guest, are you better off going those parks and taking advantage of EMH or follow the touring plan?

 

[casperthegm]

Staying at a Disney resort, I don't typically go to the parks with emh when we are here, as we are this week. The exception that might be beneficial is if it's morning hours. If you can get there to take advantage of it, those early hours really pay off. The parks that stay open later with extra evening hours draw larger crowds during the day, so we avoid them. Opinions will vary on this of course, but I agree with Easywdw's logic on this one.

 

[Boopuff]

We were there early Dec. I remember walking into Epcot and thinking :so this is what it looks like without crowds! Minimal waits everywhere (except for Soarin' and TT of course but those topped out at 30)

 

[wdw71]

So, question... they usually do not recommend the parks that have EMH. As a resort guest, are you better off going those parks and taking advantage of EMH or follow the touring plan?

You could go take advantage of an EMH Morning and then hop to another park if you have the PH option on your ticket and it gets crowed. But we have gone for EMHM using a TP and it works great. It is amazing how much you can get done in the early hours. I think its too early to wake up for most vacationing people. I've never stayed for EMHE so I can't speak on them.

 

[TXStormtrooper]

I think the closing of Soarin' is throwing things off. Many people will simply not be going to Epcot now, which means those people will disperse between the other parks (most of them heading to MK). The reality is, with the various construction projects and refubs going on across the other 3 parks, we will see higher crowds at MK for awhile.

 

[kmarie99]

A crowd level now is higher than a crowd level 6 years ago. I think a lot of people see a level 3 and think it is going to be the same level 3 they saw in 2009, it is not. I was (kindof still am) one of those people that have to keep reminding myself that the numbers have changed.

 

[patster734]

So, question... they usually do not recommend the parks that have EMH. As a resort guest, are you better off going those parks and taking advantage of EMH or follow the touring plan?

Thanks. I had the same question. We're going to Epcot either Thursday, April 7th, or Friday, April 8th, for F&G festival. I was planning to visit Thursday because of the morning EMH, and to avoid Friday because I expect an increase in the afternoon crowd as locals get off work to attend the festival. But all crowd calendars show Friday as less crowded at Epcot than Thursday.

 

[FirstDown]

There was a 10 crowd based on wait times in MK on Tuesday. Now, that doesn't mean that the crowds were like NYE, but NYE way exceeded the standard 10 crowd.

More threads and posts today on how "Disney is always crowded. ". Just thought you would like to know! Oh, and no one is talking about AK

 

[Wish_upon_a_cat]

I'm sorry, but you did not experience level 10 crowds post-holiday - 10 is the most crowded it ever gets, with phased closures a real possibility. If you want to see what level 10 wait times look like, check this post from easyWDW:

http://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/di...-wait-times-the-definition-of-a-10-crowd-day/

Yeah, to be clear, I'm not saying it was a 10. The subscription site is saying it was a 10. You can argue with them if you like, no skin off my nose! We still had lots of fun regardless.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

More threads and posts today on how "Disney is always crowded. ". Just thought you would like to know! Oh, and no one is talking about AK

We were back in MK yesterday and it was pretty crowded by 3 pm. ALloyd of the other parks are pretty empty. Seems that construction has everyone spending most of their time in MK. No more people in WDW than anticipated, but more in MK.

 

[DavidNYC]

I would never recommend anyone pay for a crowd calendar. If you have a basic understanding of the parks, they don't really do anything magical. All of the factors they take into account are well known and all over the boards. That being said, I love that EasyWDW has much of that info in once place and compiles it for me so I don't have to go look at several different resources). Overall crowd calendars won't get you very far and I still doubt you're going to find major differences that go beyond subjective interpretations of the same thing. Far more important is understanding the usual ebb and flow during the day, such as rope drop and end of evenings, what rides are most effective use of FP, which rides/attractions to do during the busiest parts of the day, strategies for hopping etc.

And I agree with "Disney is always crowded" if you're someone who remembers a while back when there were periods where the place was just empty at times and not only were many rides walk ons but you'd be the only person riding (including popular rides). But saying it's always crowded doesn't mean it's unreasonable. I've generally found my trips the last few years (between Oct and Jan but not X-mas week) to be crowded but very manageable. Usually stand in a line of 30 minutes or more 2-3 times during a 5 day trip. But yes - the days of "empty" parks are over - but there's still a huge difference between most and least crowded times.

 

[DavidNYC]

You could go take advantage of an EMH Morning and then hop to another park if you have the PH option on your ticket and it gets crowed. But we have gone for EMHM using a TP and it works great. It is amazing how much you can get done in the early hours. I think its too early to wake up for most vacationing people. I've never stayed for EMHE so I can't speak on them.

This! Absolute best option is if you have a hopper, and will actually get there by rope drop, go do the EMH park for a few hours in the morning. EMH and the first hour or two after opening will be very reasonable. Then hop to another park where you will use your FP+. If you're not going to make rope drop, you've blown the benefit of EMH and I'd go with the avoid the park strategy. I usually stay at Bonnet Creek lately so never hit a EHM park except to the extent I want a certain parade or evening show not otherwise available (or if I'm doing World Showcase where the crowds don't really matter to me).

 

[redsbe]

Thanks. I had the same question. We're going to Epcot either Thursday, April 7th, or Friday, April 8th, for F&G festival. I was planning to visit Thursday because of the morning EMH, and to avoid Friday because I expect an increase in the afternoon crowd as locals get off work to attend the festival. But all crowd calendars show Friday as less crowded at Epcot than Thursday.

We avoid EMH because getting up that early (for an 8a or even 7a RD) means a earlier night/shorter day the day before and also a shorter day for us when using EMH as we will not last into the evening that EMH day. So with EMH you gain perhaps one hour of early non-business park hour, but can end up losing another 2-3 park hours day before and evening of. So we go to non EMH park and use 9am RD for all park days to still get advantage of slower park hours in mornings without use of EMH and often stay until close (we also do not park hop due to lost of park hours traveling and most popular rides busy by afternoons in all parks).

 

[Magpie]

There was a 10 crowd based on wait times in MK on Tuesday. Now, that doesn't mean that the crowds were like NYE, but NYE way exceeded the standard 10 crowd.

Well, if Tuesday was the "new 10" and NYE exceeded 10, then we clearly need a new way of measuring crowd levels!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Well, if Tuesday was the "new 10" and NYE exceeded 10, then we clearly need a new way of measuring crowd levels!

NYE crowds in Epcot and MK are way beyond any other crowd day. They deserve their own rank.