Crowd Levels - Just back from Disney

[PezDSpencer]

WOW.

First off, let me say we did have fun. It's still Disney and it's all what you make of it.

Crowd Levels: ENORMOUS

Those Disney promotions must be working. I realize this is the start of spring break season, but we've been there many times during this same time period and I have never seen it that crowded.

Fast passes to all major rides - gone by noon for the entire day.

Standby times for Rockin' Roller Coaster / Soarin / Expedition Everest / etc., anywhere from 90-130 minutes. And again, unless you run straight to FastPass distribution when the park opens, these wait times are the only option.

Long story short, we made the most of the trip by visiting some of the shows and enjoying the meals, fireworks, etc. We had tickets through today, but we decided we'd had enough elbows and hoverrounds to the heels for one trip and decided to leave last night. Waiting in line 40 minutes for a Casey's dog at 2pm was the last straw.

We've probably been spoiled by going during the fall seasons over the years, but this will be our last spring Disney trip even if that means taking the kids out of school for a few days.

Enjoy it spring goers ... just know it's going to be very crowded out there!

 

[OhMari]

I'm going a few days after Easter,
hopefully it will ease up a little, but I'm sure I'm just "fooling" myself and trying to believe it. Right now, I can't wait to get out of the midwest, our winter has been way to long. I just about froze to death the other day. When I got home from my walk, I saw our temperature gage was 32 degrees.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

I went to Epcot today, and it was crowded. We didnt even try rides, just went for dinner and Davy Jones show. There were lines at even the outdoor food carts.

 

[peytonmcnair]

That's disappointing to hear. We are going the first week of May and I was hoping to avoid the crowds by not going during the summer and Spring Break week. Thanks for the update!

 

[KLUCA]

We just got back today and I found the crowds to be enormous as well. I don't believe the crowd calendars I saw were accurate predictions. Since we have 2 little kids, we just tried to do a few things and enjoy the open play spaces, etc. However, I talked to so many frustrated moms with older kids who wanted to ride bigger rides and had terrible waits.
I also found the busses between Pop and the parks VERY full and almost dangerously so at times, but we made the best of it. My only real issue with the crowds was the 3 hour wait for Fantasmic (which we didn't end up doing) and the 90 minute wait to meet Tinkerbell and her friends at the Toontown Fair.
The good news was that the weather was nice and so were all the other people we met. So friendly!
My main suggestion is that you plan your day and get to the parks early and back off mid day and then maybe go to main attractions again later in the day. Good luck everyone!

 

[peytonmcnair]

Where can you get information on crowd calendars?

 

[KLUCA]

try The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World's site www.touringplans.com
I love the book and the site has been nice too.

 

[PezDSpencer]

We just got back today and I found the crowds to be enormous as well. I don't believe the crowd calendars I saw were accurate predictions.

Agreed. No way those were '6' rating days. I'm surprised this is not a larger issue right now on the DIS.

This was the first year we drove to Disney, so we were able to use the car around and about. HUGE advantage not having to wait on the buses, boats, and monorail with crowds this high, IMO.

Let me also say the custom POI downloads from mousesavers for your GPS are absolutely AWESOME to have at Disney if you are using a car.

 

[tlh0726]

We were there from 3/14-3/22. Noticed the larger crowds at MK starting Friday evening. Sunday morning there were 3 ferrys running from MK parking instead of 2.
We did Fantasmic thursday night. It was standing room only with over an hour to go before start time. Was at DHS rope drop Friday morning, to get fast pass for Toy Story Mania, fast passes for Toy Story for the day were gone by 1130am.
We did manage to get alot of pictures and autographs with the characters. DD4 and DS3 had a great time. Lost our autograph book mid week. It was at Lost and Found central 2 days later. Many many thanks to the honest person who turned it in.

Here is our listing - can't wait to get the photos back to complete their book
Aladdin
Alice
Annie
Anastasia
Ariel
Princess Aurora
Baloo
Beast
Belle ( in blue dress )
Belle ( in gold dress )
Bolt
Brer Bear
Buzz Lightyear
Captain Hook
Chip
Cinderella
Daisy
Dale
Donald Duck
Drizella
Eeyore
Fairy Godmother
Fawn
Flik
Frozone
The Genie
Geppetto
Goliath
Goofy
Green Army Man
Handy Manny
Iridessa
Jasmine
Jiminy Cricket
Jo Jo
June
Kenai
Koda
Lady Tremaine
Leo
Lilo
Marie
Mary Poppins
Meeko
Mickey Mouse
Minnie Mouse
Mittens
Mr. Incredible
Mr. Smee
Mrs. Incredible
Mulan
Peter Pan
Pinocchio
Pluto
Pocahontas
Pooh
Quincy
Rafiki
Ratcliffe
Rhino
Silvermist
Snow White
Stitch
Terk
Tigger
Timon
Tinkerbelle
White Rabbit
Woody

 

[Noobie]

I agree.... crowds were worse than I expected. Fast Psses were planned with strategy. Some waits were crazy. 140 min for Soarin at Epcot? hell no (we didn't get fast passes... got FS for Test Track instead and by the time we could get more FS, they were out at Soarin) Never got to ride Space Mountain (even with FS). One thing that helped us was the "toddler exchange" for Rockn Roller Coaster. I went first and went through the single rider line. Got a pass from the CM to give to hubby to go through Fast Pass line which was much faster than single rider. It is an option at all rides where your little one isn't tall enough for the ride, but you have to ask specifically about the hand-off pass! Some CMs either didn't know about it or were less than forthcoming about it but ask for it! It helps! Allows the 2nd parent to go through FP line!

 

[Brocoloco]

Any thoughts about the non-marquee rides/attractions? Could you avoid the crowds by taking kids to other stuff?

 

[PrincessAlways]

I hope the crowds are more manageable next week! I'll be there 3/29-4/2.