crowd levels throughout the day

[disneymoon0606]

I've heard on here that what seems to work best as far as avoiding crowds is to go as soon as the park opens and then leave in the afternoon and come back after dinner. Now, I'm going to WDW in June, so I know crowds will be nearly unavoidable. But here's what I don't get: if everyone is given the suggestion that they leave in the afternoon then wouldn't it make sense for there to be fewer crowds then? Or are there still so many people that just get there in the afternoon?

I'm sure this makes a lot of sense - and quite honestly I will probably leave during the afternoon because it's going to be so stinkin' hot - but if someone could explain to me why certain times of the day are more crowded than others i would really appreciate it!

Thanks!
jenna

 

[Tissa]

We went this past June and used the arrive early and leave at noon plan and things were fine. I noticed when I got back to the hotel around 12:00 that there were a lot of people waiting for busses to go to the park, a lot more than when I left earlier so I think they don't follow the plan

 

[kmkja1]

I think most people just can't make it out of bed, eat breakfast and get to the park in the early hours.

 

[Crazy4mandms]

I think a lot of people feel like 'hey, I"m on vacation, I want to relax, sleep in, etc." I know the first time we went it took a lot of convincing my hubby that we had to be at parks at opening to avoid crowds. After all the mumbling and grumbling he reluctantly agreed and boy was he glad we did as he saw the crowds just pouring in (about noonish) as we were heading back to (an almost empty) resort pool! After that he felt it was very worth getting up ealry to head to the parks.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

I think a lot of people feel like 'hey, I"m on vacation, I want to relax, sleep in, etc." I know the first time we went it took a lot of convincing my hubby that we had to be at parks at opening to avoid crowds. After all the mumbling and grumbling he reluctantly agreed and boy was he glad we did as he saw the crowds just pouring in (about noonish) as we were heading back to (an almost empty) resort pool! After that he felt it was very worth getting up ealry to head to the parks.

We have the exact same experience EVERY trip! Those poor people just getting to the parks in the heat of the day, fast passes are getting thin, and you are heading out to empty buses, empty pools etc

 

[mill4023]

But here's what I don't get: if everyone is given the suggestion that they leave in the afternoon then wouldn't it make sense for there to be fewer crowds then?

What you have to remember is that the majority of WDW visitors don't read the DIS and don't buy the Unofficial Guide. So it's not actually "everyone" that is given that suggestion. And even among those who have heard that advice, many choose to ignore it because they don't want to get up early while on vacation.
But I can tell you from experience that the afternoons are definitely the most crowded times. The longest lines you will see on most of the popular rides will be in the afternoons.

 

[disneymoon0606]

Thanks you guys. I guess that makes a lot of sense. And I will definitely look forward to afternoons of relaxing. How crowded do you find the parks in the evenings and at night? Just curious, because don't they usually close pretty late in the summer?