Crowd Report..It was good

[mrzrich]

Did a quick one nighter Saturday. Checked into POFQ 9:00 Sat Morning room was already ready. Dropped off bags hopped on the nearly empty bus to MK. Place was not crowded. 5 minute wait for Magic Carpets, 10 for POTC, no wait for HM, 10 for IASW, 10 for Barnstomer, 10 for Snow White, walked into Phillharmagic, no wat for Transit Authority(but rarely ever is) (FP Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan, Pooh, Buzz) Longest wait as always was Dumbo (50 minutes yikes!) but it had been closed for part of the day and its my ds 3's favorite so we had to get on it before we left regardless of the wait. Didn't do the Mountains this trip as DH wasn't with me to babyswap. So I never entered Frointerland to tell you about times, but did see that SM was 50 minutes at 7:00 PM and still FP available.

Entered the park at around 10:30 AM, had a TS lunch at 2:00, got a parade spot on Main Street 2 minutes before parade came by with more spots available. Went back to POFQ for a few hours after parade to swim. Back to MK on an empty bus at 6:00 rode a few more rides and was back on bus to POFQ by 9:30 PM. So the pace was extremely relaxed and included time for shopping. It will only get better now as local schools go back this week!!!

 

[eliza61]

Thanks for the update, We're arriving in 2 weeks and always pick the end of August because the crowds thin out.

 

[Disneyhappy]

I can't tell you how encouraging this is! While I am extremely happy for everyone who has the free DDP, I have been extremely concerned about crowds for our trip scheduled on 8/12. This is the only full week we could go this year due to our son's school and sports schedule and have had it planned since prior to the announcement of the free DDP (January). We are DVC members and are paying for the DDP. With the recent announcement that WDW is extending restuarant hours starting the 13th, I have developed this pit in my stomach about our trip. I don't mind the heat and I don't mind crowds but heat + crowds willl be a bit harder to bear. Thank you again for the encouraging news. We will have a wonderful time no matter what. We may just have to be more flexible this trip (which is a little harder to do considering how hard it is to get ADRs at the last minute during free dining!)

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

This sounds great, we usually go at the end of July (I'm a teacher in England and can't wait to go away the minute school breaks up) but theis year we can't go til mid-August becasue of DH work. I hope the crowds are less, this would make for a fantastic trip if this is so.

 

[crazy4mic]

coming to the world on thurs can we expect large crowds or is thinning out .crowds and heat dont make a good mix

 

[Grandmouse]

Returned last Thursday from our family reunion at DW. We had a huge 8:00 a.m. breakfast at Crystal Place on Sat., July 29, and my immediate family had a lunch ressie for CRT, so we planned to stay most of the day at MK. I was DREADING the crowds at MK, knowing what Saturdays are usually like. What a surprise--it was very pleasant! Yes, there were crowds, but not "throngs." A CM told us that Saturday (and possibly Sunday, really can't remember) were back-to-school tax-free shopping days in Florida, and many of the local schools opened on Monday, July 31, so the locals were not there. It was wonderful! As far as the heat -- it was hotter here in PA than in FLA.

There were many things that weren't good --poor mousekeeping at our resort (a deluxe), a grumpy waitress (and I'm being polite) at Hoop-dee-Doo (pay too much $$ to be treated that way), and CMs are few and far between-- I hardly saw any--not enough cashiers in shops, very few in the parks, etc. On the whole, visiting DW since my first visit in 1981, each time I go I am saddened at how things seem to be declining, while the prices go up.