Crowds today- really that bad?

[DJFan88]

Here now. Went to MK opening at 8. Knocked out HM, Carousel, Winnie, Tea Cups, Dumbo, Barnstormer, Little Mermaid, PeopleMover, Buzz,Peter Pan (FP), Small World (FP), Mine Train (FP),half a dozen photopass photogs, a little shopping by 12.

I agree. I also thought MK yesterday last night was good, in fact I commented to family it didn't seem as busy. Oh yeah, still busy, but could definitely move around easier. Of course TS Land helped the MK no doubt. Friday on EMH MK, it did seem a little busier than other EMH MKs we've done, but we still got our plan done fine.

 

[Withnail]

September is the closest thing there still is anymore. Obviously you want to avoid holidays and other times when kids are out of school. Just keep in mind that “lower crowds” in 2018 means something different than it used to. And even during those times, don’t expect wait times to necessarily go down much. Wait times were heinous early this year during traditional “slow time”. The guy from Touring Plans went into it on a podcast. MyMagic+ data lets Disney staff down.

That’s why I’m trying to tell you it’s most important to have a good plan, because that will help you more than trying to find a mythical time of year when everything is walk on. There’s a lot of things you can do to minimize your time spent waiting in Standby lines regardless of when you go.

So, the way it is now, is that what I can expect year round? And a follow up question, is Disneyland the same way now, or are there slow times there still?

 

[anniemae]

So, the way it is now, is that what I can expect year round? And a follow up question, is Disneyland the same way now, or are there slow times there still?

Basically Yes. Disney is trying to even out crowds so there is NO slow time. For the traditional slower times, they add parties and events to boost attendance. They reduce staff and run reduced ride frequency i.e. like only running one track, so you basically wait the same amount of time year round.

 

[Withnail]

Basically Yes. Disney is trying to even out crowds so there is NO slow time. For the traditional slower times, they add parties and events to boost attendance. They reduce staff and run reduced ride frequency i.e. like only running one track, so you basically wait the same amount of time year round.

That sounds dreadful. Not sure it's even worth the trip.

 

[anniemae]

That sounds dreadful. Not sure it's even worth the trip.

It's just their way of making the crowds more even. They don't want any slow times. That is why they have been adding parties and extending the festivals and events. That is why Halloween parties start in Aug, and F and W is starting early too. It's the way they want it. It is still possible to have fun, you just have to expect the crowds and plan for them, use fast passes and have a good attitude. Sept has always been the slowest month due to all schools being back in session right after Labor Day. Now with the Halloween parties, food and wine, marathons etc. the crowds are steadily increasing each year.

 

[Withnail]

It's just their way of making the crowds more even. They don't want any slow times. That is why they have been adding parties and extending the festivals and events. That is why Halloween parties start in Aug, and F and W is starting early too. It's the way they want it. It is still possible to have fun, you just have to expect the crowds and plan for them, use fast passes and have a good attitude. Sept has always been the slowest month due to all schools being back in session right after Labor Day. Now with the Halloween parties, food and wine, marathons etc. the crowds are steadily increasing each year.

Does anyone know if Disneyland is the same way, or are there still slow times there? Might be time for a California vacation.

 

[anniemae]

Does anyone know if Disneyland is the same way, or are there still slow times there? Might be time for a California vacation.

I'm not sure, but there is a Disney Land forum here. They will be able to give you good info.

 

[Withnail]

I'm not sure, but there is a Disney Land forum here. They will be able to give you good info.

Thanks. I asked there.

 

[bryanb]

I just left WDW today. Although I've been here for 10 days, and I'm definitely ready to get out of here, it's been a good trip. Crowds are a little heavier than they were in my visit last June -- which might speak to the economy and the fact that we're going into Independence Day week. Even though it's been busy, I wouldn't call it "bad." It's about what I'd expect in a theme park during the summer. As others have said, the weather has definitely played a role. There were some heavy passing storms on certain days of my visit which wreaked havoc with Fastpasses. And heavy rains/storms at times did cause issues for CMs trying to get people to exit attractions. But with the right expectations (and quick dry clothing), it was an amazing time.

Does anyone know if Disneyland is the same way, or are there still slow times there? Might be time for a California vacation.

You should absolutely come to Disneyland! But I will say there are not slow periods here like there were in the olden days. (When my uncle worked there, the parks would become ghost towns as soon as school started and be open from 10am to 6pm.) Right now, the parks are busy year round but I'd consider weekdays in the off season to be comfortable.

Of course, Disneyland has lower attendance than WDW, but each park is more densely packed with attractions. So if you compare standby times on any given day, WDW wait times are almost always longer... sometimes much longer. If you like going on lots of rides, it's easier to do so at Disneyland during any time of the year. I would highly recommend any fan come to Disneyland.

 

[Spintopbeach]

Does anyone know if Disneyland is the same way, or are there still slow times there? Might be time for a California vacation.

I have been to Disney world a dozen times and I can tell you I went to Disneyland last year and absolutely loved it. So much better as far as waiting in line. Max pass was $10 per day and we went on every ride we wanted a couple times a day. It seems disneyworld is fine with average wait times of 50 minutes. I look at the wait times for dw and just shake my head. For pirates or haunted mansion to have a 50 minute wait is ridiculous. We loved Disneyland and would be going there this year but had to take a shorter vacation so it's dw this year. I'm 99% sure this will be our last trip to dw.

 

[Dezign]

Disneyland is just better-- in a million ways-- than WDW. It's more compact, so therefore more ride-dense, the weather is generally nicer, and its got a magic to it that makes MK at WDW feel like a rather poor imitation. (Sorry!)

This is merely my opinion, mind you, so let's not get in some bulletin board screaming match. And, I freely confess that I grew up in Southern California and went to Disney every year on the Wednesday after labor day (school didn't start in the Los Angeles school district until the following week, but lots of schools did, so low crowds-- and the park was still open until midnight) so I have a huge sentimental attachment to Disneyland.

That said, we enjoy WDW very much, especially at Christmas, where the weather in Florida generally is better than S. California. And WDW has some fabulous restaurants!

My advice for anyone thinking about Disneyland--go in September or early October. It's very much still beach weather, warm and dry (generally) but summer crowds are not in evidence. And try to go during the week; Disneyland is more heavily frequented by locals and so weekends are much busier.

As for crowds at WDW, it seems that there really isn't a "slow time" any longer--just busy, busier, and crazy busy. Better economy, I suppose.

 

[Withnail]

50 minute waits is just too long for me. I can't imagine having fun when the lines are that long. I've dreamed of going back there for years, but if it's like that all year, forget about it, I couldn't handle it. It's way too much money to spend that much time in lines. I don't know what all has caused this difference, like I said, when I was a kid October was beautifully empty, I'd ride Buzz Lightyear and run around and get right back on 10 times in a row. I wish it would change back someday.

Disneyland doesn't have as much, but if it's actually got a slow time still, that's our spot. Go to the two parks, maybe hit Universal Studios too. The IPs in that park do not excite me very much, but I'm sure it's still a well done theme park, and hey, I'd love to see the Bates Motel. Um, does Universal still have a slow season? I'm paranoid now.

 

[Dezign]

Meh to Universal. I'd rather have a beach day.

 

[Iowamomof4]

50 minute waits is just too long for me. I can't imagine having fun when the lines are that long. I've dreamed of going back there for years, but if it's like that all year, forget about it, I couldn't handle it. It's way too much money to spend that much time in lines. I don't know what all has caused this difference, like I said, when I was a kid October was beautifully empty, I'd ride Buzz Lightyear and run around and get right back on 10 times in a row. I wish it would change back someday.

Disneyland doesn't have as much, but if it's actually got a slow time still, that's our spot. Go to the two parks, maybe hit Universal Studios too. The IPs in that park do not excite me very much, but I'm sure it's still a well done theme park, and hey, I'd love to see the Bates Motel. Um, does Universal still have a slow season? I'm paranoid now.

Try Disney After Hours. If you did that one night, then hit AK, Epcot, and DHS on other days, you could have a pretty nice trip.

 

[Withnail]

Even though it's been busy, I wouldn't call it "bad." It's about what I'd expect in a theme park during the summer.

Yeah, but see, that's what I call bad. So Disneyland, what am I in for if I go in September or October? How long can I expect to wait during the average weekday? We're just so averse to lines. We went to King's Island one time, which is only open seasonally so we had to go when it was super busy, and we couldn't stand it, although it didn't help that the ride at the end of our 2 hour wait was Son of Beast.

 

[Mainemama]

Funny, I was in parks Wed. to Sat. and found the crowds to be totally manageable. Granted, we rope drop EMH and take a break midday, but there was never a line at a bus stop, and never a mad crush, which is how I define crowds. The longest line we saw was the FP line at Finding Nemo. That was weird. Our resort also seemed very quiet, and waterpark Saturday was reasonable.

 

[Mome Rath]

Speaking of crowds in DL vs. crowds in WDW, it's one comparison I'm glad I researched before our DL trip. DL can get really crowded. Packed. Why? The streets and walkways are a lot more narrow and everything is so much closer together there just is not enough room sometimes. However, I will say that the people seem to get proper crowd flow a lot quicker than at WDW (and people don't seem to stop right in the middle of the path). So, even when it is crowded in DL you can still maneuver if you obey the "laws" of the flow of traffic.

As to which park is "better," I don't think you can really play that game. I really liked DL, and I really like WDW. I won't be giving up WDW to just do DL, as WDW has so much more to offer for longer trips and for the Disney bubble, and well, EPCOT. Both places are magical, with interesting history. One thing I did love about DL was walking where Walt walked... and they do have better food overall. It's just a different vacation, both are a lot of fun.

 

[Klayfish]

50 minute waits is just too long for me. I can't imagine having fun when the lines are that long. I've dreamed of going back there for years, but if it's like that all year, forget about it, I couldn't handle it. It's way too much money to spend that much time in lines. I don't know what all has caused this difference, like I said, when I was a kid October was beautifully empty, I'd ride Buzz Lightyear and run around and get right back on 10 times in a row. I wish it would change back someday.

Disneyland doesn't have as much, but if it's actually got a slow time still, that's our spot. Go to the two parks, maybe hit Universal Studios too. The IPs in that park do not excite me very much, but I'm sure it's still a well done theme park, and hey, I'd love to see the Bates Motel. Um, does Universal still have a slow season? I'm paranoid now.

As for the bolded part above, are you sure that's not your fond memories of childhood making it seem different than reality. I could be wrong, but I'm not sure there was ever a time where you could just run on a ride 10 times in a row with no wait for something like Buzz (outside of really odd circumstances).

Yes, it's somewhat busy all year. Not picking on you, but in general sometimes I'm just not sure what people expect. WDW is the busiest tourist attraction in the entire country, and I'd bet it's the most popular theme park in the world. It's not realistic to expect to have the park to yourself. And if that did happen on a regular basis, WDW would be bleeding money uncontrollably and much of the magic would go away. I know we all want to have our cake and eat it too, but if you want all that WDW offers, then they need to have big crowds that spend big money. They're a business...if you ran one would you want a slow time when you have very few customers or would you want your place full every day?

And there's no reason to wait in a 50 minute line, unless that's what you want to do. FP+ pretty much eliminates that.

 

[bryanb]

Standing in line has always been a defining part of any theme parks experience. Sure Fastpass has been around in one form or another, but as a kid I knew that you had to stand in line at some point for something and we’d feel a sense of accomplishment telling tall tales of how the wait for a rollercoaster was soooo long. If one can’t tolerate waiting, then either a different kind of vacation might be required, expectations changed, or at least now there are expensive ways to pay for the privilege.

To be fair, I almost never wait 50 minutes for anything — not even last week at WDW— unless it’s a headliner like FOP or Guardians at DL. But occasionally it’s requred. But do check out the wait times in the DL app and compare!

 

[goodeats]

I wonder how many of those wait times are inflated. Reading the TSL thread I'm seeing people getting on the Alien Saucer ride and even SDD much quicker than the wait times posted. I haven't been to WDW since Oct 2015 so I'm interested to compare my crowd experience to Aug 2018. We never used a 4th FP then, either because I didn't know about them or because we didn't feel the need. With FP I don't really see the need to wait 50+ minutes. I guess if it's the one attraction I really want to ride and I can't find a FP for it. We get to the parks at opening and ride some attractions with no waits and then use our 3 FP. Anything after that will be a bonus. Or riding during the fireworks/parades.

I mean even in the afternoon when the park is packed you can still do Hall of Presidents, Country Bears, or Peoplemover without much of a wait, right?