Crowds today

[NicholeB630]

wow just looked at crowds today it's a level 1 at MK and not even noon and so many rides over 46 min. Makes me nervous for Sept. Really no low times anymore rather sad

 

[SeanTomorrow]

I think Touringplans lists today as a 6/10 while easyWDW lists it as a 1/10. Sounds like maybe today is closer to 6?

Just one data point, but I wouldn't worry that 46 mins is the new normal for level 1. Probably just a wrong prediction. No one's right 100% of the time.

 

[Orsino]

The forecast is for rain on Wednesday and Thursday. I would expect people to modify plans based on that prediction and there should be more people on Tuesday and Friday than usual. Tomorrow and Thursday should be lower crowds with the rain.

 

[MrKnight]

As stated by SeanTomorrow, 46 minutes is the new normal for Level 1. I wouldn't overthink it, just go in with the expectation that WDW parks are essentially always busy even during "slow" periods, use all the tools at your disposal such as FP+ and ADRs to help alleviate any stress if going on specific rides/attractions is very important to you.

 

[colarey]

I wonder if the winter storms had anything to do with it too... flights cancelled over the weekend means maybe some people just arrived to their vacation yesterday so more people are hitting up MK than usual today. Maybe. I was looking at the wait times today too, since we'll be there in one week, and really the first two hours were overall still very doable. Arriving early and using FP should make any trip a great one.

 

[alliecat523]

And as many have stated, the wait times tend to be over inflated anyway.

 

[Sona99]

Plus it's really nice today. Warm like it should be. We've had near freezing overnight temps the last couple of days.

 

[anniemae]

I wonder if the winter storms had anything to do with it too... flights cancelled over the weekend means maybe some people just arrived to their vacation yesterday so more people are hitting up MK than usual today. Maybe. I was looking at the wait times today too, since we'll be there in one week, and really the first two hours were overall still very doable. Arriving early and using FP should make any trip a great one.

this is what I was thinking. So many flight from the Northeast were cancelled over the weekend. Many who were going to fly out may have had to push their flight out a couple of days.

 

[NicholeB630]

Thanks all. It makes sense everything. We def using FP and know how to and our ADR I book when its time to. Plus were are rope drop people and make sure to get there super early. We went back in December of 2014 the second week and it was so manageable with a crowd level 4/5 according to Easywdw which I thought was pretty accurate. Other than the Christmas party and our Saturday at AK it was never too crowded we really ddi everything we wanted. So I was hoping that September after labor (were going the 9-18) We would have crowds around the same or maybe a little less. I just get anxiety thinking we'll get there and everything will be wall to wall people and just not fun. But I can't imagine its like that unless its the really busy times.

 

[NicholeB630]

I think Touringplans lists today as a 6/10 while easyWDW lists it as a 1/10. Sounds like maybe today is closer to 6?

Just one data point, but I wouldn't worry that 46 mins is the new normal for level 1. Probably just a wrong prediction. No one's right 100% of the time.

Wow thats a HUGE difference in predictions. I get that its all just guessing really and looking at past years but that is way off from each other. I typically find that Easywdw is pretty accurate but apparently not today!

 

[starjazz]

I just checked, and at 2:20 pm, not a single ride in MK was over an hour wait except Mine Train. That doesn't sound that crowded to me. When I see Space, BTMRR, Splash, and Peter Pan at over 100 minutes, and several others like Pirates, HM, Jungle Cruise, etc at 60-90 minutes, then I start to think the crowds are pretty big.

 

[fadedglitter]

Crowds are awful. We are honestly looking into the logistics of going back home 4 days early. We could hardly walk in the park due to all the people.

 

[pachuta24]

Just got home this morning, after visiting for a long weekend. Did everything we wanted to do (including all headliners, except Test Track), never waited more than 10 minutes for anything. Get there at rope drop, tour and ride whatever you want up until 11am...then use your fastpasses. After that, ride the less popular (but still essential attractions) than rarely have long waits. We rode 30 attractions in 2 park days over all 4 parks. Just be smart about it. I couldn't believe the number of people there with no plan or any idea on how the process works.

 

[epcotty]

In addition to FP+ being implemented badly still (way too much priority given to FP still), I think it's clear that they're understaffing and lowering ride capacity too much. Wait times shouldn't be this high this time of year. Corporate Management doesn't care because it saves them money. But constantly high wait times no matter what time of year will turn off a lot of people eventually

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Josh needs to update his calendar to indicate that MK will not have another day below level 5 until the rides at Epcot open back up. It is pretty clear that people are spending a larger percentage of their WDW vacation at MK than has been the case in recent history.

The resorts may be filled to level 1, but MK is going to be crowded anyway.

 

[TippeeCanoe]

Crowds are awful. We are honestly looking into the logistics of going back home 4 days early. We could hardly walk in the park due to all the people.

Awww, I'm sorry.

 

[stinkpickle]

Josh needs to update his calendar to indicate that MK will not have another day below level 5 until the rides at Epcot open back up. It is pretty clear that people are spending a larger percentage of their WDW vacation at MK than has been the case in recent history.

The resorts may be filled to level 1, but MK is going to be crowded anyway.

Yep, unless you have park hoppers, milking a full day out of the other parks doesn't quite seem worth it.

 

[lovethattink]

wow just looked at crowds today it's a level 1 at MK and not even noon and so many rides over 46 min. Makes me nervous for Sept. Really no low times anymore rather sad

it might be helpful to edit the title to include today's date.

The forecast calls for rain all day Wed and Thurs. Which could explain some of it. It's gorgeous today. The warmest day in a long time.

 

[Day-Day]

As stated by SeanTomorrow, 46 minutes is the new normal for Level 1. I wouldn't overthink it, just go in with the expectation that WDW parks are essentially always busy even during "slow" periods, use all the tools at your disposal such as FP+ and ADRs to help alleviate any stress if going on specific rides/attractions is very important to you.

I don't think SeanTomorrow was saying this; at least not the way I read the post.

Interesting theories on the impact of the snowstorms. Also, as someone else mentioned, WDW will lower staffing and will not open attractions up to full capacity during periods of "lower crowds".

 

[SeanTomorrow]

I don't think SeanTomorrow was saying this; at least not the way I read the post.

Correct! I was actually saying the opposite. It sounds like easyWDW got today's prediction wrong, and TP got it right (or closer). No big deal, let's not panic But just because Josh predicted a "1" doesn't automatically make today the new definition of level "1".

In another thread someone noted that Jan 29th also looked quite divergent. TP has MK as a "9" and EasyWDW has the overall parks at a "6". It'll be another interesting test of accuracy, if you're into that sort of thing. I am....