Current Crowd Levels Affected By Matthew?

[PSUGuy]

Just wondering if the storm made a difference one way or another.

Bill From PA

 

[ktlm]

We were there October 1 to 9. I would say that yes it did. This is our 4th year coming that week, and I think this was the least crowded it has been. The crowds were low on Wednesday. I think that people were trying to get out ahead of the storm. We did 3 parks that day. We did Epcot from just after rope drop until about 5, then we moved over to Hollywood Studios for a RNRC FP, then our rain check for the fireworks viewing from the Star Wars Dessert party, and then MK until near its midnight closing. We thought they were all low crowds. I easily booked that RNRC FP+ as a 4th probably around noon from EPCOT. At MK that night, we were booking FP after FP and just jumping from ride to ride. It was the first trip I've had fun with FP+ and have not despised it. Thursday we did 2 parks- MK until about 3:00 and then DHS from 3:30 to just before 5 when the parks shut down for the hurricane. From about noon, almost everything was walk on to short lines. We were trying to get as much done as we could since we didn't know what would happen after the storm hit or if there would be damage. On Thursday, there were bands of rain with dry times in between-- most of the rain was fairly light, but as it got near 5, the bands were heavier. It was actually a pretty great park day for us, even though the parks closed at 5. It was easy to get a ton done since there were no lines.

We went to Disney Springs Friday night after it reopened. I think it was probably around 8 or 8:30 when we got there. We had already had dinner at the resort. I heard the restaurants were crazy, but the stores were not crazy. I would say WOD was actually less crowded than it usually is when we are there. You could move around without bumping into people. DisneyQuest was open and it was free admission with all the games set to free play. In other words, you just walked in and played until you got tired of it. The food areas were not open, and Aladdin's Magic Carpet was not open, but I think pretty much everything else was running. It was not packed. There were plenty of games available to just go to and start playing. The Pirates ride had a line- but it didn't look too bad. We did not do that one. We did the Jungle Cruise ride with about a 5 minute or less wait.

We thought Saturday would likely be packed since the parks had been closed a day and a half, but it was not bad at all. Clearly, some people had left early and some people had cancelled or were delayed coming in. That was our DHS day, and we stayed there until Fantasmic, and then hopped over to MK until midnight. I was looking at the wait times and MKs posted wait times did not look that bad all day. For the ELP- we got a spot in the 2nd row behind people that were sitting on the curb in the middle of main street just as the parade was starting. Before that, other than Space Mountain and 7DMT, most things had fairly short lines. FP+ were not as available as they had been Wednesday night, but we still were able to use them.

Sunday, we were at DHS (due to an issue with dinner we missed our RNRC FP, so they gave us one good for 5 days) for about an hour and a half, and then moved to EPCOT, until we had to leave at about 1:30 to walk to YC for ME. DHS seemed a little more crowded on Sunday--- for it being F&W, EPCOT did not seem that crowded. The crowds were picking up quite a bit as we were leaving EPCOT.

All in all, we hopped a lot more than usual trying to fit things in around the storm, but we felt lucky that the crowds were lower than the last 3 years so that we could get things done faster.

 

[vinotinto]

This was our fourth time during Columbus Day weekend. We came this same weekend in 2009, 2011, and 2015. This year, we arrived on Wednesday, Oct 5th. There was a decent amount of people at Epcot. We had a 45 minute wait for FEA at 8:30ish.

Thursday (day parks closed at 5 pm) was the least crowded I have ever seen MK. I think at one point I saw the Standby at Mine Train at 30 minutes and a little later at 40 minutes.

Friday, parks were closed due to storm.

Saturday (day after parks opened) was great too. We were at DHS. My DD and I rode TSMM 4 times in a row on standby with only 5 - 20 minute wait each time. Parks opened at 8:00, we got there around 8:20.

By Sunday, (we went to MK for the last MSEP), it was a madhouse. 7DMT was back to 90 - 130 minutes. Not sure if the other parks were empty.

Monday (Columbus Day) at AK (EMH AM) had no FP+ for the headliners prior to 5 pm. Moderate crowds. Wait for Everest was 40 minutes at 10 am.

 

[RachaelA]

I've heard about a lot of people rebooking for late October/early November. Should be interested to see how even more crowded it gets then.

 

[jerzeystar09]

I'm checking in on Friday and staying til Tuesday. I'm crossing my fingers for a semi light crowd. But any day at Disney is better than a day at home or work.

 

[otten]

Saturday was fine. Sunday was a zoo. We waited 20 minutes for the carousel at 11. Long lines everywhere.

 

[sun2shine]

This was our 3rd visit and we thought it was crazy busy. We were at a water park the day the parks closed early and they were fine but Saturday thru Wednesday parks were very crowded. We were at Disney Springs around 6 on Friday and you couldnt even get into the stores that were open. We ended up leaving. I would say this past Saturday was the calmest, except for when we were leaving.
We left Saturday around 10 (MK) and it took us almost 2 hrs to get to our car. I don't know what happened but everyone left at 10! (parks were open till 12)

 

[kirstenh]

We went to Disney Springs Friday night after it reopened. I think it was probably around 8 or 8:30 when we got there. We had already had dinner at the resort. I heard the restaurants were crazy, but the stores were not crazy. I would say WOD was actually less crowded than it usually is when we are there. You could move around without bumping into people.

Wow ... We were at WOD Friday night too and we thought it was INSANE! All of the stores we visited (only a few were open) were incredibly busy, and the lines for all food establishments were wrapping around corners and down walkways. We ended up just going back to the hotel and making mac and cheese.

 

[lacy1101]

I've heard about a lot of people rebooking for late October/early November. Should be interested to see how even more crowded it gets then.

Uh oh . . . where are you hearing this?