Current Crowds and Wait Times seem really high for time of year

[999DoomBuggies]

What is going on at the parks? I am trying to book a last minute trip and can't get a room for a week for a family of five this month. The wait times seem to be up across the board. I am essentially looking for any week in November (of course thanksgiving week is booked) but everything is sold out. What am I missing.

I am losing my status as a hardcore Disney vet, I should know why it is so booked.

 

[bc7ate9]

The economy is improving, people are vacationing - and Disney is in the business of making money so they are taking advantage of that!

We are used to NO crowds in September - definitely had a different experience this year! We had a good time regardless.

 

[magicaldisney]

A lot of people have mentioned they are booked last minute visits to see the Osborne Lights since it was announced this would be the last year. Also free dining is offered up until Thanksgiving week. From what I've read it's been booked up for quite some time for this month. Have you looked at the rent board on the DVC forums? You might find someone who has a reservation at a DVC resort and can't use it, so they will try to rent out the reservation.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

A lot of people have mentioned they are booked last minute visits to see the Osborne Lights since it was announced this would be the last year. Also free dining is offered up until Thanksgiving week. From what I've read it's been booked up for quite some time for this month. Have you looked at the rent board on the DVC forums? You might find someone who has a reservation at a DVC resort and can't use it, so they will try to rent out the reservation.

The free dining has to be it, even then it is still packed. Didn't realize free dining stretched so long. Last year we did DL in Decemberish and WDW last weeks of August. I am three years behind on fall planning for WDW because we haven't gone at this time. I think I might push the trip to the first week of December or go during the second week of January like we always do.

I hear it is unseasonably hot? Maybe the universe is telling me to wait.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

The economy is improving, people are vacationing - and Disney is in the business of making money so they are taking advantage of that!

We are used to NO crowds in September - definitely had a different experience this year! We had a good time regardless.

I heard September was crushed. I am wdw 100% but my recent trip to DL the week prior to xmas was incredible. We could walk-on so much. The crowds that DLers call big just don't seem that big to me after so many years of WDW. I have been to DL only a handful of times. Maybe next september try DL instead. I believe most everything will be a walk-on. Skip October because they do track schooling in a lot of western states and DL is crushed in October.

 

[palmtreelover08]

At Epcot now- in 40 minute line for figment. Nemo was just 20.- it is busy here today. Probably a red day- between food and wine, extra magic hours/

 

[999DoomBuggies]

At Epcot now- in 40 minute line for figment. Nemo was just 20.- it is busy here today. Probably a red day- between food and wine, extra magic hours/

Please light a candle by Maelstrom. RIP Maelstrom

Also, feel free to snap a shot while on any epcot ride and share with us, in support for those of us that cannot be in the parks! My youngest loves Figment. Greatest memories are riding with my oldest daughter on spaceship earth.

 

[bc7ate9]

Also, the Wine and Dine race is this weekend. I'm sure people are in town for that on top of everything else!

 

[RustManFan]

New Jersey teachers' convention is today and Friday. Most know that many New Jerseyans head to Florida!

 

[999DoomBuggies]

good Lord, anything else? I suck at this.

 

[mjallemand]

Please light a candle by Maelstrom. RIP Maelstrom

Also, feel free to snap a shot while on any epcot ride and share with us, in support for those of us that cannot be in the parks! My youngest loves Figment. Greatest memories are riding with my oldest daughter on spaceship earth.

I'll be wearing my Maelstrom shirt on our Epcot day.

 

[Brocktoon]

I've been going to WDW late Oct for the past 10 years. We just got back from a 10/21-10/30 trip. Crowd levels were not that bad at all if following the correct parks recommended from the crowd calendar sites. I was really expecting larger crowds based on previous years and wait times.

Now wait times were a different story ... even with low crowds, most of the wait times were crazy after 10 AM in the parks. I blame this on the lack of OPERATING rides in tandem with FP+. In my opinion:

- Not many attractions in DHS, Epcot, and AK operating. The FP+ system is having people pick 3 FPs even if they don't want them. You also have more people choosing all 3 FP+ who may never have even used the original FP system. This is causing huge standby waits even during low crowds.
- More people are crowding MK due to the lack of rides at the other parks. This makes the FP+ system fill even faster at MK and then bumps the standby wait at traditionally low wait rides like Pirates and Buzz as people booked FP+ for whatever was available.

You don't know how many times I was out of FPs and saw short stand lines that still had posted waits of 30+ minutes ... when in years past they were 15 minutes wait with much larger crowds.

As far as I'm concerned low crowds does not equal low wait times anymore. Until Disney gets some more attraction up and running, long waits for stand-by are going to be the norm.

 

[clambert1273]

I heard September was crushed. I am wdw 100% but my recent trip to DL the week prior to xmas was incredible. We could walk-on so much. The crowds that DLers call big just don't seem that big to me after so many years of WDW. I have been to DL only a handful of times. Maybe next september try DL instead. I believe most everything will be a walk-on. Skip October because they do track schooling in a lot of western states and DL is crushed in October.

As a resident of Dland (passes and all), I can assure you that this year at the land has been HORRID... hasn't mattered what month, day, time etc... just wall to wall.. stupid 60th... I can't wait for the stuff to start closing in January for the star wars land so I can at least walk lol

 

[brazzledazzler]

- More people are crowding MK due to the lack of rides at the other parks. This makes the FP+ system fill even faster at MK and then bumps the standby wait at traditionally low wait rides like Pirates and Buzz as people booked FP+ for whatever was available.

I noticed this too! DH & I are annual passholders, and it seems like even when we go to WDW on a low-season day, low crowds generally, MK is ALWAYS PACKED. ALWAYS. I don't recall it being quite as packed years ago, but I guess now that EPCOT & DHS have so few rides to offer.... MK is where it's at. I am guilty of this too though!

 

[Satchmo128]

As a resident of Dland (passes and all), I can assure you that this year at the land has been HORRID... hasn't mattered what month, day, time etc... just wall to wall.. stupid 60th... I can't wait for the stuff to start closing in January for the star wars land so I can at least walk lol

So excited for our December trip to Disneyland to experience these horrid crowds for the 60th firsthand!

 

[clambert1273]

So excited for our December trip to Disneyland to experience these horrid crowds for the 60th firsthand!

more power to you.... lol We plan on going to see the decorations around Nov 13 and that will be it for us until January... I have watched all year people lining up on main street for the parade at 6pm and they sit for 3 hours... We went once during the holidays .. that was enough

 

[DrivenByDisney]

I must be the only one that doesn't seem to think it is crowded here right now. Now, we do only go during the middle of the week, still. We went to the Studios and EPCOT on Tuesday and were able to do all of the following from the hours of 4:00 - 9:00 that day. All the times I list are "aproxomations" and not spot on with a stopwatch here.

Studios:
Tower - 10 Minutes FP+
RnR - 10 Minutes FP+, 15 Minutes Single Rider
Star Tour - 15 Minutes FP+
45 Minute Break for a snack and beverage at Tune In Lounge

Walked to EPCOT - 20 Minutes

EPCOT:
Spaceship Earth - 25 Minute Standby
Mission:Space - 10 Minutes Standby
Test Track - 10 Minutes Single Rider, 10ish Minutes Single Rider
Stopped at five kiosks to try food/beverage - 45 minutes to an hour
Was at Rose & Crown by 7:30 to snag a spot for Illuminations

So in five hours, we rode nine attractions in two different parks, ate a snack, visited Food & Wine and still watched Illuminations with no issues what-so-ever.

We're heading to Animal Kingdom and EPCOT next Tuesday and were able to get all FP+ times we wanted and the ADR we wanted at Animal Kingdom. Perhaps it's when we visit or we are only two when we go. Still, I do not think the parks are all that crowded when we go during the middle of the week.

 

[yooperfan]

Of course, more people are on the street or in standby with al the rehabs lately.