Do the crowds really bother you?

[HeatherFeather]

I am slightly agoraphobic, so don't do particularly well in crowds, especially when I feel blocked in by a lot of people. It mainly results in minor panic attacks- racing heartbeat, faster breathing, etc. I usually just duck into a hallway or store or somewhere where I can have some space around me and I am okay.

That said, my love of Disney outweighs my phobia and I go into my vacations everytime expecting the worst but hoping for the best.

DH knows all about it and can sense when I am about to have an attack and will usually get me back on track. This is also why I do not dare go out shopping on Black Friday for fear of winding up in a loony bin or jail.

 

[jarrdisney]

I refuse to step foot in Wal-Mart.

The crowds don't bother me much. I can't remember waiting over 30 min for an attraction in the past year, and I have been over spring break. It's all about planning and utilizing your FP's to your advantage.

 

[Loves Disney]

The crowds don't bother me. I agree, it's DISNEY! lol. That is good enough for me.

I have been through the worst of it during one hot day in July at the MK during the Share A Dream Come True parade. I'll tell ya right now, I am lucky I was alone and that I know the MK like that back of my hand. I couldn't see where I was going (I thought I was tall...until I was put up against people who are like 7' high! heh).

I had to weave around people and literally squeeze by. I didn't complain though, I found it rather a challenge! When I got to the monorail to head back to the GF, it felt like I accomplished something huge!

What my point is, I will take everything at WDW in the best possible light. Everyone is there for the same reason and that is to enjoy themselves. You can't enjoy yourself if you're only thinking about the heat, the crowds, the overpriced items and what not.

I can honestly say that I have never been upset at WDW.

 

[LoraJ]

I hate crowds. The last 3 times that I have gone, the crowds have been very light. I've become spoiled. The longest wait we had was 30 minutes, everything else 5 - 10. I just don't think I could ever go to WDW when we know there will be large crowds.

 

[BurkeTribe]

Yes, crowds does bother me. That's why I choose to take my WDW vacation during OFF SEASON so there are less people that will bug me. I would rather wait 20 minutes for a ride then 2-3 hours. I don't understand why people who go to the parks during peak season and complain about how crowded it is.

Shhhhhh, don't tell them how short the lines are in off-season, they might switch jk

I'd take two or three attractions being closed during slow times over only getting to ride 4-10 attractions total and spending half the day in queues anyday

Our recent trip two weeks ago, we were at MK from 10am to 11pm on a Saturday, nothing was closed, and we did everything we wanted and more (even spent more than an hour on Tom Sawyer Island), even though the MK was abnormally crowded (6,7, or 7.5 level maybe?) for that time of year (lot's of international tour groups I think). And we never waited over 20 minutes for anything (POTC, dang you Depp jk), and most things we walked on (FP--shhhhhhh ).

I'm with you, my absolute utter maximum wait time for anything is 30 minutes, and that's pushing it. We always go in the Fall off-season, and it has been good, but as as more schools get Fall breaks,... we may have to switch to early January, or skip some school around Labor Day....

 

[MILLZ]

They dont really bother me but i will say it is different when the crowds are low we go in oct alot and it is alot more fun when there are 20-30 min lines instead of 1-2 hours

 

[Boncho]

I don't mind the crowds, I just take full advantage of fast pass. When I'm on vacation I'm pretty laid back and just go with the flow. (Actually, I'm a secret crowd lover - all part of the fun)

 

[Dixie Luvr 98]

I'm another who gets a little panicky in crowds. WDW is the only place I actually look forward to going where I will have to deal with them
Always plan my trips to avoid the crowds as much as possible.

I try to avoid shopping on Saturdays or near holidays. As for Wal-Mart. . .

 

[Luv4Disney]

The crowds don't really bother me (though of course it's better if there aren't any! ) but it's the rude people that come with the crowds that bother me. But just take everything in stride!

 

[minniebeth]

The crowds do bother me.... yes, you can get Fastpass, and enjoy a lot of the rides, but you seem to miss all the little details that you might otherwise notice when it is not as crowded. It is more distracting, and you overlook some of the magic all around.
I'm not trying to turn this into a stroller debate, but it was crowded in the parks last week. I expended sooo much energy being considerate with my stroller, really! But where is the consideration back? I had MANY people cut me off both unintentionally and INTENTIONALLY several times. People after Wishes become so rude like they are the only ones who want to leave. I've had people push the stroller away on the monorail with my child in it, and one guy just about sat on the stroller's top. I asked him if he would like to hop in!
I also had people that were behind us lean on the handlebars like it was their own during the parades. I'm all about what comes around goes around, but sheesh, I felt like I was the only one trying to be considerate!

 

[jobie61]

I'm not trying to turn this into a stroller debate, but it was crowded in the parks last week. I expended sooo much energy being considerate with my stroller, really!

You can't take it personally, no one is really against the strollers but you have to understand what a pain it is to people on the buses and walking around the park. You will understand once you ditch the stroller and your kids are old enough to walk. The are a lot of people with strollers that are very inconsiderate of their strollers and how they handle them at the park. The motorized carts are kinda the same too. Ever get hit by a stroller or a motorized cart, or a mean look by someone with a stroller because you didn't see them.

Its not a big deal, but you just have to understand how people without them feel when soemone on a crowded bus standing room only tries to squeeze in a stroller between you and your family without any concern for you. They could have waited for the next bus when they would have been first in line and could have comfortably got the stroller on the bus without hitting anyone.

But, strollers and motorized carts are just a part of Disney and only a minor inconvenience. You will understand once you ditch the stroller. I did.

Let the stroller debate begin....... LOL

 

[alicenwonder99]

I can live with the crowds and I can live with the heat - Just not at the same time!

I totally agree with half of that!! I can deal with the heat, but not the heat AND the crowds. Also, I've been at WDW when it was very cold. I can also deal with the cold, but not the cold AND the crowds.

I hate the crowds at WDW and never want to go when it's the busy time.

My first time at WDW it was Aug (before FP). It was HOT, CROWDED, and the lines were LOOOONG. It was a nightmare and I said I'd never go to WDW again. It was when I heard about FP that made me go back.

Mary

 

[First timer]

I totally agree with half of that!! I can deal with the heat, but not the heat AND the crowds. Also, I've been at WDW when it was very cold. I can also deal with the cold, but not the cold AND the crowds.

I hate the crowds at WDW and never want to go when it's the busy time.

My first time at WDW it was Aug (before FP). It was HOT, CROWDED, and the lines were LOOOONG. It was a nightmare and I said I'd never go to WDW again. It was when I heard about FP that made me go back.

Mary

Oh No!! Mary - tell me it is not so!! Our first time was end of June through first week of July and I thought I was going to stick a fork in my eye!! It was sooooooo hot and so very crowded! We really can not go any other time except summer so we made our ressies for end of August 07 - hoping that it would NOT be crowded!! I mean I knew it would not be deserted but I had hoped the crowds would decrease somewhat. Oh no, oh no!

 

[noodleknitter]

The last week of August use to be our favorite week. The hours were good, the summer crowd was lessening, and they hadn't started refurbishments. My husband hates the heat, though, so we are now January folk!

 

[minniebeth]

You can't take it personally, no one is really against the strollers but you have to understand what a pain it is to people on the buses and walking around the park. You will understand once you ditch the stroller and your kids are old enough to walk. The are a lot of people with strollers that are very inconsiderate of their strollers and how they handle them at the park. The motorized carts are kinda the same too. Ever get hit by a stroller or a motorized cart, or a mean look by someone with a stroller because you didn't see them.

Its not a big deal, but you just have to understand how people without them feel when soemone on a crowded bus standing room only tries to squeeze in a stroller between you and your family without any concern for you. They could have waited for the next bus when they would have been first in line and could have comfortably got the stroller on the bus without hitting anyone.

But, strollers and motorized carts are just a part of Disney and only a minor inconvenience. You will understand once you ditch the stroller. I did.

Let the stroller debate begin....... LOL

jobie61, a point that I didn't make was that after Wishes and the mad rush out of the park, we waited 40 minutes in line for the monorail.... I did wait 2 extra monorails just so I could get the front car with nobody in it already to put the stroller on. It was the other people's decision to crowd in like sardines around the stroller... the ultimate point I'm trying to make was that I felt like I went so out of my way to be considerate to others my entire trip and felt like no consideration at all was extended by others in any way (not just to me,but also in general)
It gets a little discouraging and doesn't speak highly of our culture today...
I'll continue to do my best to be considerate and hope that it moves on forward!

 

[Boncho]

I said I'd never go to WDW again. Mary

 

[Dixie Luvr 98]

Oh No!! Mary - tell me it is not so!! Our first time was end of June through first week of July and I thought I was going to stick a fork in my eye!! It was sooooooo hot and so very crowded! We really can not go any other time except summer so we made our ressies for end of August 07 - hoping that it would NOT be crowded!! I mean I knew it would not be deserted but I had hoped the crowds would decrease somewhat. Oh no, oh no!

I think the late Aug crowd levels will depend a great deal on if Free Dining is offered next year. It is already being offered to UK guests begining Aug 12, 2007.

 

[KimR]

I am slightly agoraphobic, so don't do particularly well in crowds, especially when I feel blocked in by a lot of people. It mainly results in minor panic attacks- racing heartbeat, faster breathing, etc. I usually just duck into a hallway or store or somewhere where I can have some space around me and I am okay.

That said, my love of Disney outweighs my phobia and I go into my vacations everytime expecting the worst but hoping for the best.

DH knows all about it and can sense when I am about to have an attack and will usually get me back on track. This is also why I do not dare go out shopping on Black Friday for fear of winding up in a loony bin or jail.

Oh my gosh, this is exactly how I am! I cannot deal with crowds at all - even a crowded grocery store isle will put me over the edge. I deal with WDW exactly the same way you do though, and I've found most of the time it is relatively easy to escape from the crowds. My DH also knows when it's too much for me and I don't even have to say a word. My biggest problem is that I can deal with the crowds better if I 'zone out' and concentrate on getting through it, but if I do that I can't pay attention to or interact with my surroundings - in other words, I can't watch my kids. DH knows this and picks up the slack for me.

We've gone during 3 times during Spring Break and I'm proud to say I did just fine. The key for me is knowing what to expect in advance and having a game plan - and a very undestanding family.

 

[honeybee30]

I don't love the crowds. Spring Break and Summer are helacious times to got to WDW, IMHO. A bit too much humanity for me.

October is wonderful, though. It's not dead at the parks, but it isn't wall to wall people either. And I really don't mind walking onto rides in the morning and actually getting a seat on the bus....

 

[jobie61]

jobie61, the ultimate point I'm trying to make was that I felt like I went so out of my way to be considerate to others my entire trip and felt like no consideration at all was extended by others in any way (not just to me,but also in general)
It gets a little discouraging and doesn't speak highly of our culture today...
I'll continue to do my best to be considerate and hope that it moves on forward!

Not everyone is as considerate as you are with the strollers. Your consideration is greatly appreciated by all !!! I promise. You can't please everyone. Ignore the rude people. I always do.