Does Disney let parks become too crowded?

[disfan07]

It sounds like disney is just not for you. Unless you go when school is not in session, there are crowds.

There is a capacity limit and it is set buy fire codes i think.

Your idea of selling tickets fro ceratin parks for specific days is crazy. We go to WDW with a tentative plan but sometimes we wake up in the morning and decide we dont want to go to EPCOt that day and we want to go to MK instead. Also, we like to end our days with either wishes and spectro, illuminations or fantasmic. You need a PH to do this and not being abel to go to any park when we want to is crazy.

 

[larryz]

On the days we left there were entire sections of the parking lot that had not been used, indicating to me that even more people could have entered the park, despite it being unmanageable already.

Remember that some of that parking in the main lot was originally planned to support those who chose to ride the monorail to Epcot from the TTC. So, not ALL of those cars are there for MK (just the vast majority).

 

[Lonestar70]

Disney is very conscientious about cutting off admission when the park is truly too crowded. They did so this morning, as a matter of fact. We would all prefer to experience the carefree, less crowded park experience, but it isn't reasonable to expect that during school holidays, especially not Christmas or Easter. Large crowds are to be expected. If you do your homework, you can make the most of the experience, and have a great time.

However, again, the point is that Disney does keep track, and does cut of admissions when the parks truly get too crowded.

Is that a fact ? Well may I submit that they are doing a horrendous job or deciding when "it is truly over crowed"! My family and I where there yesterday and it was an atrocity. Now before you go off telling me I should expect crowds on holidays I get that. I have been there on New Years before and it was crowed but doable. This was an absolute joke and the happiest place on earth wasn't so happy with the grand majority of people we run into literarily or otherwise quite disgruntled and down right upset. Fen the staff where losing it. Not a good scene. This is only my third trip here but will be my last if they continue with this level of greed and , because that's the only explanation I could come up with to explain such a business model .........extreme greed! First time bring my own children and frankly I felt sorry for him. Nothing like the experiences I had. I'm sad and disappointed and will never be back under current conditions unfortunately.

 

[siskaren]

I find it interesting that you made your first post in a 3 year old thread just to complain.

 

[kandb]

I agree with OP. Keep in mind, there are some on the boards that stick up for disney no matter what. I think the biggest joke is that they, "upcharge" restaurants and hotels during these super busy times. How can you charge MORE when people are getting so much less? Who wants to wait in lines for hours for rides, food, restrooms. I don't care what some say, that couldn't be "enjoyable". I guess it depends on what people think "enjoyable" is.

 

[maxiesmom]

Is that a fact ? Well may I submit that they are doing a horrendous job or deciding when "it is truly over crowed"! My family and I where there yesterday and it was an atrocity. Now before you go off telling me I should expect crowds on holidays I get that. I have been there on New Years before and it was crowed but doable. This was an absolute joke and the happiest place on earth wasn't so happy with the grand majority of people we run into literarily or otherwise quite disgruntled and down right upset. Fen the staff where losing it. Not a good scene. This is only my third trip here but will be my last if they continue with this level of greed and , because that's the only explanation I could come up with to explain such a business model .........extreme greed! First time bring my own children and frankly I felt sorry for him. Nothing like the experiences I had. I'm sad and disappointed and will never be back under current conditions unfortunately.

I'm sure there is a technical way Disney figures out how many people can safely be in the parks. Which is much more reliable than what any of us observes.

If you were at the parks for New Years before and it wasn't so packed, then it sounds like you were lucky. But as you don't know the official capacity or how they reach that number, claiming the parks are "truly over crowded" is only your opinion, and not a fact.

 

[maxiesmom]

I agree with OP. Keep in mind, there are some on the boards that stick up for disney no matter what. I think the biggest joke is that they, "upcharge" restaurants and hotels during these super busy times. How can you charge MORE when people are getting so much less? Who wants to wait in lines for hours for rides, food, restrooms. I don't care what some say, that couldn't be "enjoyable". I guess it depends on what people think "enjoyable" is.

The same way New Orleans raises rates over Marti Gras. And every other hotel and restaurant charges more for peak times of the year.

Supply and Demand.

 

[Legendteri]

Mehhh, "too crowded" is subjective and personal. Some people would be happy to only ride a few rides and go to see the deocrations and experience the Christmas feel.

 

[kbelle8995]

To crowded well... That's up to each person. Disney does pay attention to safety standards. That's why at a certain point that you can only get in if you are a resort guest.

I think there are times when you can visit and the crowds are not so bad. I've done Christmas and NYE at Disney and I have gotten to the point where I don't like the massive crowds. I worked the parks during those times.

So I don't go during that period. I go earlier in the month if I want to see the Christmas decorations. The crowds are much better. I know when WDW is going to be crazy and I just avoid those times as best as I can.

 

[mattsdragon]

Is that a fact ? Well may I submit that they are doing a horrendous job or deciding when "it is truly over crowed"! My family and I where there yesterday and it was an atrocity. Now before you go off telling me I should expect crowds on holidays I get that. I have been there on New Years before and it was crowed but doable. This was an absolute joke and the happiest place on earth wasn't so happy with the grand majority of people we run into literarily or otherwise quite disgruntled and down right upset. Fen the staff where losing it. Not a good scene. This is only my third trip here but will be my last if they continue with this level of greed and , because that's the only explanation I could come up with to explain such a business model .........extreme greed! First time bring my own children and frankly I felt sorry for him. Nothing like the experiences I had. I'm sad and disappointed and will never be back under current conditions unfortunately.

That's Disney Land. . .And by reports on this board, MK was at a Cat 3 closure most of the day. That's a busy day.

Don't go during the Holidays if you want less crowds. You don't sound like you've got a very good head for business either.

Supply and demand, it's not just a good idea in business, it's the LAW. As long as people are willing to pay for admission, food and other goods during this time, Disney will provide it. It's actually a good business model, as can be determined by how many people were there.

 

[cgattis]

Yes, it's a great business model, but it sucks for the consumers, especially repeat consumers of that product. Just because all hotels (etc.) jack up rates during peak season, surely you don't all expect people to LIKE it? If anybody comes here to vent or complain, they get slammed and basically told they're stupid. Bet on it.

I highly doubt that I will ever visit at this time of year because of the crowds and the diminished bang-for-my-buck. Same reason I no longer spend the night before/after college football games. I refuse to pay $250/night AND a 2-night minimum for a room that is $70 any other night. I do deal with it, but that doesn't mean I like it.

 

[mousermerf]

First off, this is a zombie thread that was resurrected from 2009 - and evne then it was preposterous. If in 2009 a family went to Magic Kingdom for 12 hours and could only do 12 rides on December 20-22nd then that's just piss poor park navigation skills. The parks were not that crowded on those days.

Second the Resurrection that claims "I've been on New Years and it wasn't crowded" is equally absurd. The parks have been seeing the same crowd levels for the New Year consistently for the last two decades. When, pray tell, was it supposedly not as crowded?

What people think and what is reality are often not even close to being the same. That does not mean what they think/feel should be treated with an ounce of valid weight if all the facts say it was otherwise.

 

[jkjs]

We were at WDW the same time as you and actually thought the crowds were light, relatively speaking. Originally, we planned only on seeing the Dec 22nd 12:00 Christmas parade and leaving MK afterwards because we expected the crowds to be outrageous. We ended staying the entire day at MK because it never became a zoo.

I just returned from six days at Disney World. The first three days the parks were crowded but manageable. The last three days (December 20-22) the parks were so crowded that even with good planning it's difficult to get on any more than four or five rides in 12 hours.
Does anyone else think it's unconscionable for Disney to allow so many people into the parks? I understand that at some point they do close the parks and do not allow any more people into them, but they really need to lower that threshold. On the days we left there were entire sections of the parking lot that had not been used, indicating to me that even more people could have entered the park, despite it being unmanageable already. With the exorbitant ticket prices and the ridiculous cost of everything from food to souvenirs inside the park, it seems that Disney should, at the very least, ensure that those who are able to get into the park can experience a great deal of the park. Had we not been able to take advantage of extra magic hours on two of the crowded days, I would have thought those days to be a complete waste of money.

 

[siskaren]

We were at WDW the same time as you and actually thought the crowds were light, relatively speaking. Originally, we planned only on seeing the Dec 22nd 12:00 Christmas parade and leaving MK afterwards because we expected the crowds to be outrageous. We ended staying the entire day at MK because it never became a zoo.

Uh, actually the OP was there three years ago on those dates - this is a zombie thread that got revived yesterday.

 

[shalom]

I think the biggest joke is that they, "upcharge" restaurants and hotels during these super busy times. How can you charge MORE when people are getting so much less?

For a savvy traveler (Disney fan or not), that upcharge is a signal that things are going to be crowded. As others have pointed out, most travel destinations kick up the prices when the most people want them. OTOH, low prices are usually an indication that the crowds will be lower (and often a warning that not everything will be open!). Go when everyone else wants to be there, and you have to pay extra. Go when the hotel/attraction owner is desperate for business, and you're rewarded by a lower price.

Sadly, Disney is hardly ever desperate enough to offer the deals we can get elsewhere. Or, maybe I mean happily, because Disney couldn't offer the service and level of quality it does if it couldn't get a fair number of people into the parks year 'round!

 

[North of Mouse]

I just returned from six days at Disney World. The first three days the parks were crowded but manageable. The last three days (December 20-22) the parks were so crowded that even with good planning it's difficult to get on any more than four or five rides in 12 hours.
Does anyone else think it's unconscionable for Disney to allow so many people into the parks? I understand that at some point they do close the parks and do not allow any more people into them, but they really need to lower that threshold. On the days we left there were entire sections of the parking lot that had not been used, indicating to me that even more people could have entered the park, despite it being unmanageable already. With the exorbitant ticket prices and the ridiculous cost of everything from food to souvenirs inside the park, it seems that Disney should, at the very least, ensure that those who are able to get into the park can experience a great deal of the park. Had we not been able to take advantage of extra magic hours on two of the crowded days, I would have thought those days to be a complete waste of money.

Disney does close when capacity is reached, but not when *you* (general you) *think* it's too crowded.

You went at *the* busiest time of year and that's the way the parks are during that time. We would never go during those days (certain other holidays either). There are different times of the year when it is definitely less crowded.

 

[carrie1626]

I just returned from six days at Disney World. The first three days the parks were crowded but manageable. The last three days (December 20-22) the parks were so crowded that even with good planning it's difficult to get on any more than four or five rides in 12 hours.
Does anyone else think it's unconscionable for Disney to allow so many people into the parks? I understand that at some point they do close the parks and do not allow any more people into them, but they really need to lower that threshold. On the days we left there were entire sections of the parking lot that had not been used, indicating to me that even more people could have entered the park, despite it being unmanageable already. With the exorbitant ticket prices and the ridiculous cost of everything from food to souvenirs inside the park, it seems that Disney should, at the very least, ensure that those who are able to get into the park can experience a great deal of the park. Had we not been able to take advantage of extra magic hours on two of the crowded days, I would have thought those days to be a complete waste of money.

I wonder why you chose to vacation during the absolute busiest time ever. There is not one single person in the crowd that had less of an equal right to be admitted than you did. "They" (Disney) know what the limit is for capacity is and they adhere to it. As far as the empty parking spaces, that does NOT mean for certain more persons could be admitted. Many, many people rely on the free Disney transportation and never utilize the parking lots at all.

 

[monkyby87]

I'm not fully defending Disney, but higher rates also mean some people will choose not to go during the busy season, therefore reducing the overall number of people that might possibly go. So while a higher price is undesirable for consumers, it also benefits them in some ways. It's like any vacation spot, and there is no great or easy way to "fix" the issue, despite whatever suggestions may seem logical.

 

[Jennasis]

If Disney closed its doors to "big" crowds, OP, that would mean YOU wouldn't have been able to get in. Then you'd be here complaining about how ridiculous it is that Disney closed its doors to you, a paying customer (along with several thousand others). What you REALLY want is for Disney to let you in at a premium time of year while shutting out others so that you can enjoy lower crowds...but what about everyone else?

You also went during one of the most crowded times of the year. What did you expect? If the answer is "not crowds like THAT" then you didn't plan properly.

That said, while I would LOVE to be there for Christmas/New Year etc, I know it gets insanely crowded, so I will probably never go at that time.

 

[mesaboy2]

Still a zombie thread. Y'all can keep talking to the OP all you want, but I'm thinking they stopped reading about 3 years ago.