DVC new owner observation from our recent trip

[CruznLexi]

My husband and I just bought into DVC- KV- after our recent POP stay. We stayed Jan 3-11. Was pretty crowded at ALL Parks. MK Spalsh, SM, had wait times of 90 minutes, TMRR- had 40 minutes. Epcot Soaring, was 90 minutes, TT-60, Golf Ball 30 minutes- HS- TT- 40-60 minutes, RRRC- 50 minutes, TSM- 60 minutes. Line does move good. AK- Everest- 45. Most of these days were Sun-Thur. YOMD- items were still up as was the resort mugs-
Lexi

 

[KirstenB]

January used to be a slow time of year. IT sounds like that's no longer true. I hope you had a great first visit as a DVC member.

 

[dairyqueenmom]

Something I did not realize about traveling in January it this is a school break time for South America. We saw as many Brazilian tour groups during our Jan. 11-14 trip as we did in July.

 

[rkwier]

We were there 1/21 - 1/25. We also found several South American tour groups at the parks. However, it really did not seem to impact the crowds too much and there was little to no wait for most things. We rode Expedition Everast three times in a row with no problem. The biggest part of the wait was simply walking through the maze to get to it.

 

[nunzia]

Oh dear..hoping to go next Jan 3-9 and was hoping it wouldn't be too bad..

 

[Stinkerbell317]

We just got back and were there 1/23-30. It was more crowded than I expected on a couple days. But other days it was empty. MK seemed to be the most crowded. And when we saw those groups heading our way, we either raced to beat them, or ran the other way! Most days we did just fine. ONe day we rode TSM 3 times. Another day we saw the fairies 3 times. I of course think it was all due to my wonderful planning

 

[Val]

Could it "feel" more crowded because they only run one side of an attraction or fewer cars/boats? I have noticed that when we were down at slower times. With all the hinted off layoffs of CMs, that may be one way of controlling costs.....or maybe everyone just decided to get their last hurrah's while they still had the $$$!!!

 

[Stinkerbell317]

Could it "feel" more crowded because they only run one side of an attraction or fewer cars/boats? I have noticed that when we were down at slower times. With all the hinted off layoffs of CMs, that may be one way of controlling costs.....or maybe everyone just decided to get their last hurrah's while they still had the $$$!!!

Yes I definitely noticed they only had one side running on several attractions.

 

[marshmallow]

We were there last week and it was fine except if you were in the same park as the tour groups. It was just overwhelming to see these HUGE groups in the same color t shirts.

 

[Muushka]

My husband and I just bought into DVC- KV- after our recent POP stay. We stayed Jan 3-11. Was pretty crowded at ALL Parks. MK Spalsh, SM, had wait times of 90 minutes, TMRR- had 40 minutes. Epcot Soaring, was 90 minutes, TT-60, Golf Ball 30 minutes- HS- TT- 40-60 minutes, RRRC- 50 minutes, TSM- 60 minutes. Line does move good. AK- Everest- 45. Most of these days were Sun-Thur. YOMD- items were still up as was the resort mugs-
Lexi

We were at the parks during the same period and we were stunned at how crowded the parks were. And to think we forfeited a Dec visit to escape the crowds. Never again.

 

[DisneyMama27]

DH and DD7 were there last week (1/25-1/31) and said it was great! They rode RNR with no FPs, rode SM 3 times in a row, etc. Splash was closed, but they saw STACY and talked to her, and that made DD's trip! She was filming a new show.

DH said he saw the tour groups, but they were smaller and less obnoxious than they were in July/October/etc. They didn't bother him.

DH won't wait even 20 minutes in a line, and he said it was great - the only long lines were Soarin' and Toy Story Mania.


Late January does seem to be better than early. We used to be spoiled to going off-season, but as the kids get older, it's harder to take them out of school. So we are resigned to school vacations, also the most crowded times. We are getting used to it, plus we don't do commando-rope-drop-crazy days at parks anymore, so that helps. You learn to take it easy and avoid the crowds!

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

We were at the parks during the same period and we were stunned at how crowded the parks were. And to think we forfeited a Dec visit to escape the crowds. Never again.

Don't feel too bad; we were there Dec 13-19 and it was the MOST crowded I've ever seen it during that time.

Plus the marathon and half marathon were in Jan and those have become VERY popular!

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Do you guys realize that Anaheim announced last Thursday that park attendance for the 4th quarter of 2008 was down 8% - yup, it's true. They made the announcement the same day they fired 1,000 castmembers (company wide) because of the downturn in the economy. That 1,000 count does not include the 600 who were given the buyout option.

ABC News lost 5% of it's workforce January 27th. They just sent letters informing management of all cost centers that there will be a buyout - if not enough people take the buyout.....more layoffs. This time 17% of the Disney workforce.

22% loss in castmembers...what kind of magic is going to be left now.

Today we are waiting for Disney to present it's 4th quarter report.

 

[minniemoms]

This is the forever question... I used to only go in Jan. and now that it is very crowded with large groups.. When do you go??? Living on the West Coast. WDW is something we only do every 3 years. We use our points out here on the West Coast. But only coming out every few years, is there a better time to go?? Anyone want to share their secrets?

 

[Muushka]

This is the forever question... I used to only go in Jan. and now that it is very crowded with large groups.. When do you go??? Living on the West Coast. WDW is something we only do every 3 years. We use our points out here on the West Coast. But only coming out every few years, is there a better time to go?? Anyone want to share their secrets?

That is a good question. I guess whenever it is hurricane season and not free dining?

 

[Cindaddy]

That is a good question. I guess whenever it is hurricane season and not free dining?

That's a pretty good answer. Looking at the projected crowd calendar, there really isn't a slow time anymore. Disney has done a good job smoothing out the dips.

 

[Kathi OD]

We just got back yesterday. Went down on Thursday, 1/29, and were concerned about how crowded it was going to be due to the Superbowl being in Tampa. Touring Plans had crowd prediction at an 8. I don't know where all the people were, but they definitely were not in the parks.

The longest wait we had for any ride was 10 minutes and that was using fast pass for only TSM, and the standby wait time was only 35 minutes! Many attractions didn't even have fast pass in operation.

The MK definitely had the biggest crowds, but even they were nowhere near as big as what we normally encounter. I'd definitely go again at the end of January.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

We just got back yesterday. Went down on Thursday, 1/29, and were concerned about how crowded it was going to be due to the Superbowl being in Tampa. Touring Plans had crowd prediction at an 8. I don't know where all the people were, but they definitely were not in the parks.

.

They were in the strip clubs in Tampa

 

[aurorafan]

We were there 1-25 through 1-29 and other than DHS it was fine. We saw the most tour groups at DHS on Mon. 1-26, and it did worry me about how the rest of the trip would go, but then I realized it was the only night F! was showing so that probably had a large role in it. We saw tour groups in the other parks, but not in nearly such large numbers, and we did comment that it seemed without the tour groups that the parks would have been empty!

I would definitely go again late Jan. and was trying to get DH to agree to a trip in Jan. 2010 when the boys have teacher workdays, but he doesn't want to go when it might be cold (he was there MLK weekend and said it was chilly ).

 

[Kathi OD]

They were in the strip clubs in Tampa

Never thought I'd be able to say I was grateful for strip clubs, but it seems that after this weekend I surely am!!