Experience while crowded

[Cakesy]

We booked the second week in May expecting lower crowds. But with the vaccines and the stimulus, I think it’s going to quite crowded.
can some of you who have been lately during the bigger crowds tell me what the experience was realistically like? I want to manage my expectations.
Long lines for everything? Hard to get food? Did you have to put in quick service orders right away in the morning? Etc.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I would highly recommend you read the 'Here Now and Just Back' thread as it has many first hand accounts that will help you out.

 

[Cakesy]

I would highly recommend you read the 'Here Now and Just Back' thread as it has many first hand accounts that will help you out.

thanks, I kept trying to check it but I often found pages of conversations that were not really related to me lol. I’m going to go check it out again!

 

[Cakesy]

Oh I want to add I subscribed to touring plans.

 

[scuba]

This is very interesting to me, prior to COVID I have NEVER been to a park in my 30+ visits and experienced a 35% capacity day. I have seen photographs of family and friends visiting Disney World and in the background it appears they are the only ones there......

 

[hereforthechurros]

This is very interesting to me, prior to COVID I have NEVER been to a park in my 30+ visits and experienced a 35% capacity day. I have seen photographs of family and friends visiting Disney World and in the background it appears they are the only ones there......

With no parades, castle shows, extra entertainment, the crowds are all in lines for rides.

 

[scuba]

With no parades, castle shows, extra entertainment the crowds are all in lines for rides.

Looks like we are in store for a unique experience in April when we visit. I cannot imagine crowds at 35% when we have visited during a 100% capacity day. NOW if I could just score RoR boarding group on the one day we have reserved for HS while the park is at 35% capacity, apparently I should feel blessed to even have a HS reservation during our visit.

 

[kniquy]

We were there for thanksgiving 2020, so a relatively busy time. It was probably the best trip we ever had. With no FP it actually makes the lines go quicker and no FP make planning easier. We just used the MDE app and our touring plans app to monitor wait times. We would hit anything less than 40 minutes - most of our actual wait times were 10-15 minutes less. The bigger rides (FoP and 7DMT) were the exception - we would hop in line if less than an hour. Ordering food for us typically happened at slightly off times but certain locations were busy (pesos bill, aloha isle) so we did have a bit of a wait for our orders. If you plan it right you can select a slightly later window to go back, put in your order and hit a ride. As soon as you are done your ride - select i am here (or whatever it states) and by the time you walk over to the location your wait should be fairly short.

With no evening fireworks this is the best time to stay until close. People with younger kids will leave the park as there is no reason to hang around, so wait times are great in the last hour of the night.

For your timeframe i wouldn't be too worried about the crowds. Yes crowds are back, but you are going during a slower time - I believe most schools are still in session and there is no more spring break or holiday.

You will have a great time!

 

[Nabas]

We booked the second week in May expecting lower crowds. But with the vaccines and the stimulus, I think it’s going to quite crowded.
can some of you who have been lately during the bigger crowds tell me what the experience was realistically like? I want to manage my expectations.

Touring Plans is projecting crowd levels of 2 and 3 for the week we are going (May 16).

For the week we just went (March 21), Touring Plans said the crowd levels were 4.

Here are some images from last week.

DHS:



Magic Kingdom:



Epcot (evening):



DAK:

 

[Cakesy]

Thanks so much, kniguy, that’s reassuring and helpful!
I’ve spent half my day now reading the Here Now thread lol.

 

[Nabas]

Long lines for everything? Hard to get food? Did you have to put in quick service orders right away in the morning? Etc.

Lines are physically long but, with no FastPass+, they move quickly. Most actual wait times are 10-15 minutes less than the posted time.

It was really hard to find a table at the Magic Kingdom. Easier at the other 3 theme parks.

By far, the best way to handle QS meals is with Mobile Order. Disney has gotten very good at this.

 

[WDWOswald]

It’s not bad at all at full capacity (35%). In fact, it’s better now than back in December because ride vehicles are seating every row. It’s kinda nice going knowing “this is as bad as it can possibly get” and it is still manageable. Check the app for wait times this week to get a preview of worse case scenario.

 

[ucf_knight]

We booked the second week in May expecting lower crowds. But with the vaccines and the stimulus, I think it’s going to quite crowded.
can some of you who have been lately during the bigger crowds tell me what the experience was realistically like? I want to manage my expectations.
Long lines for everything? Hard to get food? Did you have to put in quick service orders right away in the morning? Etc.

Place your qs mobile lunch order before 10:30 am. This way you can pick what time you’d like to reserve to eat at with plenty of good times available. If you want until just before you want to eat you might find yourself with fewer options, less desirable times or waiting for a long time.

 

[Cakesy]

Place your qs mobile lunch order before 10:30 am. This way you can pick what time you’d like to reserve to eat at with plenty of good times available. If you want until just before you want to eat you might find yourself with fewer options, less desirable times or waiting for a long time.

If you pick a time of, say noon, but get stuck on a ride line, are you able to push it back a little?

 

[ucf_knight]

If you pick a time of, say noon, but get stuck on a ride line, are you able to push it back a little?

You are usually able to pick a window of time say 12-12:30. Once 12-12:30 comes around you then can hit “I’m here prepare my food” at anytime during that window.

 

[Dakota731]

Things are going to get worse. Saw on the news that airlines and travel sites are experiencing record numbers of upcoming travelers. Guess everyone is ready now to get out and get away!