First Day Here, It's so Crowded!

[THREEAMIGOES]

DHS was very busy last night as we were walking in for EMH but around 9:45 the park was fabulous and the crowds were super light...even with the 1 tour group we saw. Toy Story Mania said an 85 min wait, but the CM said it was actually 40 and they changed it soon afterwards. Like the PP said, F! and EMH affected the crowds making it a red park.

Yesterday MK was listed in the 1's and Fantasyland was a mad house. Of course, it just felt that way because we went during peak hours for families with young kids and toddlers...in reality it wasn't bad at all. 15 minute wait for ITS A SMALL WORLD and the highest wait for Peter Pan that we saw was 30 minutes. That same time in Liberty Square it was a ghost town. I think it's all relative to what time you go, what's going on in what park and which area of the park you are in.

Nothing at all like last August when we were here. The crowd levels were 3-7 that time. I'll try to post pictures of crowds from yesterday when I get a chance.

Hi - what are the peak hours for family with young kids and toddlers? We'll try to avoid that

 

[tjmj9801]

Please, oh please, oh PLEASE let them all be gone by next week!!!!

 

[n2mm]

The So. Amer. tour groups are in WDW in January and July. We just started week 2 of a 2 weeks trip and the tour groups have been here ever since we arrived on Jan. 16th. They are everywhere. I actually noticed some groups are staying on property (they had their KTTW cards hanging on their necks). Even in US/IOA too. Last week the crowd levels were fairly low and pretty much a walk on. The crowds started getting bigger this weekend as expected, but the crowds are still getting bigger. We were at MK today, which was a mistake. Most rides (Buzz/SM/PP) all had wait times of 60 minutes when we left at noon today. We will head back to MK on Wed. so maybe the crowds will drop some. The parks were so packed there was a line to get on the people mover -- which is a sign to leave for us. Last week's crowds were great.

 

[minandmick]

We went to MK EMH 8m-11pm tonight. as we were walking in, we counted 9 LARGE tour groups leaving. but inside, man it was a breeze. walk on for all fantasyland rides except peter pan. walk on for pirates, big thunder and 10 minutes for space mountain.

 

[TinkerBrie]

Yep, Magic Kingdom was a ZOO on Monday!!! Crazy busy!!

 

[CountyMounty]

"A zoo", how can this be, not giving much confidence in the crowd calendars since Monday 1-24 was rated as a 1 out of 10 crowd level with MK being a Best park.

 

[dolphindan1]

"A zoo", how can this be, not giving much confidence in the crowd calendars since Monday 1-24 was rated as a 1 out of 10 crowd level with MK being a Best park.

More reason to jump on over to TGM...just sayin....

 

[CountyMounty]

More reason to jump on over to TGM...just sayin....

Why, what was TGM's level for that day?

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Monday, 1-24, was CRAZYYYY at the Magic Kingdom. I have never seen it busier in my entire life. I am not kidding about this. Wall to wall people.

 

[n2mm]

Monday, 1-24, was CRAZYYYY at the Magic Kingdom. I have never seen it busier in my entire life. I am not kidding about this. Wall to wall people.

I agree. I'm heading back to MK today (Wed 1-26) so I'm hoping for a lower crowd level. Last week the crowd levels was very low, so this week is a shock for us. We went to US/IOA yesterday and it was crowded, but no waits to get on anything as long as you stayed away from the So. Am tour groups. There were many tour groups there too. Since they ride together, it's pretty easy to get away from them if you avoid the ride when they are on them. We walked on MIB twice, Mummy twice and all other favorites.

 

[mom2rtk]

Note to self...... Mark January off of times to visit Disney.......

Mid-December is getting close to being marked off........

Would someone remind me what's left?

We were there this week in January 08. I saw ONE person with a flag and just a couple people. Man, I just have been living right!

 

[kmermaid]

I concur with everyone else that it was crazy there with the BTGs. We were at DHS on 1/23. I would have definitely have chosen another park but I was with a gathering of 11 who wanted to see Fantasmic (only day showing during our stay) so that is what I had to plan for. TSM running of the bulls went fine, I don't think the tour groups were there yet. Group moved to RNR while I got FP for TSM. The BTGs have arrived and a mob scene at that end of the park. My group was in line and CM opened up the single rider line, but get this they were only letting in the BTGs. I was gonna ride singer rider but they would not let me and closed it off after the BTGs. Well that didn't fly with my group and they had a manager and argued with him. He actually said that I should have gone thru the FP line (without a FP) to join up with them. Yeah right. He avoided every time they asked him way the BTG got to go in but no one else. He finally gave our group instant FPs to use. Then later at TT fp machines they had one machine that was only allowed to be used by the BTG tour guides, that is how they announced it too. Unbelievable. Do they pay more for their packages than us? I was there in July with them too but this trip they were much more rude, I banged shoulders with them after dealing with them the 1st day. We usually have a long weekend at this time every year but I'm done with Disney in January, shame too cuz its my birthday.

 

[jzensky]

We are here this week also. Touringplans totally mislead us for this week! Every other year we have had great luck using it.

Monday was ridiculous at MK, yesterday at AK wasn't too bad, we are following the crowd calendar and it doesn't seem to be helping.

Luckily we stood with another family from the dis during wishes and the castle show at MK and made our own little "wall" to stop people from coming through... as my son said "Mommy, people who speak english!"

Back to February for us next year. We were so excited for homeschool days this year and that is why we came this week, never again.

 

[kennedyandkailey]

Please, oh please, oh PLEASE let them all be gone by next week!!!!

I am praying with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Snape]

My guess is Disney also plays a part in the tour groups coming in January rather than July. They want as much revenue as they can during the off season.

 

[KLWST16]

We're here this week also. As others have noted, Monday at MK was so crowded but we were still able to get fantastic seats for MSEP and Wishes, ride a few rides and meet characters. Yesterday at AK was quite enjoyable. Except for the times when shows just got out, parts of the park were hardly crowded.

Am a little nervous for Epcot today as Touring Plans has it listed at a 5.5!

 

[cjsmith]

I'm coming up Saturday to celebrate my birthday so I'm not happy to hear the crowd levels. This used to be the perfect weekend to come.

Any thoughts on the crowds for Saturday, Sunday and Monday and what days I should do what parks???

 

[pearljim]

Worst January crowds we've ever experienced and we've come in January for the past 20 years. Be a good time to invade South America - they're all here.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

We're here this week also. As others have noted, Monday at MK was so crowded but we were still able to get fantastic seats for MSEP and Wishes, ride a few rides and meet characters. Yesterday at AK was quite enjoyable. Except for the times when shows just got out, parts of the park were hardly crowded.

Am a little nervous for Epcot today as Touring Plans has it listed at a 5.5!

Easywdw site had MK as a park to avoid on Monday. AK was listed as the best park to visit yesterday. He's got HS as the best park to visit today, MK as second best, so I'd be interested to know folks' thoughts on those. We'll be visiting Feb. 9-13 and will be following his best park recommendations (except for 1 day). Hoping for manageable crowds, though no crowds would be lovely.

 

[Tinkbellfan]

I just got back from a long weekend too (Jan 20 - 24th) and used TMG best park of the day and arrived by 9:30 to each park. Yes, it was slightly more crowded than I would have expected in January but using FP helped. Went to AK on Friday and it was empty, Epcot on Saturday and it was slightly crowded and MK on Sunday morning and crowds where very low until after lunch. I think the cold temps in the morning held people off until the afternoon. Epcot on Sunday night was empty (but it was very cold).

We saw many BTG and actually went through the FP line of Soarin' with a group of about 20. They were very pleasant, well behaved and polite. I noticed that the chanting was non-existent so I'm wondering if they have been asked to stop this.