Free DDP and Crowds

[PottersMom]

I think this year's free dinning promotion is underway already. So if anyone is there now, or jsut got back- how are the crowds?
We are on the free DDP and will be arriving on Weds. We typically travel this time of year b/c the crowds are light and the weather is a little cooler. When i made my resort ressies, POP, ASMU, and ASMO were all booked and the only thing they had was for ASSports (value anyway).
Plus all of the restaurants were booked too, (sort of understandable).
I am wondering how much of this is because of our group (10ppl total- in three resort rooms) and how much is just over crowding from DDP promo. I know they only offer certain rooms for the promotion, so maybe that's it.
I just don't want to get there and have summer level crowds in September.

 

[KnJ]

We are currently in WDW and crowds are nonexistent. However, restaurants are busy, be sure to be on time for checkin for whatever ADRs you were able to get. Many of the restaurants have been packed full and turning away walkups. Maybe try some resort restaurants. Just to warn you the bus stops for the value resorts have been a bit crowded (only for the values, rest of the resort bus stops are pretty light). Have fun!

 

[PrincessGrandma]

Crowds are non-existent! That's good news. We're arriving Wed night. Regarding some of the popular rides at MK, what's the longest wait you had?

 

[mousecrazy2006]

We will be there Weds also. What Restaurants are turning away walkups? All or Some turning away? We have some ressies but are still trying for some others

 

[nanadeb]

We will be there Weds also. What Restaurants are turning away walkups? All or Some turning away? We have some ressies but are still trying for some others

Most restaurants were turning away walk-ups, but you have your best chances with resort restaurants. You can still make ADRS right now by calling Disney dining and being transferred to the current week ADR ressies. We were there from 9/1 to 9/9. We added on the last day only 2 weeks before we left and had a little trouble getting the last ADR. We got Spoodles at 5:20 PM (we really don't eat that early!) and it was one of the best restaurants we went to. A definite must do.
Forget Coral Reef, Chefs de France, and Le Cellier. When we checked in for these, walk-ups were being told that there was nothing for the rest of the week.
For some really terrific CS meals that could masquarade easily as TS meals, try Wolfgang Puck Express at the Westsie, near AMC. It is attached to the Wolfgang Puck Cafe and offers a few of the same entrees. You do have to dine outside. The Wolfgang Puck Express at Downtown Disney had some great salads, sandwiches, pizzas, and some meaty entrees, but not as much as the Westside one. Limited desserts at this one. Try the Pepper Market at Coronado Springs for a CS to die for. You can even get a ribeye steak or a huge Chinese combo plate with a bowl of noodles and egg roll here for a CS credit. Sunshine Seasons at the Land in Epcot has some great CS choices. One of our favorites was the huge roasted pork chop with 2 sides, plus dessert and drink.
On the resort channel under dining, they show an offer that gives you in exchange for one TS credit, a CS meal and a lanyard and pin or a CS meal and 2 snack credits. If you can't use your TS credits, try this offer at a Disney owned CS restaurant. (Hint: Wolfgang Puck and the Pepper Market are not Disney owned).
When we were checking in for our Kona Cafe ADR, a very angry gnetleman was complaining that hwe had waited for well over an hour and a half to get in and the CM showed him that he would be next after anyone other than someone with an ADR, so it is possible to get into a TS without an ADR. But Adr's do open up the same day. Sometimes a better move is to call the restaurant directly on the same day to make a ressie. They will have a recent update of cancellations.
HTH!

 

[KnJ]

Honestly, the longest wait we had at MK, was splash mountain where we waited 5 minutes but that was just to walk through all of the line. Today, EPOCT was a little busier, in the AM waits for Soarin got up to 55 minutes, but we used the fast pass.

 

[wDizneywGirl]

We just got back on Sunday (we were there 9/2 - 9/9) and we walked on most of the rides. Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, Mission Space and Test Track all had about a 10 minute wait. The longest wait we saw was Soarin' and the Safari at about 40 mins. If you fastpass those your wait is only about 20 mins. It was great! The restuarants are very busy, but we were able to get a lunch reservation at 50's prime time while down there 2 days before we wanted to eat there.

 

[nikky luvs mickey]

We had no lines at the parks and no waits for most of our adrs. Only lecellier we had to wait 10 minutes because we were late for our time because of security at the gates taking so long. The checkin at the two hotels we stayed at though were quite long gf was about 15 minutes and por was a half hour both checking in and out. We also did the pirate and princess party No waits for any rides there either the longest wait was for the treasure stops. It was a great trip.

 

[k_reile]

that is awesome about hardly any lines...Dh and l leave in 11 days for our 1st trip together and I was worried about DH having to wait in line...he is not patient enough for them and most of the time we skip things...but this will work out great.

 

[chicknoodle99]

We were just there also from 9/3-9/8 and the crowds were not bad at all. DH did get a fast pass for Soarin but that was about it. DH and my dad walked right onto Expedition Everest, Splash Mtn, Space Mtn, and Tower of Terror without a wait at all.

As far as restaurants go:
We ate at Whispering Canyon but had an ADR of 3pm. No wait there and the food/service was great. Wednesday we at ate Coral Reef at 2:50pm and waited at least 30mins for a table. As we were waiting there were walkups and they were told that they were booked for dinner until October! Thursday we ate at Hollywood and Vine at 4:30pm and had about a 15min wait. Then Friday we ate at Ohana's at 4pm and didn't wait at all.

Have fun!

 

[bentleygirl22]

thats great to hear!!!!!!!!!

 

[burberryplaid]

We just got back yesterday, and I concur with what everyone said..the crowds in the parks are very light. We did take advantage of early morning arrivals though, and left around midday to swim and nap. When we went back in the evening, we found the crowds to be very manageable.

Some of the more popular places (50's Prime Time and Le Cellier are the 2 that come to mind) were turning people away, but we saw them take walk ups at Whispering Canyon and Rose and Crown during peak dinner hours.