Here now.....a few observations

[Melissabo]

Seems I've read they do take the wreaths and garland down for filming. Something about obstructed view and/or camera cranes needing the space to operate.

The garland was up when we arrived on 11/28 but down on Sunday the 2nd the day after the parade so I would think it would be back up.

We saw quite a few pop warner kids and they were no trouble at all. Mostly groups of 3-7 kids with two or more adults. The only thing that made them stand out was that they had the bows and cheer gear on. We stayed at POR so we didn't see huge groups.

We also had a run in with a BTG on Monday 12/3 during extra magic hours in MK. It was just after midnight and I was exiting Space Mountain with my son. As were were meeting dh this group of teens in light blue shirts and back packs came running to the line literally pushing each other through past the cm that asks for your room key, and up to the cm that stands in front of the inside entrance. She must have halted everyone, they slowed down but pushed through like a train. I assumed they were cheerleaders until a few seconds later we saw someone coming with flags and more teens. It was really disturbing. I'm glad my six year old and I were not in that line at that point. I felt bad for the cms who were young girls as well. The next day at HS we saw at least two more groups but didn't have any issues with the group as a whole.

One girl did kind of shoulder check me while I was ordering at Fairfax, I assumed it was my dh and when I looked up I saw this young girl who tried to order a coke. Before I could even say anything the cm told her to get back and wait. The cm apologized and said they are very rough to handle. That situation to me was more about an individual being rude than the whole group. A little later in the day someone from the same group stopped and was asking us information about the shows and attractions. She was very nice and just wanted some help navigating the park.

I think large groups of teens unsupervised for a long period of time is a always a recipe for trouble.

After seeing what went down in front of Space Mountain I will check about BTG before booking my dates for our next trip. Coming across a group or two during a week wasn't a big deal but if it was multiple groups everyday I could see it becoming a damper.

 

[North of Mouse]

Don't know who's reporting less crowds. We're here now and I'm amazed at how crowded it is. It's been as bad as some of the summer months I've been here. I was told by a CM at last night's MMVMCP that their turnstile had park attendance at 76,000. Today at Downtown Disney all the parking lots were full. I've been here at this time of year before and practically had the place to ourselves. This year its packed!

We just got home tonight after 10 days, and the Mon-Thurs. last week and the Mon-Wed. this week were light crowds. We walked on most attractions except the main liners. Even walked right on splash. Yest. for MK FLE opening it was very crowded. I did not go to MK but my dh did. He left right after the opening ceremonies. As the week progresses, the parks are more crowded.

DTD was crowded on the night we went - think it is like that most nights because the parks mostly close early.

 

[nuzmom]

I agree that the crowds are heavy, but today at Animal Kingdom was fairly light. However, DTD was BUSY!!! But, then again, it's a Friday, during December.
Yesterday, at HS, it was very crowded. TSM was 80 minutes at times, ToT was 30 minutes, and RNR was about the same (30 min or so). Star Tours was walkon in the early evening.

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

Theres about a million people at the bus stop this morning. I cannot believe the crowds

 

[BackstoryWorthy]

We were there 11/28 - 12/3. Crowds the 29th at the MK were low, low low - Space Mtn was a 10 minute stand by all day and my party walked on Splash in about 10 too (party days are great for touring plans). No garlands up on Main Street if I recall correctly.

The crowds at all other parks seemed very manageable as the week went on, but nowhere near as low as our first MK day. At Epcot Soaring peaked at a 50 minute standby most days. I managed to grab a theater seat 12/2 at the last Candlelight Processional just by walking up as the show was starting. TSM at DHS was to 7pm FPs by 10:30am with a 70 minute standby wait. We had no bus issues during our stay - only had to stand on 1 ride back from park.

Saturday night Wishes went really well for the only evening of non-party, non-EMH late hours and entertainment. We experienced some major bottleneck action getting back up Main after Wishes though compounded by some ECVs trying to go toward the castle with thousands of people moving AWAY from it (hope that ended well ) but just past that area it was fine. I was expecting constant wall-to-wall people and it just wasn't that bad.

That said, a CM at our resort told DB that the week was as crowded as she has ever seen it for the week after Thanksgiving.

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

Have had several really rude guest encounters on this trip so far. I am so embarrased that they are all from the NY/NJ area. It is people like this that give us the stereo type attached to us.

One woman's kid kept kicking my heels while we were in line for a ride and I very politely asked the little girl to stop and the mom flipped out. She accused me of hitting her kid with my camera bag. Really? You would have thought I cussed at the kid or something.

I had a drunk woman ram right into me and then she turned around and accused me of assaulting her. Lol WOW

Had several other smaller incidents...all from where I grew up. SMH

I really do try to be ultra polite in Disney since there is so much ugliness. Wish everybody else thought that way

 

[KellyNY]

Have had several really rude guest encounters on this trip so far. I am so embarrased that they are all from the NY/NJ area. It is people like this that give us the stereo type attached to us.

One woman's kid kept kicking my heels while we were in line for a ride and I very politely asked the little girl to stop and the mom flipped out. She accused me of hitting her kid with my camera bag. Really? You would have thought I cussed at the kid or something.

I had a drunk woman ram right into me and then she turned around and accused me of assaulting her. Lol WOW

Had several other smaller incidents...all from where I grew up. SMH

I really do try to be ultra polite in Disney since there is so much ugliness. Wish everybody else thought that way

LOL, it happens, but how do you know where they from?

 

[LMN]

Just got back from WDW. We were there 3rd-7th. I thought the parks were pretty crowded later in the days, but not too bad earlier in the mornings. This was our 3rd trip during the 1st week of December- also went this week in 2009 and 2010. Didn't notice that the handsoap smelled, noticed that the bathrooms were generally a mess. Really enjoyed New Fantasyland. Got to see Gaston in front of his tavern and rode the Little Mermaid ride twice- Disney theming at its best!

Didn't do any TS this trip, which I normally really enjoy and missed. Got to do several firsts food-wise this trip, which was fun. My first Dole Whip (ok- not as great as I expected) and my first Fish and Chips from UK (amazing! Wish I could have some right now!)

All in all, a great trip. I did witness more than the normal amount of arguing/fighting going on: husbands/wives and parents/childrens. Amazing to me how anyone can be disagreeable at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Did run into the BTG with the light blue backpacks several times. Didn't witness any unruly behavior or chanting, but they were a BIG group, which caused people to have to stop and wait for them to go by or change direction.

So glad I was there- we had a great time!!

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

LOL, it happens, but how do you know where they from?

I am going by the accent I grew up with and their clothing that had sports teams

 

[KellyNY]

I am going by the accent I grew up with and their clothing that had sports teams

Accent is a relative thing but sport teams, yep, that is solid.

 

[mesaboy2]

Accent is a relative thing but sport teams, yep, that is solid.

Is that a fact?

 

[KellyNY]

Is that a fact?

You tell me.

 

[DisneyDudet]

I would gather that there are quite a few ppl around for the openings of everything, plus free dining, right?

I leave Monday. I'm always prepared for crowds. When Disney extends perk hours, you know crowds are higher than expected.

 

[NMDisneyFan]

You tell me.

You two are cracking me up! That's a fact, jack!

 

[TexasDreamer]

This is by NO means a complaint thread, we are having a great time. Just a few things all 12 of us have noticed collectively...

The soap in the bathrooms make your hands smell like vomit.

No issues with any ecv people. All very polite. A few stroller issues, nothing too major and my ankles will heal.

The BTGs are out of control.

We are staying at akl and blt. we have seen a ton of the cheerleader groups in the parks and have not encountered an issue.

We do a lot of ts. For the most part, the service has been mediocre at best. So disappointing. Narcoossees was wonderful as always.

Just got back yesterday. Had a GREAT time but I will concur with most of the OPs comments.

Didn't noticed the snell of the bathroom soap as much as how drying it was. I'd definitely recommend bringing hand lotion in your day pack.

BTGs were annoying. Not so much unruly but very loud. A lot more so than the PW groups.

We had no problems with either TS or QS. Service was great at Flying Fying Fish and Teppon Eddo. And good at Sci Fi and Tony's. We always had early lunch and dinner ADRs so maybe that helped some.

First time pin trading so the choices were not an issue for us.

 

[larryz]

I was told by a CM at last night's MMVMCP that their turnstile had park attendance at 76,000.

So much for the "exclusive ticket event" theory...

 

[JayhawkFans]

Yikes ... Not sure how many is typical for MVMCP but that figure seems really high. Hoping for a few less next Sunday when we are there.

 

[KorieDWnut]

What is a BTG?

We just left yesterday, were there for a week. I was surprised at how crowded the parks were, yet the lines were sort of short. I wasaggravated a few times. same old thing really, people who just STOP right where they are with no regard to people walking behind them, and kids who just flop on the ground and parents who don't supervise them.

We had a great time. I have a food allergy and was so surprised at how accomodating the restaurants were, except for San Angel Inn..The chef didnt come out. The waitress pointed to things I could have (I have a gluten issue) and when my tortilla soup came out, I assumed it was corn tortilla but instead it was flour and I ate it before I realized. Headache for 2 days. Other than that, everyone was great.

 

[bytheblood]

We just got back last night. We had a fabulous time! It was much warmer out than we expected. The crowds were larger than we expected on the 7th, but we pretty much walked onto everything while we were there the rest of the time. We did have a rather big issue at Le Cellier, but the manager took great care of us.

It sounds like somebody is personalizing people's comments again!? I am not jumping to the defense of the comment being made about the New York and New Jersey people, but if luvthemouse is from that area and recognizes the accents and the sport teams, then why not just take it at her word that her experience was real and not pleasant? If I read it correctly, luvthemouse was saying that it was disaapointing to her because that is where she was from.

 

[KorieDWnut]

So much for the "exclusive ticket event" theory...

There was one night we went back to MK at around 4pm. They closed at 7 and then there was a party. We didn't do any parties but just wanted to have a last few hours at MK. OMG the LINES to get in!!!!! We waited in line just to get through security for what seemed like 20 minutes, and then another 10 minutes to get through the turnstile, only to find out we were in the wrong line because that was the "party" line and had to be rerouted to the left for Gen Admittance, another several minutes. Once we got in, Main St was so crowded. I don't want to offend, so please take my gripe with a grain of salt, but I sort of thought, its not fair that all these party people are coming in so early so I can't enjoy a few more hours of MK, yet I am ushered out of the park at 7 for the party. Didn't seem fair. I didn't have an extra 400 dollars for my family to do a worried: