Here Now And Boy Is It Crowded!!!

[Goofy68]

It has been mid term holidays here in the Uk and a lot of people go to Disney at that time. So probably adding to the crowds.

We go in 2 weeks and are expecting our normal November levels. It's a bit strange considering the amount of stories about poor booking levels for hotels etc.

 

[parmtoo]

How things have changed! We went in Oct. a few times back in the late 90s, it was always so quiet with no waiting............It was our fav. time to go back then.

 

[OhBother]

My family just got back from a trip, 10-16 to 10-19. We did Epcot on Friday and I thought the crowd was very reasonable until after 3:00 or so and then it was NUTS. But it was extra magic hours so that was to be expected. Only Soarin and Test Track had >30 minute wait times that I saw during the day and thats normal.
Saturday we went to the Magic Kingdom and I would call the crowd normal, nothing excessive. We never waited more than 30 minutes for anything. We were leaving the park at 3:00 and on our way out, we found prime curb spots for the parade up by the train station. That hardly ever happens.
I don't know, the crowds didn't seem that bad to us this past weekend. Now we visit the parks all the time and I am pretty good about knowing when to use Fastpass, which rides to hit when, we only snack (no meals) etc., so that may have something to do with it. Perhaps we just got lucky, but I didn't find it all that bad.

 

[KristiMc]

We arrived on Sat. 10/18. We went to AK that day and I don't think it was too bad. We used FP wisely and was able to do most everything.

Sunday we were at MK. We were very lucky and got Dream Fastpasses on our first ride (BTMR) so we were pretty good after that. We did go to Epcot last night and it was pretty crowded.

We are getting right now to head out to DHS.

 

[TLHB70]

We just got back today (10/11-10/19). I was shocked at the crowd levels. We have toured Disney in early Aug, late Sept, late Nov, and early Dec. I doubt I will ever go to Disney in Oct again. The crowds were no better these past 8 days in Oct, than they were during our early Aug trips. Thankfully, the weather was slightly better though, even though hot at 85.

There were so many rides we didn't even get to ride due to long lines. When there are lines for the IASM and tea cups, you know you're in trouble, imo, lol.

Seems like the only time to go to the parks was very early in the am and very late in the pm. We waited in line for Toy Stoy for 110 mins at 9:45 pm. Fast passes were not valid until 3:20 and didn't want to stay that long. All the parks were crowded during our stay. MNSSHP was way more crowded and less enjoyable than the pirate party we attended in Aug 2007.

I believe this was Tuesday Oct 14: It was supposed to be a do-able day for MK. Not!

Yes, we had a 25 minute wait for IASW on Wednesday (the 15th)!!!!!! I was shocked!
There was a wait for Tomorrowland Transit Authority too! It moved fast, but the line was past the escalator to the tables by the AstroOrbiter line!

 

[Hollowellfam6]

Ok so it's Monday morning for a new week, who is there now for a crowd update.

 

[TLHB70]

I forgot to mention this one. We hopped from MK to Epcot on Wednesday afternoon (the 15th). However, I hopped back to MK to catch SpectroMagic. I normally find and sit in my spot about 1 1/2 to 2 hours ahead of time. DH thinks I am crazy for doing this; he says it is way too early, but I have always been willing to do it to get a good view. Well, I hopped to MK about 5:20 PM. I thought I would have time to grab a quick sandwich before sitting down in a spot for the parade. Spectro started at 8 PM. I thought I had enough time. WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I entered Main Street I noticed about 1/3 of the street already had people sitting down and holding spots!!!!!!! I was so surprised!!!!!!! Needless to say, I didn't go get a sandwich. I grabbed a drink and popcorn from a food cart and sat down.
The crowds were more than we expected!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[nuzmom]

We're here and heading to Epcot as soon as I'm off the computer. We've been here since the 12th.

Yesterday, we went to AK and I think those were the lightest crowds we've seen yet. At 3:00 pm the line for EE was 30 minutes (sometimes 45 during the day) and Dinosaur was 30 minutes. I was SHOCKED at Dinosaur. Fast passes were gone for both. We did NOT wait in line so I'm not sure if they were accurate or not. However, we were able to get a seat at the rope in Harambe Village at 3:50pm for the 4:00pm parade. I thought that was pretty good.

We got to Nemo show about 30 minutes prior to the first show after lunch and were able to sit down front to the one side. MUCH MUCH better than when we were there the week before. Overall, I'd say yesterday at AK had lighter lines than last week.

Hoping that EP will be "doable" today. We're probably going to hang out in the lands most of the day.

 

[Stinkerbell317]

It has been mid term holidays here in the Uk and a lot of people go to Disney at that time. So probably adding to the crowds.

We go in 2 weeks and are expecting our normal November levels. It's a bit strange considering the amount of stories about poor booking levels for hotels etc.

AH HA! Well that makes sense. It seems like everywhere I turned I could hear a charming Brit accent)) My DS8 and DD5 were loving it. They love Brit accents bc of Harry Potter, Peter Pan and Alice!

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

AH HA! Well that makes sense. It seems like everywhere I turned I could hear a charming Brit accent)) My DS8 and DD5 were loving it. They love Brit accents bc of Harry Potter, Peter Pan and Alice!

We also love the Brit accents and look forward to hearing them especially in the water parks. Always brings a smile to our faces. I think Brits are especially fond of water parks (right, Brits?) because ever since our 1997 visit to BB, where many charming Brits could be heard, we look forward to that little tradition as much as the infamous water park donuts.

 

[traci]

I love how they say Mum instead of Mom

 

[lugnut33]

There was a wait for Tomorrowland Transit Authority too! It moved fast, but the line was past the escalator to the tables by the AstroOrbiter line!

Wait a minute, that can't be real??? You're joking right?


For those of you saying you're upset by large crowds at the parks.... um last time I checked that goes opposite what Disney wants. So, if they have to offer free dining to fill all the rooms then that's what they will do. You might not be happy with the large crowds, but Disney sure is (and so are the employees).

However, it's strange because in order for the parks to be busy you need to also pull a large amount of locals as well as people staying outside the WDW. You can't have busy parks with just the people staying on-site, unless they all end up going to the same park on the same day. Which can happen. The day tropical storm Faye came in, we went to MK and there was nobody there. Space Mountain was never over 10 minutes, and IASW was walk on, as well as Pirates, BTMRR, HM, etc. However, I talked to people who went to the "wet weather" park Epcot and they said it was packed, with Soarin' over 100 minutes and Test Track over 90.

 

[lovebuzz]

ok I just got back. We were there Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It was packed. We usually go on Spring Break and I expect crowds then but, this was just as busy. You could not walk around anywhere. We went to Downtown Disney on Sunday before MNSSHP and I had to leave because it was so crowded. There was even a 30 minute wait for It's a small world.

 

[TLHB70]

Wait a minute, that can't be real??? You're joking right?


For those of you saying you're upset by large crowds at the parks.... um last time I checked that goes opposite what Disney wants. So, if they have to offer free dining to fill all the rooms then that's what they will do. You might not be happy with the large crowds, but Disney sure is (and so are the employees).

However, it's strange because in order for the parks to be busy you need to also pull a large amount of locals as well as people staying outside the WDW. You can't have busy parks with just the people staying on-site, unless they all end up going to the same park on the same day. Which can happen. The day tropical storm Faye came in, we went to MK and there was nobody there. Space Mountain was never over 10 minutes, and IASW was walk on, as well as Pirates, BTMRR, HM, etc. However, I talked to people who went to the "wet weather" park Epcot and they said it was packed, with Soarin' over 100 minutes and Test Track over 90.

I assure you that I am NOT joking about the line for TTA. There was a line down the escalator and it stretched to the edge of the tables by the Lunching Pad. It is true that it moved quickly because it loads quickly and the belt is always moving. However, I swear there was a line! We had never seen that before. We couldn't believe it!!!!!!!!

Yes, I know that Disney is thrilled with the crowds, but we were not. We will never go in October again.

 

[PlutosFriend]

Thanks again to all who have posted live "crowd" updates
Keep 'em comin'
(We leave in 8 days, and I am still hoping things die down by then )

 

[mollygirl13]

We left on the 14th and I can say the TTA had a line, just like the prior poster stated! I was shocked since that never has a line. But it moved quickly. We asked nicely if we could stay on and every time were told yes we could!! We rode it a few times without having to get off,even if there was a line.

 

[PrincessMonkey]

I heard that mid-October weeks or weekends were dates when some US schools that run year-round have been implementing "Fall Break" for their students. Maybe that's why the crowds were larger last week?

 

[lugnut33]

I assure you that I am NOT joking about the line for TTA. There was a line down the escalator and it stretched to the edge of the tables by the Lunching Pad. It is true that it moved quickly because it loads quickly and the belt is always moving. However, I swear there was a line! We had never seen that before. We couldn't believe it!!!!!!!!

Yes, I know that Disney is thrilled with the crowds, but we were not. We will never go in October again.

Oh, I suppose next you'll say there was a line for Carousel Of Progress?

I am sorry you got stuck in the big crowds.

 

[mollygirl13]

Oh, I suppose next you'll say there was a line for Carousel Of Progress?

I am sorry you got stuck in the big crowds.

It's funny you mention C of P: the theater's were pretty full!! Always a constant stream of folks going in.

 

[Spear3909]

Definitely keep the updates coming! We leave in 10 days and I am also hoping the "fall breaks" are over by then.