Here now (Dec. 19-22, 2015) - quick crowd report

[alvernon90]

I've been here at DLR since Saturday afternoon and wanted to report in on crowds. On Saturday we stayed only at DCA, and the crowds were more than manageable. After some late afternoon rain, the park seemed like a moderate day there. Of note, we had pulled Yellow FPs for both WOC shows. At the 9:00 first show we walked up at 8:55 and took a spot on the rail in the splash zone. But the rest of the areas were packed.

On Saturday morning we did early entry at DL and zigged to Fantasyland when everyone else zagged to Tomorrowland. It was nice and empty, but even after we moved back to Tomorrowland it remained that way. We did Buzz and Star Tours in short order, and were waiting to get a FP for Hyperspace Mountain when the machines went live at 8:00. We also did the ride with a 10 minutes standby at that time. So it is possible to still have a short wait without going straight there at EE.

Crowds in the afternoon and evening at DL became hard to handle, forcing us to hop to DCA and discouraging us from going back. Part of the problem is that, almost literally, there is never not a parade. As soon as one ends people line up for the next one, and we were blocked from going where we wanted by an actual parade four different times.

 

[94bruin]

Thanks for the report. We're headed there next week. I've been anxiously checking wait times on the Disney app. I'm just expecting the worst in terms of crowds and will try very hard to make it to the parks early every day (in all our trips, we've made it to the beginning of MM like once, lol!)

 

[bethwc101]

Yeah we get there Tuesday and are a little nervous. On the matter cam around 10:30 the bag check line was down to harbor. Getting a little nervous.

 

[alvernon90]

If you get in early you can breeze through. Early is key. The first two hours are worth six midday hours.

 

[bethwc101]

Did it get close to hitting capacity do you think. I think Christmas will be slammed.

 

[alvernon90]

Not capacity but it felt pretty tight as evening went on. DCA is much better.

 

[alvernon90]

Updating with more info:

The crowds on Monday the 21st and the morning of Tuesday the 22nd were surprisingly huge. Things were made worse by the fact that it rained pretty hard the whole time. The late parade and Fantasmic were cancelled on Monday night, which kinda ruined the night for us. Nobody can blame the weather, but rain makes the crowds seem even worse, especially when moving around the park -- shoulder to shoulder crowds are worse when the wall of people have eye-gouging umbrellas or all have their heads down under their poncho hoods not watching where they are going. Again, nobody's fault, it just made things worse. (Longer lines due to outdoor rides being closed is an added bonus.)

The good thing about the weather, especially on beautiful Sunday, was the fact that all crowds are easier to bear when it is cool or cold than when it is warm or hot. Despite the crowds, I saw very very little of people getting irritable with each other, and the rare spats I did see were minor and all came late at night when people were tired. I saw no shoving, no arguing, no passive-aggressive complaining, no running, basically no line cutting, and really nothing negative at all. Everybody was out to have a good time, and they did! Maybe the holiday spirit helped.

Good luck to all who are going during the rest of the holidays. Remember the tip about doing the things you want to do early -- I waited until our last night to watch PTN, and missed it because it was canceled.

 

[bethwc101]

I will be there tomorrow hopefully isn't too bad

 

[Satchmo128]

We also felt like there was a parade every 5 minutes when we were there earlier this month. Messes up all of the walkways.