Here now...Heavy Crowds!

[anniemae]

There really are no more slow times. It's just very crowded and REALLY crowded.

 

[mrzrich]

By 1 pm yesterday I had ridden

1. Space Mountain
2. Buzz
3. Peoplemover
4. Cop
5. Dumbo FP+
6. Ariel
7. SDMT FP+
8. IASW
9. PP FP+
10. Liberty Belle boat
11. HM FP+ 4 that I pulled after PP
12. Lunch at CHH
13. Took Railroad from frontierland back around to the front of the park to exit

I don't think I could have accomplished this much in July. (Also shows the beauty of rope drop)

 

[shelli72]

We normally go in May and never had a problem with crowds, this year we are visiting in September and hope that is a good time to visit

 

[MyGirlLovesTink]

We were there last week and I too found the crowds a bit heavy for what is supposed to be a light time of year. There were also the cheerleaders, so it just seemed like there were teenagers everywhere.

 

[RamieGee]

Interesting on the diverse perspectives here. My first time in Disney (2012) I was there during July 4th week. It seemed a bit busy to me, but totally bearable. (Temperature-wise, hot, but bearable, too). Heading down there on Sunday - I would imagine the crowd levels will seem pretty reasonable to me. I can't imagine they rival July 4th week.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

Interesting on the diverse perspectives here. My first time in Disney (2012) I was there during July 4th week. It seemed a bit busy to me, but totally bearable. (Temperature-wise, hot, but bearable, too). Heading down there on Sunday - I would imagine the crowd levels will seem pretty reasonable to me. I can't imagine they rival July 4th week.

They won't, don't worry. Have a safe trip and enjoy your time here!!

 

[rangerxenos]

We were there last week and I too found the crowds a bit heavy for what is supposed to be a light time of year. There were also the cheerleaders, so it just seemed like there were teenagers everywhere.

Glad it wasn't just me, it was a lot more crowded than we were expecting during the week we were there. EPCOT was so crowded on the Saturday we went (and it was recommended by EWDW), we left around 5, between the heat and crowds, we'd had it. We were not expecting the World Championships for dance and cheerleading which probably contributed to the crowds.

We loved the Flower and Garden Festival at EPCOT, but I don't think I'll go back this time of year again. Way too hot, and too crowded. Though as others have posted here, other than early September and early January, I don't think there are any real slow times anymore.

 

[wisblue]

Yesterday (Wednesday) was definitely not crowded (at least by our standards) at either DHS or DAK.

We started the day at DHS and did all 5 rides (TSMM, RNRC, TOT, GMR, and ST) with minimal waits and no FP by 11 AM. It was so slow that they didn't even have the single rider line open at RNRC and we still walked right into the preshow after riding TSMM. The only little wait we had was at TOT and that was because they were only operating one side and they were slow at loading that. We walked right into the lobby, but waited about 10 minutes while they would put about 15 people at a time into the library. Afte lunch we used a FP for a second ride on TSMM, but the posted wait was an almost unheard of 35 minutes just after noon. When we exited the ride it had gone up to 50 minutes, but still lower than usual. TP said it was crowd level 1 at DHS yesterday and I believe it.

We left DHS at about 1:30 and took the bus to DAK. There we did the Safari (10 minutes posted and actual) the 3 PM FOTLK show, EE (10 minutes posted, 5 minutes actual, single rider closed), and Dinosaur (10 minutes posted, actual walk on all by shortly after 4 PM. Anyone wanting to do multiple rides could have had a field day until the 6 PM closing.

 

[Astridia]

IMO MK is always crowded and attendance fluctuates at the other parks.

 

[IrishNYC]

Yesterday (Wednesday) was definitely not crowded (at least by our standards) at either DHS or DAK).

We started the day at DHS and did all 5 rides (TSMM, RNRC, TOT, GMR, and ST) with minimal waits and no FP by 11 AM. It was so slow that they didn't even have the single rider line open at RNRC and we still walked right into the preshow after riding TSMM. The only little wait we had was at TOT and that was because they were only operating one side and they were slow at loading that. We walked right into the lobby, but waited about 10 minutes while they would put about 15 people at a time into the library. Afte lunch we used a FP for a second ride on TSMM, but the posted wait was an almost unheard of 35 minutes just after noon. When we exited the ride it had gone up to 50 minutes, but still lower than usual. TP said it was crowd level 1 at DHS yesterday and I believe it.

We left DHS at about 1:30 and took the bus to DAK. There we did the Safari (10 minutes posted and actual) the 3 PM FOTLK show, EE (10 minutes posted, 5 minutes actual, single rider closed), and Dinosaur (10 minutes posted, actual walk on all by shortly after 4 PM. Anyone wanting to do multiple rides could have had a field day until the 6 PM closing.

We were at AK yesterday, and like I said earlier, if these are low crowds, I hate to see peak crowds. No, there were no waits for rides, but walking the paths was nearly impossible. I cannot imagine trying to walk around there on even a 5 day if yesterday was a 2 (according to touring plans "how they did").

 

[maxiesmom]

I was at the parks April 30- May 6, and I too thought the parks were busier than expected. I think it was because of the amount of cheerleaders and conventioneers in town, Epcot was very busy Tuesday night with conventioneers walking around, with drinks in hand.

October is still my preferred time of year.

 

[Angel Ariel]

We were at AK yesterday, and like I said earlier, if these are low crowds, I hate to see peak crowds. No, there were no waits for rides, but walking the paths was nearly impossible. I cannot imagine trying to walk around there on even a 5 day if yesterday was a 2 (according to touring plans "how they did").

We found crowds in November to feel very similarly. Crowds were 6s for most of our days, and the wait times were on point with what we have experienced as level 6 days in the past, but the walkways felt way more crowded than we had experienced on similar crowd level days before. Since our party was only 3 adults, it didn't affect us much at all. It would have affected us more if we had had Dd (and her stroller)

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

I thought I'd ask the folks last night if MK had been very busy this week (they're both CMs in different areas) and they both said that it hasn't been. Of course, they're there every week so busy to them is different from busy to a guest.

 

[AuroraRosesMom]

I also feel that the crowds have been increasing over the years. I've gone at all different times of the year, slow, peak, etc.. or what is supposed to be. It's always seems pretty crowded anymore. A cast member and I were discussing how crowded it was at Epcot earlier this year which surprised me, and she said it was the slow time even. I just anticipate heavy crowds now, regardless of the time of year.

 

[Crystal824]

We were there last week too. I didn't think it was that bad. We have been going around this time every year except last year for the last 5 years. It was more crowded than I would have liked, but definitely not as bad as I have seen it. I think 2 years ago it was much more crowded this same week. I thought the crowd calendars were fairly accurate. I agree more people are visiting. There really isn't the an uncrowded time anymore.

 

[jerseygal]

We were there last week and I too found the crowds a bit heavy for what is supposed to be a light time of year. There were also the cheerleaders, so it just seemed like there were teenagers everywhere.

Oh...yippee?

 

[mombrontrent]

We went to MK and DHS yesterday and again thought the crowds were very manageable. We don't rope drop but stay late. We know which times to ride certain rides and we avoid riding headliners during peak times unless we have a FP+. Yesterday our day went like this:

11:00-arrive at MK
11:15-rode pirates
11:45-rode Splash with FP+
12:15-rode Big Thunder with FP+
12:30-rode train from Frontierland over to Fantasyland
1:00-had lunch at BOG
1:45-rode PP with FP+
2:00-rode carousel
2:20-rode Little Mermaid with FP+ that I grabbed after PP
3:00-watched parade
3:30-stopped for Dole whips
3:45-met Tinkerbell
4:00-exited park
4:00-6:00-ran around from Downtown Disney back to MK lost and found trying to locate my DD's purse that she forgot at DisneyQuest the night before which contained her very expensive new phone. We found it! Thank-you to whoever turned it in.
6:00-arrive at DHS
6:10-charcterpalooza, we met Dopey, Tiana and Pluto. Minnie, Peter Pan, and Malicifent were also there but we didn't have time to meet them.
7:00-watched Frozen Sing-a-long
7:45-ate dinner at Sci-Fi
9:30-rode Rock'N'Roller Coaster
9:45-rode TOT
10:30-watched F!

Great day again! Today we are headed to Typhoon Lagoon, dinner at T-rex and LaNouba! I noticed at 6:00 when we went to Charaterpalooza the line for TOT was only 10 min. We walked right onto TOT and R'N'R coaster after dinner as well. Absolutely no line!

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

There's really only a few weeks out of the year that the parks are truly dead anymore. Good marketing has brought a lot of business into the parks in the formerly off seasons. I also believe that part of what makes the parks seem busier is an illusion created by FP+. The new system spreads people out.

But if mombrontrent was able to pack that much into one day yesterday, then it wasn't very busy. Obviously she has good strategy too.

 

[Ava]

We were at AK yesterday, and like I said earlier, if these are low crowds, I hate to see peak crowds. No, there were no waits for rides, but walking the paths was nearly impossible. I cannot imagine trying to walk around there on even a 5 day if yesterday was a 2 (according to touring plans "how they did").

I think the construction walls at AK really affect the flow of traffic in that park and make it feel more crowded than it is. When we were there last Sept, I remember the paths in the Asia section being jammed even though wait times for the attractions were not long at all.

Also, Touring Plans measures crowd levels based on wait times at the attractions. So if there are a lot of people in the park who are not riding (like those there for a competition or event like F&G Fest) or who are mostly only riding attractions that they have FP+ for, the park could feel crowded even though attraction wait times are low.

 

[DavisVacationer]

I'll be in MK on Tuesday... Hoping for lighter crowds!