Here Now & Just Back - A Place To Share Your Recent Experiences

[Lsdolphin]

Hi are you still there and how are the crowds?

Home now and of course this week temps are warmer than during my visit last week

 

[Lady Hiss]

Just got back last week. Weather was beautiful, crowds were not great (Mardi Gras, dance/cheer competitions, some spring breakers). LLMP & SP worked mostly okay but sheesh, it gets expensive. We bought for 5 days out of 10. I got frustrated with the lack of availability after the first 3 rides and the number of rides down during EEH. Too much work for those of us who are the planners in charge.

We’ve been going to WDW for 30+ years. After this trip, we’re wondering what system will be the next fast pass dirivitive. I can’t believe LL will stick around. It’s mostly a money grab, IMHO and doesn’t work well with the huge number of guests in each park. They need to manage the crowds better. Too many people & not enough real estate or rides. The upcoming new stuff, while exciting, is too far into the future.

 

[brockash]

Just got back last week. Weather was beautiful, crowds were not great (Mardi Gras, dance/cheer competitions, some spring breakers). LLMP & SP worked mostly okay but sheesh, it gets expensive. We bought for 5 days out of 10. I got frustrated with the lack of availability after the first 3 rides and the number of rides down during EEH. Too much work for those of us who are the planners in charge.

We’ve been going to WDW for 30+ years. After this trip, we’re wondering what system will be the next fast pass dirivitive. I can’t believe LL will stick around. It’s mostly a money grab, IMHO and doesn’t work well with the huge number of guests in each park. They need to manage the crowds better. Too many people & not enough real estate or rides. The upcoming new stuff, while exciting, is too far into the future.

We just got back tonight and experienced the same in regards to rides constantly being down (especially at park open for EEHs.) On Sat. both Rise and Slinky were down...Slinky started around 845 - I get it's only 15 mins. later however a half hr is a really short period. - We've had good luck in the past with them opening it at 815ish...add the late start (halfway through posted Eehs abd the fact that they now. allow day guests in and lined up at the beginning of each area and we're really rethinking if rd/eehs are even worth it. It's a lot of work for not much benefit in this situation. I'll do more of a whole review later, but just wanted to say I agree. I will also say we had way less luck with getting any worthwhile fastpasses other than our initial 3. Kinda thinking LL may not be worth it on busier days (it was def. busier than other times. We've gone but not terrible.)

 

[Lsdolphin]

where were they giving out flower seeds at EPCOT ?

 

[gottalovepluto]

Just curious if anyone is there this week. We went this week in both 2022 and 2024. Both years it was crazy crowded. Hard to move through the walkways with bottlenecks everywhere. Wait times were so long. Everything was over an hour, with the more popular rides being atleast 90+ minutes. Those long waits would start just about normal opening time (early entry you could get a couple rides in quick).

I’ve been monitoring wait times and they haven’t looked bad at all this week. I’m quite jealous that our last two trips this week were so crowded and just by wait times it doesn’t seem bad at all.

I was 3/7 to 3/15. Felt crowded for the weekend, died off a bit during the week and kinda came back by end but absolutely nothing like you described any of my days. No regrets about my date picks.

We did LL most but not all days, a couple LLSP, solo ridered ROTR late at night. We were able to pick up a couple more LLs each day, the Tier 1s we snagged day of were Soarin (lol), TBA, MMRR. Had hoped for Remy late at night but no go. Glad we had LL, as I said crowds were decent, but I wouldn't say it was a necessity if it's not in the budget. If you have the budget for a little splurging consider SPLL GOTG. (DO NOT RD this with general park open. The line is already full, move on and come back later.) Weather was cold sometimes, warm others. Mornings were cold but as soon as the sun would come out it would heat up fast.

Didn't know Main St had a fireworks bypass on the Adventureland side sometimes- but I try to avoid Main St and fireworks at all costs. Got stuck trying to escape MK right before fireworks one night and got funneled down a backstage area that took me straight from Crystal Palace to the fire station. Was awesome for exiting the park fast!

ETA- rides were doing pretty good operationally, one morning MK was a bit rough (HM, PP, LM I think were down) but we were doing a different part of the park anyway so little affect on us

 

[arich35]

We were there from the 16th-22nd. I didn't find it to be as busy as I was expecting. We rode Tron, Seven Dwarfs, & Space Mountain during Extra Hours, got in line for Guardians 5 min before closing and waited 60 min from getting in line to completion of the ride, it had been down for over an hour but came back the last 20 min of the night. Wait times didn't seem to excessive. We were also there in mid December and it seemed pretty comparable, a tad bit busier

 

[Disturbia]

We were there from the 16th-22nd. I didn't find it to be as busy as I was expecting. We rode Tron, Seven Dwarfs, & Space Mountain during Extra Hours, got in line for Guardians 5 min before closing and waited 60 min from getting in line to completion of the ride, it had been down for over an hour but came back the last 20 min of the night. Wait times didn't seem to excessive. We were also there in mid December and it seemed pretty comparable, a tad bit busier

Honestly Disney should offer a skipper option on their app (even for a fee). I’m the planner and I hate modifying. At 10 am I got an 8 pm TOT that conflicted with dining and this was when we paid $40 per person for Genie+.

I found out about this service last year but chose not to use it (you give your log in info to a third party). I was quickly told on this board by a moderator that I cannot mention it and my post was immediately deleted. I’ve seen several posts after mine that never got removed.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

I tried using it but I just kept getting the error that it's unable to determine connected friends so had to pass on using it this trip.

But I agree with other sentiments.. LL after your 3 chosen was mostly a bust. And the most I've paid yet for LL ever.. $37 a pop for MK.

 

[ScarletFire]

My daughter was in Orlando on a business trip, she extended it with two nights at Pop! and a one-day PH. We had a perfect mini vacation! Perfect weather!!

On my arrival day we watched the fireworks from Wailulu at the Poly Tower. Skyliner to Studios to Poly, Reverse for return to Pop! I'm still smiling!

We reserved LL's for Haunted Mansion (1:30), Pooh (2:30) and Tiana (3:45).

On our park day we rope dropped AK (first bus at 7:03) and avoided anything Pandora. No waits for EE, Dino and Bugs Life. Short wait for the Safari. We saw the baby tiger, baby elephant and the new lions on the Safari. The gorillas and meerkats were showing off. It was a perfect morning.

Arrived at MK by bus at noon and found a curbside seat for the parade in front of Tony's. We shared a caramel apple with the best view ever of the parade. In addition to our LL's, we saw Country Bears and Storytime with Belle. Tiana is so cute but disappointed that at least two of the animatronics were malfunctioning. We got soaking wet!!

Rode the monorail to EPCOT. We explored the Moana water exhibit then strolled around the world. We had beer, food, margaritas and a ride on the Land. Entered the line for Guradians at 8:45 and left the ride at 9:45. Returned to Pop! via skyliner and got to the room at 10:45.

It was a long day but I want to do it all over again!!