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

[Leigh L]

Just an FYI because people were asking - they let everyone head into HS at 8:30.

Thanks, good to know! MK wasn't like that at all yesterday, it was the same it's been throughout the pandemic. This was our first park day.

As an aside, that park didn't seem overall crowded at all yesterday. Actually, none really seemed to be. I was expecting to see shoulder to shoulder everywhere (we jumped to all four parks) since the park reservations were sold out at MK and not sure about the others, previously they had been though. We did a ton before we left at 3:30 including lunch at Crystal Palace.

We waited about 15 minutes for EE (4 pm-ish), walked on to Figment and SSE in the 5 pm hour, walked onto Star Tours and then waited 15 minutes for MFSR in the 7-8 pm hour. Plenty of space to move around the parks. There were a few rides at Epcot and DHS that were 25-60 minutes but since we had a goal to hit all parks and an 8:45 ADR we didn't try to wait for Soarin' and Frozen...we did try ToT but they were only running 1 elevator and we wouldn't have been able to do anything else so we bailed out of line.

 

[maui2k5]

Do any of the attractions still have plexiglass dividers up on the queue or on the rides themselves? If so, which ones?

 

[oktxregulators2020]

Do any of the attractions still have plexiglass dividers up on the queue or on the rides themselves? If so, which ones?

I think all the rides have the plexiglass taken off the rides. There are several that still have plexiglass on the rails in the queue.

 

[Southernmiss]

I think all the rides have the plexiglass taken off the rides. There are several that still have plexiglass on the rails in the queue.

Plexiglass is off rides (Frozen). But still on que rails, which to me, is not a bad thing.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

To be honest, my excitement for my trip next month has slightly gone down. Mainly because I been seeing the pics from the parks that are packed with people (like the pre covid days). While I am happy things are kinda going back to normalcy, I am NOT thrilled to have to deal with the summer crowds with no fast pass now.

I know it's my own fault for picking to go in July but at the time I booked, most of May and June were booked in terms of park reservations. I was hoping Disney would be a bit slower in terms of park capacity. Would have like for it to have been 35-40% for a bit longer lol. It seems its at least at 50% park capacity or more now.......

 

[lovethattink]

To be honest, my excitement for my trip next month has slightly gone down. Mainly because I been seeing the pics from the parks that are packed with people (like the pre covid days). While I am happy things are kinda going back to normalcy, I am NOT thrilled to have to deal with the summer crowds with no fast pass now.

I know it's my own fault for picking to go in July but at the time I booked, most of May and June were booked in terms of park reservations. I was hoping Disney would be a bit slower in terms of park capacity. Would have like for it to have been 35-40% for a bit longer lol. It seems its at least at 50% park capacity or more now.......

The parking lots have been relatively empty. I take that to mean there are way less locals, AP, and day guests. And I haven’t seem the parking lots more full recently.

It’s good they aren’t filled because there are no trams running and it can be a long enough hike as it is!

 

[ShadowBoxer]

The parking lots have been relatively empty. I take that to mean there are way less locals, AP, and day guests. And I haven’t seem the parking lots more full recently.

It’s good they aren’t filled because there are no trams running and it can be a long enough hike as it is!

That's good!

 

[DisneyFive]

They let us go back and get in (a long) line for rrc at 8:20. I decided to rope drop Starbucks instead lol but my family is headed toward the ride

Yowza. Thanks for the info and photo.

Ok, how long did that line for RnRC take from that point once they opened the ride?

Rope drop may be looking less and less attractive to us. SDD isn't a big deal to us, we rode it a couple of times back in 2018. Looking forward to Smuggler's run or MMRR though. Not sure I need to get up that early just for that though. Maybe we'll wait for crowds to dissipate. I really don't like the idea of getting up so dang early on vacation which we haven't had to do our last few trips.

Dan

 

[mdonner1175]

That's good!

Rental cars are so expensive! I wonder if on-site reservations will be up as a result.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

The parking lots have been relatively empty. I take that to mean there are way less locals, AP, and day guests. And I haven’t seem the parking lots more full recently.

It’s good they aren’t filled because there are no trams running and it can be a long enough hike as it is!

Local AP holder - went to AK yesterday. arrived at toll booth at 7:05 for 8 AM opening and they were just starting to let cars in. Parked, walked in (still not at traditional rope drop - gates were open and walk right in), got to Pandora for FOP line at 7:28, off the ride at 8:02. Walked to EE, rode it twice back to back and headed to Dinosaur. Pre show was on, off the ride at 8:45. Did Chester and Hesters Dino Twirl and headed back toward Safari. Pretty long line - posted time was 25 when we got in line but changed to 40 before we went into the actual start of line inside attraction. Off ride at 9:50, got in line for snacks, and walked over to FotLK. Entered line at 10:10, inside building by 10:18. Watched the show, headed to Gorilla Falls, saw the animals, then did ITTBAB, and headed for the car at 11:42. Other than Pandora and Safari, park was pretty open. It is not nearly as crowded as some have speculated. We had a fairly similar experience at HS two Sunday's ago - though Slinky is still crowded from open to late afternoon.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Local AP holder - went to AK yesterday. arrived at toll booth at 7:05 for 8 AM opening and they were just starting to let cars in. Parked, walked in (still not at traditional rope drop - gates were open and walk right in), got to Pandora for FOP line at 7:28, off the ride at 8:02. Walked to EE, rode it twice back to back and headed to Dinosaur. Pre show was on, off the ride at 8:45. Did Chester and Hesters Dino Twirl and headed back toward Safari. Pretty long line - posted time was 25 when we got in line but changed to 40 before we went into the actual start of line inside attraction. Off ride at 9:50, got in line for snacks, and walked over to FotLK. Entered line at 10:10, inside building by 10:18. Watched the show, headed to Gorilla Falls, saw the animals, then did ITTBAB, and headed for the car at 11:42. Other than Pandora and Safari, park was pretty open. It is not nearly as crowded as some have speculated. We had a fairly similar experience at HS two Sunday's ago - though Slinky is still crowded from open to late afternoon.

That AK update is very helpful...............Thanks!

 

[DSLRuser]

Plexiglass is off rides (Frozen). But still on que rails, which to me, is not a bad thing.

I think I hate that more then it being on the ride.....with glass being up in the queue, I feel like a cow being herded to slaughter.

 

[Chernabob]

To be honest, my excitement for my trip next month has slightly gone down. Mainly because I been seeing the pics from the parks that are packed with people (like the pre covid days). While I am happy things are kinda going back to normalcy, I am NOT thrilled to have to deal with the summer crowds with no fast pass now.

I know it's my own fault for picking to go in July but at the time I booked, most of May and June were booked in terms of park reservations. I was hoping Disney would be a bit slower in terms of park capacity. Would have like for it to have been 35-40% for a bit longer lol. It seems its at least at 50% park capacity or more now.......

Well, you could be like me and regretting going in mid-June and getting home days before all the plexiglass started coming down, pre-shows returning, etc!

But I will agree that crowds were definitely returning to a normal summer crowd. We actually didn't mind FP too much, but we rope dropped each day and were able to knock out the headliners. Our last MK day, we had done Seven Dwarves, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan, Big Thunder by 10.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

If anyone is at HS this week for Rope Drop, please report back what time they let you go to the rides. I saw on the previous page that they held them in a large group at the Chinese Theater until about 8:45 before letting people go to rides. Wanted to see what other people's experiences are this week.

We are headed there tomorrow- not sure what attraction we're heading for first, still under negotiations between kids, but I'll post how we make out...

 

[lovethattink]

Local AP holder - went to AK yesterday. arrived at toll booth at 7:05 for 8 AM opening and they were just starting to let cars in. Parked, walked in (still not at traditional rope drop - gates were open and walk right in), got to Pandora for FOP line at 7:28, off the ride at 8:02. Walked to EE, rode it twice back to back and headed to Dinosaur. Pre show was on, off the ride at 8:45. Did Chester and Hesters Dino Twirl and headed back toward Safari. Pretty long line - posted time was 25 when we got in line but changed to 40 before we went into the actual start of line inside attraction. Off ride at 9:50, got in line for snacks, and walked over to FotLK. Entered line at 10:10, inside building by 10:18. Watched the show, headed to Gorilla Falls, saw the animals, then did ITTBAB, and headed for the car at 11:42. Other than Pandora and Safari, park was pretty open. It is not nearly as crowded as some have speculated. We had a fairly similar experience at HS two Sunday's ago - though Slinky is still crowded from open to late afternoon.

We have noticed that Tuesday’s and Sundays have been great park days for us! We usually don’t rope drop. But hit the last few hours.

 

[LSUmiss]

Are they still distancing in FOTLK show? If not, are wait times any better?

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Are they still distancing in FOTLK show? If not, are wait times any better?

Last I heard they were letting more people in but still distanced. Wait times I have heard mixed

 

[jbrinkm]

Last I heard they were letting more people in but still distanced. Wait times I have heard mixed

Also interested in FotLK updates! Is the 10:30am show still the one to try to get into with lower waits? Anyone there this week who can share?

 

[goodferry]

If anyone is at HS this week for Rope Drop, please report back what time they let you go to the rides. I saw on the previous page that they held them in a large group at the Chinese Theater until about 8:45 before letting people go to rides. Wanted to see what other people's experiences are this week.

On the 16th we were held in mass at the theater, the cast members there told us it was their first true rope drop since 2020. We were in front and headed straight to SDD, were the third group on, and were done by 8:30, so I am guessing they let us through about 8:20

 

[Sarahslay]

To be honest, my excitement for my trip next month has slightly gone down. Mainly because I been seeing the pics from the parks that are packed with people (like the pre covid days). While I am happy things are kinda going back to normalcy, I am NOT thrilled to have to deal with the summer crowds with no fast pass now.

I know it's my own fault for picking to go in July but at the time I booked, most of May and June were booked in terms of park reservations. I was hoping Disney would be a bit slower in terms of park capacity. Would have like for it to have been 35-40% for a bit longer lol. It seems its at least at 50% park capacity or more now.......

I don't know about any pics of parks that are packed, I got back 2 weeks ago and it definitely wasn't packed at any park (even on Memorial day), nothing like pre-covid, and actually some of the lowest crowds we've had on any of our trips since reopening and that was my 6th trip. I have a friend who just got back from a long weekend, and a friend who arrived yesterday morning, both posting tons of pics and none of them are super crowded. Remember, news articles can post really old pictures to grab readers, and point of view pictures can be misleading (like, I can take a picture and it can look like the park is packed, but my husband who is a foot taller can take a picture looking over the crowd and you can see that everyone is really spaced out). I feel like it's no more packed than it was when I was there over President's day weekend, which was the most crowded time I had been there yet, and now the social distancing is gone and it feels even better in the parks since the lines aren't going on forever. I know it might not mean much, but I still think it's not that horrible, and you will still go and have an amazing time.