How are the crowds? Has free dining significantly increased them?

[DisneyWisher]

September 2004
Magic Kingdom
September 1-3 -- 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
September 4-5 -- CLOSED
September 6 -- 10:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
September 7 -- 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
September 8 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
September 9-11 -- 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.(night of joy)
September 12,13 -- 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
September 14 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
September 15-17 -- 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
September 18 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
September 19,20 -- 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
September 21 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
September 22-24 -- 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
September 25 -- 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (closed early because of jeanne)
September 26 -- CLOSED
September 27 -- 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
September 28 -- 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
September 29,30 -- 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
CLOSED September 4 & 5 due to Hurricane Frances.
CLOSED September 26 due to Hurricane Jeanne.

Wishes Nighttime Spectacular
September 1,2,3,6,7,12,13 -- 8:30 p.m.
September 8 -- 9:30 p.m.
September 14,18,21,25,28 -- 9:00 p.m.
September 15,16,17,19,20,22,23,24,26,27,29,30 -- 8:00 p.m.

Share a Dream Come True Parade
September 1-3, 6-30 -- 3:00 p.m.

SpectroMagic
September 8 -- 8:30 p.m.
September 14,18,21,25,28 -- 8:00 p.m.


If anything there seems like more SpectroMagic Parades last year than this year. It seems Spectro is only on Mondays.

 

[maxaroni]

We were at POFQ from 8/21-29 and we didn't find any problems at all. We thought the parks were fairly empty...yes, a few spots were crowded but overall, not bad and we walked on many rides. As one poster said, we'd have the UG people cringing as our style is pretty much go with the flow. We avoided EMH's and did use some tips from the DIS boards but other than that, my ds chose his next ride and we went.

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

Just returned on Monday evening!! Crowds were VERY manageable!! Not at all what I expected it to be. A little heavier than the beginning of May, but walked onto a lot of rides/attractions or little waits. They had the fastpass machines closed for some attractions . . . no need for them!!! The exceptions were Splash Mountain and Soarin', but we expected that!!

I've never been to Florida in August . . . did you all know that it's really HOT at this time of the year?!?!

 

[Katems]

Just got back today. Was there from August 24-31 and NO LINES!!! It was soooo empty! Of course, I was there first thing in the morning and went back to the Poly in the PM until about 6:00 when I headed back. Fast passes were NOT needed for rides! And the standby posted wait times were WAY WAY WAY overstated. I saw times of 30 minutes and WALKED RIGHT ON. I don't know WHY they were discouraging people so much with such scary wait times! The biggest pain was the loooong queue we had to trek up for each attraction!

 

[kid4ever]

Thanks to all who replied, I feel much better about our trip now. Let's keep this one going to get Sept feedback, maybe we can get a sticky. Thanks again all.

 

[DisKim]

We just got back yesterday. I really did not feel that it was crowded. The parks really didn't get busy until around noon. The mornings were beautiful. MK was empty on Monday until lunchtime and we were able to walk on all the rides. Keep in mind, most people have no idea about free dining. Out of all the guests I talked to, no one had any idea about it. Sure, it may have increased attendance for us DISers, but we are a very small portion of the population of guests at WDW. Have a great trip. BTW, it was alot of fun eating for free. Now I have to go on a diet .

 

[kid4ever]

Any more recent crowd news? Has the free dining ruined my "slow time" planning. Any input would be greatly appreciated. 4 days and counting..... Thanks!

 

[dgaston]

Also curious. We leave on Friday for a long weekend, and hope we can get a lot done in short time.

 

[NCmom2NandE]

We were there Sept3-12. Labor day weekend was al little busy. After that Monday, the park were not very crowded at all. No real waits at any rides. In fact most days many ride didn't even open the fass past machines up.

 

[zuzu310]

Keep that slow crowd news coming! We leave Thursday for our 2nd mother-daughter trip ever! (1st trip Mall of America) My mom's first trip at 51

 

[tiffsix]

this is a good post. i have been worried that free dining may increase the crowds significantly!!! We leave on the 23rd.