How are the crowds this last week?

[KittyKitty]

With free dining starting, are the parks busy?

Just curious.

 

[Tink1999]

We posted almost the same message within a minute of each other.

Going next week and very interested in response.

 

[purpliequeen]

Crowded like no other. We thought it was as crowded as Christmas. However, there were some exceptions.

1) During meal times, it was not as bad. It seemed as if everyone went in to eat. My family enjoyed the parks- we did not have free dining or regular dining plan- and the lesser wait times during these hours.

2) People didn't really stick around for the Wishes fireworks at 10pm- I know that's late but we were pleasantly surprised. People stick around during Christmas time for the fireworks and stuff in various parks, this trip it didn't seem as if people cared that much about the nighttime shows and actually more about the food. Go figure.

3) Everything was manageable. We made use of fast pass and took breaks in the afternoon. We were also there when parks opened. To give you an idea- in 10 minutes after AK official opening, there was already an 80 min wait for EE this past Thurs. It was a madhouse in Asia. Not that much fun- never the worries, we got a fastpass and waited 5 min in the fastpass line for EE. We were able to do a lot in thinking smart and getting what we wanted done early and fastpassing what we were unable to walk on to. We never waited more than 30 minutes.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I was at the MK on Monday and it was packed! I couldn't believe it! I would say yes that the dining plan has made the parks much more crowded!

 

[ainmama2001]

I was at MK on Tuesday right after opening, and we walked on to most of the rides. It was very hot, and crowds seemed lighter than when I usually go in late September.

 

[wilderness01]

WE just got back today and except for the AK on Thursday, all the other parks were not as busy as last year. It was a nice surprise.

 

[CarolinaBlue]

We just left yesterday. I didn't find it to be that crowded. We were at Epcot on Monday and Thursday and at MK on Tuesday and Wednesday. We practically walked on most rides at the MK early in the day. I thought it was more crowded a couple of years ago when we were there in June.

 

[ntsammy5]

I was at the MK on Monday and it was packed! I couldn't believe it! I would say yes that the dining plan has made the parks much more crowded!

I don't know why, but Mondays are usually very crowded at MK. Look at AllEars, they list the most crowded days of the week for all the parks. Try to avoid parks on those days.

 

[Karnak]

I don't know why, but Mondays are usually very crowded at MK. Look at AllEars, they list the most crowded days of the week for all the parks. Try to avoid parks on those days.

I suspect the Monday crowds are the result of many people traveling to WDW on the weekend, and wanting to see the Magic Kingdom right away.

 

[Catira]

With free dining starting, are the parks busy?

Just curious.

We went on Sunday to MK and could not believe we had the park to ourselves in the morning! After lunch time it was packed! We tried going to Crystal Palace at 3:30 p.m. for a late lunch, thinking it wouldn't be so croweded... surprise, surprise no walk ins accepted. We did manage to eat at the Plaza? near the castle with only a minimum 5 minute wait. We went to AK on Tuesday and during our wait for Kali Rapids a woman fainted, it was extremely hot! fast passes were gone by midday for Kali so we had to wait 45 mins to do this ride. Well in my opinion it was very crowded, lots of people and through the whole week we were there it only rained on us Sunday( short period of time (10-15 mins)and right before Spectro magic, we were not able to see it(got cancelled)but we did see Wishes. And it rained again on Thursday at MGM while seeing Beauty and the Beast.

KittyKitty, hope you have a gr eat time!

 

[DeterminedOne]

Anyone care to comment on how long they waited in line? I always have a hard time understanding what folks mean when they say it was "packed" or "we had the park to ourselves." How long did you wait in line for the major attraction? Thanks for helping me understand.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

This is why getting a hopper pass is so important...often if one park is crowded, another won't be. It also seems that on EMH days, the parks are at their worse, esp as EMH hours approach.

 

[tkitty]

Anyone care to comment on how long they waited in line? I always have a hard time understanding what folks mean when they say it was "packed" or "we had the park to ourselves." How long did you wait in line for the major attraction? Thanks for helping me understand.

I'll try and give you an idea. First off I'd say get there early!! Get fastpasses early! We found that after lunch, you may not get fastpasses.

8/14 AK-We didn't get fastpasses because we were waiting for someone(big mistake)

Safari ride-10am-60min wait
EE couldn't get fastpass that had a return we had to leave for dinner ressie.
standby line was 90min at about 11am

Dinosaur-15-20min standby

8/15
AK morn- Epcot after noon

We were more preppared today
AK first-
EE fastpasses before 10am- return 11:30 8-10min wait
Kali rapids-25min standby While waiting for EE
Dinosaur (again for grandson) 15 min standby

Epcot about noon
Missed Soarin' because no fast passes were being given, and standby was said to be 2 hrs.
TT no fast passes , standby said 90 min, we got in line and it was having problems. we waited about 1hr 40min.
Walked on to Ellen's Energy ride (forgot name) Grandson4 loved it.

8/16 - MGM
Entered about 9am
got fastpasses for TT stanby was said to be 30min. Our FPs should have been 10min, but 2 elevators broke down as we were in line. Took at least 30min. with FP.
Got FPs for RR- 60min standby- Maybe 10min with our fastpass (it took that long to get FPs, the machines kept breaking!)
Star Tours 15min-not bad!
Lights motors action stunt show, no FPs given went to second show. Got there 25 min early, almost didn't get a seat, they turned people away.
The Great Movie ride- at least 20min wait.
Back lot tour- about 40 min wait-

8/17 MK
Went straight to POC, 10min wait
10am JCruise opened-10min
FPs for SplashM 10+min wait Standby about 40
FPs for BTM 10 min wait
FPs for space mntn, 10min wait
FPs for BL 10min wait
PP 40min standby
Pooh FP 7mi
Speedway 30-40min wait
Stitch-GE 20min wait
IASW pretty much walk on- go figure!

As you can see Fastpasses are the only way to go!!

I felt the parks were very crowded, the bus drivers agree too.
Would think twice before going at this time with free DDP. But with planning you'll do OK.

 

[party_of_five]

I think crowds will be heavy for the rest of August because many schools haven't started yet. I am hoping when we go in late September that the crowds will have died down because all schools would have started by then. Also many parents don't want to take their kids out for vacation when they have only been back in school for a few weeks. When went the last week of September last year and nearly everything was walk on. The only crowds we saw were in restaurants.

 

[Catira]

We went on Sunday to MK and could not believe we had the park to ourselves in the morning! After lunch time it was packed!

Well, we did most of the rides with only a 10-15 minute wait. We walked on POTC twice, did Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain without waiting more than 10 minutes. After lunch, most fast passes were gone and waiting time was 45 minutes to do Splash Mountain. Hope this helps.

 

[Samandmom]

In my opinion I don't think it was as crowded as I expected it to be.

Sunday 8/13 we did MK from 9am ish till 2pm ish. We did most of Fantasyland first thing without any ride being more than a 10-15 minute. We FP Pooh and Peter Pan and did the other rides while waiting for our times on those rides. It did a little bit busier later. On last ride was Pirates and that was about 25 minute wait.

Monday 8/14 went over to AK got a FP for the Safari. Walked over to EE and the wait was over an hour. (DH only got a FP for this one) Walked over to Primeval Whirl and took turns taking DS (only 10 minutes wait) on while the other went on Triceratops spin with DD.

Tuesday 8/15 Went to Epcot the crowds seemed to pick up a bit. Soaring had 2 hr wait. We were able to get a FP. Mission and TT had 1.5 hr waits. We FP those also.

Wednesday 8/16 went to MGM only did a few things. Crowds were not to bad. Star Tours had about 15 minute wait only. (we don't do the bigger attractions here so don't about those waits (TT and Rockin Coaster) Went over to Mk after dinner and were able to do Buzz's a few times in a row with no wait.

Thursday 8/17 we did MGM all day we were able to do all the attractions we wanted to do. We had to try twice before we got into Millionare. Since it was closing today (8/19) people wanted to see it again.

Friday 8/18 did MK till around 4. Jungle Cruise was only 15 minute. Alladin was pretty much a walk on. FP big thunder Mountain.

All in all the crowds were very managable.