How busy are the parks right now?

[WDWFWfan]

I know this is a subjective question, but I've read in a few threads that WDW doesn't seem to be as busy this year as they have been in the past. My family and I are heading down in a week to begin our vacation there and was just wondering what others felt. How busy is it right now compared to what's typical for this time of year?

 

[arthur06]

I wish I was there to answer that question!

 

[goofy's_gurl]

I hope its not that busy like people are saying. I'll be up there in a week.

 

[WDWFWfan]

Anybody just get back?

 

[Cinderella94]

I'm here right now, typing from my Bay Lake Towers 1 bedroom . I have no idea what's typical for this time of year, but this morning we got to MK at opening and rode Space, Splash, Peter Pan, Snow White, and the Carousel all with no waiting. Got FPs for all 3 mountains to use tonight. By 12:20 it started getting more crowded so we left.

All week (we've been here since the 6th) we've been able to ride everything we wanted if we got there at opening, but then we've left after lunch when the crowds came in.

 

[lblume91]

My BIL & his family are there now. He told my DH last night that the crowds are not bad at all. And trust me, if they were even remotely bad, we'd be hearing about it!! He said they get a FP, stand in another line for 20-30 min, then FP window is up & they can ride 1st ride. Doesn't sound too bad to me for July. And they are certainly NOT rope drop people so this is later in the day!

 

[ChristaDeVil]

I'm here right now, typing from my Bay Lake Towers 1 bedroom . I have no idea what's typical for this time of year, but this morning we got to MK at opening and rode Space, Splash, Peter Pan, Snow White, and the Carousel all with no waiting. Got FPs for all 3 mountains to use tonight. By 12:20 it started getting more crowded so we left.

All week (we've been here since the 6th) we've been able to ride everything we wanted if we got there at opening, but then we've left after lunch when the crowds came in.

Good to know. We arrive at RD and leave at noon most of the time anyway, so this works out perfect for us!!!!! Have you visited any of the water parks? How are the crowds there?

 

[Cinderella94]

Good to know. We arrive at RD and leave at noon most of the time anyway, so this works out perfect for us!!!!! Have you visited any of the water parks? How are the crowds there?

We haven't done the water parks his time. Our friends that are down here plan on doing Typhoon Lagoon later in the week though, so I'll report back what they think.

 

[Princess 'n LA]

WOW, this sounds encouraging! We added a last minute trip the end of July, but I was worried about long lines. It seems if you have a plan and don't mind getting up early, things are bad. We went Thanksgiving week 2010 and the lines sound shorter than then.

 

[kpadalik]

We are here now. It is busy, especially considering that it rained around 3. We got here around 4, IASM 20 min, Carousel a walk on. At Barnstormer now, 20 min. There are long lines, we don't plan though. We just wing it since we are here often with APs. We have FP for Peter Pan at 9pm. Otherwise it's a 75 min wait. Haunted Mansion has been running between 20-45. Can't wait to see the parade and fireworks tonight!

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

We are here now. It is busy, especially considering that it rained around 3. We got here around 4, IASM 20 min, Carousel a walk on. At Barnstormer now, 20 min. There are long lines, we don't plan though. We just wing it since we are here often with APs. We have FP for Peter Pan at 9pm. Otherwise it's a 75 min wait. Haunted Mansion has been running between 20-45. Can't wait to see the parade and fireworks tonight!

Lucky you to have AP & be able to wing it

But for most of us obsessors here in DISboard world, as you correctly point out, planning makes a difference

 

[poohj80]

Looking at my wait times ap, MK is packed tonight! 2 hour wait for Splash and 45 for Jungle Cruise.

 

[bcinohio]

Here now and went to the MK on Sunday and it was not bad at all. We did the GAD and used one voucher for the FP and didn't use any of the Daisy side because it was not crowded. Went to HS last night to see Fantasmic and we went to get in line at 7:30 for the 9pm show and it was standing room only. We waited for the 10:30 show and we got to see it but the place was packed. A lot of tour groups. I don't think it is as crowded as our other July trips.

 

[WDWFWfan]

Thanks everyone! It sounds like it really depends on the park and day. 20-45 minutes for HM is a pretty long wait for July. 75 for Peter Pan seems about average to me and I've never experienced the 2nd showing of Fantasmic to be packed. and we go in July most of the time.

Keep the reports coming!

 

[wishing4PA]

Any reports from this week yet? I did a search, but this thread was all I found.

 

[PinkPunch]

We leave Sunday so I am curious too. Weather seems to have changed since the last time I checked. Lots of thunderstorms in the forecast now.

 

[wishing4PA]

The thunderstorm forecast for our days was about what I expected -- 1/2 the time "isolated t-storms" (rains in DHS but not in EPCOT ) and the other 1/2 is "scattered" (whatever ... normal day in Florida.) The upside is we're driving south to Florida and losing 10 degrees of high temp forecast vs. what we'd have here.

But ... about those crowds ... ?

 

[WDWFWfan]

We just arrived yesterday, so it's too early to tell overall, but from what we've seen so far it is noticeably more crowded than its been in years past for the month of July.

 

[donipan]

I am here today, and I have to say it does look crowded to me, but I cannot compare with other years same time, so I don't know if it is good or bad for the season.

That said, in the morning (RD or even a bit after RD) it is not crowded at all, and it is easy to do the attractions.
We were in the MK in the evening yesterday to use collected fastpasses, and the queues were long, at least for me. 55' for PeterPan & Buzz, around 30' for Pooh and the Goofy Barnstormer, and I guess longer for the mountains. I am so glad I did some planning and found these forums! Why on earth do people queue under the sun to ride Winnie the Pooh with small children for over half an hour when you can get a FP for less than an hour later?

Today in the morning Epcot was fine too. But we left at 12 as crowds were swarming in.

Again, so happy I found these forums!

 

[arielmomma]

We just got back on Sunday after spending a week at WDW. There were definitely a lot of people, but the wait times for rides and things really weren't that bad if you use fast passes. We never waited more than 20 minutes for anything and did pretty much everything at least once. We were on the DP and the restaurants weren't that bad either.

The only tough thing was the heat. It has been crazy hot!

Other than that, we had a great time. It was nowhere near as wild as we were expecting.