How Crowded Are The Theme Parks Right Now (President's Week) ?

[boltjames]

We've got a trip planned for the next big holiday week (March 27 to April 3) and have the ability to cancel up to February 25.

To make the right decision we'd like to rely on the advice from those who are there right now, this week, as it's the best gauge as to what it will look like during the next big holiday week. We're staying at the Grand Floridian and have reserved days for MK, AK, EPCOT, and HS.

So, for those at WDW right now, can you let me know your thoughts? Do you regret going with all the restrictions? Are the crowds surprisingly and/or uncomfortably large? The reports we heard months ago about this being a unique time to go to the parks, with reduced crowds and reduced lines, is that actually the case or are things no different than they would be if the park were fully operational?

We love the place, and we are willing to deal with reduced food options, no boating, and no Fast Pass, but if the crowds are large and the lines are long and it's not a special reduced-crowd and reduced-line experience and the transportation back to the Grand Floridian is going to be a mess, we'll just take a pass on 2021 and reschedule for 2022.

Thanks in advance!

 

[NashvilleMama]

I'd check the wait times on the app throughout the days this week to get a real feel of it, too....they were crazy high yesterday compared to what we saw 2 weeks ago when there.

 

[boltjames]

I'd check the wait times on the app throughout the days this week to get a real feel of it, too....they were crazy high yesterday compared to what we saw 2 weeks ago when there.

Thanks!

 

[NashvilleMama]

also just saw this photo on Twitter. That's a hard nope for me.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1361722048691724288

 

[boltjames]

also just saw this photo on Twitter. That's a hard nope for me.

Oh my.

How is that "reduced capacity" in a pandemic when it looks like the typical vacation week in 2019? Are they not reducing capacity? I thought the park reservation system was supposed to keep the crowds very light, like 25%?

 

[SaintsManiac]

Oh my.

How is that "reduced capacity" in a pandemic when it looks like the typical vacation week in 2019? Are they not reducing capacity? I thought the park reservation system was supposed to keep the crowds very light, like 25%?

Lots of discussion on this. The park capacity is 35% of 100, which is still a lot of people. They’ve probably been hitting that 35% on holidays.

 

[boltjames]

Lots of discussion on this. The park capacity is 35% of 100, which is still a lot of people. They’ve probably been hitting that 35% on holidays.

Sure, I get that, but we have been to MK at least 20 times over the years and all on very busy NY holiday weeks and that photo looks exactly like what it always looks like. And the wait times on the app right now are 85 minutes for Soarin, 95 for Slinky, and 2 hours for Tower of Terror.

There is nothing indicating that that's 35% of the typical busy holiday crowds we've experienced the last 15 years due to the health crisis. Is something else going on? Like did they close down half the rides and that's forcing the crowds to the remaining rides that are open? Something doesn't add up.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Sure, I get that, but we have been to MK at least 20 times over the years and all on very busy NY holiday weeks and that photo looks exactly like what it always looks like. And the wait times on the app right now are 85 minutes for Soarin, 95 for Slinky, and 2 hours for Tower of Terror.

There is nothing indicating that that's 35% of the typical busy holiday crowds we've experienced the last 15 years due to the health crisis. Is something else going on? Like did they close down half the rides and that's forcing the crowds to the remaining rides that are open? Something doesn't add up.

There are no meet and greets, parades, the train and people mover are down, limited dining, etc.

 

[rockpiece]

It’s certainly not fun, I am at Epcot right now just walking around the park and we just saw a 60 minute wait for Nemo lol.The parks were so much less crowded the past 2 weeks. This week has been awful so far.

 

[NashvilleMama]

There are no meet and greets, parades, the train and people mover are down, limited dining, etc.

yep, this - lots of things that normally suck in a lot of the crowds aren't open/available so they're all in the walkways.

 

[boltjames]

It’s certainly not fun, I am at Epcot right now just walking around the park and we just saw a 60 minute wait for Nemo lol.The parks were so much less crowded the past 2 weeks. This week has been awful so far.

That's awful. Wow.

Can you comment on transportation? Are you staying on property? Wondering what the monorails, ferries, and buses are like as we'd be going to the parks early and back from the parks as they close headed to Grand Floridian.

 

[skuttle]

We are leaving today. We were there feb 11-16. It’s very crowded. Most rides have posted waits of at least an hour. The listed waits aren’t accurate so it makes it super hard to decide what to wait for. We’ve had a 50 min wait take 20 and another take almost 2 hours. That’s the most frustrating part!

no problem with dining, especially with mobile ordering. I hope mobile ordering never goes away. No longer have to hunt for a table with a tray a food while someone saves a table with nothing.

lines are distanced and move fast for the most part. Which makes it more bearable. But that’s where the distancing ends. And honestly I don’t think there’s anything disney could do aside from decreasing capacity.

mask compliance was great!

I don’t regret our trip at all. It was a much needed break after this crazy year.

 

[rockpiece]

That's awful. Wow.

Can you comment on transportation? Are you staying on property? Wondering what the monorails, ferries, and buses are like as we'd be going to the parks early and back from the parks as they close headed to Grand Floridian.

Can’t really comment on transportation in the morning as we are staying at Bonnet Creek, We usually uber and then use the buses to park hop(which have not been crowded) and then Uber back at the end of the night. We did use the walkway yesterday from MK to GF and took a bus to AK and that was great. A nice walk and hardly anyone on the path besides the giant snake we saw.

 

[SarahC97]

Sure, I get that, but we have been to MK at least 20 times over the years and all on very busy NY holiday weeks and that photo looks exactly like what it always looks like. And the wait times on the app right now are 85 minutes for Soarin, 95 for Slinky, and 2 hours for Tower of Terror.

There is nothing indicating that that's 35% of the typical busy holiday crowds we've experienced the last 15 years due to the health crisis. Is something else going on? Like did they close down half the rides and that's forcing the crowds to the remaining rides that are open? Something doesn't add up.

Everything has reduced capacity. So, as someone else said, people are in the walkways instead of waiting in lines, going to shops, sitting in restaurants, etc. Reduced capacity is why the ride lines are so long, too, since fewer people can actually be loaded onto rides. We went at Thanksgiving and ended spending most of our time at our resort. The parks were uncomfortable. I certainly won't go back over a holiday until I'm vaccinated.

 

[rockpiece]

All of these Mardi Gras people need to go to Universal where they are actually celebrating Mardi Gras.

 

[agfiji25]

We went in July and it was great regarding crowd levels. We just returned home from a trip yesterday and thought the crowds were really bad. We have done Christmas day multiple times and we felt like the crowds (not wait times) were similar this trip.

 

[EyeofDTiger75]

Us Louisiana folks normally come I get away from Mandi Gras. Lol now the ice.

 

[BigOHawk]

There are no meet and greets, parades, the train and people mover are down, limited dining, etc.

Looks like PeopleMover was removed from the maintenance schedule as of 3/1, however we shall see if it opens. Cast members were testing yesterday!

 

[conandrob240]

also just saw this photo on Twitter. That's a hard nope for me.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1361722048691724288

This is awful

 

[conandrob240]

People do the best they can. Mask use is excellent, people are considerate and try to give way. However, IMO, the capacity is too high right now. HS was way too crowded today. We arrived at 8:00 and did lots before BG 22 for Rise of the Resistance. Then we had an unfortunate delay on Rise and sat around for an hour. On the way out, it was absolutely, insanely packed.

Not really looking forward to going to other parks. Hopefully they’ll be a little better later in the week.