How Crowded Is It? Let Me Tell You......

[teacher2001]

I've been reading the threads about the huge crowds, etc., but I thought "How bad can it be?".

My Lord, it was CROWDED last week! DH had a conference in Orlando for 4 nights so I jumped at the chance for a quick trip (my 16th since 1992). I have NEVER, and I mean NEVER, have seen it so packed in all my years (half of my trips were summer trips).

By 11:00 the MK was so crowded and HOT that I started to get panicky. I have never had that feeling before. Seas of people crowded the streets and wait times were horrendous. Even with FP and early arrival! I saw character lines that stretched and streched (although I did notice a lot more characters out and about. They must be roasting in those costumes!)

It was still nice to see the parks again, but if this is a sign of things to come I may never return during the summer months. I have a trip planned for early December and am hoping that crowds are similar to years past (even though the off season has been slowly gaining popularity).

Oh, and some of these poor children were just wiped out and miserable! I felt so sorry for parents who obviously spent $$$ on vacation only to see the little ones so hot and tired. But I felt more for the kids, some of whom looked downright exhausted from the heat and crowds. Even AK was crowded last week, something I have never seen.

Since this was a spur of the moment trip I didn't have plans. All I can say is PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!! Study EMH and avoid those parks. Get there at opening and get out by noon. Lots of water and sunscreen. If you can, rent a car. I saw some bus lines (moreso for the Values) that were a mile long.

Last Thursday the WS in Epcot wasn't too bad, but TT and Soarin' had huge stand by times, and FP for Soarin' were gone very early.

I'm happy that WDW is gaining popularity. But something needs to be done regarding these huge crowds. Perhaps lowering the daily limit of guests or bringing back E nights.

 

[Rozzie]

yikes just want I want to hear!! LOL! we are avoiding EMH morning and pm like the plague. going to leave by noon, and goof off rest of day. we hardly ever go in summer, and only going this next week because it is my bday. we always go in oct so I know I am ready for a shock. haven't been in summers in 15 years!!!

 

[teacher2001]

Oh no! I didn't want to scare anyone, but reading my post again I see I concentrated on the negative. I was trying to emphasize the importance of planning, since I didn't have one!

Other posters have indicated that they were able to avoid long waits, etc...You seem like an old pro, and shouldn't have problems.

Just be prepared for the crowds! I think the heat multiplied the crowd effect; it was SO hot last week.

Keep a positive attitude - you'll be fine. Maybe I'm just getting old and ornery!

 

[Loves Disney]

We too have been to Disney World many times in the summer and like you have never experienced crowds such as we did! I went alone to MK one afernoon hopeing to tape parts of the park to watch when we were home again. I found my self trapped in a mass of bodies. I, fortuently, know Disney like the back of me hand and was therefore able to squeeze through unsespecting people who just refused to move without looking where I was going (because I could not see past anybody. The people where shoulder to shoulder, front to back, etc. I got to Frontierland and it was there that I had remembered that I chose the worst time to go. A parade had just begun! this was around 3:00 pm. I literally thought I was trapped here because more people closed in around me. What used to be short cut way to Splash Mountain (the bridge) was now packed with people. It was a good thing I was alone because this allowed me to squeeze through people without the fear of loseing family members.

Through all this I still had the most "Magical" time down there. It will have to take more than an unbelievable amount of people to disturb my trip to Disney!

 

[dvcgirl]

I've been reading the threads about the huge crowds, etc., but I thought "How bad can it be?".

My Lord, it was CROWDED last week! DH had a conference in Orlando for 4 nights so I jumped at the chance for a quick trip (my 16th since 1992). I have NEVER, and I mean NEVER, have seen it so packed in all my years (half of my trips were summer trips).

By 11:00 the MK was so crowded and HOT that I started to get panicky. I have never had that feeling before. Seas of people crowded the streets and wait times were horrendous. Even with FP and early arrival! I saw character lines that stretched and streched (although I did notice a lot more characters out and about. They must be roasting in those costumes!)

It was still nice to see the parks again, but if this is a sign of things to come I may never return during the summer months. I have a trip planned for early December and am hoping that crowds are similar to years past (even though the off season has been slowly gaining popularity).

Oh, and some of these poor children were just wiped out and miserable! I felt so sorry for parents who obviously spent $$$ on vacation only to see the little ones so hot and tired. But I felt more for the kids, some of whom looked downright exhausted from the heat and crowds. Even AK was crowded last week, something I have never seen.

Since this was a spur of the moment trip I didn't have plans. All I can say is PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!! Study EMH and avoid those parks. Get there at opening and get out by noon. Lots of water and sunscreen. If you can, rent a car. I saw some bus lines (moreso for the Values) that were a mile long.

Last Thursday the WS in Epcot wasn't too bad, but TT and Soarin' had huge stand by times, and FP for Soarin' were gone very early.

I'm happy that WDW is gaining popularity. But something needs to be done regarding these huge crowds. Perhaps lowering the daily limit of guests or bringing back E nights.

It really is something this year isn't it? I was on the monorail a couple of weeks ago with a family member. I was just giving her a resorts tour and we stopped off for lunch. As we passed by the MK we both just gasped. I've never seen so many people trying to get into the MK...and this was at noon. I think this year, with the Magical express, dining packages and consumer spending up, people pulling equity out of their homes....well, it's just a madhouse. I think next summer will be quieter...can't be worse, that's for sure.

 

[lina777]

Thanks for the report!! I am just wondering when people say crowded, is this more crowded than peak hoilday season during Christmas? Sorry to butt in like this!

 

[homer424]

Am i completely naive to hope it will thin out a touch next week? This is the first time we are going in the summer in 16 years and I was nervous to begin with-since I have to push my grandmother in a wheelchair-but hearing how crowded it was is making me even more nervous. I wish we could go in the off-season but those days are over for now (DD starts school and the district is VERY strict with time off-she only gets 7 unexcused days during the year and if we go over that, we have to appear in COURT!)

 

[Jobie]

By 11:00 the MK was so crowded and HOT that I started to get panicky. I have never had that feeling before. Seas of people crowded the streets and wait times were horrendous. Even with FP and early arrival! I saw character lines that stretched and streched (although I did notice a lot more characters out and about. They must be roasting in those costumes!)

Costumes? What do you mean by Costumes?

 

[teacher2001]

lina777-

I was in WDW on Thanksgiving Day 2003 and IMO it was more crowded last week. Again, the heat may have amplified the effect, but I actually began to freak out a little when I became stuck in a crowd and literally couldn't move. I was pretty scared, and that has never happened to me before.

 

[elastigirlfan]

I agree...it is definetly packed this summer. Mobs of people. But... a hot and crowded day at Disney is better than no day at Disney at all.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

We are going in October, the first week actually and I was wondering should our family avoid EMHs parks on those days????

 

[DisneyMama629]

We were there last week, and it was busy but never overwhelming. I really think it is because we planned though. I really suggest tourguidemike.com to anybody that is going soon and is worried about crowds and lines. The longest we waited was around 8 minutes. I'm not exaggerating. Tourguidemike made our trip excellent. I really think it would be worth it to give it a look.

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

Tourguidemike made our trip excellent. I really think it would be worth it to give it a look.

tourguidemike rocks!! Congrats on your wedding, Krista!!

 

[midnightstar17]

We were there last week too and didn't find the crowds overwhelming at all. We got there early and left by 1 and came back by 6. We never stood in line more than 15 minutes. We used the unoffical guide and avoided EMH like the plague. (except AK which we did- which was nice) I think this is the best stragey. We went to MK the days after Evening Magic Hours and found them not crowded at all. PLAN PLAN PLAN is the best advice I can give anyone going down there during the summer.

Jenny

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Costumes? What do you mean by Costumes?

You don't think Minnie mouse runs around naked do you? You know the early American garb she wears at the LTT, things like that. Costumes.

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

You don't think Minnie mouse runs around naked do you? You know the early American garb she wears at the LTT, things like that. Costumes.

 

[ginga]

We just returned also and like the OP said, don't be scared, just be prepared. It was strange, though, how sometimes the wait would be 50 mins for some things like Space Mountain and then a little while later, it would be 20 mins. Other rides, like Splash Mountain and Thunder Road always had long lines. RockandRoll Rollercoaster was not working most of Thurs, but they honored the fastpasses we received in the morning at night, thank goodness. It still was not nearly as crowded as Christmas, just hotter!
Got a question. About EMH, we got in early with only our passes - an AP and 7 day Hoppers, but no one asked for our Resort ID - how do they restrict Early Mornings to resort guests? Is the parking lot closed until opening times?
In our opinion, EMHs were a waste of time and not worth planning for.

 

[teacher2001]

I can't stress enough....PLAN PLAN PLAN!!!

 

[marcij]

While Tourguide Mike helped and the Unofficial Guide, too, the crowds were just unbearable this past week at the MK. That was the only park that was overcrowded (as is usually the case), but even avoiding the early morning hour, it was EXTREMELY crowded.

The good news is that I talked to a CM today before we left, and he said they expect the crowd levels to start dropping starting this weekend (a lot of FL schools back in session) and lots of people with kids in extracurricular activities that have to be back, too.

 

[S. C.]

We were at WDW 7-7th to 7-16th and we did do emh nites.

Just make sure you are already in the park before emh begins, people pour in at the last 30 minutes and the lines are long during that time just to get in the parks.

Get your bracelets at a different location than the front of the park and it only takes a couple of minutes. Maybe people don't know that there are other locations to get them because there are always long lines in the front.

If you are already in the park you can get in a few rides while people are waiting to get the bracelets and trying to get back to the rides that they want to go on.

Use FP if available.

For shorter wait times go on rides during parades and fireworks .