How packed is it gonna be?

[creativeamanda]

For those of you who have been in Disney for many different seasons, how would you compare the crowd level between early Feb and early Aug? My family went last year in Feb, but this year we are going for our 12th anniversary (kids in tow, of course--I can't go to WDW without the kids!). The crowd level is supposed to be a 7 with wait times at the healdiner attractions being a little over an hour. We thought we'd get to the park when it opened (wait at the gates for al least 15-20 min), get Fastpasses for the headliners, and then go to do the other things we want to. Of course, we don't think waiting in line in a place that is air-conditioned will be so bad (ie--Soarin). I've read that there are times that you can hardly move, though! I'm wondering if we should just call and put off our trip to October, but that would mean 4 days of docked pay for me (teachers in my state cannot take that many personal days at a time).

This is what our plan looks like now--it's changed a couple of times, but I think this would be the itinerary. I originally wanted to eat a character breakfast, but worry that is too much food for August heat.

Sat, Aug 2--Arrive after 1 night off resort--Epcot from open to 12:00, go to hotel, return for dinner at Le Cellier, and stay until park closes

Sun, Aug 3 (anniversary)--Magic Kingdom (pm EMH)--open until 12:00, go to hotel, return for dinner at Crystal Palace, and stay until park closes

Mon, Aug 4--Disney Hollywood Studios (am EMH)--open til 12:00; return for dinner at Hollywood & Vine, stay until after Fantasmic! (Fantasmic dinner package)

Tues, Aug 5--Epcot (pm EMH)--same as Sat, but dinner at Garden Grill

Wed, Aug 6--Magic Kingdom--same as Sun, but dinner at LTT

Thurs, Aug 7--Animal Kingdom--stay from open until about 1:00-2:00 then drive home, bringing us home about midnight to 1:00 am, if we stop in Jacksonville for dinner (and any Starbucks for coffee for us)

My kids typically eat breakfast at 6:30 am (regardless of what time they go to bed, they get up this early), Lunch about 12:30 with a snack between bkfast and lunch. We are doing DDP, so we intend on getting icecream for snack. They eat dinner at 5:00 and usually another snack just before bed (cereal, cheese, or fruit). They typically eat a larger breakfast and dinner with a small lunch in the middle, so we are using DDP CS meal for breakfast and DDP TS meal for dinner. I think this will give us a rest in the middle of the day, and although we aren't using park hoppers, I don't think we will need it.

We are just concerned about the sheer numbers of people at WDW in August. If you you have ever been to Carowinds in Charlotte before during a peak season, how does this compare? (ie, 90 min waits for splashwater falls)

Dh says that Disney is just run better than Carowinds and things shouldn't be as bad, but I'm worried now that I look at all the information out there.

 

[Kimmy]

I'm going the same week! Staying at Saratoga Springs. The past 4 years I've gone the third and fourth week of August, and the crowds were not bad. The longest line was 20 minutes (except Soarin' which was about 60 min). I'm hoping the first week is not a big difference in crowds.

 

[Blessedx3]

We have gone in the middle of Aug and it was bad. There were alot of people. But I wouldn't say you couldn't move and I don't think I put my trip off because of this. I would just go in with a plan and I think you will be fine. It sounds like you are already on the right track. It was busy but not unbearable. We spent a week at disney and then went down to key west and I would have to say key west was PACKED. I would much rather have dealt with the Disney crowds that week.