HS lot full at 5:00 tonite???

[subtchr]

Leave your car at TTC. When you leave MK, walk to Contemporary and take the bus to DHS.

When you leave DHS, take the bus to Contemp if you are returning to MK.

Am I missing something? Why not take the direct MK-DHS bus?

 

[JMB123]

it can't be that long of a walk...maybe 10-15 minutes?

It would take me longer than that - probably about 30 minutes. But still quicker than waiting on the boats most of the time!

 

[subtchr]

It would take me longer than that - probably about 30 minutes. But still quicker than waiting on the boats most of the time!

Agreed on both counts. We were at Boardwalk on Tuesday, and got in line for the boat to DHS about 6 pm. The problem is that when the boat docks, there is no guarantee how many people will disembark. If it is only a few, then only a few may board. We ended up waiting through 2 boats, pretty far apart, before there was enough space. We kicked ourselves for not just walking from the start.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Am I missing something? Why not take the direct MK-DHS bus?

Park to park buses don't run as regularly as Deluxe Resort to park buses.

 

[AngiTN]

Because of the stopping boats do walking is faster. Last May I got on a bus at HS. At the same time DGD and DH started walking. He texted me that they were walking in the door of our room at YC at the same time the boat was docking at YC. I hadn't gotten off the boat yet

 

[bearchele]

There is a cheer competition going on this week in Disney. Maybe this is causing some extra crouds.

 

[vcgirl925]

Was full by 4:30 on Monday. I think a lot of the crowding is cast members. I know that sounds weird but HS has been blocked out for us and we only get a few days in December to go. Plus it being the last year of the light show.

 

[DebbieB]

There is a cheer competition going on this week in Disney. Maybe this is causing some extra crouds.

Pop Warner football (boys) and cheerleaders (girls). I've seen a few around the parks but nothing worth mentioning. I'm staying at Boardwalk, none around here.

 

[vcgirl925]

Does the light area seem to be very crowded at "turn on" and then thin out during Fantastic?

It's very crowded at the entry point. Seems people just stop as soon as they see the first light and it causes a bottleneck. Once you get around that mess it thins out.

 

[vcgirl925]

So glad I changed my trip booked for this weekend. I was a little bummed I had changed it to Jan, because we would miss the lights (and now heard that soarin will be closed ). But hearing this makes me feel better about my decision, I was afraid it would be packed.

Packed but so unbelievably worth it.

 

[dredick]

URGH!!!! I'm in such a panic over this trip!! I have been surprised by DH with a long weekend 12/26-12/28. We are doing park day on Sun, 12/27. Debating between a one day ticket at DHS or a hopper to do MK in AM, DHS in afternoon till we see the lights, then back to MK. Staying at All Stars, I know we have transportation. I just can't decide if I should hop or just stay at DHS! I had a thread asking this. Answers were evenly split between the two. We have never seen the Osborne lights. Now it sounds like one jam packed crazy mess!!!

 

[subtchr]

Park to park buses don't run as regularly as Deluxe Resort to park buses.

Interesting -- we have used park to park buses 4 times this trip, and I used them twice the previous week, and we never waited more than a few minutes.

 

[AngiTN]

URGH!!!! I'm in such a panic over this trip!! I have been surprised by DH with a long weekend 12/26-12/28. We are doing park day on Sun, 12/27. Debating between a one day ticket at DHS or a hopper to do MK in AM, DHS in afternoon till we see the lights, then back to MK. Staying at All Stars, I know we have transportation. I just can't decide if I should hop or just stay at DHS! I had a thread asking this. Answers were evenly split between the two. We have never seen the Osborne lights. Now it sounds like one jam packed crazy mess!!!

If you are there and have never seen the lights it's a no brainer to go see them, crowds and all. You'll never have another chance.

On your dates, plan to stay at HS. Walk to Boardwalk and rest/eat if you need to get away from the park but I wouldn't travel to MK, and back. Not on those dates. Everything will take longer then. I think you'll waste a lot of time traveling. It won't have much benefit

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We are supposed to go to the merry and bright dessert party on the 15th but we have dinner reservations at le cellier around 4 at Epcot. Does anyone know if there is a way to find out if the Hollywood studios lot is full before we leave Epcot? It would be such a waste of time to go from Epcot to Hollywood back to Epcot, especially when we are going to be somewhat pressed for time to make it to the dessert party at 6ish

Walking may work for you. It is about a 20 minute walk.

What we did was paid at DHS, boat to EPCOT for our ADR and then walked back. I had no idea the lot would close. But I knew we were finishing up at DHS. (We had started our day at AK.)

The boat lines were busy on thanksgiving, so I assume that similar lines will be seen for the lights throughout the season. We took a boat to EPCOT and had to wait for a 2nd boat. We opted to walk back and we beat the boat that was picking up passengers at EPCOT. (We would have had to wait for a second boat.)

From what understand, the dessert party is not a firm start time for you to be there. It is a time range. So if you don't get there right at 6, it should not be a problem.

 

[yulilin3]

parking lot closed today as of 1 pm, and that's without CM parking there

 

[DVC1991]

parking lot closed today as of 1 pm, and that's without CM parking there

that's insane

 

[yulilin3]

that's insane

yep, park hours just got extended too.

 

[AngiTN]

Urgh, it is really getting nuts early.

Who wants to lay bets on what date HS reaches it's first Phase 1 closure? I'm betting the 18th myself.

 

[theyoungs07]

How bad are the crowds in the park? We have plans to be there on Sunday afternoon...we'll be taking a bus from SSR. How are things other than the lights? I'd like to see them, but they are not my primary purpose for being there...I'm treating my 14 year old son and he has his own list of priorities. We have FP+ for RnR and Star Tours, his two priorities, but I'd hate for it to be crazy crowded.

 

[BeachPrincess]

We go every year at Christmas so I am use to the heavy crowds but this is starting to freak me out a bit. We drive down the 26th from Jacksonville and have ADR at Mama Melrose at 6:30 that evening. Would love to see the lights after dinner but we are doing the dessert party on Monday night so that day we will do DHS all day and we will get to see them one last time. Since we are driving down that morning, and I would prefer to check in first (staying offsite), we may not be able to get to the park until sometime between 1:00 and 3:00. We thought getting there that early would be okay but after reading this I'm not so sure! I'm wondering if I should cancel the ADR all together and do another park that day. I am sure on a Saturday, the day after Christmas, this place will be nuts. Not sure it's worth it just for dinner at MM, even though this was my husband's first request because of the rumored closure. Should we change our plans or just go straight to the TTC to park and take a bus over? If it's major crazy, we can avoid the lights after dinner or just leave. I do have handicapped parking due to a recent foot surgery, not sure if that will help me.