I think the FTP package really changed things

[Camping Griswalds]

We just returned from our aug trip on the 23. Crowds were awful in comparrision from years past. From reading these boards this seems to be a universal opinion. We skipped EE mornings due to lots of advice and everything was manageable, but craaazy!! I know the FTP helped business and a lot of people out, but personally I am looking forward to our Jan trip with less people!! The ambience of the parks, the sculpted bushes and beautiful landscaping and other little touches are lost with tons of people and hurrying to the next fast pass. Traditionally Aug (late Aug) used to be this way too. I can tell though that they are really doing things differently now. I am a AP holder and the rates for us are few and far between. They really want to sell the packages. My big worry is that the FTP was so successful that they will be trying this for all kinds of off season times now. To be honest, it makes the days at Seaworld and Universal and Busch Gardens very appealing. Of course after returning from this trip and knowing we had two weeks planned in Jan, my DH and I just reserved a week in March without kids. I guess addicts are addicts, but my views are slowly starting to change.

 

[Ecdubfan]

We didn't have much of an issue with crowds last week. AK's EMH Monday was packed, so we didn't do it again the rest of the week. We had minimal waits on most rides and fastpassed the rest. Even the waterparks were manageable. We did not have the FTP.

Interestingly, we spent Weds at Universal...did IOA in 2 hours and figured studios would be empty as well. We were wrong. The longest lines we saw all week were Weds at Universal Studios.

 

[TLinden16]

I went from August 13-23, and thought the crowds were horrible. Some days, I would look out at the sea of people, and just feel so overwhelmed.

I felt like we missed a lot of things because of the lines, and the four or five hour rain storms we had about five or six days while we were there (we were expecting the daily thunderstorms, but those usually only last about an hour--these long term storms really slowed us down).

My sister went August 24-31, and she said that they didn't run into any lines while they were there.

Karen

 

[the4moores]

I went to the Mk on Wed Aug 27th and the crowds were more than I was expecting. I went at this time in 1999 and I thougt that there was alot more people this year. At one point we went to use our fast pass for Winnie the pooh and the fast pass line was 20 minute wait! A lot of the rides were around 20-30 minute wait which my 5 year old did not want to do. I know it could be worse but we went in October last year and it was so much fun to be able to go on a ride 2 or 3 times in a row with little or no wait. I don't think we will be going at this time again. The only thing I didn't know was if the crowds were busier on the Wednesday because it had fireworks that night.