Is Disney ever too crowded to have fun?

[indyanna]

My DH, DD (11), DS (8) and I are going the third week of October for the very first time for all of us. (We're in an alternate calendar school) I've heard the crowds are moderate then but am wondering how the FTP is going to affect them. Has anyone ever been to Disney and felt the crowds were overwhelming? Surely seven full days at Disney will still give us enough time to do a lot.

 

[holly dolly]

I have been when I felt that it was too crowded but it was also the begining of August and extremely hot and humid so just one person being around me was too much. I went last year in October around Columbus Day and thought that it was just fine. It was still quite warm and there were a few lines but it was still a wonderful trip. You guys should have a great time when you go

 

[Princess49]

The first two times my boyfriend & I went were during new years week & easter break. At the time, I have to be honest, I didn't know that it was crowded. I mean, the lines were long, but we had our fast passes & we never waitied longer than 20 minutes for anything & we truly did everything there was to do. We had all of our meals planned & we had priority seatings for everything so we never waited to eat either. I can't say that there's really anything that we didn't do. We did water parks, all 4 parks, DTD & pleasure island. The only thing that I remember actually saying-- "wow- that is crowded"- was the pool at the resort. But we were too busy doing other things to even use the pool! We loved it both times- enough to go back a third time in 3 years, which for a 23 & 21 year old is a lot! The third time we went it was the first two weeks in January. WDW was empty. Now that we did that it seems like we were nuts to go during anyother time of year! We didn't need any of our PS, we stayed on rides with out even getting off to wait on line again & we didn't need our fast pass once, we never waited- we literally ran through the lines because there were none. The downfall to this... things like parks hours were limited, nightly entertainment wasn't as lively for as long & the character meals just weren't as fun with only 7 people in the whole place. We're going back again for the 4th time in 3 1/2 years... in august, we'll se about the crowds. I dont care when you go its so amazing you won't remember anything but the wonderful time that you had!! Have fun!

 

[indyanna]

Thank you! I can't wait!!!! My 8 year old son told his teacher I was more excited than he is. He may be right!!

 

[bcb1]

Is Disney EVER too crowded to have fun? In my opinion, Yes. The summertime is just the worst! Our first trip in 1992 was in August, and it was sticky, hot, crowded, and miserable. It isn't that we didn't have a good time; but the hot, humid weather and long lines (average 45 min to 1 hr per ride) made such an impression on us that we vowed never, ever to go again in the summertime!

Since then, we have been back in November (Thanksgiving), and it was an awesome time to go. Very uncrowded -- I know that the "official guides" say that Thanksgiving tends to be crowded, but we were there in 1997 and it was great.

'99 we went to Disneyland, so that's a whole other experience.

2000, 2001, and 2002 we went during January each year. I was there at a conference, but my family did the Disney parks during the day when I was at the Swan and Dolphin - and they absolutely loved it. Total lack of crowds. Basically you just walk right up and get on any ride, with minimal wait time.

We bought our Disney Vacation club timeshare in 2002, so we're looking forward to going this year at Thanksgiving again. We're staying at the Beach Club villas for a week, and at the Grand Floridian for another few days.

I think you'll have a great time in October. The weather should be just perfect; not blazing hot or too cool. And the crowds should be very thin. Have fun!!

Brad

 

[C.Ann]

I'm an off-season person, so I can only say that I've heard some on this board say it was pretty bad during the more crowded times of the year.. And of course, it depends on if you're a big "ride" person..

October is supposed to be SUPER though - so I wouldn't worry about it..

Have a GREAT time!!

 

[jkovick]

We went during Spring Break in 2000. Yes, it was crowded but ya know what? We were so happy to be there we didn't really notice. (It gave us extra time to soak in the atmosphere and people watch.) Hope ya have a great trip.

 

[Wendy P]

We went during Thanksgiving of 2000 and it was VERY crowded. We've been many different times including July once and this was more crowded than I've ever seen it. We had rides break down and CM's who were actually rude - things we've never experienced at Disney before. I don't know if it was because it was the tail end of the 2000 celebration or because the economy was doing so well or what, but there were a lot of people there. We had chosen that week because we'd read that it wasn't too crowded and we had to work around school schedules.

On the up side we had a very nice Thanksgiving dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern and got to see the opening of Osbourne lights and the candlelight processeional both of which were phenomenal!

As for an October trip - I was once told by a Disnery reservations employee that May and October were the best times weather and crowd wise in her opinion (that was when I was booking the July trip)!

Have fun - even with the crowds of our 2000 trip - that isn't what we remember. What we remember is sipping hot chocolate while strolling throught he Osbourne lights and the beautiful music of the candlelight processional and the general MAGIC of Disney!

 

[frannn]

cause I'll be there also! I have been at WDW in Oct one other time, President's week, and spring break time. I think President's week was the most crowded when comparing the three times. Oct was a little bit less than Spring break. I definetly think Oct this year will be more crowded, because you've got Columbus Day, Canadian Thanksgiving, and the FTP. I would think the big change would be due to the FTP, but hopefully the change won't be so drastic that it will be like summertime. Weren't the amount of rooms limited for this deal anyway?

 

[drcmk]

During our trip in June, it was very nearly too crowded to enjoy. My kids were young and there for the first time, so they didn't have any expectations and thus were not disappointed, just thrilled to be there. But there were several moments during that first night in MK that my husband and I looked at each other and shook our head and really regretted that we had spent the money. AKL was also MUCH too hot to enjoy and we couldnt' stay there more than a few hours. I enjoyed it enough that I've been planning our next trip ever since and my kids think it was great, but DH insists we only go during the least crowded times from now on.

 

[songbert]

Having gone twice in October, it's really my favorite time of the year to go.

If you start your vacation with a positive spirit and a sense of fun and adventure, you'll have a great time

There will be folks you will see who couldn't smile and have a good time if their life depended on it!! Show them what a good time really is

 

[Ven]

Ack!
Now I am worried.
We are going as a family for the very first time aug 30 thru sept 5.
Kids nor hubbie has ever been. They know it will be crowded.

It was either that week or the July 4th weekend. I think I choose the better of the two.

yes???

 

[dcfromva]

Originally posted by Ven
Ack!
Now I am worried.
We are going as a family for the very first time aug 30 thru sept 5.
Kids nor hubbie has ever been. They know it will be crowded.

It was either that week or the July 4th weekend. I think I choose the better of the two.

yes???

I think you picked the better of the two options in terms of crowds. I would expect crowds over Labor Day weekend, but then after the Labor Day weekend, it should be a LOT less crowded.
I have been there over Labor Day a few times. It does get crowded, but not so crowded that you can't have a good time with a little careful planning and stategic use of FP.


-DC

 

[baloo722]

I'm a teacher, we go during the peak times (easter 4th of July, etc...) just take your time, when you are tired, rest. When you are hot, cool down. It has never been a problem for us & our little ones.

 

[HokieDad]

We were there last week. We endured a two hour line for Test Track, 1:20 for Rapids and 25 minutes for Splash Mountain...with a FP.

It was too crowded.

 

[grinningghost]

We always go in summer and it's always mobbed. But if you ask me, that just adds to the fun. There's nothing more exciting than being at WDW when it's so very alive with people. It adds to the festive atmosphere for me. I think I'd be a little depressed in the slower seasons.

 

[wdwobsessed]

Ven - you are going the same week I am going. We went Labor Day week in 2001 I loved it.

Saturday we did not do the parks ... I heard they were crowded. Sunday we did an Early day at MGM and did quite a lot in the AM .. didn't start to get crowded until after lunch time. Sunday night we attempted to go to MK and turned around due to crowds and went to Epcot which had walk ons for just about everything!!

By Monday it was smooooth sailing. 15 minutes was the longest we waited for anything the entire trip and that was only because we got in line right after the show started at the Tiki room.

You will love it!

wdwo

 

[twinz]

We prefer to go at the least crowded times. We have been in Aug (way back in 1982, 1987, and 1992) and all I remember it was really hot, but we really didn't care. We went in Feb. in 1999 and it was hot (they had a heat wave)--but it wasn't crowded. Then we went in September 1999 and it was really hot and humid, and not to mention those pesky love bugs. The crowds were light though. Then we went The first two weeks of Dec. in 2001 and it was absolutely incrediable...no lines, no crowds, hot but not humid...it was great, and we went this past Sept/Oct. It was still hot and humid but the crowds were less at the end of Sept, but they picked up a bit the beginning of Oct. If I had to choose a time to go, it would DEFINATELY be Early December again.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Christmas day- enuf said.
LOL
Ofcourse it was my (and the kids) very first time at WDW and our first day -and it was MK. So until the parade and basically being stuck in one (and I mean a very small crowded spot- not even able to see the parade either... we weren't trying to see the parade) spot for a very long time- we had a blast. We had no idea it wasn't ALWAYS that packed/crowded. LOL
I heard later that night that they'd closed the park midday for NO ONE else to come in! That was crowded I guess.

I haven't been any other time but what is considered nonpeak time (Jan) so I can't say about any other time. But if you don't like crowds, avoid Christmas day at MK. LOL

 

[gerryt2697]

Easter week last year was so crowded I thought I was on the subway at rush hour in New York City.