Is it just me or does it seem the parks arexpacked?

[savannie]

We did RD every single day and were even there 30-45 mins early in case the park opened early. DHS opened 30 mins early the day we were there!! We went to the most recommended park every day but one and it was the next most recommended park. We had our touring plan in hand and we were ready to go. Even with all that, the people mover was never empty for us, parades were hard to find spots for and even outside of normal meal times, most restaurants were busy. We saw those same monorail lines all the way down the path. Buses were jam packed as were monorails. My dh stood on almost every single monorail ride b/c there were no seats. We are not seasoned vets like so many here are but we were there almost exactly 1 year before and imo, crowds were just higher than the previous year. Having said that, our touring plan worked perfectly. We rarely had to wait more than 5-10 mins for attractions. Most of our waits were at DHS. Some of our longest waits outside of DHS were ETWB and waiting for characters. There seemed to be a lot of characters without PP photographers which made the waits much longer. But after seeing a low crowd time feel so busy, I simply cannot fathom going at a truly busy time. I did it as a kid and I remember those super long lines.

Wasn't it strange how everything but the rides were super crowded? That was the weirdest part to me. We ate lunch at Columbia Harbor House around 2 one day, and the line was out the door. But Haunted Mansion only had a 15 minute wait time right afterwards. We heard them radio the cooks to push food out faster, and I heard a couple of other CMs mention how crowded this September was. So it's not our imagination. I'm guessing maybe free dining affected levels more than I thought it would.

 

[Magpie]

Hey, this thread got a mention in the latest EasyWDW post! (It's like being internet famous, I guess. )

http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorize...e-our-guest-entrees-and-the-grey-stuff-92913/

You have my permission to respond “haha” to anyone returning from a September vacation complaining about the crowds. I don’t have any numbers for September 23 – 30 yet, but overall attendance looks to be flat compared to last year. And last year was less crowded than the year before that. But it’s true that the Splash Mountain wait could be 10 minutes instead of 15 and Space Mountain’s wait is all the way up to the double digits.

 

[southernprincess1]

The week of Sept. 15 was fall break for many school systems in Georgia. I know several families that went that week. Might have something to do with increasing crowds in September.

 

[f15robyn]

The week of Sept. 15 was fall break for many school systems in Georgia. I know several families that went that week. Might have something to do with increasing crowds in September.

I was wondering if situations like this are changing the dynamic. Kids in many New England states didn't start school until Aug 28, so we wouldn't even think that someone would be on a "break" by Sept 15.

But I also know friends in NC who's kids go to school year round with about 9 1/2 weeks on followed by about 2 1/2 weeks off. With different kids on different schedules. So basically about 1/4 of the school is always on a 2 1/2 week break. Giving those families a chance to possibly go to Disney at a time that would have historically been "slower".

 

[LSUfan4444]

I just got back from a 3 day trip over last weekend and the crowds were very manageable. The only time we waited more than 20 minutes was standy for Soarin on Sunday around 12 pm and we waited for around 35 minutes.

People think low crowd times means recommended parks don't matter when in reality, it probably matters even more.

 

[LSUfan4444]

This is accurate as I walked by right about then. The entire park was relitively empty I think because of the 6:00 closing and no Fantasmic. We left right after that to Magic Kingdom and it felt slow too. Mostly 20 minute waits on the major rides. We have been here since last Wednesday hopping and this was the slowest day. But oh my hottest too!

Not only did we only wait more than 20 minutes for one attraction, my wife and I found seating for the 8 pm Fantasmic around 7:55.

 

[stinkpickle]

...
People think low crowd times means recommended parks don't matter when in reality, it probably matters even more.

I agree.

 

[funkyspunky871]

We went from the 18 to the 21 and everyone in my group kept commenting how crowded it was. I used the crowd calendars too! I'm not saying it was peak-time crowdedness, but we went for a week in September in 2011, and we had never seen the parks so empty before. It was awesome! So much for replicating that this year.

Also, the wait times seemed average. Fast passes were available pretty much all day long in MK and EP. It was mainly walking from one area to another that got to me!! It seemed like half the people weren't going on any attractions at all, just standing in the walkways for fun.

 

[funkyspunky871]

Oh, and at one point there was a 20 minute wait for Stitch's Great Escape for goodness sake!! I've never seen that before. I also waited in line for 20 minutes to get a Dole Whip. I assume that's pretty normal with how slow that stand is.

 

[ShayBells]

I thought the same thing!!!!! I was there 22-28. And I was amazed and it was pouring!!! I was watching all these low waits the week before we went and than go and it was crazy!!! Peter Pan was over an hour one day and the week before I didn't see it hit over 45 and others too like buzz was 45 the one time!! On a 1 crowd day???

If 1-3 was as bad as I experienced I can't imagine a 10!! I could barely walk through the park with all the people I would die if it was any more crowded!!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[gorkt]

I think the parks will only get more congested with the advent of FP+. People who are not waiting in lines have to go somewhere.

 

[mm1971]

From all the conflicting reports, it looks like some days are really low crowds and then a few days seem to be busier (as in really busy) for some reason. I got a report from friends that last week was dead slow. I wonder how many of those that are saying it's busy have been when the crowds are 7-10 levels? It's easy to think everything is busier if your used to the lower levels. I find all the reports very interesting, especially considering Disney continues to offer incentives and FD to get people to the parks. Keep the reports coming. Hopefully those there or heading there will find shorter lines and lower crowds.

We should see a quarterly report in a few weeks that should give a good indication on if the levels are up or down based on the on-property statistics compared to prior years.

 

[LSUfan4444]

We didn't take too many photopass pics, but here are the only two where you can see any idea of what the park crowd was like. the Epcot pic was taken on Sunday afternoon, probably around 2:30 pm. and the Animal Kingdom photo is probably around 10:30 am

 

[yulilin3]

I have a theory as to why more and more people say that the parks are getting more and more packed, this might get long:
I've been living in Orlando since 1997 and ever since 1998 have had an AP. The parks were packed back then, then came Fastpass which helped a lot and it didn't seem all that necesary to wait in line so it didn't seem that bad.
But then Sept. 11 2001 came and that's when the entire tourism industry in Orlando died down. There were many years that the parks seemed empty,be it because people were affraid to travel or whatever the reason, it was dead. that's when Disney started with the idea of the different themed years, most popular of all was Year of a Million Dreams to try and get people to come back, and they did, free dining followed and people loved that they could come and the parks had a reasonable amount of people but not super packed. Now the economy is starting to come back up, different incentives have been given to international travelers and so the parks seem busier, there's no real super-slow time of the year anymore.
I understand that it sucks when people come and it's so busy, and packed and whatnot, but it's a good sign that the economy is coming back and cities like Orlando are benefiting fromt his.

 

[hgeisler]

Actually a 30 min wait for TSM at 9:00 isn't half bad. I'd say that's pretty good. It's usually at least an hour. LOL

That's what I was thinking:/

 

[Bama_C]

That's what I was thinking:/

Same here... I have been the week after Labor Day several times, which in my experience is the lowest crowd of the year. I have ridden rides over again 2 and 3 times. In fact, I have seen it so dead that there was literally (in the truest sense of the word) NO ONE in Liberty Square but me! It was kinda freaky. But I have NEVER seen TSM wait time under 30 min. Ever. Having a FP+ for that is going to be HUGE for our party of 7 late risers.

 

[Bama_C]

We didn't take too many photopass pics, but here are the only two where you can see any idea of what the park crowd was like. the Epcot pic was taken on Sunday afternoon, probably around 2:30 pm. and the Animal Kingdom photo is probably around 10:30 am

Great photos! We have been in September most every year, and your photos are typical of our experience. REALLY nice!

 

[wendow]

Wasn't it strange how everything but the rides were super crowded? That was the weirdest part to me. We ate lunch at Columbia Harbor House around 2 one day, and the line was out the door. But Haunted Mansion only had a 15 minute wait time right afterwards. We heard them radio the cooks to push food out faster, and I heard a couple of other CMs mention how crowded this September was. So it's not our imagination. I'm guessing maybe free dining affected levels more than I thought it would.

Exactly!! Park was packed but ride lines weren't bad at all. And, so funny, we had the same problem at CHH!! Food took forever and the CM's almost seemed surprised by the crowd. It was very busy in there. Pecos Bill's was the same for lunch another day.

 

[wendow]

We should see a quarterly report in a few weeks that should give a good indication on if the levels are up or down based on the on-property statistics compared to prior years.

Where will we be able to find this? My dh & I have been interested in knowing how this September's crowds compared to last September simply cause we really did find it busier.

 

[newdeal]

There is one sole reason that this time of year is busy. By Disney jacking up the prices every year they force people to look at the less busy times or times when promos are on to go. Instead of 5 years ago when the prices were 30% lower people taking a trip and going over march break now they can't afford it but still want to go so instead they pull the kids from school and go down when its less expensive. Of course crowds are still ridiculous at the holidays also in spite of this but its much harder to tell the difference between a 2.5 hour wait and a 2 hour wait than it is to tell the difference between a 30 minute wait vs. a zero minute wait. We have been the last 3 years for free dining in september and its busier every year