Is it really crowded now?

[ffugitive]

Looking at the line apps in anticipation of our trip next week and really surprised to see 40-60 minute waits for most of the main attractions. Are they right?

 

[sweetpee_1993]

That's what it was like last week when we were there. Lines was typically within 5 mins of actual waits for us. Look at reported waits, too. That's actual people there giving hard numbers.

 

[ffugitive]

Yeah - gotta adjust my expectations a bit I think.

 

[Marilynbn]

It is actually very busy...but it's mostly the strollers that are a problem! The walkway between Pooh and Splash mountain was so filled with parked strollers that there was no room to walk! It has really gotten out of control. I thought this time of year would be less crowded than when schools are closed....not the case. Crazy busy especially due to shorter park hours and so many main rides being closed for refurbishing. I would opt to return at another time of year. We are veterans of Disneyland and I just have never experienced it like this.

 

[djk]

I would love to hear more thoughts and observations about this...

We went to the parks about this time of year in 2011 and 2013 and found crowds and wait times to be manageable. We thought about going again this year, but decided too many attractions were going to be closed. We are tentatively planning to visit next year around this time. So out of curiosity, I looked at MouseWait today and was surprised at what in my opinion seemed like relatively long wait times for this time of year.

So... what is going on? Is this small window of "low crowds" that some had come to enjoy at the end of April/beginning of May getting too popular and now become busy? Or are the longer-than-usual-for-this-time-of-year wait times just a side effect of the many refurbs, meaning there might still be hope of next year being more like the past few?

 

[lozzypop]

I know there have been a lot of comments on how the ride closures should not affect your enjoyment of a trip, but I don't think people take into account what ride closures do to the demographics of the park. Particularly when a good proportion of the closures are high capacity rides.

Little Mermaid, Pirates and it's a small world are all "people-eaters" and those rides cycle hundreds of people per hour. How many people does the Mickey and the Magical map seat then there is a show? When attractions are closed, those people have to go somewhere else. So that puts more of a strain on other attractions. You couple that with ride breakdowns and you have even fewer attractions to spread everyone out.

So they clog the walkways and the attractions that are open will have longer wait times.

So if you have even slightly higher attendance than last year's May season, and couple that with fewer attractions to absorb all those people and it can feel pretty crowded.

 

[larina]

It is actually very busy... I thought this time of year would be less crowded than when schools are closed....not the case. Crazy busy especially due to shorter park hours and so many main rides being closed for refurbishing. I would opt to return at another time of year. We are veterans of Disneyland and I just have never experienced it like this.

Lots of people are still out, or just now going on, spring break now. Some schools and districts don't do their break based on Easter at all anymore. May is no longer the slow time that it used to be. That seems to be February now.

 

[SixteenFeet]

Lots of people are still out, or just now going on, spring break now. Some schools and districts don't do their break based on Easter at all anymore. May is no longer the slow time that it used to be. That seems to be February now.

We did Feb last year and were there last week. Feb last year was definitely a LOT better (we avoided President's Day weekend).

There were so many unanticipated ride closures last week! We chose this time because we thought it would be slow(er) but due to all the reasons mentioned above it was crazy busy (on top of the crazy weather). My kids start K this year so now we are slaves to the school schedule. Oh well!! We did still have a great time last week - it seemed the CMs were trying really hard to keep folks happy despite the weather, crowds, and ride closures and we experienced a good handful of "magical" moments.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I am worried a bit about next year. We plan on going in late April (21st-28th.) But our only other option would be February and I'm worried too many dark rides may be closed at that time.

 

[MychaelP]

I was there yesterday. Crowd Forecast was a 2/10, yet lines were really long. Story Book Boats ride had the longest line I'd ever seen. They added additional ropes for it. I think it is because so many rides are closed that typically have quite a few people. Indy, Pirates, Nemo, Small World. Even Haunted Mansion was closed for quite awhile yesterday.
We went out to go see the new Muppet Movie in Orange, came back at 7pm, and all the way through 9pm closing Fantasyland had huge lines. Even the carousel had a line out beyond ropes! Yes not that many people elsewhere, benches open all over the place. Just not enough attractions open for people I think. They even shut the monorail before 7pm. When I asked they said it might reopen, but another cast member beyond him nodded her head "no" indicating not to expect it to reopen.
Just my experience yesterday

 

[DisneyPhreak]

Yeah yesterday (Tuesday) was ridiculouly busy and I have no idea why?? We were hoping for a lighter/laid back day and it seemed worse than last weekend. We showed up at the security line about 845 (wanted to do early entry) but the entire area between DL and DCA was jam packed so we said forget it and walked Downtown Disney. Hoping Thursday ends up being lighter but not holding my breath.

The closed rides and breakdowns definitely had a major impact on the feel of everything.