Just Back...a few observations

[ILoveMyDVC]

We are just back from our trip Saturday to Thursday. I would agree with other comments that the parks seem more crowded than our previous November trips. Crowd calendar was projecting a 6 on the weekend and then declining to 2 mid-week. We really didn't see much difference between the weekend and mid-week in terms of wait times - very busy. We arrived early Saturday at the Contemporary only to find out the resort was over booked. I spoke with one of managers hoping to pay to upgrade to TPV because our code did not allow us to book it. He said there was going to be some unhappy guests and we saw one later that day in the lobby who had to be moved to another resort.

As far as the parks, MK was opening at 8:45 in the mornings and Fantasyland was slammed by shortly after 9. A lot of families with small children were there early and the Mine Train line was stunningly long by 9. You could do the other rides though with fairly short waits until late morning. "Day of" FPs were available for most rides if you wanted to make changes other than the Mine Train. We generally left MK by noonish and it was very busy by that time. We did go to AK one morning for opening too and we arrived for bag check just a few minutes before 9. It looked like they were letting guests in early too. We were able to ride EE with little wait until about 10 and we got a "day of" FP for the Safari. As far as the other parks, Soarin and TT as well as TSM and RR were very long waits. The single rider line for RR was very slow and CMs were questioning guests as to whether they really were "single riders". There were some large groups in the single rider line.

Overall we were able to get done pretty much everything we wanted to do. It took longer than we hoped and was more crowded than we expected but the weather was fantastic. Best we have had for any of our November trips. The biggest disappointment was that the resorts were not decorated for Christmas. Other than the Osborne lights, it really didn't feel as festive as previous years

Resorts not decorated? Because it was too early? Please tell me they will be decorated in December

 

[3Goofy's]

Resorts not decorated? Because it was too early? Please tell me they will be decorated in December

Just back today, and we toured a number of resorts - all decorated now! I love the theme-specific decor!

 

[AngiTN]

I never understood why the RnR Coaster single rider line moved so slowly, yet the Everest SR line at AK moves pretty quickly. I know there used to be a sign at RnR warning that the SR line might be as long as or even exceed the standby wait. I suppose the CMs were warning the large groups in the SR line of the possibility.

If pairs or groups want to get in the SR lines, I have no problem with it, as long as they're willing to be separated. DH and I often use the SR line at Everest. Most of the time we're on the same train, a few times right behind each other. One time at Test Track a couple in the SR line put up a big stink and wanted to be seated together. The CM gave them a choice: Separate or leave. They left rather than riding separately.

RnR still has the warning sign.
I'm not sure why the single rider line is so slow there, but it sure is.
I don't get why a CM would care what size group got in the line. They will be used as fill in no matter what their size is. Single rider has never meant single guest. Just you won't be seated together. DH and I use it often too. Just not on RnR

 

[hunan6]

Leaving tomorrow. All in all, we didn't find crowds too bad, although MK was packed today. Incidentally, went to Typhoon Lagoon twice on 80 degree plus days and walked on everything all day. Perhaps our week was a bit more crowded than expected, but quite manageable.

 

[Novakm]

Just got back home on Friday. I suspect the problem with contemporary is due to construction at wilderness lodge. Lots of people asked to be moved

As far as the crowds, I followed the best parks recommendation on easyWDW, and saw very light crowds and low waits. I didn't even use FP most days. The only thingi needed them for was soarin and mine train. I did make the mistake of going against the recommendation on Wed. Arrived at MK 1/2 hour before rope drop, and it was so crowded we jumped back on the monorail and went to Epcot.

On Thursday MK was like a ghost town. Even for the parade we had a great spot where we could sit with no one in front or behind us. Best day ever.

 

[tinkerbella16]

I was there 11/5-11/14 and also found it very crowded. We've been going in Nov since 1995, so of course I remember what it used to be like and empty the parks used to be- i miss that! It was very hot and very humid, but the humidity was gone by day 6. It was an amazing trip, but the crowds were really there this year lol. The one thing was staying at POR, the resort never felt crowded- so coming back midday for that afternoon break, swim and rest was awesome. It really was relaxing there. Also had no issues with buses this trip, and we rarely ever do.

 

[Zomp]

4 of us just came back from our trip that was from 11-14 to 11-21.

We arrived on Saturday night and had dinner at 'Ohana for 5pm. After dinner we went to the park and rode Splash and Thunder with fastpasses. We then went on Haunted Mansion (20 minute posted, 10 actual)Little Mermaid (posted and actual wait time was 20 minutes), Small World (10 minute wait we walked on), Philarmagic (5 minute wait we walked on) and fast passed Peter Pan before watching Wishes.

On Sunday we went to MK again for rope drop. We rode 7DMT (45 minute posted wait, in reality a 10 minute wait), Pooh (35 posted, 10 actual), Enchanted Tales (20 minute posted and actual), Barnstormer (25 posted, 15 actual), and Pooh (30 posted, 15 actual). After a pit stop for a Lefews brew we went to Tomorrowland to use our fastpasses for Space and Buzz, then had lunch and used our last FP for Speedway. We also went on TTA in between Space and Buzz. We also waited for Space Mounatin in standby for 50 minutes posted wait time and actual wait time before using our FP to ride it twice. Finally we did Stich and Monsters Inc (both walk ons).

After the 3pm parade we decided to leave, however the only must see (in our opinion) attractions that we missed were Pirates and Jungle Cruise...but we did have FP for both later in the week.

For Epcot, AK, and Studios we were at rope drop for all 3 and between being there at the beginning of the day and using our fastpasses wisely we didn't have to wait for ANY attraction. We had fastpasses for Everest, Safari, Dinosaur, Tower of Terror, RocknRoller Coaster, Star Tours, Test Track, Mission Space, and Spaceship Earth. At rope drop we hit up Everest, Toy Story Medway Mania, and Soarin. We walked on everything else. The ONLY time I noticed the crowds affecting the attractions were with Indiana Jones. I was shocked that the first show was standing room only.


TLR - With a little planning and getting there early, even though there are more people in the parks you can still get done practically everything you want.

 

[Zomp]

Oh and on Thursday we went to Typhoon Lagoon and walked on every slide for 4 hours.

 

[Sherrkel]

We just returned from our trip as well 11/14-11/21. Having never been during November, I cannot compare the crowds to the same time frame in any other year. There were loads of people around, we noticed a slight drop off mid-week, and then up again by Thursday/Friday.
We stayed at Pop - another first. The bus stops were busy, especially the MK lines. However, I really like having the queues at the resort pickup at Pop - I prefer to stand and wait in line and and know I've got a spot reserved for the bus, than the type of stops where everyone waits around and then converges on the bus when it arrives
We went to F&W, which was fun. Also saw the Osborne lights, so awesome. Went to MVMCP on Thursday and it rained, but still had a good time, waited more than an hour to get a spot on Main Street for the first parade, which was delayed due to weather. But when it started, it was great! Thankfully the rain let up for a couple more hours and we enjoyed the Holiday Wishes fireworks and some rides.
Overall, you have to remember that Disney World is a top tourist attraction-you are going to find it to be crowded pretty much all the time now that the economy is, supposedly, back up - it's just the level of crowded you have to deal with: very crowded, wicked crowded and insanely crowded.