Just back - anyone else think it was busy?

[momofmikey]

Just got back yesterday from a week in the world. Weather from Tuesday on was unbelievable! Actually chilly at night in the 50s (definitely needed a sweatshirt), and gorgeous during the day, mid-high 70s (never once broke a sweat). Parks were closed on Monday, but I believe they opened later in the day (we didn't go that day). I was surprised though b/c I thought it was pretty busy. We went early and did everything we needed to, but it seemed to be packed. We normally go in mid-November-early December, and this seemed way busier. I did overhear a lot of people saying they had no power at home due to the hurricane, so they came up for a few days.

Anyone else just back? Oh, and the MNSSHP was so much fun!

 

[mgkkgdm]

We got back from a 10 day trip on Oct 24(Day of Wilma) ant the place was packed the entire time and the weather was HOT and HUMID. We have been a few times in mid Oct and this was by far the most crowded and the hottest

 

[kirbsam]

We jsut got back also, and I agree the weather was perfect. mid seventies every day. I did not think it was too crowded. We went to the parks right after they opened them up that Monday afternoon, and we literally had epcot to ourselves for two hours. awesome!!!

 

[boston1029]

Just got back Saturday. After Wilma, the weather was great. Just how we like it. The parks definately were busy. MK and Epcot were crazy the days that we went. The best day for MK was Monday when they opened late and stayed open til 12. We got on so many rides that night. It was great!

 

[PCFriar80]

We were there 10/23 - 10/29, and primarily at Epcot and MGM. I think the influx or increased crowds had to do with a lot of displaced people from Southern Florida. There were millions without power, so they headed north.
Also, many of the universities were closed that entire week due to the hurricane. I noticed alot of Miami U shirts and hats. Just my theory!

And, I do agree it was beautiful weather wise after 12:00 noon Monday!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We were there Oct. 15-22 and the only time I thought it was crowded was Wednesday (10/19) at MK. The rest of the time it was fine. I was surprised that it wasn't more crowded!

It was a little humid, and there were a couple of times it was downright hot. Like in the Beauty & the Beast show. But for the most part I thought it was great! Of course our temps at home had been even hotter, so that might be part of why I didn't think it was that bad.

 

[MainStreetFan]

We have been here since the 23rd and the MK was a lot more crowded since Wilma. We also talked to a lot of people who have no power and no school from South Florida and decided to take advantage of the break. Several of the hotels on 192 were offering 30 day free stay to displaced persons. We go in October a lot and it was busier than I have seen it. The weather was perfect after Wilma passed. And even with the crowds that were large for October but not so big by July standards, we got to do everything we wanted without waiting for more than 20 minutes.

 

[cdpa4d]

Hi,

Just got back from 5 nights at Disney and 3 from Universal. As you mentioned the weather was spectacular.

We were at the MK on Monday after it reopened and to me the park seemed empty. We stayed the entire day until Midnight. Spectro and Wishes were great as usual.

The big highlight for us on Monday (besides extremely light crowds) was getting stuck at the top of hill 2 on BTMRR. It was the last ride of the night. The train just stopped right at the top. CMs came up to comfort us and we were there for about 35 minutes. We had to wait for maintenance to come and stablize the train before we could get out. The CMs brought us Halloween candy. My DD5 was a real trooper. She never complained once. Once we were allowed to evacuate the train we had to walk down the steps next to the hill. After that we were brought underneath the ride were all the mechanical stuff was. I had never seen that before. After we got off the ride we were told to go to Town Hall and get complimentary passes for future use. How magical was that! The three of us each received a one-day park hopper pass to use anytime.

We had a great trip and enjoyed going during this time of the year. I also have to say that the Hallowishes fireworks we say on Thursday evening were the best fireworks we've ever seen. What a great show!

 

[civileng68]

I agree with the previous poster that the day OF Wilma the MK was empty (mainly because they stated earlier that morning that the parks were closed (on national television) but they opened MK later that morning.

However the parks in general after the hurricane through last week were very busy. Much of it, as said earlier was due to the hurricane.

I know this because I evacuated there for that reason and spoke with about 20 people at random who were from SW Florida alone. The Kennels were completely full and alll through the park while in lines, we heard people talking about it.

I'd venture to say that 50% of the crowds (easily) were from the Hurricane evacuation.

They even extended the park hours until midnight one night last week (not counting the Halloween party).

 

[TLC371]

We just got back from WDW, we were there from Oct. 22-29. It was CRAZY how crowded it was! We were at MGM on Tuesday and there we so many people there. We went to Epcot on Wed. and although it was crowded, it seemed more managable than MGM. We went to MNSSHP on Thursday and that was awesome!
The weather was great after Wilma blew through, although we did have to go out and buy some lightweight jackets to wear at the parks at nights.

 

[Merriwind]

Were there 10/22-10/29. It was crowded, but I didn't think as crowded as 10/13-10/15 was. Lots of people from S Florida, definitely. I think MNSSHP and the ever-popular F&W fest have increased October crowd levels overall. Add in Wilma and wow--lots of people!

And, the weather was downright cold!!!!!!!!!!!! I did not bring winter clothes. My one pair of jeans could have walked home by Saturday. Thanks to Dmom who went out and bought DD7 and me new warm fleece jackets!

 

[RadioFanatic]

we were there from 10/14-10/22, and while not swamped, it was a lot busier than we expected.

 

[walters396]

We were there from 10/21 - 10/29. I agree the weather was gorgeous. I didn't think it was that crowded. There were many rides we walked right on or only had at the most a 10 min wait. MNSSHP was great. It was our first time and hopefully not our last.

Kirbsam - I see we are from the same city.

 

[ChrisAlli]

We were there from 10/21-10/29 and had really no problem with crowds. We didn't wait more than 15 minutes for anything. Of course I have two little ones so we mostly did kids stuff. But Monday at MK was AWSOME!!! We had our own boat for POC and only waited like five minutes for Indy cars, Small World moved along and saw a lot of characters especially in ToonTown. We did Epcot Thursday night and after Illuminations, the place cleared out. Of course I did try to do Soarin at 11:OOPM and the wait was 50 minutes. But we had no problems with crowds or waiting.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Gee, I just returned from a trip from Oct 21 to Oct 28, and I thought it was just perfect crowd-wise. The only day I saw some real crowds was Friday Oct 28 at MK. The buses at POR always seemed crowded going to and from MK, but I seen that on every trip to POR! But overall, I thought even with the hurricane, crowds weren't bad at all.

 

[HappygirlMagill]

We were there from 10/23 to 10/29. The parks might have been crowded compared to most Octobers, but compared to July (when we usually go) it hardly seemed crowded at all! Only one day seemed busy to us, and that was Saturday. Now that was just like July.

 

[aquaticmom]

We were there 10/23 - 10/29, and primarily at Epcot and MGM. I think the influx or increased crowds had to do with a lot of displaced people from Southern Florida. There were millions without power, so they headed north.
Also, many of the universities were closed that entire week due to the hurricane. I noticed alot of Miami U shirts and hats. Just my theory!

And, I do agree it was beautiful weather wise after 12:00 noon Monday!!

I agree with you, I spoke to several people while in line for rides that were from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and other places in Southern Florida. One couple from Fort Lauderdale said they were not expected to have power back until November 23rd. We had to have a prescription filled while there at CVS and they were very busy filling prescriptions of people evacuated to the area. What better place than the world to evacuate to though. But Monday after Wilma at the MK was the best, no crowds, rides were all walk ons.

 

[Tinkerchele]

We were there 10/22-10/29. I thought it became more crowded later in the week, especially Saturday at MK before we left. Early in the week, especially Sunday and Monday were great! We met quite a few people from South Florida - schools were closed the entire week for some areas. We also met alot of people from the UK, apparently, there was some kind of school break over there as well. Since we went in June last year, the crowds did not bother us too much and we had a great time!

 

[kydisneyfans]

Our visit from 10-17 through 10-20 did not seem busy except for the MK on Monday night for Spectromagic-it was nuts. Had no wait at MGM on Wednesday morning, Epcot in the evening was empty-we had a lagoon side table near France to eat pastries 30 minutes before Illuminations. The Halloween Party on Thursday was busy but not packed-no wait at all there. Had a front row seat for the 10:00 parade by the castle 15 minutes before launch. We timed our days to avoid EMH.

 

[halo969]

We just got back from WDW, we were there from Oct. 22-29. It was CRAZY how crowded it was! We were at MGM on Tuesday and there we so many people there. We went to Epcot on Wed. and although it was crowded, it seemed more managable than MGM. We went to MNSSHP on Thursday and that was awesome!
The weather was great after Wilma blew through, although we did have to go out and buy some lightweight jackets to wear at the parks at nights.

I was at MK Tuesday and Epcot Wednesday and it seemed really crowded, but not until after 11 am or so. By that time we had blown through all the major must-see attractions.