just back, Crowded!!

[disgal1]

We had a great time, but it was really crowded with spring breakers. It was as busy as July, but cold on top of it! I had to buy a new sweatshirt and jacket

We stayed tues through sunday at the Contemporary. Dh had a conference there, and was in meetings all day till friday pm. So I did solo, which was terrific!

We usually go in July, and I think May through Sept has really worked out better for us. Luckily, I've been enough that I know the strategy that works,
and never had to wait for anything for very long.

I did see people turned away every night from dining without ADR''s.

Anyone newbies going during spring break, or other really crowded times ,really need to do their homework re how to get around, fastpass, and layouts of things, Early entry, evening magic hours etc.

I stopped to help many arguing families, that were lost, didn't know about fastpass, didn't know how to get from one ride to another , even how to get back to their hotel!

I had a terrific time, but saw a lot of people that weren't !!

I will post a quick trip report with rest. reviews today.

 

[java]

Thanks for the update. I know what you mean about newbies- my mother went a few weeks ago(listened only to a few of my tips- like making ADR's) and when she got back was talking about how she went on everything at MK. So as I asked her- was timekeeper still open or had it already closed- she replied"timekeeper? didn't see it?" It is right next to Buzz Lightyear- Oh we didn't see any characters.- no the ride not the character. Oh we didn't see that. After about a 10 minute conversation I realize she never went into Tomorrowland or Adventureland.

 

[MAGGIED]

If they would only listen....I have a friend going in June and I have tried to give her advice about parks and she says that they were there 7 years ago and know the parks pretty well...so I will say "Oh so what did you think about..." or "Are you excited to try Soarin?" and she looks at me with this blank expression. On the flip side my Dad who lives in St Petes was just there this past week with my Uncle and Cousin and I gave them some recommendations about what parks to go to and how to tour and they said they didn't have to wait in any lines... they said it was great..... can't wait to put those TGM plans to the test next week when we arrive!!!

 

[wdwlvr629]

It always amazes me how people that are Disney fanatics think its "just another amusement park" and they can just show up & go. There is no way to do WDW without advance planning and actually get the most for your money. Not to mention for those of us that truly love Disney, we have to make sure we can squeeze in all of our favorites! WOW...I can't wait...51 days to go!!!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

We leave on Thursday for 5 days at AKL...aside from the obvious DL 50th B-day Celebration, any special happenings going on?

 

[Poohbear123]

It always amazes me how people that are Disney fanatics think its "just another amusement park" and they can just show up & go. There is no way to do WDW without advance planning and actually get the most for your money. Not to mention for those of us that truly love Disney, we have to make sure we can squeeze in all of our favorites! WOW...I can't wait...51 days to go!!!

Tell me about it! I have 50 days to go and it will be my 3rd trip in 5 months!

 

[Hannahsmom]

For the life of me, I will never understand how people can spend thousands of dollars for a vacation and not do their homework. Jeez o' pete, I've spent the last week researching a new vacuum cleaner and that's only a couple of hundred.

My favorites are the people (family, friends, aquaintances) who ask for your help, but don't take any of the advice you offer. And then come home hating the place. In the long run, that's fine with me. Less people to pack the park.

 

[carone0318]

I was just going to say the same thing. The people who don't do their homework are the ones who complain how expensive Disney (duh!) and tell you that they hated it, mostly because of crowds. I guess I am really ok with that, maybe if they don't go again it will help contribute to "less of a crowd".

Some will never learn - why do we keep trying to help the lost souls out there!

 

[Nite0wl71]

I am glad you had a good time.

This will be my 7th trip (4th for spring Break) I have always planned, each time I go I seem to plan more not less I signed up for TGM this trip also.

Two years ago I planned for 8 people, 4 who had never gone. I remember sitting in MK around 1:30 eating lunch and I was going over what we had done. I was even surprised, we had done SM, Buzz(twice), all of Fantasyland, HM, BTMRR, Pirates, holding FP for Splash and seen the castle show. All this was without TGM, imagine what I can do this time

 

[bhoffman]

we just returned from a Sat. to Sat. trip (18-25) and found the crowds to be low! Not sure what your park method was but we even commented on how much better the crowds were rather than July when we last went. Had great luck using our fast passes and transportation from the Boardwalk was a breeze! Sorry your experience wasn't the same!

We did have ADR's for everyday so not sure about if you don't have them but had no problem with counter service or finding a table at peak times either....

 

[aunt kelly]

We just got back from a spring break trip (March 12-19). It was crowded (Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi & Oklahoma were all on spring break). We used TGM's advice concerning "Most Crowded/Least Crowded" parks & we
used all the touring tips I've learned on this board. We were able to ride all our favorite rides multiple times and never waited over 20 minutes for anything. One day we met up w/ friends of ours by the pool and they asked us if we knew about fastpasses. They had just "discovered" them. (This was on the third day of their second trip). I love this website!

 

[disgal1]

we just returned from a Sat. to Sat. trip (18-25) and found the crowds to be low! Not sure what your park method was but we even commented on how much better the crowds were rather than July when we last went. Had great luck using our fast passes and transportation from the Boardwalk was a breeze! Sorry your experience wasn't the same!

We did have ADR's for everyday so not sure about if you don't have them but had no problem with counter service or finding a table at peak times either....

I had no problem riding anything,,,used fast pass and know my plan. I had no problems.

I did notice lots of people that stood in long 1 hour lines because they just showed up with no plan.

I had no problem eating anywhere, but I had ADRs for all my dinners. Every one I went to, the people in front of me were sent away....Boma, Brown derby, Le Cellier, and California Grill. I told each of them to call for the next day, and I imagine they got those.

all the counter service was fine, but did have more lines.

I won't go back spring break, mainly due to the iffy weather. at least in July, you know what you are going to get.

we had a car, so never used the busses. also stayed at CR so rode the monorail most places, again with no problem. I took a bus to animal kingdom, and had to wait, but not due to line, just slow bus.

 

[Girlsontour]

Talking about people who go and don't know what they are doing...a friend from work has just come back and i asked her what was Everest like? She said "What's that?". I went onto explain where and what it was....she had been to AK and hadn't seen it How do you manage that??!!

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I have never used TGM, so I can't comment on his methods or touring plans -- however I think the UG sums things up nicely when they suggest that the price of spontaneity at WDW is waiting in line.

We were at WDW Mar. 12-17 and through judicious use of FastPass and the UG touring plans we were able to see most everything we wanted and never waited in line longer than 30 minutes. (Dumbo, wouldn't you know it?)

Our friend who came with us is a WDW newbie and she was quite surprised at how we were able to experience the parks with minimal wait times and avoiding the crowds.

Some folks will learn from our suggestions -- but others will just wait in line or never know what they missed.

 

[rgo772]

we just returned from a Sat. to Sat. trip (18-25) and found the crowds to be low! Not sure what your park method was but we even commented on how much better the crowds were rather than July when we last went. Had great luck using our fast passes and transportation from the Boardwalk was a breeze! Sorry your experience wasn't the same!

We did have ADR's for everyday so not sure about if you don't have them but had no problem with counter service or finding a table at peak times either....

I agree with you. We thought the crowds were light. They were way better that June. I only saw one sit down restaurant that did not have any openings for the day (sci-fi). We saw many people walking up and getting times during the day. During the summer everything was booked up. We ate every meal at sit downs. Anyway we will always go back in March versus summer if we have the choice.

 

[bettyann29]

I agree!! We just got back tonight and I couldnt believe the crowds.. Ive been before over spring break, been over fourth of July, been over Labor Day and havent seen it this crowded.. I agree with the coldness too.. Today was nice, but the last 2 days were a little chilly during the day and freezing at night..

 

[mamaprincess]

You really need a WDW education to get the most out of your vacation there. You cannot go ignorant and expect to truly enjoy yourself, the place is to big and overwhelming otherwise.

We went March 19th -24th and had no problems doing everything doing everthing we wanted to do. We had a plan of course.