Just Back...crowds Are crazy & magic is low...

[LowesChevy]

We have decided next October to totally avoid Epcot on the weekends due to F&W. It can be entertaining, but it is not always pleasant with the crowds and behavior. During the week it was great and lines were very manageable. This past Oct. 1st was crazy especially with it being huge anniversaries for the parks-lots of folks want to join in on the fun.

 

[Klayfish]

i remembered this.. i was the one that took my families tickets and "walked" ahead of everyone to get the fast passes and then met them at Starring Rolls for breakfast! Gone are those days! One day at Epcot we had my sister do it for Soarin'.. she didn't know which way to go. so she didn't try for fast passes again haha

Yes, and I vividly remember the days of being stuck behind someone at a kiosk that was holding 30, 40, 50+ park tickets for their "group" and taking up all the FP+. Ah, the good ol' days...

 

[tony67]

I was there the 16th to the 22nd - my first time going in September - I usually go first week of November - and although it seemed busier than I'd have expected - it was not crazy IMO. there was never a time where you could not walk freely through fantasy land Like I've seen in the past

They do do things that make it seem busier IMO - for example they will not open all the tracks on a ride or open all the registers in a food area.

For that weekend I also did not think that F&W was all that busy - not like when I have been there in November - lines were 5-10 minutes at the most - and they did not have all the registers open making the lines "seem" longer.

So a lot of this comes down to perspective - but one you have been when you cant even walk through Germany during F&W because it is packed solid - this would not seem so bad.

In the end the crowds were not why i did not enjoy my time there - but the low magic of the employees and the average quality of almost everything did disappoint. On more than one occasion the employee at the counter had zero personality. I always say thanks - have a nice day etc.. - and the most I got out of many was barley a grunt. There are still a lot of excellent people working at Disney - but that 20% that stink are the ones that really set the tone for me.

It will be a few years before I go back to Disney - look like Ill be sticking to weekend Universal trips until HS is done - I see nothing else to bring me back any time soon

 

[tlmadden73]

Stinks

I went this exact week two years ago and I found it shockingly crowded at both MK and AK. I think the weather, the draw of the parties (and how it causes crowds to shift to MK on non-party days) and just all the promotions they have for this time makes this time more desirable (and thus maybe even more crowded) then they typical summer months.

Thanks to FP+ we were still able to get a lot done, but just going through bottleneck areas (like around Peter Pan) was a nightmare.

 

[smiths02]

You also have that some schools have Fall Break in Oct (some this week in the metro Atlanta area)

 

[mjallemand]

I've noticed a huge uptick in foreigners over the past 15 years. Orlando has become a top international destination. So its not just due to more Americans traveling to Disney - people are coming from all over the world. You can tell also by how many charter and new carrier flights land in Orlando and Sanford. Not just the Brazilians anymore. While I am happy that more people around the world can enjoy Disney and Florida, and that it has really been great for the local economy, I do miss those times when we felt like we had the park to ourselves - but that is just me being selfish. On the other hand, it does seem that Disney is pricing out a lot more people too, and that is not good. The only solution is to build more parks.

The bonkers thing is how quickly attendance seemed to explode. I remember a November 2010 trip being practically barren compared to October 2012 and November 2015 trips.

 

[SuperPreparo]

We were there Labor Day week also and were surprised how low the crowds were. Even Labor Day weekend wasn't too bad.

 

[Madivan]

We were at MK on Sunday and it wasn't bad. The only long waits I saw were 7DMT and PP and even PP was only 15 min at one point in mid afternoon. Everything else was 25 minute max that we saw.

If I can get on the things that my family wants to ride with a less than 10 minute wait using FPs and timing right (going early, doing less popular things mid afternoon) then I consider it a win for sure. I expect crowds and don't understand how you couldn't.

As far as magic, we got a small dose of pixie dust as well - we were activating APs and mentioned it to the parking attendant and he just let us through. Sure, we would have gotten reimbursed but he saved us the hassle and put a smile on our faces by just telling us to have a magical day and drive through.

I'm sorry when people are over Disney or not happy with how things are "these days" but maybe your family has just moved past the Disney days. For us, we have toddlers so it's way more magical than the many many times we've gone prior to kids and as kids ourselves, regardless of any changes.

 

[disneynutz]

The new Disney is doing away with slow times. Extra events are all year long and parities are increasing their dates where Christmas will start the day after Halloween ends. They redesigned the MK and came up with MB's to increase attendance.

Bill

 

[opharbour]

Rosh Hashanah began on Sunday, 10/2 and many schools in predominantly Jewish communities are closed for the holiday which I'm sure also added to the crowd levels. It probably also didn't help that MNSSHP was held Thursday, Friday and Sunday of the weekend which meant that the only day you could watch the MSEP and Wishes! was on Saturday without paying extra for the party. Couple this with the 45th Anniversary of MK and the crowd of people there to purchase the 45th year anniversary limited merchandise and you have a recipe for a hefty crowd. (the line into the Emporium was all the way to Adventureland at park open).

We were there all weekend as well and took in F&W and MNSSHP. We had a great time despite the heat and crowds.

 

[xipotec]

Well...here we are in the classic DIS discussion...

CROWDS VS CAPACITY

I will judge exactly whats what this NOVEMEBR. We missed last year, but have gone every every other year (or more) for my whole life. We shall see what difference 1 year make. I will be on the lookout for capacity squeeze.....vs Volume.

 

[Tigger's ally]

I'm glad you had that experience and truly wish I'd traveled on your dates. Mine train was over 115 mins all weekend, everything at HS and Epcot was over 45 and Elsa's ride at Epcot was 90 minutes 20 mins after rope drop. Roll of the dice I guess. Just picked a bad weekend.

I think any weekend is bad. We just got back too. Was there last week. We stayed out of the parks the first two days (weekend- we never go on a weekend!) and went to Springs where it was crowded. Started out at the parks on Monday. No problems. Rode Toy Story Mania four times before our fast pass time. Soarin twice. Walked onto test track in ten minutes.

Tip- if you are thinking about a long weekend, travel Saturday and Tuesday night. Go to Springs on Sunday and parks Monday and Tuesday morning! Work sucks on a Monday anyways!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I'm hoping that it will be low crowds the first week of May 2017. I've just booked a long weekend then.

I'm also thinking of adding one day to go to Universal - I've been missing it since my last couple of trips have been Disney World only and really want to check out the Chocolate Emporium in City Walk and do some Pokemon Go around there too.

 

[magic kingdom park]

We are here now. We have been coming in Oct. for the last 12 years. It gets more crowded each year. The past weekend was crazy. The week has been a little less crowded. We are staying at the poly . This is our first time staying here, it seems very crowded and crazy. People here are not very friendly as other resorts I have stayed. People in the parks seem rude as well this trip. We had a guy in Mk last night with a stroller pushing his way all over everyone with his stroller. But I try to make the best of it for our family.

 

[xipotec]

 

[DisneyLove2015]

We were there all last week. Did EPCOT Monday-Wednesday with DHS Monday morning (until 11) MK Tuesday morning until noon and DHS after 2 on Wednesday. Did MNSSHP Thursday and MK Saturday. The only day that was busy IMO was Saturday at MK but that was to be expected. Monday evening in Epcot got a little busier than expected (maybe 5-7minute wait at one booth) but nothing bad. On Wednesday at DHS we were walking right on to ST at 4:00 and 6:00. No wait what so ever. We go in the summer and for Thanksgiving... This was not bad at all.

 

[AngelDisney]

We were there last week and had a great time with some pixie dust!!! By going at rope drop and leaving mid-day then coming back in the evening to close, we were able to ride every ride we wanted to multiple times.
For the pixie dust, my sister lost her Disney visor on splash mountain and received a new one from "Mickey" at one of the MK shops!!! We had a great time and can't wait to go back!!

Lucky her! I lost my non-Mickey visor on Splash Mountain and I had to buy a Mickey one myself. It was a brand new visor for the trip! At least I had an excuse for a Mickey one. Glad you had the pixie dust!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

If you are looking for low crowds, try the last week of August. It was great!

 

[linzjane88]

We also went the 1-11 and it was pretty amazing. Saturday and Sunday (labor day weekend) were a bit crowded for my taste but we went to MK, on a Saturday, with EMH. Shame on me! Other than that it was great.

 

[BudgieMama]

If you can make it work, the last couple of weeks in August are reasonable (we were shocked how reasonable when we were there this year)- the later the better!

Sorry the F&W crowds spoiled it for you, but being there for the 45th Anniversary must have been pretty cool? I'd have love to have seen that!