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

[KBship]

We just returned from a long weekend at WDW, stated at Port Orleans Riverside & did Epcot and Hollywood. I've been at Disney almost every year of my life. It's a bit sad for me. So many nice things to see and do, but more people than *ever* and no slow season left anymore. The Magic is nearly gone for me. At least I still have the cruise line. Does anyone know when the slow days are anymore or are they just a myth!?!

 

[hakepb]

Any weekend at EPCOT, during F&W, will be insane.

September between Labor Day and F&W is still slow.

 

[disneymom0104]

We were there for 12 days in early Sept. and found the crowds in all the parks to be pretty low, some incredibly low. We didn't wait in any ride lines longer than 10 minutes (we do RD and FP+). We did wait a bit longer for a couple characters. I know with the F&W comes increased crowds, especially on weekends.

 

[lborne]

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.

 

[OKW Lover]

Any weekend at EPCOT, during F&W, will be insane.

Exactly! Weekday evenings are also pretty busy at F&W.

 

[SureAsLiz]

You took a long weekend during Food and Wine and the 45th anniversary - yes, it is going to be crowded

There are plenty of slow periods, but you can't show up during two high-profile events and expect to be the only one here

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Go when it's slow. Now ain't that.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Any weekend at EPCOT, during F&W, will be insane.

September between Labor Day and F&W is still slow.

Agree. We were there 1-11th and other than the holiday weekend, it was slow.

 

[TikiMan0228]

Labor Day week was awesome this year!! Moderate Sat and Sun and slow rest of the week.

 

[dburg30]

Yea, sorry, like many others have said, ANY weekend at F&W is going to be bad. Add in the whole 45th thing and I'm sure it was VERY crowded..

 

[JennyDrake]

I have success with lower crowds the first week in December and the first week in May...but LOW crowds as we once knew them no longer exist.

 

[KBship]

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.

I said that to my DH just today. Too many hotels. Not enough parks. If you're selfish, I am too. I miss the days why no one went to not so scary in early October. We didn't even go this year, our first miss in 11 years. It's so sad to watch the magic get sucked away. I may never set foot in the parks again. It was awful. No room to move. No room to breathe. Lines for everything. Disney transport is a nightmare. I love Disney and it is just so sad. I'm doing universal next time.

 

[KBship]

We were there for 12 days in early Sept. and found the crowds in all the parks to be pretty low, some incredibly low. We didn't wait in any ride lines longer than 10 minutes (we do RD and FP+). We did wait a bit longer for a couple characters. I know with the F&W comes increased crowds, especially on weekends.

What's RD?

 

[Figaroisthebest!]

What's RD?

I think RD is rope drop!

 

[Uconnyankee12]

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!!

 

[memo10]

We got to Epcot around 7pm on Friday, walked a quarter way around WS and then left. It was crazy! We didn't go to MK Saturday night until around 10pm after the rain stopped and it was great!

 

[gatorlisa]

I suppose it's all a matter of perspective. I got back last night from three days in the parks. Visited Epcot, HS, and MK, including MK for most of the 45th anniversary day. Given the MK anniversary and knowing Epcot has F&W going on, I didn't think it was too bad. Made good use of rope drop and FP+ and during the busiest hours visited some of the less popular attractions and very high capacity shows. Think our longest wait was about a half hour, with most in the 10-20 range. I do miss the old down times when you could go and walk on just about anything, but that just isn't going to happen anymore.

 

[tinkerbella16]

Agree. We were there 1-11th and other than the holiday weekend, it was slow.

Labor Day week was awesome this year!! Moderate Sat and Sun and slow rest of the week.

Any weekend at EPCOT, during F&W, will be insane.

September between Labor Day and F&W is still slow.

Have to agree. We haven't seen crowds as low as they were Labor Day week, in so long (we usually go in Nov). We loved the beginning of Sept.. it was pretty busy at MK on Sat and Sun before the holiday, but after the holiday the crowds disappeared - it was wonderful! We really noticed it at Stormalong Bay the day after Labor Day. It was a beautiful day for the pool and we felt like we were the only ones there. We didn't even need FP's the rest of that week, but we used them because we had them. We purposely planned our trip for before F&W because we really enjoy Epcot when it's not going on and the park is so much more enjoyable - mainly WS.

 

[KBship]

We got to Epcot around 7pm on Friday, walked a quarter way around WS and then left. It was crazy! We didn't go to MK Saturday night until around 10pm after the rain stopped and it was great!

Sunday was ok until noon but after that sheesh!!!! It just makes me sad

 

[KBship]

Labor Day week was awesome this year!! Moderate Sat and Sun and slow rest of the week.

Good to know. Will try for that next time!