Just back from AKV - the good, the bad and the ugly

[becca-becca]

Are the crowds at Christmas (12-20 to 12-26) about the same as Spring Break or even worse? We have only been in January previously. Our last trip earlier this year was Jan 25 to Feb 2 and I thought it was much more crowded than previous years.

I guess I am fearful that if I thought Jan-Feb 08 was crowded that I am in for the shock of my life when I see the Christmas crowds.

However, we plan to tour differently this time because since we do own DVC, we will be coming back quite frequently. I am just hoping earlier AM will not be wall to wall people where you can hardly move.

We are going this year at Christmas to see decorations, spend time with family members at Christmas and mostly because kids won't have to miss any school!

 

[jonestavern]

Isn't Jersey week in that time frame?

Plus Vetrans Day is 11/11.

Ahh, forgot about JW! That must be it!

becca-becca Are the crowds at Christmas (12-20 to 12-26) about the same as Spring Break or even worse? We have only been in January previously. Our last trip earlier this year was Jan 25 to Feb 2 and I thought it was much more crowded than previous years.

I guess I am fearful that if I thought Jan-Feb 08 was crowded that I am in for the shock of my life when I see the Christmas crowds.

However, we plan to tour differently this time because since we do own DVC, we will be coming back quite frequently. I am just hoping earlier AM will not be wall to wall people where you can hardly move.

We are going this year at Christmas to see decorations, spend time with family members at Christmas and mostly because kids won't have to miss any school!

Yes, we were there at roughly the same time & thought it much more crowded, but had an easier time of it w/rope drops & hoppers. Plus, there was only DH & I so no one in tow that trip! Some parks were easy. One evening, for Extra Magic hours at Epcot, we practically had the place to ourselves!

I would say you are going to be mortified by the Dec dates crowds. But take a deep breath, & prepare yourself & family, get all your ADRs and pick up great tips on the DIS Theme Parks/Strategies. You probably well know that flexibility & strategy make for a MUCH easier day at the parks.
There are lots of people that enjoy the Christmas crowds, gets them more in the holiday spirit.

Okay, I'm not one of them but there are plenty around!

Jean

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Isn't Jersey week in that time frame?

Plus Vetrans Day is 11/11.

Yeah, our kids have off 11/6-11/11.

 

[Amgman]

Does anyone have comments on how crowded it gets towards the middle of May, we are going the week of May 11th, should we expect crazy crowds like have been mentioned on this thread? I have 3 year old twin girls and traveling with a twin stroller is crazy in a crowded park

 

[dairyqueenmom]

We will be there May 3-10, and I am pretty certain all spring breaks are finished at the end of April. I am counting on average crowds, no spring break size crowds.

 

[starbox]

We were at AKV the same week and I've never seen crowds like that! I also totally agree that the sunset savanna view really stinks while the construction is going on.

We were able to get a walk-in spot at Jiko on 4/8 around 8pm (party of 3). I was pleasantly surprised.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We were at AKV the same week and I've never seen crowds like that! I also totally agree that the sunset savanna view really stinks while the construction is going on.

We were able to get a walk-in spot at Jiko on 4/8 around 8pm (party of 3). I was pleasantly surprised.

Oh Starbox, say it ain't so!!! I am leaving Sat. for 1 week at BWV......do you think leaving for the parks mid-day, early afternoon and staying till nightfall will circumvent the crowds any?

 

[starbox]

Oh Starbox, say it ain't so!!! I am leaving Sat. for 1 week at BWV......do you think leaving for the parks mid-day, early afternoon and staying till nightfall will circumvent the crowds any?

I really think it will be better next week (and even this week) - and that we just ended up in a "perfect storm" of Florida and Georgia spring breaks.

Next year, our Spring Break is Easter - and I'm still considering doing WDW again just because the weather was SO AMAZING. It's been dreary and cloudy and cold and rainy for weeks in Georgia (which I'm trying to be grateful for since we were in such a drought) but I was craving warm weather and sunshine. We had a great time even with insane crowds. Avoiding EMH parks helped enormously (our two worst days were days we stupidly went to parks for EMH). While, I'll admit, there were times being in the parks was not the most enjoyable thing, being at DVC at WDW was wonderful.

 

[JESW]

.....don't forget that a lot of us from the Northeast are on break next week and many of us are heading to Disney!

Jill

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

.....don't forget that a lot of us from the Northeast are on break next week and many of us are heading to Disney!

Jill

True...our area has spring break next week too. Maybe come May the crowds thin a little for disney.

 

[KLR-wlv]

I really think the packages and YOAMD promotions have a lot to do with the crowds - but also - the way the park passes are being so much cheaper to not park hop - I think it's advisable not to go to an extra hour park on the day it's open later or earlier because everyone goes there to "get their money's worth". JMHO. We were at AK on an extra hour day and maybe it was bad like that every day...but maybe worse on those days?

I'm the one with the 10 year old who was told to move and no he didn't go stand in front of anyone. There were multiple cases of rudeness the week we were there- that was just the best one!

 

[Starr W.]

We will be there May 3-10, and I am pretty certain all spring breaks are finished at the end of April. I am counting on average crowds, no spring break size crowds.

We went down last year May 5-8 and it was great. Bummed the kids don't get that long weekend this year.

 

[ldo]

We go only at peak times b/c we just love the crowds--LOL. Anyway, it's the only time we can go--we have been in parks days they closed for capacity and have a strategy that works pretty well for those who HAVE to go at these times.
1st--unless you MUST do it--forget about riding big ticket super popular rides---Soarin, etc.--you will waste a lot of time and the below strategy will not work, b/c the time of your 1st FP will set you back from getting another. As with many who own DVC, we'll be coming back--so we can promise the kids "next time" and then that ride goes to the top of the list for the next trip.

Get to park by 8:45 or so (we never get there at rope drop)--Commando to the BACK of a park and grab a FP (which you can use in 40 minutes, ride 1-2 rides with small line, get another FP at 40 minute mark, ride another ride with smaller line (20 minute or less), use 1st FP, lunch and/or use 2nd FP, and leave the park--you'll be swimming like a salmon upstream to get out of park--either swim at resort, go to DTD, etc. or park hop to another park and walk around and ONLY go to a show that can hold a lot of people--you'll stand in line 1 hr to get in--but then the show is 30-45 minutes long. We have used this plan for 8 years--works every time.
Yes, we do Soarin (but not every year)--we go on Epcot's EMH getting there early--ride 1st thing, and get another FP for later--and PH to MK for a few hours--then back for Soarin, walk around the countries and leave.
We also do not go to parks every day--we could not keep up that pace. See you next Easter!! Elaine

 

[KLR-wlv]

Is there a website or any information that can be had on daily numbers of people at the parks? I'd love to know what the totals have been lately compared to years past. I realize when I was going in the 70's as a child, there was only MK and no fastpass and waiting an hour or more for pirates and space mountain was routine. We've definitely been spoiled with FP!

 

[Inkmahm]

Saw something like this once. A guy maybe in his twenties got rude and started to shove an older guy. said something about knocking the old mans block off. He ended up flat on the ground.

Old man said "allow me to introduce myself. Green Beret class of 67." And walked away.

Love it!

We'll be at AKV tomorrow through Sunday night. I sure hope the crowds are better this week.

 

[kikiq]

Get to park by 8:45 or so (we never get there at rope drop)--Commando to the BACK of a park and grab a FP (which you can use in 40 minutes, ride 1-2 rides with small line, get another FP at 40 minute mark, ride another ride with smaller line (20 minute or less), use 1st FP, lunch and/or use 2nd FP, and leave the park--you'll be swimming like a salmon upstream to get out of park--either swim at resort, go to DTD, etc. or park hop to another park and walk around and ONLY go to a show that can hold a lot of people--you'll stand in line 1 hr to get in--but then the show is 30-45 minutes long.

Ditto this plan, we stumbled upon this by accident last summer on the second day of our trip...before purchasing DVC. My DH actually enjoyed coming back to the resort and swimming or in his case, sitting under the shady tree and reading with his ice tea. And then somewhere around 5ish, we ate an early dinner...then back to the parks as everyone was eating dinner. And now that we have DVC and heading back again during the summer with the family, we can see this being the only sane way to do the parks and enjoy the resort.

 

[ADP]

We just returned on 4/10. We had a great time. It did pour on 4/6. We actually had reservations at Tutto Italia, but had to make last minute ADRs at Olivia's at Old Key West because of the rain.

We spent 3 nights at AKL. We were ugpraded to a Savanna view. We had such a wonderful room I hated to give it up. Our room was 2210 on the second floor next to the lobby.

If anyone is interested I posted a live blog during our trip. Here's the link to our adventure.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1776772

 

[lagunn]

Saw something like this once. A guy maybe in his twenties got rude and started to shove an older guy. said something about knocking the old mans block off. He ended up flat on the ground.

Old man said "allow me to introduce myself. Green Beret class of 67." And walked away.

Love it.....

 

[Stinkerbell317]

Saw something like this once. A guy maybe in his twenties got rude and started to shove an older guy. said something about knocking the old mans block off. He ended up flat on the ground.

Old man said "allow me to introduce myself. Green Beret class of 67." And walked away.

Oh if only I had the nerve to respond in that way! I swear I must have a giant sign on my back that says, "Please cut in front of me bc I will do nothing abt it." Our last trip it must have happened no less than 5 or 6 times!!! I try not to let it get to me, but by the end of the trip I was getting so angry that people would behave so rudely.

 

[DoOverDreams]

Until Kidani Village is completed next year, it's advisable to request the Arusha savanna or Uzima savanna, as the Sunset savanna looks out toward the construction.

I've got a question on this. What are the chances of us getting a one bedroom Uzima or Arusha savanna view on an existing reservation for 8/15-8/18? I know this question has been asked and answered many times before, but is there any "secret" way to get a room in a specific area? I have reservations for a savanna view, and I would really get bummed to spend extra points only to get a "construction view".

Thanks!