Luv Bunnies
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2006
- Messages
- 9,145
Several people have been asking about crowd levels for this week. Here's a firsthand report of what we experienced. Our group was DH, Myself, and two teen boys (19 and 16). We flew out Saturday morning, the 27th and got into DL around 11:00 a.m. It was crowded. Really, really crowded. Because we got in late, we weren't able to get very many Fastpasses which definitely affected our ability to get on rides. We grabbed some for Space as soon as we got in, but they were already for around 9:00 p.m. By the time the window opened to get more, Indy had run out. We were able to get Big Thunder and Star Tours after that.
The crowds really affected our ability to just walk around. The line for Pirates extended into the walkway. They put up ropes so it snaked back and forth a few times before going under the archway. There were also CMs directing traffic and keeping it moving in one direction on each side of the ropes. Still, it was difficult to move at some points. This was due to people not knowing where they wanted to go and just stopping to figure it out. That area was a huge bottleneck. There were also CMs holding signs to show where the lines started. Otherwise it was hard to see where to line up if you wanted to. Some lines were designated by tape on the ground rather than ropes. People who weren't paying attention would just cut in, not knowing if the people standing around were in a line or just part of the crowd. Also, the line for popcorn by the Haunted Mansion cut straight through the line for the ride. I think the CMs did as well as they could trying to direct traffic and help people figure out where they wanted to be. But with so many people, many of whom were obviously on their first visit, it was very difficult. We got a little discouraged later in the day because it was so hard to just move, let alone do anything.
On the 28th, we started the day at DCA. It was a huge contrast to DL. It seemed a lot less crowded for a couple of reasons. The walkways are so much wider there. We could actually walk around and talk to each other since we weren't constantly having to go single file or dodge through gridlock. We got RSR Fastpasses as soon as we entered, and they were for 12:10 p.m. We were able to get Soarin, TOT and Screamin as the day went on. The longest line we waited in was for TSMM, which was about 45 minutes. We got in line for Aladdin early and got to sit in the 4th row. We also walked over to White Water Snacks at the Grand Californian for lunch. It was half empty and we had no problem ordering and finding a table. It was nice to sit in a fairly quiet place for a while since the park was so noisy. It was also nice to use the restrooms there with no lines.
On the 29th, it was back to DL. We used our Early Entry and got in at 7:00 a.m. Only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland were open. We were able to get on Alice, Dumbo, Toad, Canal Boats and Small World with very short waits. Peter Pan was already up to 30 minutes and we didn't want to spend half of our first hour waiting in line. As soon as Adventureland opened at 8:00 a.m., we went to Indy and rode with a 20 minute wait. We also hit the Jingle Cruise (which I loved!), Mansion and got FPs for Thunder. The rest of the day went well. We got FPs every two hours. DS16 was our FP runner since he moves faster than the rest of us, and it's easier for one person to move through crowds than all four of us. We would get snacks, find a place to sit, and send him off to get our next FPs. He loved having his own little adventures and always seemed to come back with a pretzel or a Mickey bar in his hand! We had a 1:30 p.m. reservation at ESPN Zone. We took the Monorail to DTD, browsed the shops a bit, then went for our lunch. It was a really nice mid-day break to actually sit down and be served lunch. The boys played the games upstairs for a while while we sat on a bench and rested. We already had some FPs lined up for after we got back to DL.
The 30th was my birthday and the main reason we planned a trip at this time of year. We got into DL at 8:00 a.m. and shopped at the Emporium. We had one of the 20% off coupons that you get on quick service dining receipts. It lists a few stores where it's valid (including the Emporium) and says it's good up until 1:00 p.m. to encourage people to shop early. We had already scoped out everything we wanted to buy so it was easy enough to gather it up. We ended up saving $46 on our purchase. Even with a $7 locker rental to store it for the day, it was worth shopping that early. I was wearing a birthday button and as we were checking out, the CM handed me the phone and said there was a call for me. It was a recording of Goofy singing Happy Birthday. So cool! We had a 9:10 a.m. breakfast reservation at Carnation Café. The CM was announcing to everyone in line that they were not accepting any walk ups. It really paid to make the reservation 60 days out. Also, DH is a barbershopper and knows one of the Dapper Dans. He had arranged for them to sing Happy Birthday to me! DH went over to chat after one of their sets and they told me they had a song for me. It was kind of embarrassing, but really fun! The rest of the day went well. It started raining and got really cold by mid-afternoon. By evening, the crowds had died way down. We were able to walk onto Pirates, Mansion, Star Tours, Buzz, Nemo, and Small World. We also got onto Peter Pan with a 20 minute wait. It was cold, but we were glad we braved it and kept going. I had the coldest but most entertaining Autopia ride ever! DS16 decided he needed to rehearse for a show he's working on, so he sang to me through the whole ride!
Yesterday, New Year's Eve, we went to DCA. We had to leave at 3:00 p.m. to catch our shuttle to the airport. We wanted to hit RSR (which we did with single rider), TOT, Monsters, Soarin, TSMM and Mermaid. Plus, my older son and I have a tradition of riding Heimlich together, which we did. We also had a nice lunch and bought cookies for the road. It was a nice way to end our trip.
While we didn't go into DL yesterday, it looked like a nightmare! Many people were going in early and staying all day so they wouldn't get shut out before the countdown. We talked to some people who had hopped out of DL because it was packed. They said they didn't care if they got back in or not, it was just too crowed to enjoy anything. At 3:00 p.m., the lines at the main gate were huge. We were glad we had not planned on staying for the evening. The O.C. airport, on the other hand, was quite dead. There were absolutely no lines for anything, including baggage check, security, and Starbuck's! Our flight home was only about 2/3 full. We were back in our house before 9:00 p.m. which was nice.
We stayed at the Camelot Inn in a Family Suite. DH and I had king and a sofa bed in our room, plus a table with 4 chairs, wet bar, fridge and microwave. The boys' room had 2 queens, a small table and 2 chairs, and the bathroom. We loved having so much space. I do wish the room had 2 bathrooms, but we managed. The staff was nice, the room was clean, the elevators came very quickly and the place was fairly quiet. We did hear the people above us a few times. We rarely even saw other guests, although the parking lot was full so I know the hotel was booked. We would stay there again if the opportunity arose.
We all agreed that we probably won't visit again during this week. If I want to celebrate my birthday at DL, we'll do it at a different time of year. We did have the advantage of knowing how to use Fastpass. I had to educate some poor teen boys who were wondering how much it cost! I felt sorry for people who didn't know how to manage their day and said they only got on two rides in six hours.
Time to do the laundry and give my poor feet a rest. If anyone has any questions, ask away. Glad to help!
The crowds really affected our ability to just walk around. The line for Pirates extended into the walkway. They put up ropes so it snaked back and forth a few times before going under the archway. There were also CMs directing traffic and keeping it moving in one direction on each side of the ropes. Still, it was difficult to move at some points. This was due to people not knowing where they wanted to go and just stopping to figure it out. That area was a huge bottleneck. There were also CMs holding signs to show where the lines started. Otherwise it was hard to see where to line up if you wanted to. Some lines were designated by tape on the ground rather than ropes. People who weren't paying attention would just cut in, not knowing if the people standing around were in a line or just part of the crowd. Also, the line for popcorn by the Haunted Mansion cut straight through the line for the ride. I think the CMs did as well as they could trying to direct traffic and help people figure out where they wanted to be. But with so many people, many of whom were obviously on their first visit, it was very difficult. We got a little discouraged later in the day because it was so hard to just move, let alone do anything.
On the 28th, we started the day at DCA. It was a huge contrast to DL. It seemed a lot less crowded for a couple of reasons. The walkways are so much wider there. We could actually walk around and talk to each other since we weren't constantly having to go single file or dodge through gridlock. We got RSR Fastpasses as soon as we entered, and they were for 12:10 p.m. We were able to get Soarin, TOT and Screamin as the day went on. The longest line we waited in was for TSMM, which was about 45 minutes. We got in line for Aladdin early and got to sit in the 4th row. We also walked over to White Water Snacks at the Grand Californian for lunch. It was half empty and we had no problem ordering and finding a table. It was nice to sit in a fairly quiet place for a while since the park was so noisy. It was also nice to use the restrooms there with no lines.
On the 29th, it was back to DL. We used our Early Entry and got in at 7:00 a.m. Only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland were open. We were able to get on Alice, Dumbo, Toad, Canal Boats and Small World with very short waits. Peter Pan was already up to 30 minutes and we didn't want to spend half of our first hour waiting in line. As soon as Adventureland opened at 8:00 a.m., we went to Indy and rode with a 20 minute wait. We also hit the Jingle Cruise (which I loved!), Mansion and got FPs for Thunder. The rest of the day went well. We got FPs every two hours. DS16 was our FP runner since he moves faster than the rest of us, and it's easier for one person to move through crowds than all four of us. We would get snacks, find a place to sit, and send him off to get our next FPs. He loved having his own little adventures and always seemed to come back with a pretzel or a Mickey bar in his hand! We had a 1:30 p.m. reservation at ESPN Zone. We took the Monorail to DTD, browsed the shops a bit, then went for our lunch. It was a really nice mid-day break to actually sit down and be served lunch. The boys played the games upstairs for a while while we sat on a bench and rested. We already had some FPs lined up for after we got back to DL.
The 30th was my birthday and the main reason we planned a trip at this time of year. We got into DL at 8:00 a.m. and shopped at the Emporium. We had one of the 20% off coupons that you get on quick service dining receipts. It lists a few stores where it's valid (including the Emporium) and says it's good up until 1:00 p.m. to encourage people to shop early. We had already scoped out everything we wanted to buy so it was easy enough to gather it up. We ended up saving $46 on our purchase. Even with a $7 locker rental to store it for the day, it was worth shopping that early. I was wearing a birthday button and as we were checking out, the CM handed me the phone and said there was a call for me. It was a recording of Goofy singing Happy Birthday. So cool! We had a 9:10 a.m. breakfast reservation at Carnation Café. The CM was announcing to everyone in line that they were not accepting any walk ups. It really paid to make the reservation 60 days out. Also, DH is a barbershopper and knows one of the Dapper Dans. He had arranged for them to sing Happy Birthday to me! DH went over to chat after one of their sets and they told me they had a song for me. It was kind of embarrassing, but really fun! The rest of the day went well. It started raining and got really cold by mid-afternoon. By evening, the crowds had died way down. We were able to walk onto Pirates, Mansion, Star Tours, Buzz, Nemo, and Small World. We also got onto Peter Pan with a 20 minute wait. It was cold, but we were glad we braved it and kept going. I had the coldest but most entertaining Autopia ride ever! DS16 decided he needed to rehearse for a show he's working on, so he sang to me through the whole ride!
Yesterday, New Year's Eve, we went to DCA. We had to leave at 3:00 p.m. to catch our shuttle to the airport. We wanted to hit RSR (which we did with single rider), TOT, Monsters, Soarin, TSMM and Mermaid. Plus, my older son and I have a tradition of riding Heimlich together, which we did. We also had a nice lunch and bought cookies for the road. It was a nice way to end our trip.
While we didn't go into DL yesterday, it looked like a nightmare! Many people were going in early and staying all day so they wouldn't get shut out before the countdown. We talked to some people who had hopped out of DL because it was packed. They said they didn't care if they got back in or not, it was just too crowed to enjoy anything. At 3:00 p.m., the lines at the main gate were huge. We were glad we had not planned on staying for the evening. The O.C. airport, on the other hand, was quite dead. There were absolutely no lines for anything, including baggage check, security, and Starbuck's! Our flight home was only about 2/3 full. We were back in our house before 9:00 p.m. which was nice.
We stayed at the Camelot Inn in a Family Suite. DH and I had king and a sofa bed in our room, plus a table with 4 chairs, wet bar, fridge and microwave. The boys' room had 2 queens, a small table and 2 chairs, and the bathroom. We loved having so much space. I do wish the room had 2 bathrooms, but we managed. The staff was nice, the room was clean, the elevators came very quickly and the place was fairly quiet. We did hear the people above us a few times. We rarely even saw other guests, although the parking lot was full so I know the hotel was booked. We would stay there again if the opportunity arose.
We all agreed that we probably won't visit again during this week. If I want to celebrate my birthday at DL, we'll do it at a different time of year. We did have the advantage of knowing how to use Fastpass. I had to educate some poor teen boys who were wondering how much it cost! I felt sorry for people who didn't know how to manage their day and said they only got on two rides in six hours.
Time to do the laundry and give my poor feet a rest. If anyone has any questions, ask away. Glad to help!
