Just back, the crowds are crazy!!!!!

[Loves Disney]

I returned home on the 13th of July this year and this was probably the most crowed I have ever seen the Magic Kingdom. We took advantage of EMH and it was no advantage!! The crowds were just as large. I also found that around three to four in the afternoon the people just coated the the whole Kingdom. I literally had to squeeze my way through and could not see where I was exactly going. (however the knowledge I already had from being there so many times before helped a little bit). Yet, Saturday and Sunday night around 9-11 o-clock, the crowds were surprisingly light. We got onto Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 2 times in a row(Sat.) and 4 times in a row(Sun.) we could have also just stayed in the log boat in Splash Mountain to go through it again and again but we decided to get off and go on another ride. (I, myself, would probably have stayed on but anyway) What got me the most though was Peter Pan's Flight. at around 1:00 in the morning (EMH) there was over a 60 minute wait for Peter Pan's Flight while there was NO wait for BTM or Splash Mountain. You would think it to be the other way around considering that many kids that would ride Peter Pan's Flight would be tired and asleep due to their age. I don't know, I just know that the crowds were unbearably huge.

Oh, and it POURED Saturday morning, my sister and I were at MGM and the rope just dropped. We ran into the stores looking for ponchos and once we finally found them we thought we were too late for RNR. We rushed down Sunset blvd. and No one else was there. Only one man closing up a vendor. The rain flowed over our feet in sandals up to our ankles. (Really) I could hardly hear my sister yelling to me. Once we got to RNR we were the only ones there. We rode it three times in a row! The rain didn't last too long and the sun came shinning out, so there started to be a wait for RNR and therefore only hit it 3 times in a row. It was great. The rain really cleared out the parks that day eventhough it only lasted like 10 minutes. It was a beautiful day. All in all, Sat. and Sun. were THE days to go to the parks (MK at night only). Every other day forget about it.

******We heard that Soarin' was a "Must See" and "Worth an hour wait" so we went to the EPCOT EMH. The wait was 75 minutes. We waited. It was the first time waiting that long for us. We waited the full 75 minutes. (Sometimes you can trust the wait time shown.) By the time we got to the ride we were so tired. Once we got off we thought it was great but not worth 75 minutes because it was soooo short. But, we figured that maybe we should try it again this time not so tired. We did and used a fastpass. The wait was 5 minutes. The ride was AWESOME!!!! However, still not worth 75 minute wait. But definitly a MUST SEE!!!!

 

[Zoo Keeper]

Sounds like despite the crowds, you had a great time.
How were the crowds @ AK and EPCOT during the day?

( I would have stayed on Splash too )

 

[Grumpy'n'Goofy]

Thanks for the report, I'm assuming these were the evening EMH's at both parks?

 

[Loves Disney]

I had a GREAT time despite the crowds and The EMHthey are evenings not mornings. (Sorry for the confusion) evenings were horrible at the Magic Kingdom. At EPCOT the EMH was packed but almost everyone went to Soarin' (Thus our 75 min. wait). The Magic Kingdom cleared up Saturday night due to some rain before hand. I have no idea why Sunday night was good. No rain or anything. I guess we just got lucky.

The crowds at AK was pretty large also. One time we couldn't get in because there was no more parking available. We drove way way way down only to discover that. The next time we went we waited no more than 5 minutes on everything. The Kali River Rapids we didn't even wait. Dinosaur we also just got right on. The other rides we went on include Primeval Whirl and It's Tough to be a Bug. I can't remember any other one. But we got there in the morning and left just after noon time. (Oh, and on Kali River Rapids MY seat was the one to get the most drenched)

The crowds at EPCOT got very large fast. We took advantage of EMH morning and got onto Test Track though the singles line. (we had a family of 4 and decided that we didn't want to wait the 60 min. stand by line and would rather all go seperatly. It turned out that my mom and sister went together and my dad and I went together. None of us were alone. So, a tip is go through the singles line. We waited no more than 5 min. and rode together!!) Soon after though the lines became exteremly large. That is when we rode Soarin' again with a fastpass. We had to leave after that.

We got to Blizzard Beach early one day and almost no one was there. ( the sky was also kind of gray but cleared up later on.) We rode on everything. It was fun. More people started to arrive though when the sun started to peek through. My tip here is to go to the water parks when it is warm but not too sunny. People tend to want to go when it is sunny. (I did get more of a tan eventhough the sun was not as visible, so if you were worried about that don't be.

I should really just stop typing now. But if anyone has any questions about anything I will answer.

 

[tysonfamilyof4]

We were at MK a couple of weeks ago and I too was very surprised with the late nite wait for Peter Pan. We would walk right on Snow White, Pooh, and Small World, but the PP was a huge line.

 

[VAN]

I've also noticed that PP always has a line ... it is a very, very slow loading ride and is one of the better "original" Fantasyland rides so is extremely popular. I would always recommend USING A FASTPASS for that ride.

I think we all got spoiled with the couple of years after 9/11 ... great deals, low crowds. In all my years going to WDW, I've never seen so many people at the parks as you do now!

Enjoyment of the parks is partly luck (who knows why some days/times are low attendance??) and partly knowing what you are doing!!!

I'm glad you had a good time in spite of the crowds!

 

[DisneyFans4]

This is one of the main reasons that I wait until August to go because the crowds are alot less. It's more humid during August but I don't care. Let's face it, it's usually always crowded at WDW no matter when you go but during August since alot of the floridian kids go back to school you see a big difference.

 

[Loves Disney]

Great tip. I was noticing that a lot of the people there were Floridians. But what I also noticed while I was there was all the people who came from another country other than USA. This makes me know how popular Disney WORLD is compared to the Disney's located closer to them. I saw a lot of French people and I know that there is a DisneyLand Paris.

 

[DisneyFans4]

I often wondered the same thing! Alot of countries have their own Disney so you wonder why they travel so far. Guess WDW is the best!!!!
We even notice that during the weekends the parks are even more crowded and that's because it's the weekend for the floridians so those are the days we choose to relax at the hotel and take advantage of the amenities there.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

I went last August w/ family that were visiting from Mass. While in a 1hr+ line for PP I passed out... the lines get very long and very hot in Fantasy Land.

 

[dvcgirl]

I often wondered the same thing! Alot of countries have their own Disney so you wonder why they travel so far. Guess WDW is the best!!!!
We even notice that during the weekends the parks are even more crowded and that's because it's the weekend for the floridians so those are the days we choose to relax at the hotel and take advantage of the amenities there.

People are traveling from other countries, UK in particular because the dollar is so weak. That fact coupled with the deals Disney is offering this year make the trip economical for Europeans.

 

[Amy&Dan]

WE too were amazed at how during EMH in April Frontierland was a ghostown and Fantasyland was a mess. The only time we had a long wait for Mickey's Philharmagic was during EMH. One thing I have to wonder about with Peter Pan is why some of those parents do that to their kids. One time when walking by there very late there were so many kids sobbing and crying because they were so tired, it sounded more like my pediatrician's office during flu season! I would like to see E Ride nights return personally, although we have never done one it sounds like a better deal. Glad the OP had a great trip, once our kids finish with year round schooling in two years I know we will have summer and spring break only so its nice to hear you can still have fun!

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

How were wait times for mission space? I know everyone advises to get a fastpass, but since this fall will be the first time seeing it, I'd rather wait in line and experience the queue area.

 

[Loves Disney]

WE too were amazed at how during EMH in April Frontierland was a ghostown and Fantasyland was a mess. The only time we had a long wait for Mickey's Philharmagic was during EMH. One thing I have to wonder about with Peter Pan is why some of those parents do that to their kids. One time when walking by there very late there were so many kids sobbing and crying because they were so tired, it sounded more like my pediatrician's office during flu season! I would like to see E Ride nights return personally, although we have never done one it sounds like a better deal. Glad the OP had a great trip, once our kids finish with year round schooling in two years I know we will have summer and spring break only so its nice to hear you can still have fun!

I noticed that the kids were all asleep during the EMH at Fantasy Land. It was around 1:00 in the morning and there was over an hour wait for PP. I too wonder why parents would keep the little kids out that long. You would think that the rides directed more for older kids (BTM, SM) would be longer at 1 am than PP would be. I don't know, it will forever be a mystery to me.

 

[MOQ3424]

Was this your first time going in July? Because we go in late July every year, but are the crowds worse than they are usually this time of year?

 

[Hawk]

I noticed that the kids were all asleep during the EMH at Fantasy Land. It was around 1:00 in the morning and there was over an hour wait for PP. I too wonder why parents would keep the little kids out that long. You would think that the rides directed more for older kids (BTM, SM) would be longer at 1 am than PP would be. I don't know, it will forever be a mystery to me.

Maybe it is some good quiet time with the family, just walking around soaking up the Disney Magic. Beats leaving the kids at home alone. Boy - those bad parents!

Hawk

 

[nluvwithmickey]

Loves Disney...Welcome back!

I would like to know if you had a hopper MYW ticket....Were you at the EMH park all day? I thought the best strategy was to AVOID emh nights and mornings....Maybe all the non _US visitors were on the base tickets and had no clue you could do such a thing as hop for 35$ more...

I am trying not to be too worried, I have been to WDW in July twice before and I know what the FL heat is like, that crowds can get pretty dense, but you guys are SCARING me silly.

What if I avoid EMH altogether? Could this make it a bit easier for us?

 

[mitros]

That's why we never go in the summer. Too hot, too crowded, and this year, with all the deals they are offering for the 50th annivesary celebration, it's going to attract a LOT of bodies over the next 16 months. I, for one, will be glad when it is over.

 

[lbgraves]

I know that our kids fell asleep in their strollers after Spectro, while we were waiting for Wishes to start. They slept thru it. LOL! DH & I decided to enjoy the next hour riding a few rides that they can't go on so they didn't have to wait for us. It was easy just pushing them from ride to ride in the stroller & then taking turns staying with them.

I also don't understand why so many people wait so long in the SB lines for the rides with FP like PP. WHY do that to your kids?

 

[dphie28]

How were wait times for mission space? I know everyone advises to get a fastpass, but since this fall will be the first time seeing it, I'd rather wait in line and experience the queue area.

We were at Epcot for Evening EMH and walked onto Mission Space with no wait at about 10:30 pm. Soarin had a 75 min wait at that time. Test Track had a 45 min wait at the same time.